Joan Rice in the Make-up Department


Here is my own copy of Joan Rice (1930-1997) in the make-up department for her role as Maid Marian during the filming of Walt Disney’s Story of Robin Hood in early 1951.

I am not sure who the gentleman is applying the make-up, it could be Geoffrey Rodway the Makeup Supervisor on the movie or Trevor Crole-Rees, Stuart Freeborn, Eddie Knight, A. L Lawrence, Robert Alexander or Wally Schneiderman. They are listed in various articles as uncredited makeup artists on the Disney live-action movie. My guess is the supervisor Geoffrey Rodway. But of course if anyone out there could let me know, I would be much obliged.

7 comments:

Clement Glen said...

Joan Rice in the Make-up Department

Walt Disney's Story of Robin Hood (1952)

Anonymous said...

She was adorable ^_^

Mike Giddens said...

The perfect English rose

Neil said...

Very beautiful girl and an inspired choice by Walt Disney himself to play Maid Marian in the film. What a thrill that must have been for such a young person. Clement has done so well to gradually find and share so much information about Joan Rice that none of us knew. In the past as a film fan I often used to ask 'whatever happened to Joan Rice?' Now thanks to Clement we know much of the answer - there may be more to come. This photograph is not one I have ever seen. Another great discovery.

Clement Glen said...

As I began to piece together Joan’s early life it soon became apparent to me that it reads rather like a Disney fairytale on its own.

A young girl brought up in a convent in Nottingham, playing at Maid Marian in nearby Sherwood Forest and grows up working behind the bar in pubs and as a waitress in a tea house. But she wins a beauty contest, gets a film contract and in a matter of a few years is personally chosen by Uncle Walt to play his Maid Marian. She is then whisked off to Hollywood and surrounded with all the glamour that goes with it.

So I often wonder what was going through that beautiful young girls mind as she sat in that chair in the make-up department.

Alex Rodway said...

Yes that is Geoffrey Rodway my grandfather.

Clement Glen said...

Many thanks for getting in touch Alex. Did your grandfather have any anecdotes about working on that movie? If so it would be great to hear them!