Robin Hood's Chair Yet Again!

 

Yes, it's been spotted again!

Regular readers will be familiar with our ongoing search for the distinctive Robin Hood chairs designed by Carmen Dillon and her art department for Walt Disney's 1952 film The Story of Robin Hood. Over the years, these remarkable props have turned up in a surprising number of productions.

Thanks to a sharp-eyed blog reader, one of the chairs has now been identified in a scene from Without a Clue (1988), shown above.

Below is the latest updated list of productions in which these famous chairs have been spotted. If you recognise them in any other films or television programmes, please do get in touch.

The Story of Robin Hood and his Merrie Men (1952)

The Men of Sherwood Forest (Film, 1954)

The Black Knight (Film, 1954)

The Adventures of Robin Hood (TV, 1955–1958)

The Dark Avenger (Film, 1955)

Ivanhoe (TV, 1958) – Episode: The Night Raiders (featuring Joan Rice, who would have remembered these chairs from her time filming at Denham Studios)

Sword of Sherwood Forest (Film, 1960)

Richard the Lionheart (TV, 1962-1963)

Robin of Sherwood (TV, 1984–1986)

The Mission – Stay With Me (Official Music Video, 1986)

Without A Clue (Film, 1988)

Horrible Histories (TV, 2013–2015)

Disney's Robin Hood Radio Series

Did you know that Disney’s The Story of Robin Hood and His Merrie Men was also adapted into a radio series? I was just as surprised as you might be! Thanks to another fantastic contribution from our regular contributor, Neil Vessey, we now have images of the Radio Times listings from 1952 that reveal this little-known production.

Beginning on Monday, 28 April 1952, the BBC broadcast The Adventures of Robin Hood on the Light Programme in five daily half-hour episodes, concluding on 1 May 1952. The series aired around the time of the general release of Disney’s live-action film The Story of Robin Hood and His Merrie Men and featured many members of the film’s original cast.

Listeners heard Richard Todd as Robin Hood, Joan Rice as Maid Marian, Patrick Barr as King Richard, Elton Hayes as Alan-a-Dale, Hubert Gregg as Prince John, Peter Finch as the Sheriff of Nottingham, Reginald Tate as Hugh Fitzooth, Louise Hampton as Tyb, and Hal Osmond as Midge the Miller.

Several other roles were recast for the radio series. Anthony Forwood’s character, Will Scarlet, was played by Andrew Faulds (1923–2000), while John Turnbull (1880–1956) replaced Anthony Eustrel as the Archbishop of Canterbury. The role of Stutely, portrayed in the film by Bill Owen, was taken by Jack Shaw.

The series was written by Desmond Carrington and produced by Thurston Holland. Interestingly, the radio adaptation introduced several characters from the Robin Hood legend who did not appear in the Disney film, including Gilbert of the White Hand, the Sheriff’s henchman Troughton, and Arthur à Bland.

How wonderful it would be to hear these broadcasts today. Sadly, it appears that the master recordings were destroyed, leaving only the programme listings and a fascinating glimpse into this forgotten chapter of Disney and Robin Hood history.

One curious detail in the Radio Times listing is the reference to Disney's forthcoming film as The Adventures of Robin Hood. This must surely be an error, as Disney's motion picture, The Story of Robin Hood and His Merrie Men had already premiered in London on 13 March 1952  and would soon be on general release. 

Don't forget to visit Neil's fantastic website: Films of the Fifties

A Cut Scene

The image shared by Neil

 Recently, Laurence sent me an image from a rare Belgian stamp book showing what appears to be a scene that was ultimately cut from The Story of Robin Hood. It depicts Marian disguised as a page boy, accompanied by Allan-a-Dale, as they make their way through Sherwood Forest.

Laurence's Stamp Book image

It's a wonderful discovery. Not only are the distinctive pollarded trees of Burnham Beeches clearly visible around them, but in the background there also appears to be Upper Pond. This strongly suggests that the scene was originally filmed on location rather than in the studio setting seen in the final cut.

This week, Neil, another regular contributor, shared a second image from the same scene (top image). This time it shows Marian, Allan-a-Dale and Midge the Miller. Interestingly, there is no sign of the pond in the background. This raises the possibility that the two images were taken from different angles, or perhaps at different stages during the filming of the sequence.

Neil's image enhanced

A special thanks to Neil and Laurence.

Belgium Stamp Book

 It is always a genuine pleasure to hear from fellow enthusiasts of The Story of Robin Hood and His Merrie Men. Laurence, a long-time and valued contributor to the blog, was recently inspired by my post regarding the film's deleted scenes. In response, he generously shared a few remarkable images from his own prized possession: a rare Belgian stamp book. Fascinatingly, a few illustrations capture rare moments from the production that appear to have been left entirely on the cutting room floor.

One stamp (above) shows a scene where Alan-a-Dale, Marian, and Midge the Miller are deep in Sherwood. This was not used in the finished film, for as we know, that scene was shot in the studio.

I think it is interesting in that you can see quite clearly what appears to be the Upper Pond in Burnham Beeches in the background! Wouldn't it be absolutely wonderful to see those edited scenes?

I will be showing more in my next post. 

A Picnic in Sherwood

 

Walt with Richard Todd (Robin Hood) and Joan Rice (Maid Marian) during filming The Story of Robin Hood (1952).

Welcome to the Greenwood!

 

Robin and Marian want to give a special thanks to all our regular readers. Welcome to the greenwood!

Training Friar Tuck

 

Rupert Evans (1911–1995) puts Friar Tuck — portrayed by James Hayter (1907–1985) — through his paces!

Disney's First Maid Marian

 

“I was Disney’s first Maid Marian,” Joan Rice would often proudly tell friends at her local pub in Maidenhead. Through my research into the life of this often-overlooked actress, her contribution to the Robin Hood legacy on the silver screen is finally receiving the recognition it deserves. And on this day, celebrating Maid Marian, I also want to honour the young girl from a fractured family, raised in an orphanage in Nottingham, who played in Sherwood Forest, worked as a waitress in a coffee shop, and was personally chosen by Walt Disney to bring Maid Marian to life.

The Story of Maid Marian

Joan Rice’s (1930-1997) Marian is central to Ken Annakin’s 1952 Walt Disney film, somewhat misleadingly titled The Story of Robin Hood and His Merrie Men. In truth, it is Marian’s story as much as Robin’s, for without her, half the narrative would be missing. Rice portrays Lady Marian as bright, spirited, and resourceful—the devoted daughter of the Earl of Huntingdon and the loyal childhood friend of Robin Fitzooth (Richard Todd). Although Robin is the son of her father’s head forester, and therefore beneath her in social rank, Marian gradually falls in love with him despite those barriers. Yet Rice’s Marian is far more than a conventional romantic heroine; she possesses a strong, independent streak. Defying the Queen Mother’s commands, she secretly escapes the castle disguised as a page boy in order to seek out Robin after he becomes an outlaw in Sherwood Forest. Through her courage and initiative, Marian helps reveal that Robin and his Merry Men are the true allies of King Richard, while Prince John is exposed as a traitor. This sharply independent characterisation distinguishes Joan Rice’s Marian from her later, more widely recognised Disney successor—the flirtatious vixen Marian in Wolfgang Reitherman’s 1973 animated Robin Hood.

Elspeth Gill

Elspeth Gill and Richard Todd

Elspeth Gill was the daughter of Alex Bryce (1905–1960), the Scottish screenwriter, cinematographer, and film director who worked extensively with Walt Disney on live-action productions in the UK. Bryce was the head of Disney’s “Second Unit,” directing the outdoor, woodland action and fight sequences for The Story of Robin Hood and His Merrie Men (1952). In the summer of 2011, Neil Vessey—regular contributor and owner of the acclaimed Films of the Fifties blog—visited Elspeth, who shared fascinating stories about her father’s work. These memories can be explored through Neil’s blog and this blog. Just click on the links below.

The Sheriff's Chair??

 

To find out how many times “Robin Hood’s Chair” has been used in various historical productions, click the link titled “Robin Hood’s Chair.”

Collectable Barratt's Cards

 

In 1952, Barratt & Co. issued a series of black-and-white collectable cards packed with their popular sweet cigarettes, bringing Walt Disney Productions’ live-action film The Story of Robin Hood and His Merrie Men to young audiences in an engaging, collectable form. Serving as a promotional tie-in, the cards allowed children to collect, trade, and relive the story through Barratt’s sweet cigarette packs. Below is part of regular contributor Laurence’s collection.

Rare Robin Hood Jigsaw

 

We recently came across some of Neil’s rare puzzles that were used to promote Disney’s Story of Robin Hood. More recently, Laurence shared his Jigsaw No. 1—it’s astonishing to think these pieces are around 74 years old!

Barratts Robin Hood

 

Laurence has generously shared images from his remarkable collection of Barratt & Co trading cards, created to promote The Story of Robin Hood and His Merrie Men by The Walt Disney Company in the 1950s. 

Issued with sweet cigarettes—something that feels rather unusual today—the set also included 36 collectable cards featuring scenes from the film.

Shakespeare & Alan-a-Dale

James Hayter as Friar Tuck

“There was a lover and his lass,
Sat ’neath a spreading oak,
And fearing lest his heart might break,
The devoted lover spoke…”

“Come Sing Low, Come Sing High,” written by Elton Hayes (Alan-a-Dale) and Lawrence Edward Watkin (as L.E. Watkin) for Disney’s The Story of Robin Hood and His Merrie Men, reimagines William Shakespeare’s “There Was a Lover and His Lass” from As You Like It as a more lively and characterful piece. While Shakespeare’s original offers a gentle, pastoral celebration of spring and young love, the Disney version—later performed by Friar Tuck (James Hayter)—leans into humour and homely pleasures, highlighting warmth and entertainment over poetic elegance.

Thank You!

Maid Marian would like to thank all our regular readers and contributors!

Joan Rice & Ken Annakin

Joan Rice arrives at Denham Studios

 Joan Rice arrives by bicycle at Denham Studios in Buckinghamshire (pictured above) to film The Story of Robin Hood and His Merrie Men in 1951. Director Ken Annakin later admitted he had doubts about her casting as Maid Marian, calling it his “Achilles’ heel.”

“I tested six other young actresses,” Annakin recalled, “but Walt Disney would not budge, largely because he saw me opposing him. ‘The camera loves her,’ Disney said. ‘Joan has quality.'

Annakin described how "Joan used to ride a bicycle to and from the local hotel and, between shots, would go speeding around the Denham lot. Nearly every day, she fell off and came back bruised and some part of her costume hanging loose. One evening, I saw her standing forlornly outside the studio door and took pity on her. "Where's your bike?" I called. 'Smashed up, as usual," she grinned guiltily, as she climbed into my MG Midget, then the pride of my life. She lit up a cigarette. Sure enough, within five minutes, I smelled burning. The wind had blown the hot ash into my rumble seat, and there was a half-inch hole smoking in the red leather. She staggered into her hotel, crying again. I had to feel sorry for the poor kid!"

So You Wanna Be A Director by Ken Annakin, Tomahawk Press 2001

Rare Disney Jigsaw Puzzles

These extremely rare jigsaw puzzles have attracted significant interest on my blog. They are owned by Neil, a regular contributor, and are beautifully illustrated with scenes from The Story of Robin Hood and His Merrie Men, released in 1952 by the Walt Disney Company.

Since I first wrote about these puzzles, I have learned that the illustrations were created by the multi-talented artist Arnold Beauvais (1886–1982). In 1913, he rented a studio in Chancery Lane, London, where he produced artwork for a wide range of clients, including J. Lyons and Co., RKO Radio Pictures, Black & White Whisky, Warner Bros., the Walt Disney Company, and Younger’s Scotch Ale. His work ranged from film posters and magazine illustrations to press advertisements, cartoons and jigsaw puzzles.

His work for film distributors included posters and publicity for well-known films such as The Hunchback of Notre Dame, Swiss Family Robinson, Up in Arms, and several films starring Danny Kaye, as well as Disney classics including Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, Bambi, Treasure Island, Alice in Wonderland, Hans Christian Andersen and Peter Pan, along with several Disney nature films.

 

Nottingham Square

 

"This purse was given freely by Robin Fitzooth and his outlaw band, and with it their prayers for King Richard's safe return". This still from The Story of Robin Hood and His Merrie Men beautifully highlights the remarkable attention to detail in Nottingham Square (above), crafted by art director Carmen Dillon and her talented team. And look closely—did you notice the man peering out from the upstairs window?

8mm Story of Robin Hood

 

Before streaming, DVDs, and even videotapes, there was only the cinema and television. Yes — I’m that old!

If you wanted your own copy of a favourite film, you needed a projector and a reel of cine film, usually 8mm.

After many years of waiting, I finally managed to get hold of the Disney Home Movies 8mm silent colour version of The Story of Robin Hood. I hadn’t seen it on television since I first watched it at the cinema, so owning it felt like winning the lottery.

Even though it was only four minutes long, those precious minutes of seeing that wonderful film again meant everything to me.