Disney's Swashbuckling Classic: Robin Hood (1973)

A foxy fiftieth this week - Robin Hood.

In this, the last of my Disney anniversary celebrations, I am looking at Robin Hood, which celebrates its 50th birthday this year.

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The Story Behind the Movie

Disney's Robin Hood premiered on November 8, 1973, portraying the legendary outlaw of Sherwood Forest. Directed by Wolfgang Reitherman, it infuses a delightful twist into Robin Hood's classic narrative alongside his Merry Men.

The movie's creation was shaped by budget limitations and a necessity to repurpose animations. However, this challenge birthed a distinctive and affectionate rendition of the well-known legend. This adaptation ingeniously transformed Robin Hood, Little John, Maid Marian, and the antagonist, Prince John, into adored anthropomorphic animals, a standout feature.

The notion of adapting Robin Hood into an animated feature traces back to Walt Disney's fascination with Reynard the Fox post the release of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1937). Yet, the idea lingered on the shelves for decades.

In 1968, Ken Anderson proposed a film merging Robin Hood with concepts from Reynard the Fox, utilising animal characters instead of humans. The project gained approval, marking the initial animated feature produced without Walt Disney's direct involvement.

Robin Hood's tale follows the cunning fox as he outwits the greedy Prince John and the Sheriff of Nottingham, all while romancing the enchanting Maid Marian and aiding Nottingham's oppressed. The film masterfully blends action, humour, and emotion, making it a cherished generation classic. This animated gem stands as a testament to creativity and perseverance in filmmaking.

The Voice Actors

Like most Disney classics, the voice actors give another stellar performance in bringing the cast to life. Brian Bedford lent his voice to the charming Robin Hood, perfectly capturing the character's roguish charisma. Phil Harris, known for voicing Baloo in The Jungle Book, provided the voice for Little John, Robin Hood's loyal sidekick and bear companion.

Peter Ustinov's portrayal of the pompous and greedy Prince John is a highlight, filled with memorable moments and comedic timing. Pat Buttram added humour to the story as the bumbling Sheriff of Nottingham, creating a simultaneously endearing and comical character.

Plotline

Alan-a-Dale narrates the story. He introduces Robin Hood and Little John, who live in Sherwood Forest, robbing the rich and giving to the poor of Nottingham. The Sheriff of Nottingham tries to catch the two but fails. Meanwhile, Prince John and his counsellor, Sir Hiss, arrive in Nottingham.

Sir Hiss has already hypnotised Prince John's brother, King Richard, to fight in the crusades so that Prince John can take the throne as King. Unfortunately, the Prince is greedy and juvenile. Robin and Little John disguise themselves as fortune tellers and rob Prince John. Enraged by the act, he puts a bounty on their heads. The Sheriff, under Prince John's orders, taxes the inhabitants of Nottingham even more due to the robbery. Robin gives some money to a family of rabbits along with his bow, arrow and one of his hats to a young rabbit named Skippy for his birthday. Skippy goes off with his friends to test out the bow and arrow and shoots an arrow into the grounds of Nottingham Castle. They sneak inside and meet Maid Marian and her lady-in-waiting Lady Kluck. Marian and Robin were once childhood sweethearts but were separated, and she is unsure if Robin would even remember her.

Friar Tuck, a local priest, encounters Robin and Little John and shares news of Prince John's archery tournament, where a kiss from Maid Marian is the coveted prize. Robin cleverly adopts a stork disguise for the contest, while Little John assumes the guise of the Duke of Chutney to approach Prince John. Despite winning, Robin is exposed by Prince John and condemned to death, leading to a clash between villagers and soldiers. Amidst the chaos, Robin's group flees with Marian and Lady Kluck.

When they return to the forest, Robin and Marian enjoy a romantic interlude, singing about Prince John being a phoney king. The song provokes Prince John to harshly triple taxes, leading to mass imprisonment for those unable to pay. The sheriff visits Friar Tuck’s church and is arrested for treason. As the friar faces execution, Prince John hopes to manipulate Robin into a reckless act to save his dear friend.

On the eve of the execution, Robin Hood and Little John infiltrate the castle. They liberate Tuck and the prisoners while Robin seizes Prince John's gold. Chaos erupts during their escape to Sherwood Forest. Robin, amidst turmoil, rescues Skippy's sister, facing the Sheriff's pursuit and a fiery showdown. Escaping, Robin reunites with his companions. He rebukes Prince John's failed plan as Richard returns, pardoning Robin and condemning John, Hiss, and the Sheriff to labour. Robin marries Marian, departing Nottingham with loved ones for a honeymoon.

The Animation Challenges

Robin Hood presented unique animation challenges as it was produced during budget constraints and the recycling of animation sequences from previous Disney films. However, the animation team's creativity shone through as they transformed familiar characters into anthropomorphic animals. Robin Hood became a charming fox, Little John a friendly bear, and Prince John a snivelling lion.

The archery tournament is a memorable sequence demonstrating the film's animation prowess. Robin Hood's arrow-splitting skills and the high-stakes competition are brought to life with precision and excitement. The film also uses animation to convey the characters' emotions and personalities through their expressive animal features.

The character of Robin Hood was always going to be a fox. From there, it was logical that Maid Marian should be a pretty vixen. Legendarily known for his size, Little John was easily a big, overgrown bear.

Friar Tuck is fantastic as a badger but would also have been great as a pig as he was initially planned. This was changed as a pig could have been considered offensive to the church. Richard the Lionheart was a strong lion, and his pathetic cousin, Prince John, the weak villain, also had to be a lion but was made scrawny and childish. Prince John, a snake's character, worked perfectly as a slithering consort [Sir Hiss]."

Fun Facts

Robin Hood is the first Disney film to recycle animation sequences from earlier films. Some dance scenes featuring Robin Hood and Maid Marian are borrowed from The Jungle Book and The Aristocats.

Tommy Steele was originally cast as Robin Hood but could not make the character sound heroic, so he was replaced.

Maid Marian's costume features a modern zip, a subtle anachronism in the film. This detail showcases the film's creative blend of the classic and contemporary.

The character of Prince John's henchman, Sir Hiss, inspired the snake Kaa's design in The Jungle Book, which was released a few years earlier.

With a budget of $5m, the film initially grossed $33m at the box office.

In conclusion, Robin Hood is a delightful Disney classic that stands the test of time with its memorable characters, humorous antics, and unique twist on a legendary tale. Despite the challenges faced during its production, the film's creativity and heart shine through, making it a beloved treasure in Disney's animated legacy.