In the 1950's Disney made several live action feature films of variable quality,some such as Treasure Island, 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea and The Great Locomotive Chase were actually rather good but perhaps the best of all was The Story of Robin Hood and his Merry Men.
For a start it was actually filmed in Sherwood Forest in England and Richard Todd who plays Robin Hood had an impeccable upper class English accent.Peter Finch who plays the evil Sheriff of Nottingham was of course Australian but manages a reasonable English accent.The Merry Men and peasants all seem to have acquired an undefined West Country accent which is personified by James Robertson Justice who plays Little John.Watching the film recently one is reminded of what a big brawny chap he was before he started to get corpulent.
The film itself has all the usual plot elements,e.g.Robin and Maid Marion played by the delectable Joan Rice,the archery contest and of course the usual comic appearance of Friar Tuck played by James Hayter,a part he was born to play.The story continues with the collection of King Richard's ransom which the dastardly Sheriff and his men try to steal disguised as Robin Hood's men.Hooray! The real Robin Hood and his Merry Men come to the rescue in the nick of time much to the relief of The Archbishop of Canterbury and Queen Eleanor the King's mother,a tough old bird played by Martita Hunt.
There is plenty of action,energetic sword fights and last minute rescues all very tastefully done apart from two quite violent scenes.The first when two peasants played by Michael Hordern and Bill Owen who can't or refuse to pay their taxes are taken to the town square and hung up over heated braziers while the Sheriff's men ride around beating them with cudgels.Fortunately for them they are soon rescued by Robin Hood @ Co and become it has to be said not particularly happy Merry Men.The other is when,at the end,The Sheriff is squashed between the drawbridge and the castle wall,a grisly end which serves him jolly well right.
I have nothing but praise for the entire cast,this is a wonderful adventure film for schoolboys of all ages and all in glorious color and brilliantly directed by Ken Annakin.
In the final scene Robin and Marion are married with the blessing of King Richard who turns up at the last minute, yes I know the story is only a legend but I wonder how the couple would have fared in the years to come when King Richard is killed in The Crusades and the villainous Prince John becomes the legitimate King.In history he wasn't known for forgiving and forgetting.
For a start it was actually filmed in Sherwood Forest in England and Richard Todd who plays Robin Hood had an impeccable upper class English accent.Peter Finch who plays the evil Sheriff of Nottingham was of course Australian but manages a reasonable English accent.The Merry Men and peasants all seem to have acquired an undefined West Country accent which is personified by James Robertson Justice who plays Little John.Watching the film recently one is reminded of what a big brawny chap he was before he started to get corpulent.
The film itself has all the usual plot elements,e.g.Robin and Maid Marion played by the delectable Joan Rice,the archery contest and of course the usual comic appearance of Friar Tuck played by James Hayter,a part he was born to play.The story continues with the collection of King Richard's ransom which the dastardly Sheriff and his men try to steal disguised as Robin Hood's men.Hooray! The real Robin Hood and his Merry Men come to the rescue in the nick of time much to the relief of The Archbishop of Canterbury and Queen Eleanor the King's mother,a tough old bird played by Martita Hunt.
There is plenty of action,energetic sword fights and last minute rescues all very tastefully done apart from two quite violent scenes.The first when two peasants played by Michael Hordern and Bill Owen who can't or refuse to pay their taxes are taken to the town square and hung up over heated braziers while the Sheriff's men ride around beating them with cudgels.Fortunately for them they are soon rescued by Robin Hood @ Co and become it has to be said not particularly happy Merry Men.The other is when,at the end,The Sheriff is squashed between the drawbridge and the castle wall,a grisly end which serves him jolly well right.
I have nothing but praise for the entire cast,this is a wonderful adventure film for schoolboys of all ages and all in glorious color and brilliantly directed by Ken Annakin.
In the final scene Robin and Marion are married with the blessing of King Richard who turns up at the last minute, yes I know the story is only a legend but I wonder how the couple would have fared in the years to come when King Richard is killed in The Crusades and the villainous Prince John becomes the legitimate King.In history he wasn't known for forgiving and forgetting.