Above is a rare film still of Anthony Forwood (1915-1988) as Will Scarlet from Walt Disney’s Story of Robin Hood and his Merrie Men (1952). ‘Tony’s’ role as Scarlet is sadly not developed in the movie, although he is already installed as a rather dapperly dressed member of the band of outlaws. Scarlet is referred to as ‘Cousin Will’ in a scene where Robin first meets Little John, but seems of a higher class than a yeoman forester, like Robin and his father.
Perhaps (for amusement) my merrie band of Whistling Arrows could fill in the gaps in Lawrence Watkin’s screen play, and explain how Will Scarlet joined Robin’s band of outlaws?
To read more about Anthony Forwood’s life and the historical connections in the legend between Will Scarlet/Scarlett/ Scathelock/ Scadlock and even Alan-a-Dale, please click on the relevant labels.
3 comments:
Anthony Forwood as Will Scarlet in Walt Disney's Story of Robin Hood (1952)
I always think that with a running time of just 84 minutes 'The Story of Robin Hood' could have been made ten minutes or more longer in which case there might have been a better storyline for Will Scarlett. In the film the classic meeting with Little John and Friar Tuck are superbly well done - it could hardly have been done better so maybe Will was from a well-to- do family - he was Robin's cousin - who perhaps had fallen on hard times due to Prince John and had been forced to join the Merrie Men.I thought Anthony Forwood was very good in the film and seemed to look and fit the part perfectly.
I agree Neil, the film could have gone on far longer. Which raises the question, 'do the scenes that were cur from the movie survive in the Disney archives?'
We know the scene in which Marion, Midge and Allan-a-Dale wander through Sherwood was probably much longer as was the fight by the stream between the Sheriff's men and the outlaws.
Wouldn't it be great to see those deleted scenes along with the original trailer on a DVD released in Europe!
As for Will Scarlet, I could imagine him working for the original Sheriff until the new evil Sheriff takes over. Will discovers the cruelty and the scheme between the Prince and De Lacy and pays the price by being outlawed.
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