#57 The Story of Robin Hood and His Merrie Men

February 23, 2021
The Story of Robin Hood and His Merrie Men (1952) *** 1/2
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“Stand aside, fellow.”
“Wherefore?”
“To let the better man pass.”
“Then you stand aside!”

Robin Hood and His Merrie Men is the very first Disney film to not only be fully live action without even the smallest bit of animation, but also with a fully grown-up cast! No more Bobby Driscoll and Luana Patten, instead we have Richard Todd in the first of his three Disney leads in a row, Peter Finch 25 years before he was Howard Beale in Network, as the Sheriff of Nottingham, and the great Martita Hunt as Queen Eleanor, whom I know from being Alec Guinness’ acting teacher (from his autobiography), and, of course, as Miss Haversham in Great Expectations,

The film starts at a different point than any other version I have seen, i.e. with Richard the Lion Heart heading out to the Crusades with Marion’s father, leaving Prince John in charge of the kingdom, Marion going to the castle to be in the care of the Queen Mother, Eleanor, so much setup! And the movie is only an hour and 23 minutes, it seems that the actual Robin Hood bit might be on the tight side.

The various scenes of Robin gathering his crew are great, particularly Little John and Friar Tuck, it is a very playful group of Merrie Men, they are extremely well-named.

Having Eleanor as a character works so well, it makes me wonder why she isn’t normally in these stories. Except that she does pull focus from Robin’s story as she gives Prince John what for for not contributing to the ransom to rescue King Richard from jail in Austria.

Joan Rice makes for a headstrong and tomboyish Maid Marion, with more agency than in some other films, and with great chemistry with Robin.

All in all, definitely worth a watch.