This Disney animated feature (their 21st full-length cartoon) has animals taking the roles of the characters in the Robin Hood legend.
Robin Hood (voiced by Brain Bedford) is a sly fox, Maid Marian (voiced by Monica Evans) a pretty vixen, Little John (voiced by Phil Harris) is a bear, Friar Tuck (voiced by Andy Devine) a badger, and Prince John (voiced by Peter Ustinov) a scrawny, neurotic lion.
Dastardly Prince John and the mean Sheriff of Nottingham (a wolf) are up to their old tricks – levying heavy taxes and making people’s lives a misery.
But never fear. Help is at hand in the shape of Robin Hood, who steals from the rich to feed the poor in daring schemes, which include him and Little John disguising themselves as gypsy women fortune tellers.
Then comes the day of the Royal Tournament. The prize is a golden arrow and a kiss from Robin’s childhood sweetheart, Maid Marian.
Prince John is convinced Robin will try to take the prize and has his men looking out for the foxy outlaw. What can Robin do to win both the arrow and the kiss? He adopts another disguise – as a stork – which the Prince and Sheriff soon see through, but all is not lost even though all the poor peasants, Allan-a-Dale (Roger Miller) and Friar Tuck are sent to gaol.
Roger Miller wrote two songs for the film: the happy song Robin Hood (or Oo-de-Lolly after a favourite expression of Robin’s) and Not in Nottingham, a plaintive ballad about the plight of poor people.
Hit composer Johnny Mercer contributed The Phoney King of England, sung by Phil Harris as Little John. Disney staff composer George Brun wrote the score and contributed Love which is hummed by Maid Marian.
Prince John and his slimy sycophantic snake counsellor Sir Hiss (Terry-Thomas) provide the funniest moments, while the archery contest-turned-American football match is an action highlight.
Approximately 350,000 drawings, including pencil test reels – by 15 animators and 23 assistant animators – were made. Laid in a line, they would stretch for 40 miles! For the 1,200 scenes – utilising 800 painted backdrops – some 100,000 paintings depicting the moving characters on screen were produced.
This cartoon may not have the heart or the memorable songs of the studio’s classics, but the result is still a pleasant and entertaining diversion for children.
Robin Hood
Brian Bedford Little John
Phil Harris Maid Marian
Monica Evans Prince John
Peter Ustinov Sir Hiss
Terry-Thomas Friar Tuck
Andy Devine Allan-A-Dale
Roger Miller Lady Kluck
Carole Shelley
Director
Wolfgang Reitherman
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Dastardly Prince John and the mean Sheriff of Nottingham (a wolf) are up to their old tricks – levying heavy taxes and making people’s lives a misery.
Roger Miller wrote two songs for the film: the happy song Robin Hood (or Oo-de-Lolly after a favourite expression of Robin’s) and Not in Nottingham, a plaintive ballad about the plight of poor people.
Robin Hood
