Behind The Scenes

Richard Todd, Walt Disney and Joan Rice

As we celebrate the centenary of the formation of The Walt Disney Company this year. I thought I would share a few publicity shots of the day the great man visited Burnham Beeches and Denham Film Studios in Buckinghamshire to oversee the filming of The Story of Robin Hood and his Merrie Men (1952).

Elton Hayes, Walt Disney and Richard Todd

In July 1951, just as his cartoon version of Alice in Wonderland was released in America, Walt Disney visited Europe with his wife Lillian and their daughters to supervise his second live-action movie, The Story of Robin Hood and his Merrie Men (1952) which was financed again by the blocked monies of RKO and Disney. Apparently, he was thoroughly pleased with the way things were going.

Walt Disney and family visiting England in 1951

Before leaving America, Walt had screened films at the studio, looking at prospective actors and directors and making what he called ‘merely suggestions’, while he left the final decisions to Perce Pearce, who was producing. For his part, Pearce had laid out every shot in the movie in thumbnail sketches, or storyboards, just as the studio had done with the animators, and sent them on along with photostats and the final script to Walt for his approval, which Walt freely gave, though not without a veiled threat that Pearce had better make the film as quickly as possible. “This is important not only to the organisation but to you as the producer,” he wrote.

Anthony Eustrel, Patrick Barr and Walt Disney

Richard Todd is vague about how he was chosen to play the part of Robin Hood for Disney. He didn't remember if it was through his agent or the legendary filmmaker himself.  But, after agreeing to play the part of the outlaw he met Perce Pearce and Maud Spector (the casting director) at the Dorchester Hotel in London and went through lists of candidates for parts in the film. Todd's only contribution was to suggest James Robertson Justice as Little John.

Joan Rice with Ken Annakin

What is certain is Disney personally chose Joan Rice to play the part of Maid Marian. Todd doesn't mention Joan in his biography but, Ken Annakin, the director of The Story of Robin Hood, does. He depreciatingly describes Joan as Disney's, Achilles Heel and only fit to be somebody's housemaid! 

Audiences around the world disagreed with Annakin.