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

User Rating:

6.7/10   

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)

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.

Quotes:

Maid Marian: [dressed as a page boy being held back by Little John] Let me go, you monster! Let me go!
Robin Hood: Hey, John. Give me that lad.
Maid Marian: [Marian is tossed to Robin] Let me down, you... you white faced...
Robin Hood: Well, you're a pretty lad and sweetly tempered. Like a lady I used to know.
Maid Marian: And I used to know a gentleman called Robin Fitzooth who would scorn to be a common thief.

Movie Connections:

Edited into "Disneyland: The Story of Robin Hood: Part 1 (#2.8)" (1955)

Soundtrack:

Whistle My Love

A fine retelling of a classic favorite

As with 1938's "The Adventures of Robin Hood" w/ Errol Flynn and Olivia de Haviland Disney tries at making it's own version of the famous Robin Hood legend and succeeds admirably! Richard Todd is the perfect Robin Hood being a classic 1950s heartthrob and sporting a 50s haircut to boot and Joan Rice is a sweet and convincing Maid Marian. The script also presents a clever touch at including a wandering minstrel who weaves the story together in song. The only flaw I found was the overly-bright lighting causing the cinematography to be suffering a budget. But other than that, "The Story of Robin Hood" is very well-written, well-directed, well-acted and well worth the purchase of the video.