Well, it had to be done. Thanks to the magic of AI, I’ve managed to place myself alongside Robin and Marian in the final scene of The Story of Robin Hood (1952). What an incredible moment that would have been to witness firsthand.
Regular readers of this blog will no doubt remember the memories shared by Elspeth Gill (1936–2012). Her father, Alex Bryce (1905–1961), was a celebrated director, producer, and writer. He worked not only on Walt Disney’s The Story of Robin Hood and His Merrie Men but also on The Sword and the Rose (1953) and Rob Roy (1953).
Here’s a quick recap of Elspeth’s extraordinary experience:
Elspeth’s father was in charge of the Second Unit on Robin Hood, which handled all the action-packed scenes — from the ambush of the royal coach and the market square rescue of Scathelok, to Robin’s many clashes with the Sheriff. Elspeth was about sixteen at the time and recalled the filming vividly.
Elspeth Gill with Richard Todd as Robin Hood
She had the unique opportunity to watch scenes being shot not just in Burnham Beeches but also on the massive sound stages at Denham Studios. At the time, she lived just four miles from the studio. In a local fancy dress competition, she was allowed to borrow one of Richard Todd’s Robin Hood costumes — and naturally, she won! Afterwards, she even rode her horse all the way to Denham Studios, where the security guards had been informed of her grand arrival in advance.
Though more than sixty years had passed, Elspeth still recalled meeting Walt Disney himself and described the film’s Art Director, Carmen Dillon, as a truly formidable woman. As for Richard Todd, she fondly remembered him as “such a lovely, lovely man.” He became a family friend, and Elspeth even enjoyed Scottish dancing with him during the production of Rob Roy. Her father, she said, absolutely loved working on those classic Disney live-action films.
To read more about Elspeth’s memories on set, feel free to explore more on my blog.