From the Story to the Adventures

Patrick Barr in The Story of Robin Hood

Patrick Barr, resplendent as Richard the Lionheart, prepares to depart for the Holy Land in Disney’s The Story of Robin Hood (1952).

Four years later, Barr revived his role as Richard in the classic television series The Adventures of Robin Hood. In a rare crossover between cinema and television, he appeared alongside Richard Greene in the episodes Secret Mission (1956) and Richard the Lion-Heart (1956), in which Robin Hood meets the mysterious pilgrim Peregrinus, who is revealed to be King Richard. Three other actors from Disney’s The Story of Robin Hood also appeared in the TV series. Do you know who they were?

Patrick Barr in the Adventures of Robin Hood

Patrick—often called Pat—was born in Akola, India, on 13 February 1908. His first brush with the legendary outlaw came in 1932, when he appeared as a torturer in the black-and-white short The Merry Men of Sherwood. Throughout the 1930s, Barr was often cast as dependable, trustworthy characters, a persona he carried through a long career in film and television. After six years of military service during the Second World War, he returned to acting, appearing once again alongside Richard Todd in the classic war film The Dambusters (1955).

Will Stutely

 

Bill Owen (1914-1999), in the role of Will Stutely, stands beside one of the many giant coppiced trees in Burnham Beeches, Buckinghamshire, during the filming of Disney’s The Story of Robin Hood. His later career saw him appear in more than 180 episodes of the television series Last of the Summer Wine, the part of Compo Simmonite becoming his defining signature role.

A Hidden Gem in Sherwood: Whistle My Love

A decade before writing the Christmas classic “It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year,” Eddie Pola and George Wyle were composing songs for Disney’s second live-action film, The Story of Robin Hood and His Merrie Men (1952). “Whistle My Love” is, in my view, a slightly overlooked gem, performed in the film by the minstrel Alan-a-Dale, played by Elton Hayes. As he sings, we see Robin and Marian walking together through the glades of Sherwood, the ballad’s tender lines — “I’ll always find you no matter where you may be” — lending the scene a beautifully romantic, yearning quality.

Robin Hood Stamp Book

 Another fine example of Disney’s impressive promotion for The Story of Robin Hood and His Merrie Men (1952) is this collectable book, published in New York in 1955 by Simon and Schuster. The story was adapted from Lawrence E. Watkin’s screenplay by Willis Lindquist and illustrated by Hamilton Greene, whose artwork could be coloured.

What makes the book especially appealing for fans is the set of four pages of titled, numbered colour stamps—sixty in total—that the owner had to place in the correct spots throughout. Many readers of my blog will recognise the images, but seeing them in full colour helps explain why the film was praised as the finest Technicolor production ever made in England.

One stamp is particularly intriguing: No. 32, titled “BRING HIM DOWN” SHOUTS DE LACY. It shows the Sheriff of Nottingham (Peter Finch) drawing a bow over a fallen soldier—a moment never seen in the finished film, suggesting it was left on the cutting-room floor.

Cousin Will

Anthony Forwood as Will Scarlet 

I have often lamented the fact that this film never received a sequel. With today’s trend of studios transforming beloved stories into full-fledged franchises, this Technicolor masterpiece would have been an ideal candidate. The Story of Robin Hood had so much potential to continue, not least because it is filled with memorable characters brought to life by a wonderful cast.

Will Scarlet is one of them. Introduced as “Cousin Will,” as Robin Hood (Richard Todd) calls him, he first appears among the outlaws in their Sherwood Forest camp. Yet the screenplay offers no real insight into his background. In fact, the elegantly dressed Will Scarlet—portrayed by Anthony Forwood—has only one notable scene, in which he joins the other outlaws in “christening” Little John (James Robertson-Justice) by tossing him into the river. After this brief moment, Forwood’s time on screen as Will Scarlet comes to an abrupt end. It’s hard not to feel that the narrative could have developed his character further.

The Sheriff and his Bow

Peter Finch as the Sheriff of Nottingham

We never see the Sheriff pick up a longbow in the film. It was probably one of many clips that eventually found their way onto the cutting room floor. But, a similar image was later used in ‘Walt Disney's Robin Hood Stamp Book’ published in New York in 1955 by Simon and Schuster. 

The Hero Robin Hood

 

Robin Hood has long been celebrated as a hero of the people, so when Walt Disney sought a leading man for his live-action film about the legendary outlaw, he could hardly have chosen a better fit than Captain Richard Todd.

Born in Dublin, Ireland, Todd became one of the first British officers to land on D-Day during the Second World War. Serving with the 7th (Light Infantry) Parachute Battalion of the British 6th Airborne Division, Lieutenant Todd took part in Operation Tonga on 6 June 1944. His battalion parachuted in as reinforcements shortly after the glider troops had secured the vital Pegasus Bridge, a key objective that prevented German forces from mounting a counterattack. Just five days after D-Day, Todd was promoted to Captain.

During the operation, he met Major John Howard on Pegasus Bridge—an encounter that would come full circle years later when Todd portrayed Howard in the 1962 film The Longest Day. Remarkably, the beret Todd wears in the movie is the very same one he wore during the D-Day landings.

After the war, Todd returned to acting, earning acclaim in films such as The Dam Busters and The Story of Robin Hood.

Captain Richard Todd passed away on December 3, 2009, at the age of 90. He is laid to rest at St. Guthlac’s Church in Little Ponton, Lincolnshire, England.

Joan Rice in her Promotional Dress

 

Another photograph of Joan Rice, our Maid Marian, taken at the premiere of Walt Disney’s The Story of Robin Hood and His Merrie Men at the Leicester Square Theatre on 13th March 1952. Joan’s gown was reportedly designed by Walt Disney’s promotional team. Newspapers described her arriving in a limousine, her tulle skirt trimmed with Robin Hood motifs, and her velvet bodice — naturally — in Lincoln Green. There were also “provincial” premieres the following month. On 7th April, screenings were held in Portsmouth and Southsea, attended by Joan Rice and James Hayter. On 24th April, Joan appeared with Elton Hayes (Allan-a-Dale) at the Odeon in Manchester, before Elton Hayes visited the Gaumont Theatre in Liverpool on April 27th.

Joan and Petula

 

I have to thank John Nelson once again for another amazing and rare photograph. 

This one captures Joan Rice, our Maid Marian, at the premiere of Walt Disney’s The Story of Robin Hood and His Merrie Men at the Leicester Square Theatre on March 13th, 1952.

Alongside Joan that evening was the talented singer, actress, and songwriter Petula Clark.