Michael's Movie Grade:D
Year Released:1954
History
This would be the fourth and last of Disney's British films. These were live action films made in Britain because Walt Disney had money over there that he could not spend in the U.S.. This one would star Richard Todd, who had stared in two of the previous films, The Sword and The Rose, and The Adventures of Robin Hood. The female lead would be Glynis Johns who had played Princess Mary in The Sword in the Rose. It would also be produced by Perce Pearce, who had produced the previous three Disney British films. Also working here is the painter Peter Ellenshaw, who had previously painted backgrounds for The Sword and the Rose. However not returning would be Ken Annakin, who had directed The Adventures of Robin Hood and The Sword and the Rose. Ken Annakin was originally set to direct Rob Roy, and would have gladly done it. However the J. Artur Rank Studio where Annakin had been making the majority of his films, refused to let him work on another film for Disney. The studio was all ready to drop Annakin's contract if he refused to comply. Annakin reluctantly agreed, and a new director Harold French was given the job. Harold French was a British director, who had directed such films as Adam and Evalyn, and Encore. This would be the only Disney film, Harold French would direct.
Of note is that Rob Roy was the last Disney feature to be distributed by RKO. For their previous feature, The Living Desert, Walt had created his own production company called Buena Vista, a company that still exists today. However he still had a contract with RKO, one that Rob Roy would complete.
The Studio made certain to state that this film was an originally story and not an adaption of Sir Walter Scott's novel.
Richard Todd liked to tell the story of how soldiers of the Korean War, who belonged to the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders infantry regiment, were used for the battle scenes. He says they used the opportunity to get back at some non-commissioned officers. Todd also liked to tell the story of how during the first battle scene filmed, he injured himself by stepping in a rabbit hole.
Rob Roy was a critical success especially in England. Financially it was not a success in the U.S., but it did better in across the sea.
Review
By all accounts this should be a great movie, but for some reason it just isn't. It is hard to believe that the people who brought us The Story of Robin Hood and his Merrie Men. and The Sword and the Rose, could make a similar film that is simply so forgettable.
This is a slow paced film, yet it never uses this slow pace to it's advantage. There is little atmosphere, or character development that wouldn't work at a faster pace. In fact the characters are all just completely forgettable. Also for a Disney film there is just a complete lack of fun. There are really only two fun scenes, and these are great, but unfortunately these are the only fun scenes in the movie. For most of the film it just drags.
To be fair this film does have some good points as well. The battle scenes are well staged. The backgrounds are lovely and the acting is good. However these attributes have the problem of being hung onto very little, and can by no means save this film.
Overall this is one of the weakest Disney films from the Walt era, and a sad end to the great string of Disney British films.
Film Credits
Director: Harold French
Writer: Lawrence Edward Watkin
Cast: Richard Todd (Rob Roy), Glynis Johns (Helen Mary), James Robertson Justice (John Campbell), Michael Gough (Duke of Montrose), Finlay Currie (Hamish MacPherson), Jean Taylor Smith (Marget Campbell), Geoffrey Keen (Killearn), Archie Duncan (Dugall), Russell Waters (Hugh), Marjorie Fielding (Maggie), Eric Pohlmann (King George), Ina De La Haye (Countess von Pahlen), Michael Goodliffe (Robert Walpole), Martin Boddey (General Cadogan), Ewen Solon (Maj. Gen. Wightman), James Sutherland (Torcal), John McEnvoy (Nabby), Ian MacNaughton (Callum), Stevenson Lang (Keith), Charles Hubbard (Alsdair), Campbell Godley (James), Ted Follows (Douglas), Lionel Thomson (Donald), James Stuart (Ian), Lewis Schwarz (Wallace), Hugh Evans (Gordon), Abe Barker (Duncan), Jock MacKay (Neil MacCallum), Howard Douglas (Donald Urquhart), Douglas Bradley-Smith (Bookseller), May Hallatt (Ballad Hawker), Hamilton Keene (Fort Commandant), Henry Hewitt (Lord Parker), Malcolm Keen (Duke of Marlborough), Andrew Laurence (Lord Chamberlain), David Keir (Servant), Rupert Evans (Fencible), Paddy Ryan (Fencible), Paget Hunter (Earl of Berkeley), Derek Prentice (Viscount Townshend), Middleton Woods (Lord Carleton), Frank Webster (Lord Carteret), Robert Brooks Turner (Viscount Torrington), Rolph Hutcheson (John Treby), Max Gardner (Lord Evelyn), Kitty MacLeod (Singer), Marietta MacLeod (Singer)
Producers: Perce Pearce, Walt Disney
Music:Cedric Thorpe Davie, Muir Mathieson, Clifford Vaughan
Cinematographer: Guy Green
Editor: Geoffrey Foot
Production Designer: Carmen Dillon
Art Director: Geoffrey Drake
Costume Designer: Phyllis Dalton
Production Manager: Douglas Peirce
Assistant Directors: Gordon Scott, Jeremy Summers
Sound Recordist: Les Hammond
Special Effects: George Blackwell
Paintings: Peter Ellenshaw, Albert Whitlock
Stunt Man: Paul Baxley
Resources Used
The Disney Films by Leonard Maltin
Caught in the Act by Richard Todd
-Michael J. Ruhland
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