The Story of Robin Hood (film)

The Story of Robin Hood and
His Merrie Men
The Story of Robin Hood and; His Merrie Men
	Theatrical release poster
Directed by	Ken Annakin
Written by	Lawrence Edward Watkin
Produced by	Perce Pearce; Walt Disney
Starring	Richard Todd; Joan Rice; Peter Finch
Cinematography	Guy Green
Music by	Clifton Parker
Production; companies	Walt Disney Productions; RKO Radio Pictures, Inc.
Distributed by	RKO Radio Pictures, Inc.
Release dates	March 13, 1952 (Premiere-London); June 26, 1952 (US);
Running time	84 minutes
Language	English
Box office	$2.1 million (US rentals)

The Story of Robin Hood and His Merrie Men is a 1952 live action Disney version of the Robin Hood legend made in Technicolor and filmed in Buckinghamshire, England. It was written by Lawrence Edward Watkin and directed by Ken Annakin. This is the second of Disney's complete live-action films, after Treasure Island (1950), and the first of four films Annakin directed for Disney.

Plot

Young Robin Hood, in love with Maid Marian, enters an archery contest with his father at the King's palace. On the way home his father is murdered by hench men of Prince John. Robin takes up the life of an outlaw, gathering together his band of merry men with him in Sherwood Forest, to avenge his father's death and to help the people of the land that Prince John are over taxing.

Cast

Richard Todd as Robin Hood
Joan Rice as Maid Marian
Peter Finch as the Sheriff of Nottingham
James Hayter as Friar Tuck.
James Robertson Justice as Little John
Martita Hunt as Queen Eleanor of Aquitaine
Hubert Gregg as Prince John
Elton Hayes as Alan-a-Dale
Anthony Eustrel as the Archbishop of Canterbury
Patrick Barr as King Richard.
Anthony Forwood as Will Scarlet
Bill Owen as Will Stutely
Louise Hampton as Tyb, aged nurse of Maid Marian
Richard Graydon as Merrie Man
Michael Hordern as Scathelock
Bill Travers as Possie Man
Clement McCallin as The Earl of Huntingdon

Production

Production began in April 1951 at Denham Film Studios in London. This was the second movie Disney made in the United Kingdom, the first being Treasure Island (1950). These and several other Disney films were made using British funds frozen during World War II. The Story of Robin Hood and His Merrie Men was filmed in 3-strip Technicolor.

Release

The world premiere was in London on March 13, 1952; the New York opening was on June 26, 1952. In the wake of this film a promotional short entitled The Riddle of Robin Hood was produced.^[4]

The film was one of the most popular in Britain in 1952.^[5]

Home releases

A Laserdisc was released in 1992, a VHS tape was released in 1994 (the Walt Disney's Studio Film Collection) and a limited Disney Movie Club DVD was released in July 2006. All releases are 1.33:1 fullscreen in monaural (as shot).

A Disneyland Records LP of four songs from the soundtrack with narration by Dallas McKennon was released in 1963.

References

^ ^a ^b "The Story of Robin Hood and His Merrie Men: Detail View". American Film Institute. Retrieved May 18, 2014.
^ Jewell, Richard B.; Harbin, Vernon (1982). The RKO Story. New York: Arlington House. p. 266. ISBN 0-517-546566.
^ 'Top Box-Office Hits of 1952', Variety, January 7, 1953
^ "- Disney Shorts: 1950ies".
^ "Robert Beatty in boxing picture". The Mail. Adelaide: National Library of Australia. 31 January 1953. p. 3 Supplement: SUNDAY MAGAZINE. Retrieved 10 July 2012.

External links

[AFI-1] "The Story of Robin Hood and His Merrie Men: Detail View". American Film Institute. Retrieved May 18, 2014.

[RKO-2] Jewell, Richard B.; Harbin, Vernon (1982). The RKO Story. New York: Arlington House. p. 266. ISBN 0-517-546566.

[3] 'Top Box-Office Hits of 1952', Variety, January 7, 1953

[4] "- Disney Shorts: 1950ies".

[5] "Robert Beatty in boxing picture". The Mail. Adelaide: National Library of Australia. 31 January 1953. p. 3 Supplement: SUNDAY MAGAZINE. Retrieved 10 July 2012.

[2]

[1]

[3]

[4]

[5]