Year Released: 1952
Michael's Movie Grade:A-
History
After making Treasure Island in Britain, the Disney Studio decided to make another live action film over in Britain. Robin Hood was chosen as the story idea, partly because it is a well known story that takes place in Britain. In fact, The Story of Robin Hood and His Merrie Men, unlike most Robin Hood films, had some scenes that were actually shot in the real Sherwood Forest. This live action Disney film would be made 21 years before the more well known animated Disney film. However this story was not new to the world of film, as there had previously been over 20 film versions of Robin Hood by that time. One of these was released just a year before this version, that version was The Tales of Robin Hood (directed by James Tinling and staring Robert Clarke). The most famous film versions of Robin Hood by this time were the 1922 version simply called Robin Hood (directed by Allan Dawn and produced, written by and staring Douglas Fairbanks), and the 1938 version The Adventures of Robin Hood (directed by Michael Curtiz and staring Errol Flynn), the later one Walt admitted he had never seen.
Robin Hood and His Merrie Men holds an important milestone in Disney history. It is the first live action Disney film to have a regular live action Disney director. All the previous Disney live action films had directors that would only work at the studio for one film, but this film's director would in the future direct more Disney films. The director would be Ken Annakin. Ken Annakin was a British director, who had previously directed such films as Trio and Quartet. In fact most of the crew on The Story of Robin Hood and His Merrie Men were in fact British, despite it being made for an American company. However unlike with Bryon Haskin (director of Treasure Island), Walt was able to spend much time talking to Annakin about the making of this film. Annakin remembered Walt telling him often about how the film should not be like any previous Robin Hood adaption, but should stand on it's own. Annakin would not only work on more Disney films in the future but also on some other British/American co-productions for other studios. These non-Disney co-productions would include films like Battle of the Bulge and Magnificent Men in Their Flying Machines or How I Flew from London to Paris in 25 hours 11 minutes.
For the role of Maid Marian, Walt felt it should go to an actress named Joan Rice. Joan Rice had only appeared in two films before this. These films were 1951's Blackmail (directed by Marc Allégret), and One Wild Oat (directed by Charles Saunders), neither of which did she play a big role in. Not everybody working on The Story of Robin Hood and his Merrie Men liked this casting choice. Richard Todd, (who played Robin Hood) in particular, was unhappy with this feeling that the role should go to a more experienced actress. Todd would never warm up to her acting always feeling that the film would have been better with a different actress.
When the film was released it was a critical success, critics especially loving the rich environment and well written characters. Sadly I am unable to find any information on how the film did at the box office. However I will assume based on the fact that most of the cast and crew of this film would work with Disney again, despite many of them having this as their first Disney experience, it was at least a modest success, however this is an assumption and should not be taken as fact.
Review
Excellent Disney adventure film. Despite Disney's 1973 animated version being better known, this is easily the superior of two films.
These are some of the most likable versions of these characters ever put on screen. This is due both to Lawrence Edward Watkin's script and great performances from the actors. Despite Richard Todd's objections Joan Rice turns in a fine performance. As does Richard Todd, Peter Finch, and really the whole cast. This film puts a bigger emphasis on Robin and Marian's relationship than most Robin Hood films, and this relationship is handled beautifully. The two leads (despite Todd's objection to Rice being cast) have great on screen chemistry. You really buy and appreciate this romance.
This is one of Disney's best looking live action films. Guy Green's cinematography is excellent, as are the sets, and costumes. This film looks very lavish, and there is never a scene that doesn't have something great to look at. However this look does not distract you from the stories or characters. In fact it really enhances the story by giving it a great epic scope. This is especially true of the climax, which while a bit too short is very exciting, which would not work as well if the film didn't look so good.
Overall this is an excellent film that deserves much more attention than it gets.
Film Credits
Director: Ken Annakin
Writer: Lawrence Edward Watkin
Cast: Richard Todd (Robin Hood), Joan Rice (Maid Marin), Peter Finch (Sheriff of Nottingham), James Hayter (Friar Tuck), James Robertson Justice (Little John), Martita Hunt (Queen Eleanor), Hubert Gregg (Prince John), Bill Owen (Stutely), Reginald Tate (Hugh Fitzooth), Elton Hayes (Allan-a-Dale), Anthony Eustrel ( Archbishop of Canterbury), Patrick Barr (King Richard), Anthony Forwood (Will Scarlet), Hal Osmond (Much the Miller), Michael Hordern (Scathelock), Clement McCallin (Earl of Huntingdon), Louise Hampton (Tyb), Archie Duncan (Red Gill), Julian Somers (Posse Leader), Bill Travers (Posse Member), David Davies (Forester), Ivan Craig (Merrie Man), Larry Mooney (Merrie Man), Ewen Solon (Merrie Man), John French (Merrie Man), John Stamp (Merrie Man), Nigel Neilson (Merrie Man), John Brooking (Merrie Man), Charles Perry (Merrie Man), John Martin (Merrie Man), Richard Graydon (Merrie Man), Geoffrey Lumsden (Merrie Man), Jack Taylor (Merrie Man)
Producers: Walt Disney, Perce Pearce
Music: Clifton Parker
Songwriters: Eddie Pola, George Wyle, Elton Hayes, Lawrence Edward Watkin
Cinematographer: Guy Green
Editor: Gordon Pilkington
Casting Director: Maude Spector
Art Directors: Carmen Dillon, Arthur Lawson
Costume Designers: Michael Whittaker, Yvonne Caffin
Makeup Department: Geoffrey Rodway, Vivienne Walker, Gordon Bond, Trevor Crole-Rees, Ann Fordyce, Stuart Freeborn, Eddie Knight, Wally Schneiderman, Joan White
Production Managers: F. Sherwin Green, Anthony Nelson Keys, Douglas Peirce
Assistant Directors: Peter Bolton, Basil Keys, Kip Gowans, Peter Manley, Christopher Sutton
Second Unit Director: Alex Bryce
Sound Department: Winston Ryder, Reg Barnes Heath , Peter Davies, Basil Fenton-Smith, George Paternoster, Ken Rawkins, Fred Ryan, C.C. Stevens, Pat Wheeler
Still Photographers: Frank Bellingham, Charles Trigg, George Courtney Ward
Cameraman: David Harcourt
Assistant Cameraman: Peter Hall
Assistant Editors: Deveril Goodman, Leslie Hodgson, Richard Marden, Terry Poulton, Henry Richardson
Resources Used
The Disney Films by Leonard Maltin
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0045197/?ref_=rvi_tt
http://www.thedisneyfilms.com/search/label/Story%20of%20Robin%20Hood%20and%20His%20Merrie%20Men%20%28The%29
-Michael J. Ruhland
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