Disney's Merchandise Division 1952

Matt Crandall has sent me many interesting items over the last few years. His latest contribution to this blog is a page from Walt Disney Merchandising News about the release of The Story of Robin Hood and his Merrie Men. This was the second edition of 1952 and also includes information on the advertising of his upcoming animation Peter Pan.

Merchandising News

We have seen many times on this blog the phenomenal amount of advertising Disney used to promote its films. Below is another example, as they prepare for the release of The Story of Robin Hood:

"WALT DISNEY'S STORY OF ROBIN HOOD will be advertised with colorful ads like this one. A heavy schedule includes consumer and leading movie fan magazines.

ROBIN HOOD merchandise includes a beautiful 20-page record reader in full color by Capitol. Simon and Schuster plan one Big Golden Record and two Little Golden Records featuring songs from ROBIN HOOD--"Come Sing High," "Riddle Dee Dee and "The Ballads of Robin Hood."

Beginning July 13, a 25-instalment series on Walt Disney's STORY OF ROBIN HOOD will be distributed by King Features to leading Sunday comics. A Dell Comic, Whitman Classic and several advertising tie-in campaigns will round out the great promotion behind ROBIN HOOD."

Regular readers of this blog will have seen images of the various records and comic strips among the many pages labelled 'Film Promotion' and 'Memorabilia.'

Below are just some of the huge collection of promotional material from this blog:

Jigsaw Puzzles

Record and 20-page Storybook Capitol US 1952

Record and 20-page Storybook Capitol US 1952

Comic Strip

Click on the labels below to see the vast amount of promotional material for Walt Disney's Story of Robin Hood on this blog.

The Disney Magic

Prince John watches his brother King Richard leave on Crusade

 

Prince John (Hubert Gregg) watches his brother King Richard and his Crusading army leave for the Holy Land. One of my favourite scenes from Walt Disney's Story of Robin Hood and his Merrie Men (1952). This film contained so many visual feasts! It left me sitting spellbound in my local cinema.

It is difficult to describe to the younger generation what it was like growing up in the 1950s and 1960s. Our television was in grainy black a white, with a very small screen. Hi-definition and recording a programme off of it was something yet to be invented.

So visiting a cinema was not only a treat but an immersive experience, especially if the film was in colour!

Nottingham Castle

One of the first TV programmes I can remember watching was the Richard Greene series The Adventures of Robin Hood (1955-1959). I was also a huge fan of everything Walt Disney produced. So, when I had the chance to see Disney's live-action movie The Story of Robin Hood at my local Granada Cinema, I was buzzing with excitement. 

I saw it three times that week! 

A disguised Marian finds Alan a Dale

Disney's Story of Robin Hood inspired an interest in the outlaw's legend that has never left me. It also led to my love of history and genealogy. 

So, I started this blog as a way of making others aware of this now almost forgotten Technicolor masterpiece. 

But what made this version of the legend so special for me? 

Nottingham Archery Tournament

Where do I begin? To start with it oozes quality, in the host of actors, chosen by casting director Maud Spector. Stars like Peter Finch, Richard Todd, James Hayter, Martitia Hunt and Joan Rice- to name a few. The crews behind the camera are; legendary art director Carman Dillon and directors Ken Annakin and Alex Bryce. Also Director of Photography Guy Green, later to become co-founder of the British Society of Cinematographers.

I could go on and on.

It was Disney legend Perce Pearce who was chosen by Walt Disney to supervise and produce the film in England. It would be the last major movie to be made in Denham Studios in Buckinghamshire using some of its huge sound stages.

Friar Tuck

Perce Pearce, Richard Todd, Carmen Dillon, scriptwriter Lawrence Edward Watkin and other members of the production unit made several research visits to Nottinghamshire and its archives during the Spring of 1951. It is this close attention to detail and respect for the legend that I admire and shows in the final cut.

The five images in this article demonstrate the visual beauty of this film, they were created by the legendary matte artist Peter Ellenshaw- another Disney legend, working many decades before the invention of computer generated imagery. 

Ellenshaw's artistic skill, together with Carmen Dillon's art department created that storybook quality to the film. It is not surprising it was voted one of the best Technicolor movies ever made in Britain. Disney Magic!

 

Joan Rice's Maid Marian Costume

I am continually surprised by items appearing on auction sites connected to my favourite movie. There have been many, including the script from the film! And they have all been featured on this blog.

Here is another discovery:

These are images of the costume designed by Michael Whittaker (1918-1995) for Joan Rice in her role as Maid Marian. He has even attempted to paint her face. 

His artwork, depicting an outfit in violet and lime green with a white veil, was later created by the costume department for Walt Disney's Story of Robin Hood and his Merrie Men- a live-action movie released in 1952. 

Joan wearing the costume designed by Whittaker

After a short-acting career, Michael Whittaker was nominated for an Academy Award for his costume design for the movie, The Black Rose in 1950. He later worked on Men of Sherwood Forest in 1954, but he is probably best remembered for designing the iconic black leather look for Honor Blackman in her role as Cathy in The Avengers TV series.

Red Gill's Tree

Robert's photo from Burnham Beeches

 

Robert has recently sent me this photograph of a pollarded tree in Burnam Beeches and wonders:

Could this be the tree that Red Gill (Archie Duncan) was killed by Robin. It looks low enough. I will have to watch the film?

Burnham Beeches in Buckinghamshire, England, has been used for literally hundreds of movies and TV shows and there is a list of them on this website. It is a truly beautiful place and well-worth a visit.

Back in 2014 I visited and spent the day trying to locate many of the locations used in Walt Disney's Story of Robin Hood.

Burnham Beeches was the location chosen by Walt Disney to be his Sherwood Forest, not only because of its close proximity to Denham Studios (12 miles approx.), where two of the huge sound stages were used, but also because of its amazing ancient woodland that was ideal as a backdrop to this classic tale. I have noticed a number of film web sites state that Disney’s live-action movie was the only Robin Hood tale to be filmed in Sherwood Forest. This in incorrect, but shows what a good choice Burnham Beeches was.

Disney's second unit filmed many scenes in an area of Burnham Beeches known as Mendelssohn’s Slope which is filled with ancient pollarded trees. Also at Middle Pond, where Robin (Richard Todd) and Marian (Joan Rice) took their romantic evening stroll, accompanied by Friar Tuck (James Hayter) and Allan a Dale (Elton Hayes) singing ‘Whistle My Love.’

Robin Hood discovers Red Gill's body

I didn't discover the huge pollarded tree that was used for filming, there is so many in the 540 acres! But a close look at some of the stills in Laurence's fantastic picture strip shows that the tree used 70 years ago was much older than Robert's candidate. But many thanks to Robert for sending it in.

Carmen Dillon's Robin Hood

Scathelock is put in the stocks

Neil has been a regular contributor to this blog for many years and shown above is a still that he recently sent to me. It is of course from Walt Disney's Story of Robin Hood and his Merrie Men (1952). I love seeing these images from my favourite movie. When concentrating on the film's

action, it is easy to miss some of this detail. Look at the elaborate hinges on the door for example.

It was Carmen Dillon (1908-2000) who was given the job of art director on Robin Hood by Walt Disney. She had a fine reputation on both sides of the Atlantic for imagination and artistic flair allied to a practical approach to set design and construction, which had been evident in her art direction of some of the biggest and most highly praised period films made in Britain at that time, including Henry V and Hamlet, for which she won her Oscar. 

Carmen Dillon discusses the design of Nottingham Square

Catherine O'Brien in her article, Carmen Over Came Prejudice
 ..........And Put On Her Slacks, gives a detailed account of this remarkable woman and her work on Robin Hood:

"Small and neat of figure, with greying hair and light blue eyes, Carmen Dillon was born in Ireland. After she had qualified as an architect, she became greatly attracted by the artistic possibilities of film set design and set out to get a job which would train her in this field. It is strange to reflect that this happened only fifteen years ago and yet at this time no one in film studios would take the idea of a woman art director seriously.

Carmen discussing a castle interior

Anyone knowing Carmen Dillon, however, would realise that such an attitude would only serve to strengthen her determination to attain her objective. Eventually, she obtained toe-hold in a studio at Wembley, as an assistant in the art department. Even then petty restrictions beset her at every turn. She was not permitted to go on a set in slacks and was forbidden to discuss her work with the men in the studio workshops and stages. After a few weeks of making the best of this difficult situation, Carmen was asked to take over the work of an art director who had fallen ill on the eve of a production. By proving her undoubted talent and aptitude for production design she was able to overcome the prejudice which had hitherto hampered her career.

The townsfolk turn on the Sheriff

On Walt Disney’s Robin Hood, Carmen was in control of a staff of over two hundred men, who accepted her advice and judgement with the same respect and deference as they would accord to any male art director. Among the technicians, she has earned, through her skill and tact, a reputation for knowing exactly what she wants, without fuss or muddle. She carries all the details of planning and building the sets in her head and has a remarkable knack of foreseeing and thus forestalling building problems.
Before the stage is set for the actors, the lighting cameraman and the director, Carmen plans the work, step by step, with fastidious detail. In the case of Robin Hood, the first step was research, to ensure that the pictorial effect should have a truly authentic 12th-century keynote.

Collecting for the King's ransom in Nottingham Square

Two of the twenty-five interior sets designed by Carmen Dillon for Walt Disney’s Robin Hood serve to illustrate the immense research and artistry with which she conjured up the background and atmosphere of 12th-century England. One of- Nottingham Square, in the reign of Richard Lionheart-was, constructed both on Denham lot and on one of the studio stages-to cater for both units.

Three sides of an irregular square were surrounded by houses, some half-timbered and all pre-fabricated in the plasterer's shop under the direction of Master Plasterer Arthur Banks. The houses and shops made of plaster and wattle (which was, in fact, the building material of that period) had every appearance of solid antiquity in despite of their backing of tubular steel scaffolding. Most imposing was the Sheriff’s house, with its carved arches and steep outside staircase. Thatching was carried out by one of Britain’s oldest surviving craftsmen in this line Mr A. Gilder of Stoke Poges.

The centre of the square was filled with wattle hurdles and pens in which were enclosed game and produce of every type. By the time the stars, featured players and extras-numbering up to two hundred-had taken their place in the square it was hard to imagine a more convincing reproduction of life in 12th century England. It is in this setting that Robin Hood and his men ride in from the forest to rescue a poacher and a farmer who are suffering at the hands of the Sheriff of Nottingham and succeed in turning the tables on their hated persecutor.

The Outlaws receive a signal

One of the most important sets in the film is the Sherwood Forest camp where Robin Hood and his Merry Men live in outlawry, in their woodland hideout. Some weeks before the film, Carmen accompanied a research party including producer Perce Pearce, scriptwriter Larry Watkin, and film star Richard Todd to Nottingham and returned laden with photographs of every relic of Robin Hood days, which would help her construct the original setting at Denham Studios.

In what little remains of the original Sherwood Forest, Carmen studied the Queen Oak, where Robin Hood and Maid Marian are said to have their trysting-place; Robin Hood’s Larder, another giant oak, where legend has it, the outlaws stored their game and the vast labyrinth of caves at the foot of Creswell Crags, where Robin Hood and his men are said to have hidden their horses when the Sheriff of Nottingham was on their tracks. 

Back in the studio, Carmen incorporated many of these features of the Robin Hood country into her set design, which then became the subject of a conference between producer Perce Pearce, scriptwriter Larry Warkin and herself before passing it into the hands of the draughtsmen and model makers in her art department. From their blueprints and scale models the construction manager, Gus Walker, was then able to allocate to the various departments concerned the work required to bring the sketch into concrete existence".

Carmen plans Nottingham Square

Carmen Dillon was without a doubt one of the main reasons Disney's Story of Robin Hood oozed quality. I believe her remarkable talent needs to be highlighted a lot more. 

In an interview, Ken Annakin, the director of Robin Hood said of her:

"Carmen was one of the great art directors on the European scene. Not only was she an accomplished painter, but she was able to supervise big set construction and set-dressing, down to the last nail. So much so, that sometimes when I was lining up a shot, I found her a bit of a pain in the ass because she would insist that her designs and her visual conception of a scene must be adhered to, whereas I regarded the sets only as a background for the actors".

Carmen Dillon plans another set

Annakin went on:

"He [Walt] didn’t stay very long on Robin Hood. He had great trust in Carmen Dillon, who was responsible for the historical correctness. Everything, from costumes to sets to props and he - I’m not so sure why he was so certain - but he was dead right at having chosen her. And she did that picture and Sword and The Rose too. And his reliance was 100%. A director can’t go into every historical detail and so I would check with her also, pretty well on most things. And she would quietly be on the set and if we used a prop wrongly, she would have her say. Mine was the final say, as director, but one couldn’t have done without her ".

The New Robin Hood is Richard Todd

Evening News April 5th 1952

I have discovered this small article in The Evening News, dated Saturday April 5th 1952:

“ Walt Disney’s new version of the Sherwood Forest legend makes ‘Robin Hood’ ideal family entertainment - colourful, gay and packed full of action.

As the honest lad who turns outlaw when his father is murdered by the Sheriff’s men, Richard Todd pulls a powerful longbow and turns in a different performance from all his previous ones.

Joan Rice, ex-waitress turned top-line star, is a pretty Maid Marion and earns the approval of the gallant Robin.

The supporting cast is exceptionally strong and includes James Robertson Justice as an enormous Little John, James Hayter as the plump Friar Tuck and Hubert Gregg as Prince John. And there is a pleasing portrayal of a strolling “news vendor” by Elton Hayes. This ranks as the best of the Merrie Men stories”. 

This was just one example of the huge publicity machine behind the promotion of Walt Disney’s live-action movie The Story of Robin Hood and his Merrie Men (1952). Disney was a master at promoting his films.

Shop window displays promoting Robin Hood

Neil discovered an article in ‘Picture Post’ dated 27th March 1952 that showed some of the incredible window displays in London’s West End, promoting Robin Hood.

Some of the stores shown in the picture included:

1. The ‘Robin Hood’ display put on by the Houndstitch Warehouse Company in their women’s outdoor wear window.

2. The elaborate sports window tie-in at Selfridge’s Oxford Street.

3. Vatric, Regent Street, purveyors of vacuum cleaners, use this modernistic ‘Robin Hood’ motif.

4. Famed toy store, Hamley’s of Regent Street, brighten their windows ‘Robin Hood’ cut-outs, bows and arrows.

5. Cramer’s music store, of Kensington High Street, favours the eye-catching ‘Robin Hood’ music display.

6. This ingenious ‘Robin Hood tie-in’ is on show at Anglo-French Shoes, of Victoria Street.'

Queues to see ‘Robin Hood’.

The ‘Picture Post’ article also showed the huge crowds outside the cinemas. The film was of course a huge success!

The Chant of the Crusaders

I have often written about the quality of Walt Disney’s live action movie, The Story of Robin Hood and his Merrie Men (1952). Thanks to a message from a reader, here is another example of an often overlooked scene and the research behind creating it:

Prince John watches the Crusaders ride into the sunset

Like many, whose childhood was spent watching hazy black and white television, a chance to watch a Techinicolor film at a local cinema, was a wonderful experience. So, I can only describe seeing Walt Disney’s live-action movie, The Story of Robin Hood and his Merrie Men (1952) as a kind of epiphany, and that experience has inspired me to write about the sheer quality of this motion picture ever since.

I have many favourite scenes in The Story of Robin Hood, and one that never fails to take my breath away is the moment Prince John (Hubert Gregg), looks out across the battlements of Nottingham Castle to watch his brother, King Richard I, lead his crusading army into the sunset. This is a great example of the matte work and special effects of Peter Ellenshaw.

Knights follow King Richard to the Holy Land

But, it is not only the imagery that is breathtaking. As King Richard’s knights, men-at-arms and baggage train follow their king to the Holy Land, the haunting chant and music by Clifton Parker is equally amazing. It sends shivers down my back. This seems to be a scene of the film that is often overlooked. 

I asked about, the ‘Gregorian Chant,’ that accompanies the crusaders many years ago, and Barrie Thurlow has also recently asked about the music that accompanies this scene:

“ ...does anyone know whether the fantastic melody to the Crusader hymn "Lignum Crucis Signum Ducis", sung by the departing army as King Richard marches off and Prince John plots with the Sheriff, was based on a mediaeval original tune, or was it newly composed by Clifton Parker? It's marvellous, wonderful either way, but if anyone knows I'd love to share the knowledge!” 

The long trail of Crusaders

I have briefly researched the Crusader hymn that Barrie mentions. And it does seem to be based on:

Lignum Crucis,
Signum ducis,
Sequitur exercitus,
Quod non cessit,
Sed praecessit,
In vi Sancti Spiritus.

Translated it means:

Wood of the Cross,
Sign of the leaders,
Battle follows,
Which has never ceased,
But excelled,
Through the power of the Holy Spirit.

Like many verse compositions, its origins are lost to history. But the chronicler Roger of Howden (d.1201) provides evidence for the use of hymn verses like this, in crusade exhortations at daily masses performed at St Paul’s Cathedral, in London at the time. He describes, ‘a certain clerk named Master Berther, a native of Orleans, who aroused the spirits of many to assume the cross, by reciting a sermon that took the form of rhymed lament’.

Clifton Parker

Clifton Parker (1905-1989) is credited with writing most of the music for Walt Disney’s Story of Robin Hood. So it does seem the crusader hymn mentioned above, had been researched by the production crew and adapted for the film. Yet another example of the attention to detail in this wonderful film.

If anyone else can help answer Barrie’s question, please get in touch.

Production Memorabilia 3

Prop and Set-Dressing List

These are the final images available of the production notes for Walt Disney’s Story of Robin Hood and his Merrie Men, made in England in 1951. The folder, containing many pages of fascinating detail has recently been sold at auction.

Above is a page from the Prop and Set-Dressing List, showing details from what appears to be the scene of King Richard’s departure for the Holy Land. Included with the main characters are 20 foresters, 15 bill or axe men, 2 acolytes with sensors, 15 crossbowmen etc.

Prop and set-dressing list

The next image (above) appears to be a continuation of the list, which includes, 21 bows for the bowmen, 15 crossbows, 15 quivers, a charger for King Richard and the Earl of Huntingdon, and the banner of England on a staff.

Patrick Barr (King Richard I) with some of the props

Robin Hood’s Costume

Above are details of Robin Hood’s costume, worn by Richard Todd who starred as the outlaw hero. Richard would have reached his 100th birthday last June.

Richard Todd as Robin Hood

Listed is his legendary bugle horn, green cloth hood, green cloth kirtle, short boots of soft brown basel and quiver and bow.

Short Bio on Richard Todd

On this page, we can view the short bio on Richard Todd. It describes how three years before his selection for the role by Disney, he had been an unknown repertory player. He had founded the Dundee Repertory Company and after his demobilisation from the Parachute Regiment he had been discovered in London by a director of Association British and given a contract. His first film was “ For Them That Trespass,” which so impressed the executives of the production company he was given the key role in “ The Hasty Heart,” alongside Ronald Reagan and Patricia Neal.

These glimpses of the production notes from the making of this wonderful film, have been a real treat. Many thanks to John Nelson for sending them in.

More Production Memorabilia from Robin Hood

Various costumes

This is my second post about a collection of production memorabilia, recently auctioned, from Walt Disney’s live action motion picture the Story of Robin Hood and his Merrie Men. It was the last big-budget film to be made at Denham Studios in Buckinghamshire, England, in 1951. We have seen on this website, the amount of research into the making of this movie and this is yet another example of the Disney production crew's huge attention to detail.

Various props

If you click on the labels Behind the Camera and Film Production you will find many pages dedicated to the research and making of this Technicolor masterpiece. Down the years, I have posted about the discovery of the original script, also the unique short film The Riddle of Robin Hood, (which showed the creative process during the making of the movie) and even Disney’s memo about the choice of Maid Marian’s costume. There is so much on this website about this almost forgotten film.

The design of Nottingham Castle

Regular readers of this blog will have also seen my many articles about Carmen Dillon. She was the award winning head of Walt Disney’s Art and Design Department and these documents (above) would have definitely passed through her hands. So many thanks to John Nelson for making me aware of this fascinating collection. More soon.

Production Memorabilia of Robin Hood

Research Material for Robin Hood

I missed the auction! Although I could never have afforded the final figure of £250. It was for a collection of research material for Walt Disney’s live-action Story of Robin Hood and his Merrie Men, which was made in England in 1951 and released in 1952.

A huge thank you to John Nelson for making me aware of this sale. It is a fantastic piece of - not only film memorabilia -  but also a remarkable glimpse into the research and preparation of this wonderful movie.

Some of the 30 pages of notes

Unfortunately some of the images are unclear and it it is difficult to read the notes in pencil. It is very frustrating. Perhaps the new owner of this goldmine of information, will read this blog post and share some of the detail!

Designs of medieval belt pouches

I will be posting some more images of this fascinating collection soon.

The Sheriff in Robin’s Camp

Stills from the Story of Robin Hood and his Merrie Men often reveal the wonderful attention to detail by Walt Disney’s art and design department, led by Carmen Dillon. It is hard to believe this scene, like many, were filmed on one of the huge sound stages at Denham Studios in Buckinghamshire.

In this image we see a blindfolded Sheriff (Peter Finch) being led into Robin Hood’s (Richard Todd) camp in Sherwood Forest. 

Disney's Robin Hood Script 2

Noland's Disney employee card

Those of you that have read my recent blog post, Disney's Robin Hood Script, will know of my excitement at seeing such a treasured item. Cindy has since, sent some more images, including the original employees identification card for Walt Disney Productions, once owned by her father-in-law, Noland Blackburn (above).

Reverse of Noland's employee card

Noland Philip Blackburn worked for Walt Disney during the 1950's and it is through the kindness of his daughter-in-law Cindy, that we are able to see pages from the original film script of The Story of Robin Hood (1952).

Robin (Richard Todd) looks for the assailant

Below is a page from the script describing the scene where Robin Hood's father is shot in the back by Red Gill, played by Archie Duncan.

Robin's father is shot by the assailant.

The original script describes the assailant and Robin both stalking each other and crawling 'in a circle through the brush.' These scenes were obviously later cut from the movie.

Robin kills that assailant - Red Gill.

Detail of the script 

Below is a couple of pages from Laurence's fabulous Picture Strip that show images of those scenes that were finally used in the movie. 





To see the whole of Walt Disney's Story of Robin Hood and his Merrie Men in this picture strip, please click here.

The final scene

I featured the page above in my last edition. This is the final scene where Robin Hood hugs Marian in front of King Richard and the outlaws. But this time the script is accompanied with a rare photograph taken in the studio at Denham as they filmed that exact same scene (below).

Marian (Joan Rice) hugs Robin (Richard Todd) in Denham Studios

Joan Rice as Marian and Richard Todd as Robin Hood

Once again many thanks to Cindy.