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 |
| Produced by |
Perce Pearce Walt Disney |
| Written by | Lawrence Edward Watkin |
| Starring |
Richard Todd Joan Rice Peter Finch |
| Music by | Clifton Parker |
| Cinematography | Guy Green |
Production company | |
| Distributed by | RKO Radio Pictures, Inc. |
Release dates | |
Running time | 84 minutes |
| Language | English |
| Box office | $2.1 million (US rentals)[3] |
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.
Cast
- Richard Todd as Robin Hood
- Joan Rice as Maid Marian
- Peter Finch as the Sheriff of Nottingham
- James Hayter as Friar Tuck. Hayter would later reprise his role as Friar Tuck in the 1967 Hammer film A Challenge for Robin Hood.
- 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 I. Barr would later reprise King Richard in two episodes of Adventures of Robin Hood.
- Anthony Forwood as Will Scarlet
- Bill Owen as Will Stutely
- Louise Hampton as Tyb, aged nurse of Maid Marian
- Richard Graydon as Merrie Man
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
- ↑ Jewell, Richard B.; Harbin, Vernon (1982). The RKO Story. New York: Arlington House. p. 266. ISBN 0-517-546566.
- 1 2 "The Story of Robin Hood and His Merrie Men: Detail View". American Film Institute. Retrieved May 18, 2014.
- ↑ '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
- Official website
- The Story of Robin Hood and His Merrie Men at the Internet Movie Database
- The Story of Robin Hood and His Merrie Men at Turner Classic Movies
- The Story of Robin Hood and His Merrie Men at Rotten Tomatoes