Above is a press photograph of Joan Rice at the Dorchester Hotel in London on 28th February 1951, where it was officially announced that she had been chosen to play Maid Marian alongside Richard Todd as Robin Hood in Disney’s up and coming Technicolor motion picture.
Joan Rice was always proud of the fact that she was Walt Disney’s ‘first Maid Marian,’ and for nearly five years I have tried to piece together her life story. It reads like a fairytale how, as a child from a broken home, she was sent to an orphanage near Sherwood Forest and eventually became chosen by Walt Disney himself to play in his live action movie The Story of Robin Hood and his Merrie Men (1952). Of course it wasn’t all to be glitz and glamour, but through all her troubles, friends and family have described her as such a warm and friendly person. This blog is dedicated to her memory and there are now over 45 posts about this beautiful actress, including stills, magazine articles and details of her life.
"Walt Disney’s First Maid Marian"
ReplyDeleteDedicated To The Memory of Joan Rice (1930-1997)
Walt Disney's Story Of Robin Hood (1952)
It is always good when you have some more news on Joan Rice. I often used to ask the question 'Whatever happened to Joan Rice' and Thanks to Clement we now know much much more about this beautiful young actress.There is always more information to be found out of course and that will probably happen.It would be good to learn more of her fiance and also the years after her film career faded away and why. Trouble is that each snippet we find out tends to lead to even more questions.
ReplyDeleteNeil, your input has also helped a great deal.
ReplyDeleteAnd if anybody reading this has memories of Joan Rice, please get in touch at disneysrobin@googlemail.com