The Story of Robin Hood and His Merrie Men
According to a 1951 Los Angeles Times article, Disney child star, Bobby Driscoll, who had made an impression in Treasure Island (1950) was to have had a role as one of the Merrie Men, but Disney decided to refocus the story on the romance between Robin and Maid Marian, as had the Errol Flynn version of the film released in 1938. However, unlike the previous film, The Story of Robin Hood and His Merrie Men restored the character of the Sheriff of Nottingham as the main villain, rather than Prince John. Bobby Driscoll's co-star in Treasure Island, Robert Newton, was announced for the role of Friar Truck, but only a month later it was reported that Newton was still shooting RKO's film Androcles and the Lion (1952) and was not available to travel to England, and was replaced by James Hayter. The cast also included Martita Hunt as Queen Eleanor, Michael Hordern as Scathelock, Louise Hampton as Marian's nurse, and James Robertson Justice as Little John.
Produced by Perce Pearce for Walt Disney Productions, Ltd., The Story of Robin Hood and His Merrie Men was Disney's second live-action film, and was shot in Technicolor by cinematographer Guy Green, most famous for his work with David Lean. Ken Annakin directed the film from a screenplay by Lawrence Edward Watkin. Production began in April 1951 and took place entirely in England at various locations around the country, including the actual Sherwood Forest, Burnham Beeches in Buckinghamshire, as well as interiors at the Denham Studios, owned at the time by D and P Studios, Ltd. Disney choose to shoot this film and Treasure Island in the United Kingdom rather than California because the company and its distributor, RKO, had discovered that all the profits from Disney films released in the post-war United Kingdom had been frozen in pounds, and were unable to be transferred to the United States. Disney was therefore forced to spend the money in the UK, which is why the company chose to take advantage of the locations to make two quintessential English stories.
Actor Richard Todd had been involved in pre-production, meeting with producer Pearce and screenwriter Watkin in London. He later wrote in his autobiography that he was impressed with the production team's attention to detail. During each meeting of the team "a sketch artist was present, and as each camera set-up was worked out and agreed, he produced a pencil-and-wash picture of exactly what would be in the camera lens. These sketches were photocopied and bound into folders, and all of us at these meetings were eventually issued with the bound volumes, showing every single shot."
The film had its world premiere in London on March 13, 1952, later opening in New York on June 26 and went into wide release in July. The anonymous "A.W.," writing for The New York Times, praised the film as another example of Disney "proving that his organization can provide the variety that is the spice of entertainment. [...] [I]t is an expert rendition of an ancient legend that is as pretty as its Technicolor hues and as lively as a sturdy Western. [...] [T]he action - the courtly speeches and romance are kept to a sensible minimum - is robust and fairly continuous." The film would go on to gross over $4,578,000 at the American box office. It later aired on the Disneyland television series on November 2 and November 9, 1955, just as many Disney theatricals would later be broadcast on the various Disney television programs throughout the years. The Disney company would return to the Robin Hood story in 1973 with an animated musical version, starring the voices of Phil Harris, Brian Bedford, Terry-Thomas, and Roger Miller.
SOURCES:
A.W. "Disney's 'Story of Robin Hood' " The New York Times 27 Jun 52
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