The Story of Robin Hood and His Merrie Men (1952)

Director:

Ken Annakin

Writer:

Lawrence Edward Watkin (screenplay)

Release Date:

26 June 1952 (USA)

Genre:

Adventure | Family

Plot:

Young Robin Hood, in love with Maid Marian, enters an archery contest with his father at the King's palace...

Plot Keywords:

Contest | Archery | Robin Hood | Bow And Arrow | King Richard I

Cast

Richard Todd	...	Robin Hood
Joan Rice	...	Maid Marian
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

Also Known As:

The Story of Robin Hood (Philippines: English title) (USA) (alternative title)

Runtime:

84 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Recording)

Certification:

UK:U | West Germany:12 (f) | Australia:G | Finland:K-8 | USA:Approved (original rating) | USA:PG (re-rating) (1992)

Filming Locations:

Burnham Beeches, Buckinghamshire, England, UK

Company:

RKO Radio Pictures

Trivia:

This was Disney's first take on the Robin Hood legend, which was made with British funds that had been frozen during World War II.

Goofs:

Anachronisms: In one scene Maid Marian is wearing a dress with a zipper in the back. Zippers weren't invented for another thirteen centuries.

Quotes:

Maid Marian: And you, good rogue, have my gracious leave to pine and fret till my return.
Robin Hood: Oh, why should I?
Maid Marian: To please a lady.
Robin Hood: I could please myself to take up the cross and follow my king to the Holy Land.
Maid Marian: 'Twould come to the same thing in the end. Chop a few heads enough you'd come back a knight. As a knight you'd go jousting a tournament, to please a lady, and have your own head chopped off.
Robin Hood: It would be worth it.
Maid Marian: Is she so passing fair?
Robin Hood: Aye
Maid Marian: Describe her to me, Robin.
Robin Hood: Well... she's....
[...]

Movie Connections:

Featured in "Disneyland: The Liberty Story (#3.25)" (1957)

Soundtrack:

Whistle My Love

An Excellent Family Adventure

This live action Walt Disney produced Robin Hood adaptation is among the best in the genre, perhaps second only to the outstanding Errol Flynn version of 1938 ("The Adventures of Robin Hood"). The cast is solid, led by the energetic and charismatic Richard Todd as Robin Hood.

This version has a few features not commonly found in Robin Hood films. Eleanor of Aquitaine (the Queen of England and mother to both King Richard and Prince John) is a major supporting character and is played by veteran actress Martita Hunt. The real-life Eleanor is one of the most famous and powerful women of medieval English history and one that is (unfortunately) only rarely portrayed in film. Another historic figure that is represented is the Archbishop of Canterbury (played by Antony Eustral). Absent from this version is the traditional conflict between Normans and Saxons, but there is plenty of evil-doing on the part of Prince John and the Sheriff of Nottingham for Robin to deal with.

This rousing adventure is not to be missed, particularly by those who profess to have an interest in classic adventure. Don't let the association with Walt Disney Studios fool you. Though the film isn't brutally violent, there is sufficient 1950s death and mayhem to satisfy most fans of the genre.