Main Cast: Richard Todd, Joan Rice, Peter Finch, James Hayter, James Robertson Justice, Martita Hunt
Release Year: 1952
Country: UK
Run Time: 83 minutes
MPAA Rating: PG
Plot
Better known as The Story of Robin Hood, this colorful costume adventure was the second made-in-Britain production for Hollywood's Walt Disney. Avoiding the familiar episodes covered in previous "Robin Hood" films, this Disney effort still manages to adhere to the basic chronology. Richard Todd stars as the Earl of Huntington, who loses his title and his lands after besting the despotic Sheriff of Nottingham (Peter Finch) at an archery tournament. Reinventing himself as Robin Hood, our hero rounds up other victims of the oppression of the Sheriff and his dictatorial liege Prince John (Hubert Gregg), and thus the "Merry Men" are born. Robbing the rich to give to the poor, Robin manages to elude the villains and to prove his loyalty to John's brother Richard the Lionhearted (Patrick Barr) by raising the money for Richard's ransom. The Queen (Martita Hunt) is to deliver the ransom to Richard's Austrian captors, but Prince John schemes to steal the money and place the blame on Robin Hood. Maid Marian (Joan Rice) gets wind of this plan but is locked in John's dungeon before she can warn Robin and his men. How can virtue triumph with these odds? But triumph it does, as everyone in the audience knew it would. The success of The Story of Robin Hood inspired Disney to produce two additional British films, The Sword and the Rose and Rob Roy, the Highland Rogue. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
Review
Robin Hood has been the star of seemingly countless film versions, and if The Story of Robin Hood is not the very best of them, it's still a very winning, thoroughly enjoyable medieval romp. Children have always been fascinated by the story of the outlaw who steals from the rich and gives to the poor, and this Disney telling is one that younger audiences especially will embrace. The film moves at a fast clip, and does a fine job of alternating the more serious moments with ones of high action and adventure. Hood also is good at creating some new takes on what is, after all, a rather familiar tale. The framing device of traveling minstrel Alan O'Dale relating the story is a nice touch, and using "whistling" arrows as a means of communication is clever. Even the traditional "arrow splitting another arrow at the bulls-eye" routine has a little twist. Hood does pale next to the classic Adventures of Robin Hood in terms of its cast, which is quite certainly good but also quite certainly not up to the exquisite level of Errol Flynn and company. Nonetheless, Richard Todd is a winning (if slightly built) Robin, Joan Rice pleases as Marian, Peter Finch is quite evil as is required of the Sheriff and James Robertson Justice is a delightful Little John. It's also noteworthy that this film version gives a larger role to Queen Eleanor (well played by Martita Hunt), who is not usually the focus of much attention in Robin Hood stories. ~ Craig Butler, All Movie Guide
Bill Owen - Stutely; Hubert Gregg - Prince John; Michael Hordern - Scathelock; Patrick Barr - Richard I the Lionheart; Reginald Tate - Hugh Fitzooth; Hal Osmond - Midge the Miller; Clement McCallin - Earl of Huntingdon; Louise Hampton - Tyb; Anthony Eustrel - Archbishop of Canterbury; Anthony Forwood - Will Scarlett; Ivan Craig; David Davies - Forester; Archie Duncan - Red Gill; Elton Hayes - Allan-a-Dale; Ewen Solon; Julian Somers - Posse Leader; Jack Taylor - The Merrie Men; Richard Graydon; Bill Travers - Posse Man; Geoffrey Lumsden; John J. Martin; Charles Perry; John Brooking
Credit
Carmen Dillon - Art Director, Arthur Lawson - Art Director, Ken Annakin - Director, Gordon Pilkington - Editor, Clifton Parker - Composer (Music Score), Muir Mathieson - Musical Direction/Supervision, Geoffrey Rodway - Makeup, Guy Green - Cinematographer, Perce Pearce - Producer, Lawrence Edward Watkin - Screenwriter, Peter Ellenshaw - Matte Artist
