The unidentified article (shown above) reads:
This modern-day minstrel is a transatlantic troubadour, having sought and won the patronage of the B.B.C. Films, recordings for Parlophone and H.M.V. and the Stage.
Elton Hayes compiles his program with great care - 'The trouble is that you may know hundreds of songs, but if they're all the same type only a few may be suitable for a Recital Programme; to overcome that trouble I often have to write my own'.
But in writing them Elton Hayes is doing just as his medieval predecessors did, bring up to date a medieval art, the only difference being, that none of them played to such a vast audience as the modern- day minstrel.
Elton Hayes (1915-2001) was ‘made for the part’ of Alan a Dale the legendary wandering minstrel. He carried the story uniquely from scene to scene, imitating the link the legend has with the balladeers that first spread the legend in medieval England.
70 years ago, Elton together with a rich array of talented actors and actresses was busy filming the Story of Robin Hood and his Merrie Men at Denham Studios and Burnam Beeches in Buckinghamshire, England. Although this wonderful version of the legend has held up remarkably well down the decades and many critics rate it highly in the long list of Robin Hood productions, today it is generally forgotten. One of the reasons is probably due to the DVD not being released by Disney in Europe and also their cartoon version of the legend overshadowing the earlier live-action production.
Others in the film's cast were Richard Todd, who played the title role; James Robertson Justice, Little John; Martitia Hunt as Queen Eleanor, and James Hayter as Friar Tuck.
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| James Hayter as Friar Tuck and Elton Hayes as Alan a Dale |
Hayes said Robin Hood was his second association with Walt Disney. He was hired by Disney to prepare original sea chanties for Treasure Island, due to the fact that Hayes collection of old English ballads were unrivalled in all of England.
At the time he was described as Britain's counterpart to America's Burl Ives, ballad and folk singer.
There are a couple of C.D's available of the music of Elton Hayes. But for fans of the Story of Robin Hood, I recommend the remastered compilation by Windyridge (WINDYVAR90), which includes 'Whistle My Love,' and 'Riddle de Diddle De Day.'
2 comments:
Walt Disney's Story of Robin Hood
Elton Hayes
What more can be said about Elton Hayes. He was just perfect as Alan A'Dale the wandering minstrel in 'The Story of Robin Hood and His Merrie Men' so much so that he was the actor from the film chosen to do the American promotion tour involving many appearances on Radio, TV and everything that the Disney organisation could think of.
He didn't make the same impact in 'The Black Knight' but that was not his fault.
His film fame resides in Sherwood Forest, Burnham Beeches or Denham Film Studios and in the hearts of the many admirers of this classic film.
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