The Earl of Huntingdon's Arched Doorway

Clement McCallin as the Earl of Huntingdon

In this rare still from Walt Disney's Story of Robin Hood and His Merrie Men (1952), we see the Earl of Huntingdon, portrayed by Clement McCallin (1913-1977).

Film writer Lawrence Edward Watkin (1901-1981) introduced an intriguing twist to the legend by making Maid Marian’s father the Earl of Huntingdon. Traditionally, this title was linked to Robin Hood himself, dating back to Tudor times and the two plays by Anthony Munday,  The Downfall of Robert Earl of Huntingdon and The Death of Robert Earl of Huntingdon, both written around 1598.

The Earl of Huntingdon leaves for Nottingham Castle

In those stills above, the Earl of Huntingdon, portrayed by Clement McCallin, stands before an elegant arched doorway.

I am sure this doorway is based on the highly decorated Norman west door at Southwell Minster in Nottinghamshire, England. This remarkably preserved Romanesque church architecture (below) dates between 1108 and 1150 and must have influenced Walt Disney's production crew.

The West Door of Southwell Minster

Disney’s production crew, including producer Perce Pearce, scriptwriter Lawrence Edward Watkin, historical advisor Dr Charles Beard, art director Carmen Dillon, and Richard Todd, visited Nottingham City Library, Nottingham Castle, Edwinstowe, Sherwood Forest, including Robin Hood’s Larder (now gone) and the Major Oak, Ollerton, Creswell Crags, Nottingham’s Caves, the Salutation Inn, Trip to Jerusalem Inn and Newstead Abbey. Their quest was to bring the REAL story of Robin Hood to the screen.

Dr Charles Beard was a historical scholar and used as an advisor on 'the mode, manners and customs of medieval England'. His knowledge and guidance, no doubt, influenced Carmen Dillon's art department to produce the Norman doorway at Denham Studios.

Putting the Castle on the Hill

Peter Ellenshaw (1913-2007)

Above, we see Huntingdon Manor magically emerge from a drawing to 'reality' from the opening scene of Walt Disney's Story of Robin Hood and his Merrie Men (1952). Later, there are some stunning views of Nottingham Castle from the archery contest, Sherwood Forest, and much more. But how was it done?

Nottingham's Archery Contest

One of the many elements that gave Disney's live-action film such a sumptuous quality was the matte effects of Peter Ellenshaw (1913-2007). 

In the days before CGI, filmmakers relied on ‘matte painting’ as a cost-effective substitute for building sets or filming on location. Matte paintings were created by artists using paints or pastels on large sheets of glass or integrated with the live-action footage via double exposure.

A camera set up for a matte shot

Its foremost practitioner was Peter Ellenshaw, who joined Denham Studios in 1935 as an uncredited assistant to his stepfather, W. Percy Day, the inventor of matte painting on such things as Things To Come (1936) and The Thief Of Bagdad (1940).

In 1947, he created the wonderful mountain scenery for Michael Powell’s and Emeric Pressburger’s Black Narcissus. Martin Scorsese, a big fan, said that watching it was ‘like being bathed in colour.’

After Black Narcissus, Ellenshaw worked on over 30 films for Walt Disney Studios. He began working as a freelancer for Walt Disney in 1947 and became involved in making Treasure Island, the studio's first live-action movie. The great art director Carmen Dillon recommended Peter’s work to Walt for his next project in England, The Story of Robin Hood and his Merrie Men in 1952. 

The Earl of Huntingdon rides to Nottingham Castle

                                    

Above, we see Ellenshaw's beautiful artwork on glass in the scene where the Earl of Huntingdon approaches Nottingham Castle. Below, we see the original scene as the riders approach the hill before Ellenshaw applies his masterful brushwork. 

Ellenshaw did fifty-two matte paintings for The Story of Robin Hood.

        

The riders approach the hill before the painted castle

Elton Hayes

Elton Hayes as Alan a Dale

 Above is a rare publicity still of Elton Hayes (1915-2001) as Alan a Dale in Walt Disney’s live-action movie The Story of Robin Hood and his Merrie Men (1952). Elton said Robin Hood was his second association with Walt Disney.

Elton Hayes was also hired by Disney to prepare original sea chanties for Treasure Island because his collection of old English ballads was unrivalled in all of England. At the time he was described as Britain's counterpart to America's Burl Ives, a ballad and folk singer.

So, Hayes 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.

James Hayter as Friar Tuck and Elton Hayes as Alan a Dale

Over 73 years ago, Elton together with a rich array of talented actors and actresses filmed the Story of Robin Hood 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.

There are a couple of CDs 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.’

Special thanks to John Nelson for sending this image.