Crossbow [William Tell]

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Thanks to Eline and Laurel http://www.geocities.com/elinececile/ and Eric de Bock http://members.tripod.com/talesofsherwoodfores/ for Crossbow's info.

“Crossbow” - family TV series about Swiss national hero William Tell. Series contain 72 episodes of 26 minutes each. Created by Anthony Horowitz, produced by Robert Halmi Jr. and Patrick Deschamps, directed by Dennis Berry and John David Coles, music by Stanislav Syrewicz. First showed in 1988 – 1989.

Main cast Will Lyman as William Tell, Jeremy Clyde as Governor Hermann Gessler, John Otway as Conrad, David Barry Gray as Matthew Tell, Nick Brimble as Horst and Prince of the Wasteland, Dana Barron as Eleanor, Anne Lonnberg as Katrina Tell, Valentine Pelka as Roland. Robert Addie played Arris [Friar Arris] in four episodes of 3th season: The Touch, The Spirit of Rebellion, Moment of Truth part 1 & 2.

William Tell has long since put his life of violence behind him and has resolved to live the life of a pacifist. Having known the rigors of war before, Tell is willing to accept governor's Gessler tyranny to avoid the terror that violence can bring. Such was Tell's attitude when surrounded by talk of rebellion. His son, Matthew was, however, unwilling to accept the same hardships and was all to eager to fight. Tell did his best to dissuade his passionate son. Nothing would make Tell raise arms again. - "Given the choice between war and Gessler, I'll take Gessler everytime." Where his family was concerned, well that was another matter. Finding his son caught up in the spirit of rebellion and endangered by Gessler's soldiers, Tell is forced to raise his crossbow once again and his life is changed forever. Just as he had feared, once his crossbow had been raised, he could never put it down again. In saving his son's life, he had invited himself into a world of true evil. Gessler's world. Amazed at the story of Tell's skill with the crossbow, Gessler decided to teach Tell a lesson he would never forget. Matthew was tied to a post and the, now famous, apple placed on his head. Tell was then told to shoot the apple off his son's head. The expected outcome was that he would certainly miss and kill his own son, a punishment far more damaging than a simple execution and much more amusing for Gessler. Unfortunately for Gessler, William Tell shot the apple on top of his son's head and a legend was born...

As an outcast from society, never able to settle in one place, Tell quickly adapts himself to the situation at hand. He stealthily moves from town to town, picking up the odd companion along the way. Although, he never looks for trouble it always manages to find him and he is always quick to fly to the aid of young widows, abandoned children, and fellow outcasts, all those in need will find a friend in him. A born strategist, there appears to be no one able to outwit Tell. In addition to his famously accurate marksmanship, he is also a skilled swordsman, and an excellent horseman, able to tame a wild stallion through his gentle patience and air of confidence. These skills combined with his quick wits and a keen observant mind are what distinguish him from ordinary man. He is always triumphant against great odds, a hero through and through.

Robert Addie played Aris, the last of Gessler's Captain's. Horst's replacement, popped up in the final series of episodes. He made few, but memorable appearances as Gessler's sleazy, cunning, and effective sidekick.

He shares the Governor's taste for corrupt and wanton behaviour and is much more chummy than his predecessor. His trademark is a helmet mounted with the figure of a silver wolf, which makes him appear rather mysterious. His corruption is not inpenetrable, however. When Gessler's power begins to wane, Aris sees the error of his ways and enters a life of prayer and repentance. In the final episodes we are introduced to Friar Aris!

The only thing that sunk this series was its timing. “Crossbow” was very similar to the highly successful "Robin of Sherwood" (1984-86) film series that had just finished its run 1986, main creator Anthony Horowitz wrote a few episodes for “Robin of Sherwood” too. "William Tell" as it was called in the UK was shown at primetime in Summer 1989 and just didn't get the viewing figures. Actually a sumptuously filmed quality production with a stunning soundtrack, filmed in France and Europe, the similarities with its British cousin “Robin of Sherwoood” were so much...