Below are two YouTube clips of Walt Disney introducing The Story of Robin Hood and his Merrie Men (1952). They are sadly incomplete, but give us a rare glimpse of the great man describing his classic live-action feature. Both excerpts have been taken from the anthology series first aired 11/2/55 on ABC Television.
Showing posts with label Robin Hood on TV. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Robin Hood on TV. Show all posts
Disney's Story of Robin Hood Introduction - Part 1 and 2
Below are two YouTube clips of Walt Disney introducing The Story of Robin Hood and his Merrie Men (1952). They are sadly incomplete, but give us a rare glimpse of the great man describing his classic live-action feature. Both excerpts have been taken from the anthology series first aired 11/2/55 on ABC Television.
Archie Duncan, Villain and Hero
Archie Duncan (1914-1979) has the unique distinction of playing a villain and a hero in the world of Robin Hood. He played Red Gill, the murderer of Robin’s father in The Story of Robin Hood (1952) and Little John in 105 episodes of TV’s The Adventures of Robin Hood between 1955-1959.
Archie Duncan is proving to be a popular choice for your favourite Little John of 'all-time' in our current poll (see the right-hand panel on this blog).
Archibald Duncan was born in Glasgow on 26th May 1914 and was educated at Govern High School. His father was a regimental sergeant major and his mother a postmistress. The Scottish actor Russell Hunter remembers ‘big Archie’ at a Communist Party Rally in support of the Soviet Union and the opening of a second front in 1941. Duncan was then working as a welder at John Brown’s Shipyard.
“I was looking for acting work,” Russell Hunter said. “Duncan came up to me and asked if I he had a big voice? I replied yes! So he invited me through to a back room, where I was asked to read the part of the fascist in the Saturday night production at the Partick Borough Halls. As the original actor had been called up.”
Archie Duncan later introduced Russell Hunter to the Glasgow Unity.
It was at the Citizens Theatre Company that Duncan joined the training ground of many Scottish actors including, Molly Urquart, Duncan Macrae, Gordon Jackson and Eileen Herlie. He then made his Scottish acting debut in Juno and the Paycock, playing all three gunmen, at Glasgow's Alhambra in May 1944.
Duncan's London debut came at the Phoenix Theatre in 1947 when he appeared with Alistair Sim and George Cole as Inspector Mc Iver in Dr Angelus.
Film roles started to follow with: Operation Bullshine (1948) Counter Blast (1948), The Bad Lord Byron (1949), Floodtide (1949), The Gorballs Story (1950), The Elusive Pimpernel (1950), Green Grow the Rushes (1951), Flesh and Flood (1951), Circle of Danger (1951) Henry V (1951), The Lavender Hill Mob (1951) You're Only Young Twice (1952), Hot Ice (1952), Home At Seven (1952) and Walt Disney's The Story Of Robin Hood and his Merrie Men as 'Red Gill' (1952).
Two years later Duncan teamed up with Richard Todd and James Robertson Justice again in Disney’s Rob Roy the Highland Rogue as Dugal Mac Gregor.
In-between these various film roles, came the first of his long running TV appearances in the early U.S. series Sherlock Holmes as Inspector Lestrade. But just as he was finishing the final recording of Sherlock Holmes in 1955, he was preparing for a role that he will always be fondly remembered.
6ft. 2inch Archie was to play the part of Little John for Sapphire Films in The Adventures of Robin Hood with Richard Greene, at Nettlefold Studios, the first production of the newly formed ITP company (later ITC). It was commissioned by Lew Grade and was shown in the first weekend of Independent television in 1955 and became a massive success, running to 143 episodes.
Duncan's portrayal of Little John would be fondly remembered decades later for his combination of strength, skill and humour. It was during the filming this unforgettable series that this Scottish gentle giant proved to be a true hero and managed to prevent a runaway horse from hurtling towards a group of spectators, consisting of mainly children, watching close by. For this brave feat, he was awarded the Queen’s Commendation for Bravery and £1,360 in damages. But it also resulted in him missing the recording of eleven episodes of Robin Hood. So between times, a replacement was found in fellow Scotsman, Rufus Cruickshank.
After TV’s The Adventures of Robin Hood, Duncan’s most notable film roles were in Saint Joan (1957) and Ring of Bright Water (1969).
Archie Duncan is proving to be a popular choice for your favourite Little John of 'all-time' in our current poll (see the right-hand panel on this blog).
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| Archie Duncan |
Archibald Duncan was born in Glasgow on 26th May 1914 and was educated at Govern High School. His father was a regimental sergeant major and his mother a postmistress. The Scottish actor Russell Hunter remembers ‘big Archie’ at a Communist Party Rally in support of the Soviet Union and the opening of a second front in 1941. Duncan was then working as a welder at John Brown’s Shipyard.
“I was looking for acting work,” Russell Hunter said. “Duncan came up to me and asked if I he had a big voice? I replied yes! So he invited me through to a back room, where I was asked to read the part of the fascist in the Saturday night production at the Partick Borough Halls. As the original actor had been called up.”
Archie Duncan later introduced Russell Hunter to the Glasgow Unity.
It was at the Citizens Theatre Company that Duncan joined the training ground of many Scottish actors including, Molly Urquart, Duncan Macrae, Gordon Jackson and Eileen Herlie. He then made his Scottish acting debut in Juno and the Paycock, playing all three gunmen, at Glasgow's Alhambra in May 1944.
Duncan's London debut came at the Phoenix Theatre in 1947 when he appeared with Alistair Sim and George Cole as Inspector Mc Iver in Dr Angelus.
Film roles started to follow with: Operation Bullshine (1948) Counter Blast (1948), The Bad Lord Byron (1949), Floodtide (1949), The Gorballs Story (1950), The Elusive Pimpernel (1950), Green Grow the Rushes (1951), Flesh and Flood (1951), Circle of Danger (1951) Henry V (1951), The Lavender Hill Mob (1951) You're Only Young Twice (1952), Hot Ice (1952), Home At Seven (1952) and Walt Disney's The Story Of Robin Hood and his Merrie Men as 'Red Gill' (1952).
 |
| Archie Duncan as Red Gill |
Two years later Duncan teamed up with Richard Todd and James Robertson Justice again in Disney’s Rob Roy the Highland Rogue as Dugal Mac Gregor.
 |
| Archie Duncan as Red Gill with Richard Todd as Robin Hood |
In-between these various film roles, came the first of his long running TV appearances in the early U.S. series Sherlock Holmes as Inspector Lestrade. But just as he was finishing the final recording of Sherlock Holmes in 1955, he was preparing for a role that he will always be fondly remembered.
 |
| Richard Greene as Robin Hood and Archie Duncan as Little John |
6ft. 2inch Archie was to play the part of Little John for Sapphire Films in The Adventures of Robin Hood with Richard Greene, at Nettlefold Studios, the first production of the newly formed ITP company (later ITC). It was commissioned by Lew Grade and was shown in the first weekend of Independent television in 1955 and became a massive success, running to 143 episodes.
Duncan's portrayal of Little John would be fondly remembered decades later for his combination of strength, skill and humour. It was during the filming this unforgettable series that this Scottish gentle giant proved to be a true hero and managed to prevent a runaway horse from hurtling towards a group of spectators, consisting of mainly children, watching close by. For this brave feat, he was awarded the Queen’s Commendation for Bravery and £1,360 in damages. But it also resulted in him missing the recording of eleven episodes of Robin Hood. So between times, a replacement was found in fellow Scotsman, Rufus Cruickshank.
After TV’s The Adventures of Robin Hood, Duncan’s most notable film roles were in Saint Joan (1957) and Ring of Bright Water (1969).
Matt Robertson sent me this message:
"I think I remember "meeting" Archie Duncan when I was a child visiting grandparents at Linthouse, Govan. As I recall, Archie Duncan was occasionally in the small Post Office at Linthouse, his mother or sister was the postmistress there. I would have gone into the Post Office, along with other kids at the time, to shout out, "Who killed the otter?" He had been our hero as Little John on TV but whacked Mij in Ring of Bright Water."
Archie Ducan's career in television production carried on with parts in programmes like Z Cars, Hereward the Wake, Orlando, Black Beauty and Bootsie and Snudge.
But in 1978 he suffered a massive stroke which caused paralysis down his right side. Sadly he passed away at Whipps Cross Hospital in Leytonstone, London aged 65 on 24th July 1979.
Don't forget to get involved and vote for your all-time favourite Little John in our poll in the right-hand task bar.
But in 1978 he suffered a massive stroke which caused paralysis down his right side. Sadly he passed away at Whipps Cross Hospital in Leytonstone, London aged 65 on 24th July 1979.
Don't forget to get involved and vote for your all-time favourite Little John in our poll in the right-hand task bar.
Robin of Sherwood with Jules Frusher
In the days of the Lion spawned of the Devil's brood, the hooded man shall come to the forest. There he will meet Herne the Hunter, Lord of the Trees, and be his son and do his bidding. The Powers of Light and Darkness shall be strong within him. And the guilty shall tremble. (Prophecy of Gildas)
Michael Praed as Robin Hood
This is the second instalment of a look at my partner Jules Frusher's favourite television versions of the legend of Robin Hood. Two weeks ago I published her views on the recent BBC series Robin Hood (2006) starring Jonas Armstrong, Keith Allen and Richard Armitage. The review can be seen here.
Jules made the interesting point that the BBC's Robin Hood episodes did not pretend to be in any way historically accurate, unlike the movie Braveheart for example. And although it was a radical change from the traditional telling of the ancient legend, Jules was sure the series would lead children to become interested in medieval history.
Jules Frusher is a published author and her most recent novel, The Devil To Pay is available here. She is also a historian and runs a website called Lady Despenser's Scribery in which she not only researches the life of Hugh Despenser, a 14th Century knight, but looks at every day life during that period. Her website is becoming very popular and well worth a visit.
Jules's second choice in her list of favourite interpretations of the Robin Hood legend, is the Robin of Sherwood (1984-1986) television series, directed by Ian Sharp. Broadcast over 26 weeks, this series, made by HTV in association with Goldcrest, was without doubt the most successful and influential re-telling of the myth in more recent times. Richard (Kip) Carpenter (d.2012) and his writing partner Paul Knight, cleverly blended together elements of ancient pagan mysticism and folklore and created a gritty, realistic and hugely successful re-telling of the ancient legend for television. Carpenter had previously written and created another successful television series about a notorious outlaw, Dick Turpin for London Weekend Television back in 1978.
Robin Hood and the outlaws of Sherwood Forest
Not only did Robin of Sherwood introduce the concept of the Green Man and the legend of Herne the Hunter, but this ground breaking series took the controversial decision to give the legend a pagan slant. Through the whole series there is continuous reference to the pagan beliefs of the opposite factions of good and evil and the forces of light and darkness. Jules noted, that this helped paganism become more accepted and not looked upon suspiciously as witchcraft.
The whole series was shot on film and almost entirely on location in the northeast and southwest of England, including Alnwick Castle, Bamburgh Castle, Northumberland and Wookey Hole caves in Somerset. HTV West in Bristol was the production base.
Together, Jules and I watched the double length episode, Robin Hood and the Sorcerer Part 1 first aired on the 28th April 1984.
It was refreshing to hear once again the haunting sound of Irish folk band Clannad as they sang the opening theme and incidental music. Later released on an album, the atmospheric soundtrack to this series, Legend, won a BAFTA for the group, for best television music in 1984.
The story begins with Loxley village being attacked and razed to the ground by Norman soldiers searching for young Robin's father. Ailric (guardian of the silver arrow, a symbol of great power) is a Saxon and has openly rebelled against the tyrannical Norman rule. As the village burns, Ailric quickly takes Robin on horseback away from the soldiers to the safety of the home of Mathew the Miller. As the thunder booms overhead, Ailric rides to a stone circle where he intends to hide the silver arrow, but the Sheriff of Nottingham (Nikolas Grace) and his cavalrymen are waiting for him. One by one the sheriff's men aim at Ailric and his body soon slumps to the ground covered in crossbow bolts. The Silver Arrow is now in the hands of the Sheriff of Nottingham.
Ailric of Loxley's last word are, "He's coming... the Hooded Man is coming!"
During the opening scenes of the destruction of Loxley village, Jules noted how the soldiers chain mail unfortunately looked more like sprayed fabric!
So, orphaned at an early age, Robin is secretly brought up by the village miller, alongside his younger foster-brother, Much (Peter Llewellyn Williams).
Fifteen years later, at Castle Belleme, the evil Simon De Belleme* is warned by his guardian - the possessed John Little - to beware the hooded one who will seek the arrow and that his master demands a sacrifice.
*A Robert de Belleme was exiled for sorcery and devil worship c.1300.
Robin (Michael Praed) discovers that Much has been hunting in the forest and killed a deer, breaking the Law of Venison - a crime punishable by the loss of a hand. They are both seen by Guy of Gisburne (Robert Addie d.2003) and his men and try to escape. But they are eventually captured and put into, what Jules described as a oubliette* at Nottingham Castle. This was a bottle-necked pit where prisoners were starved or driven to insanity.
*In 2006 an oubliette ('to forget,' in French) was discovered by archaeologists in the underground caves of the Galleries of Justice Museum in Nottingham.
Guy of Gisburne (Robert Addie 1960-2003)
The scene in the torture pit is excellent. As the light begins to clear we discover several oppressed men who have witnessed the cruelty of the Sheriff of Nottingham and eventually become the nucleus of Robin's band. It is also here that we are first introduced to one of the strongest personalities in the series, Will Scarlet, played by Ray Winstone.
But this Scarlet isn't the foppish personality we have seen in previous reincarnations. Carpenter wanted the characters to strike a cord with modern audiences and Winstone's portrayal is of a brash, angry and argumentative young man. Formerly known as Scathlock, he had witnessed the rape and murder of his wife in Loxley Village by drunken mercenaries. After being attacked she had been trampled to death by the men's horses. Scathlock was now Scarlet with hatred!
'Hot headed' Will Scarlet, became immensely popular with fans of the series and Ray Winstone enjoyed the role describing him as the first football hooligan. Although when the series was dubbed into German, Winstone was very disappointed and said he sounded more like a 'psychotic mincer!'
To read more about the legend of Will Scarlet please click here.
The Sheriff (Nikolas Grace) and his brother Abbot Hugo (Philip Jackson)
Back at Nottingham Castle, the sheriff and his brother, Abbot Hugo (Philip Jackson) of St. Mary's Abbey, argue over a flooded fishpond. But their attention is soon distracted by the arrival of Baron de Belleme as he is led through the castle gate by a possessed giant carrying a quarterstaff. In the castle grounds the beautiful Lady Marian (Judi Trott) is attending her bees* when she is warned of the arrival of the Baron by Brother Tuck (Phil Rose).
*This could be inspired by the poem Robin Hood: To A Friend by John Keats and his reference to 'Marian's wild bees'.
In the oubliete, Robin encourages the prisoners to try to escape. At first they are scared of becoming outlaws and being killed on sight. But Robin explains to them that there are parts of Sherwood Forest that the soldiers will not enter and it is there that they will find food and shelter. Scarlet agrees and says, he has nothing else to lose.
De Belleme is taken into the main hall* of Nottingham Castle and finally gets to see Marian. The Sheriff introduces her as the daughter of Sir Richard of the Lee, who was killed in Palestine and now ward of the Abbot Hugo. The Baron looks icily at Marian and explains that his wife had recently taken her own life and that she could take his place. This prompted a suspicious side-ways glance from both the sheriff and the abbot. But Marian looked bravely straight ahead and informed De Belleme that in the month she will become a novice at Kirklees Priory. Angrily the baron turned to the abbot accusing him of 'marrying her to God, so that her lands go to the church'.
The time is coming, he sneered, when you will beg for my help. Both of you. You will give her to me then, when the hooded man comes to the forest.
There is a stunned silence in the castle hall.
*In the hall of Nottingham Castle, the distinctive large decorated chair used by the sheriff appears to be the one originally seen in Walt Disney's Story of Robin Hood (1952) and various other versions of the legend. See here.
After the baron has gone, Abbot Hugo explains to his brother that De Belleme gets up to all sorts of naughtiness, devil worship and all that! The Sheriff answers him with, but to which devil? There are so many aren't there. And only one God, it hardly seems fair.
Robin Hood (Michael Praed) and Lady Marian (Judi Trott)
The prisoners manage to escape from the dungeon and Robin tells them to make their way to Sherwood. After a fight with some soldiers, the rest of the men get out through the castle gate, but Robin is too late and the portcullis is closed. So Robin makes his way along the battlements and into a castle tower where he finds himself inside Marian's bedchamber. They are instantly attracted to each other and Robin describes her like a May morning. She saves his life by not calling out* and as he turns to escape from the tower he lifts up his hood. Marian suddenly realises that he is the hooded man that De Belleme had described.
*Reminiscent of the classic Adventures of Robin Hood with Errol Flynn and Olivia de Havilland (1938).
As Robin is making his way back to Sherwood Forest he encounters Herne the Hunter for the first time. The woodland spirit explains to the outlaw that the poor and dispossessed are all waiting for him.
Back in his castle Baron Simon De Belleme realises that the hooded man has returned to the forest, so he sends his possessed bodyguard, John Little off to Sherwood to hunt him down. In the forest, Robin encounters him on the traditional log over the river and a quarterstaff fight ensues. In the river, Robin eventually manages to knock the man out and free him of the Baron's hex by washing away the mark of a pentagram on his chest. This earns Robin the strangers friendship and upon hearing that his name is John Little of Hathersage, Robin Hood laughingly decides to call the giant Little John.
The outlaws have now met up in Sherwood Forest and have decided to keep their heads down, do what they are told and go their separate ways. Robin revisits Herne the Hunter and asks him what he must do. Herne gives the outlaw a sword known as Albion, charged with the power of light and darkness. The woodland spirit then instructs Robin to string the bow and calls him Robin-I-The-Hood.
Now with a strong sense of purpose, Robin goes back to the outlaws and wakes them all up. Little John immediately asks if Robin has been possessed? He explains to the men that it is time that they all stopped sleeping. Since the Norman invasion they had had no voice, no justice and without it there would be no England. He tells them that it is time we fought back!
Meanwhile Marian is preparing to leave Nottingham Castle for Kirklees and asks Brother Tuck to look after her bees. Guy of Gisburne is to escort her and is instructed by the Sheriff of Nottingham to torture the miller on the way - to find out where the outlaws are hiding. Much the millers son witnesses Gisburne's burning of the mill and the death of his father (Robin's step-father) and rushes heartbroken back to the forest.
Robin swears revenge and ambushes Gisburne and his men along the forest road. Marian is led to safety by Much and Gisburne is stripped of his clothing, tied to his horse and told:
Tell the Sheriff of Nottingham that Robin Hood holds Sherwood, tell him Herne's Son has claimed his kingdom.
This was the end of the first episode of a two part special that introduced the main characters in the series. In the second instalment, Robin rescues Marian from the castle of the evil Simon De Belleme and it is here that we witness the first appearance of a new member of Robin's band for many centuries.
Nasir (Mark Ryan) is a Saracen that protects the Baron de Belleme and was originally scripted to be killed during the final battle scenes. But the writer, Richard Carpenter was so impressed and inspired by Ryan's swordplay that he re-wrote the script so that Nasir joins the outlaws. This idea seems to have caught-on with later productions and we get Robin with a Moorish companion (Morgan Freeman) in Robin Hood :Prince of Thieves (1991) and Djaq, the Saracen girl in the BBC's Robin Hood (2006).
Robin meets Herne the Hunter
Jules thought that this series was the biggest influence on the legend for decades and I totally agree with her. The writer, Richard Carpenter wanted the past to come alive and be significant for the present and his adaption of those ancient tales certainly did that. Not only did Robin of Sherwood introduce a whole new audience to the medieval legend, but also to the renewed spirit of paganism.
To read about other TV and Film versions of the legend of Robin Hood please click on the links.
Readers of this blog voted Michael Praed their all-time favourite Robin Hood in a poll a few years ago! To see all the contenders and all the results, please click here.
Nothing is ever forgotten.
What did you think of the series?
Jonas Armstrong's Robin Hood with Jules Frusher
Many versions of the Robin Hood legend have been created for the cinema and small screen. This blog has featured many of them and was created not only to celebrate a classic 1950's film about the outlaw, but also to show the evolution of the myth. So now that I am beginning a new life with a new partner, I was very keen to know her views on the continuous re-telling of the ancient folk-tales.
I was somewhat surprised to find out that it was two television series that Jules eventually picked out. She could not decide on a favourite between the recent BBC series of Robin Hood (Tiger Aspect Productions) and Harlech Television's much-loved Robin of Sherwood . So, on a cold winters evening recently, we sat down together with a glass of Bailey's and watched an episode of each.
The first version we put in the DVD player was the BBC's version of Robin Hood, first shown in Britain on October 7th 2006. The 45 minute episodes were created from the ancient tales by Dominic Minghella and Foz Allen and co-funded by BBC American cable television. Some of the elements of the legend were radically changed, including Robin Hood's (Jonas Armstrong) use of what appears a Saracen bow, instead of the traditional English longbow. This became a hot topic of the time and still is a popular post on this blog. It can be seen here.
Jules was keen to watch Walkabout (Episode10), written by Dominic Minghella from series 2 of the BBC series, first shown in 2007. The story starts with Sheriff Vaisey (Keith Allen) having a nightmare about Robin Hood and the missing Pact which holds the names of all the knights planning to overthrow King Richard in favour of his brother, Prince John. The Sheriff's troubled night sends him sleep walking straight into the depths of Sherwood Forest! Unfortunately it is the very day that Prince John's special envoy Sir Jasper arrives at Nottingham Castle to receive the Sheriff's seal and check all is well. Guy of Gisborne immediately sets up a search for the Sheriff, but to no avail. As soon as Sir Jasper realises that Vaisey is missing, he menacingly warns that if he is not found by sunset, Prince John's army will raize Nottingham to the ground. Come sunset-no Nottingham!
In this BBC series, Jules found it interesting that Robin Hood as a character (played by Jonas Armstrong) was eclipsed by Richard Armitage's Guy of Gisborne. She thought Armitage's portrayal of an arrogant knight very believable. Even if he did have to wear what became known as Guy-liner- make-up around his eyes to make him look more menacing!
With Nottingham under danger of total destruction both Guy of Gisborne and Lady Marian (Lucy Griffiths) beg Sir Jasper to save the town. But it soon becomes apparent that if Nottingham was demolished Sir Jasper's cousin would get the contract to rebuild it (this is a subtle reference to the controversy surrounding construction contracts given to companies after the Iraq War).
Sir Jasper informs Guy that because of his status as a Black Knight he is allowed to flee the town with any family he might have. So seizing his opportunity, Guy asks Marian to marry him before sundown. Interestingly she doesn't turn him down, but says that she will not abandon Nottingham. So Guy tells her that if she is going to stay and die in Nottingham he will perish at her side. Jules could not believe she turned him down!
Marian eventually persuades Gisborne to hire the help of Robin Hood to track down the Sheriff. So the outlaw is given permission to enter the castle. Meanwhile, in the heart of Sherwood Forest, the Sheriff has come across a poor family intent on stealing from Robin Hood. So the Sheriff joins up with them disguised as a blind beggar- realising that this might be a way to get into Robin's camp and get his hands on the secret Pact.
As sunset draws closer, the townsfolk arm themselves. On the horizon Prince John's army approach the town. Little John in the mean time had taken pity on the poor folk he had come across in the forest and unwittingly taken them to the outlaws camp. Gleefully the beggars ransack the camp and with sheer delight Sheriff Vassey manages to get his hands on the secret Pact. But Robin and Much arrive just in time to prevent the Sheriff leaving the outlaws hideaway and escort him back to Nottingham Castle.
The town is saved. Sheriff Vaisey angrily castigates Sir Jasper and the army turn away from Nottingham. Then, in a state of bewilderment and excitement the Sheriff describes to Gisborne how he had managed to discover the camp of the outlaws and rescue the secret pact. But when he looks for it amongst his clothing he realises in horror that Robin had taken it back during his capture.
Along with Armitage's moody Gisborne, Jules particularly liked Keith Allen's portrayal of the Sheriff of Nottingham. She recalled an incident during the filming of Series 1 in which Allen lost a tooth filming a fight sequence with Armitage as Gisborne. This became a running gag in the series and was written into the script. Scenes were then created in which Sheriff Vaisey grotesquely took teeth from skulls and inserted them in the gap. An American reporter of the time described Keith Allen's performance as very camp, in the Alan Rickman tradition of sardonic villains.
Jules final thoughts on the episode and the series as a whole, was that as far as historical accuracy was concerned, the BBC's Robin Hood was no worse than any of the others. She particularly liked the Romanesque architecture of the castle used in the series and felt that the style of the theme music was a nod towards the old Robin Hood movie themes of the past. The weakest character in the series she thought, was the Saracen girl known as Djaq played by Anjali Jay.
Very special thanks to Jules Frusher for her opinions on this episode. I would like to know if my readers have any thoughts they would like to share about this particular series by the BBC?
Jules will review her other favourite, Robin of Sherwood soon. In the meantime, if you are interested in the type of ale Robin and his men would have got merry with, bread they would have eaten, or how the poor made pottage, click here.
Jules Frusher
Jules Frusher is not only a published author, but a historical researcher into fourteenth century England. She runs a very popular website called Lady Despenser's Scribery, which I thoroughly recommend and can be seen here. In the future, we intend to investigate many aspects of the medieval period together.
I was somewhat surprised to find out that it was two television series that Jules eventually picked out. She could not decide on a favourite between the recent BBC series of Robin Hood (Tiger Aspect Productions) and Harlech Television's much-loved Robin of Sherwood . So, on a cold winters evening recently, we sat down together with a glass of Bailey's and watched an episode of each.
The first version we put in the DVD player was the BBC's version of Robin Hood, first shown in Britain on October 7th 2006. The 45 minute episodes were created from the ancient tales by Dominic Minghella and Foz Allen and co-funded by BBC American cable television. Some of the elements of the legend were radically changed, including Robin Hood's (Jonas Armstrong) use of what appears a Saracen bow, instead of the traditional English longbow. This became a hot topic of the time and still is a popular post on this blog. It can be seen here.
Jonas Armstrong with that bow
Jules was keen to watch Walkabout (Episode10), written by Dominic Minghella from series 2 of the BBC series, first shown in 2007. The story starts with Sheriff Vaisey (Keith Allen) having a nightmare about Robin Hood and the missing Pact which holds the names of all the knights planning to overthrow King Richard in favour of his brother, Prince John. The Sheriff's troubled night sends him sleep walking straight into the depths of Sherwood Forest! Unfortunately it is the very day that Prince John's special envoy Sir Jasper arrives at Nottingham Castle to receive the Sheriff's seal and check all is well. Guy of Gisborne immediately sets up a search for the Sheriff, but to no avail. As soon as Sir Jasper realises that Vaisey is missing, he menacingly warns that if he is not found by sunset, Prince John's army will raize Nottingham to the ground. Come sunset-no Nottingham!
In this BBC series, Jules found it interesting that Robin Hood as a character (played by Jonas Armstrong) was eclipsed by Richard Armitage's Guy of Gisborne. She thought Armitage's portrayal of an arrogant knight very believable. Even if he did have to wear what became known as Guy-liner- make-up around his eyes to make him look more menacing!
Richard Armitage as Gisborne
With Nottingham under danger of total destruction both Guy of Gisborne and Lady Marian (Lucy Griffiths) beg Sir Jasper to save the town. But it soon becomes apparent that if Nottingham was demolished Sir Jasper's cousin would get the contract to rebuild it (this is a subtle reference to the controversy surrounding construction contracts given to companies after the Iraq War).
Sir Jasper informs Guy that because of his status as a Black Knight he is allowed to flee the town with any family he might have. So seizing his opportunity, Guy asks Marian to marry him before sundown. Interestingly she doesn't turn him down, but says that she will not abandon Nottingham. So Guy tells her that if she is going to stay and die in Nottingham he will perish at her side. Jules could not believe she turned him down!
Lucy Griffiths as Marian and Jonas Armstrong as Robin Hood
Marian eventually persuades Gisborne to hire the help of Robin Hood to track down the Sheriff. So the outlaw is given permission to enter the castle. Meanwhile, in the heart of Sherwood Forest, the Sheriff has come across a poor family intent on stealing from Robin Hood. So the Sheriff joins up with them disguised as a blind beggar- realising that this might be a way to get into Robin's camp and get his hands on the secret Pact.
As sunset draws closer, the townsfolk arm themselves. On the horizon Prince John's army approach the town. Little John in the mean time had taken pity on the poor folk he had come across in the forest and unwittingly taken them to the outlaws camp. Gleefully the beggars ransack the camp and with sheer delight Sheriff Vassey manages to get his hands on the secret Pact. But Robin and Much arrive just in time to prevent the Sheriff leaving the outlaws hideaway and escort him back to Nottingham Castle.
The town is saved. Sheriff Vaisey angrily castigates Sir Jasper and the army turn away from Nottingham. Then, in a state of bewilderment and excitement the Sheriff describes to Gisborne how he had managed to discover the camp of the outlaws and rescue the secret pact. But when he looks for it amongst his clothing he realises in horror that Robin had taken it back during his capture.
Along with Armitage's moody Gisborne, Jules particularly liked Keith Allen's portrayal of the Sheriff of Nottingham. She recalled an incident during the filming of Series 1 in which Allen lost a tooth filming a fight sequence with Armitage as Gisborne. This became a running gag in the series and was written into the script. Scenes were then created in which Sheriff Vaisey grotesquely took teeth from skulls and inserted them in the gap. An American reporter of the time described Keith Allen's performance as very camp, in the Alan Rickman tradition of sardonic villains.
Lucy Griffiths as Marian and Keith Allen as the Sheriff
Jules final thoughts on the episode and the series as a whole, was that as far as historical accuracy was concerned, the BBC's Robin Hood was no worse than any of the others. She particularly liked the Romanesque architecture of the castle used in the series and felt that the style of the theme music was a nod towards the old Robin Hood movie themes of the past. The weakest character in the series she thought, was the Saracen girl known as Djaq played by Anjali Jay.
Very special thanks to Jules Frusher for her opinions on this episode. I would like to know if my readers have any thoughts they would like to share about this particular series by the BBC?
Jules will review her other favourite, Robin of Sherwood soon. In the meantime, if you are interested in the type of ale Robin and his men would have got merry with, bread they would have eaten, or how the poor made pottage, click here.
Patrick Barr as Richard the Lionheart
Mike has recently sent in this great still of Patrick Barr (1908-1985) as King Richard I in Walt Disney's live-action movie the Story of Robin Hood and his Merrie Men (1952).
Like Hubert Gregg who played Prince John, Barr resurrected his role as Richard the Lionheart in two episodes of the classic TV series the Adventures of Robin Hood. In a unique cross-over between the silver screen and television he appeared once again as King Richard, this time alongside Richard Greene in two episodes; Secret Mission (1956) and Richard the Lion-Heart (1956) .
Patrick (or Pat, as he was sometimes called) was born in Akola, India on 13th February 1908 and had his first brush with the legendary outlaw when he first appeared on the silver screen in 1932 as a torturer in the black and white short, The Merry Men of Sherwood.
During the 1930’s Patrick was very often cast as dependable, trustworthy characters and after six years of military service during WWII he continued to bring those qualities to his roles in a very long career in film and television. His early notable movies included The Case of the Frightened Lady (1940), The Blue Lagoon (1949), The Lavender Hill Mob (1951) and The Story of Robin Hood and his Merrie Men (1952).
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In 1950 Patrick had appeared as the Earl of Northumberland in a television production of Richard II and it was in this medium that his popularity was mainly to grow, although he did continue to perform in some celebrated films. He appeared once again alongside Richard Todd in the classic war film, The Dambusters (1955), Saint Joan (1957), Next To Time (1960), The Longest Day (1962), Billy Liar (1963) The First Great Train Robbery (1979) and Octopussy in (1983).
His later television appearances included four episodes of Dr Who, three performances as Lord Boyne in The Secret of Boyne Castle for the Wonderful World of Disney in 1969 and three episodes of Telford’s Change in 1979.
Pat died aged 77 in Wandsworth, London on 29th August 1985.
To read more about Patrick Barr please click here. There are also 84 stills and images from Disney's Story of Robin Hood in the Picture Gallery and more information on the real Richard the Lionheart here.
From Robin Hood to The Beatles
Robin Hood, Robin Hood riding through the glen.......
Nearly everyone has heard that song, even though perhaps these days, they might not realise it was a theme tune to a hugely successful television series. For me, like many of a certain age, it was my first introduction-and left a lifelong fascination with the legendary outlaw Robin Hood. But little did I realise, as I listened to the theme song and watched the adventures on our rented television set way back in the early 1960's, that there was a strong link to the biggest pop band on the planet.
In the early 1950's EMI's Parlophone label was looked upon with derision. George Martin had joined the record company in 1955 as an assistant to Oscar Preuss the head of A&R. Between them they were left the 'light music' catalogue that sold a mixed bag of novelty and comedy discs. It wasn't until 1956 that they had their first spectacular success with the theme song to ATV's iconic television series The Adventures of Robin Hood.
Robin Hood! Robin Hood! Riding through the glen!
Robin Hood! Robin Hood! With his band of men!
Feared by the bad! Loved by the good!
Robin Hood! Robin Hood! Robin Hood!
He called the greatest archers to a tavern on the green!
They vowed to help the people of the king!
They handled all the trouble on the English country scene!
And still found plenty of time to sing!
[Chorus (1st paragraph) repeat]
The black and white ATV television series starring Richard Greene - still fondly remembered today, ran to 143 episodes and was sold to CBC in Canada and CBS in the United States. It was an immediate success drawing on 32,000,000 viewers on both sides of the Atlantic.
The original theme song, written by Carl Sigman, was sung by Dick James (1920-1986). Born Reginald Leon Issac Vapnic in London's East End, originally he became a vocalist at the Cricklewood Palais, then during the 1940's 'crooned' with Henry Hall's and Cyril Stapleton's orchestras and later Geraldo's band. He went on to have two hit records in America with Garden of Eden and of course Robin Hood, produced by Parlaphone's George Martin and the Ron Goodwin Orchestra with backing vocals by James's son Stephen and 'chums.' The record reached number 14 in the UK chart.
As time went by Dick James's singing career waned, so he turned his attentions to song-plugging and joined Sydney Bron Music. But in 1961 his career took another turn when he started in music publishing, with Dick James Music.
George Martin meanwhile had been struggling to find a second song from a music publisher for a group from Liverpool that he instinctively thought might be successful. So he called on his old friend Dick James in his 'shabby' office on the corner of Denmark and Old Compton Street in London. But after Martin's first approach, the old crooner laughed, "Liverpool! So what's from Liverpool!"
George Martin, Dick James and Beatles manager Brian Epstein
After hearing Love Me Do, Dick James was not impressed, but confessed he liked the overall sound of the group. He told George Martin that he would get in contact with some of his songwriters and within a few days he came up with a tune by Mitch Murray. The song was How Do You Do It and George Martin was thrilled! This, he was sure would make The Beatles a household name. But John Lennon and Paul McCartney were not impressed, which annoyed him. They told Martin that they would rather write their own songs. "When you can write as good as this," he declared,"I'll record it!"
So The Beatles went back to a song written by Paul called Please Please Me. George Martin had previously not been impressed with it. But this time they quickened the tempo with their acoustic Gibson guitars and extended the length with an intro by John on harmonica. This time Martin decided to go with it and re-visited his old friend Dick James in Old Compton Street. After explaining the groups decision to compose their own material he played him Please Please Me. After just one hearing James said he would publish it.
The Beatles
With incredible foresight, Dick James went on to propose a special company be set up to exclusively publish Lennon and McCartney songs (later also Harrison and Starr). It would be called Northern Songs and be administered by Dick James Music.
Unbeknown to them, those four young lads from Liverpool were now on the threshold of becoming legendary figures of English culture. Not too far away from another dearly loved folk-hero, sung about by their music publisher a few years earlier.
As a footnote to this, Paul McCartney later admitted that the Beatles song Little Child was inspired by the tune Whistle My Love, sung by Elton Hayes as Alan-a-Dale in the Walt Disney live action movie the Story of Robin Hood and his Merrie Men (1952).
Your Favourite Maid Marian : Joan Rice
Joan Rice
I am pleased to announce that the winner of our poll for your Favourite Maid Marian of all time is Joan Rice! She gained 53 votes. Close behind came Judi Trott from TV's excellent Robin of Sherwood (1984-86) with 51.
Judi Trott
Olivia de Havilland
Joint third is the lovely Olivia de Havilland from the classic Hollywood movie The Adventures of Robin Hood (1938) with Lucy Griffiths from the recent BBC series (2006-7).
Bernadette O'Farrell
Next came Richard Green's love interest, Lady Marian Fitzwalter in the iconic TV series of the 1950's played by Bernadette O'Farrell with 13 votes. And right up to date comes Hollywood's modern interpretation played by Cate Blanchett with 12.
Patricia Driscoll received 9 votes. She had continued the roll of Lady Marian in series 3 and 4 of TV's Adventures of Robin Hood (1955-59) after the departure of Bernadette O'Farrell.
Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio gained 7 votes as Maid Marian in Robin Hood:Prince of Thieves (1991) alongside Kevin Costner. She was later nominated for two awards as Best Supporting Actress and Best Female Performance.
Legendary Audrey Hepburn returned to the screen after an eight year absence to appear in Richard Lester's Robin and Marian (1976) alongside Sean Connery.But she collected only 3 votes.
Uma Thurman
Both surprisingly on 2 votes are Uma Thurman from the gritty and very underrated Robin Hood (1991) and Sarah Branch from Hammer's Sword of Sherwood Forest (1960) which also starred Richard Greene as the outlaw hero.
Gay Hamilton
Gay Hamilton played Lady Marian Fitzwarren in Hammer Film's third version of the Robin Hood legend in 1967, but she only got 1 vote along with Anna Galvin from The New Adventures of Robin Hood (1997).
Sadly the other maidens were not voted for.
Thank you to all the readers who voted. We have now chosen Michael Praed as the all-time Favourite Robin Hood and we can place Joan Rice alongside him as Maid Marian. Who shall we pick as Friar Tuck? Look out for the poll starting soon!
Trial By Battle : 26th March 1956
After seeing the recent pages of Laurence’s excellent picture strip from Walt Disney’s Story of Robin Hood and his Merrie Men (1952), I was reminded of an article I wrote way back in 2006 for ‘The Sherwood Forrester’, an online magazine produced by The Adventures of Robin Hood Appreciation Society.
In that year I had been given the box set of the classic TV series The Adventures of Robin Hood (1955-1958), which I was thoroughly enjoying watching again after many, many, years. Not only was I thoroughly impressed by the quality of the writing and acting, but also the respect it gives to the legend.
As many of you regular readers know, there are quite a few connections between this wonderful, black and white television series and Disney’s Technicolor masterpiece that preceded it. Some of the actors from the movie appeared in certain episodes, including Hubert Gregg and Patrick Barr, who recreated their roles for the small screen. Some familiar props were used, including the highly decorated chairs that also found their way into the ‘Robin of Sherwood’ TV series thirty years later.
But what surprised me most of all was the ending to an episode called ‘Trial by Battle’, episode 27 in series 1, which was first shown on 26th March 1956. In the final scene Robin is held down on his sick bed and he is forced to eat some broth from a wooden spoon by the determined Maid Marian and his band of outlaws. Sound familiar?
In this episode we also see Hal Osmond (Midge the Miller in Disney's Story of Robin Hood) playing the King's Comissioner and a highly decorated chair used in the Disney movie.
TRIAL BY BATTLE
Maid Marian is doomed to hang,
Brave knights it seems are all too few,
Of course it’s Robin Hood at last,
Who proves her champion true.
We journey with Friar Tuck on his obstinate ass into Sherwood Forest and to the outlaws’ camp. He is absolutely furious about being left out of Robin’s confidence and upon hearing his plans to ambush the King’s Commissioner at Pilgrims Cross Roads from the gossiping regulars of the Blue Boar Tavern.
At the camp in the greenwood, Maid Marian confirms that the King’s Commissioner is due to arrive at Nottingham Castle to examine the accounts of the shire. But Robin is as surprised as Friar Tuck to hear this ‘rumour’. So the outlaw band set off to the crossroads to ‘make sure the right outlaw’s way-lay the King’s Commissioner.’
As Robin and his band witness the melee through the trees, they soon realise that this is no ‘honest robbery’, but murder their laying on their heads. The outlaws join the fight to protect the Commissioner and a swordfight ensues between Robin and Sir Gyles of Wren.
Upon hearing this character’s name, I was immediately drawn to the ancient ballad of ‘Robin and Gandelyn’. The subject of this mysterious and eerie poem is the traditional New Year’s hunting of the wren, called Wrennock of Donne, in vengeance of the robin murdered at midsummer. Coincidence?
Sir Gyles of Wren wounds Robin and he stumbles against a rock, luckily Little John intervenes with his quarter staff and drives the evil knight away. The King’s Commissioner identifies Robin Hood and the distinguished guest is taken to the outlaws’ camp.
With birds chirping merrily in the trees, Marian, Robin (with his left arm in a sling) and his men sit with their invited guest at the feasting table in the greenwood. I couldn’t help noticing the eye contact between Robin and Marian during the scene when King’s Commissioner refuses to consume the royal venison and drink the wine. To Little John and Friar Tuck’s astonishment the guest explains the biological effect to the stomach and digestion this food can have. To which Friar Tuck rather squeamishly asks for a scrap of dried bread.
“I carry my own diet,” said the Commissioner and brought out a bag of eggs and nuts. So when he is asked to pay his way, he firmly refuses, grabbing his sword, saying he ‘will give up not one jot of the king’s property, certainly not to outlaws!’
Robin, now assured of the Commissioners determination to defend the monarch’s interests with his life, orders his men to accompany him back to his horse. “Now I begin to see why Sir Gyles could contemplate murder!” said Marian. “He’s too honest to be long in Nottingham Castle,” said Robin who then asks Marian, as she is going to have her accounts read, to keep a watchful eye on him. But Marian is concerned about leaving Robin with a serious wound to his upper chest. Robin, after giving Marian a reassuring kiss warns her to take a dagger for her own protection.
Within the grey shadowy walls of Nottingham Castle, Sir Gyles of Wren and the Sheriff are deep in conversation. “No! I will not risk everything to correct your blundering stupidity, blusters the Sheriff. “Don’t stir your bile, Sheriff”, growls Sir Gyles, “he’s got to go one way or another.” But the Sheriff, who is obviously involved in the plot to kill the King’s Commissioner, is concerned about ‘the shadow of suspicion.’ Marian, meanwhile, is following the Commissioner’s every move and when she offers to fill his flagon his frustration boils over. Sir Gyles then intervenes with: “Commissioners of the Exchequer get over sensitive about poison, you baggage*!”
(*An unusual term that was used in Romeo and Juliet: ‘Hang thee young baggage, disobedient wretch.’ Capulet to Juliet Act 3 Scene 5).
This abusive term used at Lady Marian, angers the rather foppish Sir Walter of the Glen (played by Nicholas Parsons). But Sir Gyles dismisses Sir Walter’s anger. “Any knighthood or womanhood that can’t stomach my language, I’d have my doubts about, particularly a minx that uses a dagger at her girdle. Afraid of the Sheriff, my girl?”
Sir Gyles then moves behind Marian and in front of Sir Walter. He carefully places his arms around her and sneeringly says, “Maybe you’re planning to do the Commissioner in at that, eh?” While Sir Walter protests, Sir Gyles, holding Maid Marian closely, slyly slips her dagger out of its scabbard.
The Sheriff intervenes, apologizing to the Commissioner (who is beginning to show signs of a heavy cold) for the unrest, and suggests he puts off reading the documents till tomorrow. But he insists on being conducted to the room containing the shire accounts.
Sir Walter touchingly attempts to comfort the Lady Marian after her treatment by Sir Gyles. But Marian is preoccupied by the sudden disappearance of the evil knight whom she suddenly sees making his way up the torch lit steps towards the Commissioner’s room. So in a moment of panic she rushed up the winding castle stairs, through the open door, into his room, only to find the poor man lying dead by the fireplace.
Her beautiful face is frozen with shock as she suddenly realises her ornate dagger is missing and as she attempts to remove it from the Commissioner’s back the booming voice of Sir Gyles is heard. “Hold!” The Lady Marian froze with the dagger in her hand. Sir Gyles, Sir Walter and the Sheriff then entered the room. “How could you!” barked Sir Gyles. “You’re inhuman. How could you kill this poor little man?”
The Sheriff immediately jumps to Marian’s defence, astonished that Sir Gyles could accuse the Lady of such a thing. But the evil knight points out that Marian was removing her dagger from the Commissioner’s back. He then threatened the Sheriff that if he didn’t report this, he would inform Prince John of ‘a few other matters he would be interested to hear.’
So reluctantly the Sheriff orders Lady Marian Fitzwalter to stand trial before her peers for the murder of the Commissioner of the King’s Exchequer. The first half of the episode finishes with a close up the beautiful Marian looking frightened and very vulnerable.
Gathered in a rather cramped shadowy courtroom, Sir Gyles informed the jury how he witnessed Lady Marian drawing the dagger out of the Commissioner’s chest. She stood looking vulnerable, flanked closely by two armed guards and immediately replied, telling the members of the court how Sir Gyles had put his arms around her and stolen her dagger.
But the concerned Sheriff reminded her that there was no evidence that the dagger was ever stolen and that witnesses had established that the dagger was in her possession before the Commissioner had retired for the evening. When he then asked her why she had decided to wear such a weapon, she mistakenly revealed that she already knew that Sir Gyles had attempted to murder the commissioner once before.
Anxiously the Sheriff glanced at Sir Gyles and then lowered his voice and asked her where she had heard this information. Realising what she had said Marian tried to cover her tracks by nervously saying that it must be Sir Gyles because he had succeeded in murdering the Commissioner in the castle. Once more Lady Marian pleaded to the Sheriff that her dagger had been stolen. “When did you notice its loss?” asked the Sheriff. “When I drew it out I realised,” she replied. “So you admit that you drew out the dagger!” There was silence and then the Sheriff rose to his feet….. “Milords," Marian interrupts," I can read my judgement and doom on your faces, but I will not be hanged on the word of a murderer. I challenge Sir Gyles to defend the truth of his cause, in trial by battle.” “So be it!” announced the apparently relieved Sheriff. “By the Moot Court of Nottinghamshire, that Sir Gyles of Wren will meet the champion of Marian Fitzwater in trial by battle one week hence from this day!”
In her cell, Marian is visited by Friar Tuck, who in a hushed voice informs her that she can’t rely on Robin because his wound had not healed. Marian breaks down: “I expect I always counted on Robin, without knowing it. You take it for granted he will be there if you need him. I felt so brave, but now I am frightened.” In desperation Friar Tuck visits Sir Walter, but he had been recently ambushed by four knights who had broken his legs. His next visit was the Lord of Drune, who admitted to the Friar of selling his soul to the Devil. His lands would be forfeit if he defended the Lady Marian.
Back at the camp, an anxious Friar Tuck tells the outlaws the grave news around the flickering campfire. Robin lying on his sick bed overhears this and weakly staggers to his feet. He awkwardly removes his blanket and slips unnoticed out the camp.
The drum beats menacingly slowly as the Lady Marian is led from her cell towards the long black shadow of the executioner. She suddenly sees her accuser, who sneeringly asks her, “Frightened, girl? No champion? I hear there is a plague of palsy in the knee among the flower of knighthood!” A desperately concerned Sheriff tells Marian he hasn’t slept for a week with worry. He advises her to confess her guilt and she will only lose her lands and live under house arrest as his prisoner. “Marian,” he pleads, “I claim to be no better than the evil times we live in, but I am no worse. Would marriage to me be so harsh a sentence?” “When I am married,” she replied, “I will be bound to my husband with something stronger than chains!”
With the shadow of the executioner behind him, the Sheriff announces to a gathering, consisting of some ashamed and embarrassed knights that he will call for Lady Marian’s Champion three times before divine providence. Disguised as a pilgrim, a worried Little John informs Friar Tuck that Robin had visited an apothecary during the evening and when told to lie down had gone off.
On the third and final call, to Marian’s surprise, a rustic appeared from the crowd and announced himself as Hugh son of Tom, freeman and freeholder on the land of Fitzwalter. As he approaches her she eventually sees through his disguise and realises it is Robin. Marian tells ‘Hugh’ that she can’t allow him to fight as she had heard he had been ill. But the rustic replies, “Sickness of the body can be cured, but sickness of the heart, to let you die without raising my hand, I could never endure.” So a relieved Marian, with a sparkle in her eye announces her acceptance of her new found champion.
Robin, with his left arm almost motionless, eventually manages to back Sir Gyles into a wood pile and with superb swordsmanship flicks the murderer’s sword from his hands. Sir Gyles immediately cries craven. The Sheriff’s face cannot hide his relief. “Lady Marian,” he announces, “You are now free and innocent before Heaven and man.” There is much rejoicing, but Robin’s weakness shows through and he begins to stumble. But help is at hand as the disguised outlaws rush to his aid and he is led away.
Writer: Arthur Behr (Waldo Salt)
Director: Terence Fisher
Stars:
Richard Greene (Robin Hood)
Bernadette O’Farell (Maid Marian)
Alexander Gauge (Friar Tuck)
Alan Wheatley (Sheriff)
Archie Duncan (Little John)
Guest stars:
Arthur Skinner (Outlaw), John Dearth (Outlaw), Willoughby Gray (Earl of Drune), Charles Stapley (Outlaw), Nicholas Parsons (Sir Walter of the Glen), John Longden (Sir Gyles of Wren), Barry Shawzin (Sir Hubert the Stout), Hal Osmond (King's Commissioner)
In that year I had been given the box set of the classic TV series The Adventures of Robin Hood (1955-1958), which I was thoroughly enjoying watching again after many, many, years. Not only was I thoroughly impressed by the quality of the writing and acting, but also the respect it gives to the legend.
As many of you regular readers know, there are quite a few connections between this wonderful, black and white television series and Disney’s Technicolor masterpiece that preceded it. Some of the actors from the movie appeared in certain episodes, including Hubert Gregg and Patrick Barr, who recreated their roles for the small screen. Some familiar props were used, including the highly decorated chairs that also found their way into the ‘Robin of Sherwood’ TV series thirty years later.
But what surprised me most of all was the ending to an episode called ‘Trial by Battle’, episode 27 in series 1, which was first shown on 26th March 1956. In the final scene Robin is held down on his sick bed and he is forced to eat some broth from a wooden spoon by the determined Maid Marian and his band of outlaws. Sound familiar?
In this episode we also see Hal Osmond (Midge the Miller in Disney's Story of Robin Hood) playing the King's Comissioner and a highly decorated chair used in the Disney movie.
TRIAL BY BATTLE
Maid Marian is doomed to hang,
Brave knights it seems are all too few,
Of course it’s Robin Hood at last,
Who proves her champion true.
We journey with Friar Tuck on his obstinate ass into Sherwood Forest and to the outlaws’ camp. He is absolutely furious about being left out of Robin’s confidence and upon hearing his plans to ambush the King’s Commissioner at Pilgrims Cross Roads from the gossiping regulars of the Blue Boar Tavern.
At the camp in the greenwood, Maid Marian confirms that the King’s Commissioner is due to arrive at Nottingham Castle to examine the accounts of the shire. But Robin is as surprised as Friar Tuck to hear this ‘rumour’. So the outlaw band set off to the crossroads to ‘make sure the right outlaw’s way-lay the King’s Commissioner.’
As Robin and his band witness the melee through the trees, they soon realise that this is no ‘honest robbery’, but murder their laying on their heads. The outlaws join the fight to protect the Commissioner and a swordfight ensues between Robin and Sir Gyles of Wren.
Upon hearing this character’s name, I was immediately drawn to the ancient ballad of ‘Robin and Gandelyn’. The subject of this mysterious and eerie poem is the traditional New Year’s hunting of the wren, called Wrennock of Donne, in vengeance of the robin murdered at midsummer. Coincidence?
Sir Gyles of Wren wounds Robin and he stumbles against a rock, luckily Little John intervenes with his quarter staff and drives the evil knight away. The King’s Commissioner identifies Robin Hood and the distinguished guest is taken to the outlaws’ camp.
With birds chirping merrily in the trees, Marian, Robin (with his left arm in a sling) and his men sit with their invited guest at the feasting table in the greenwood. I couldn’t help noticing the eye contact between Robin and Marian during the scene when King’s Commissioner refuses to consume the royal venison and drink the wine. To Little John and Friar Tuck’s astonishment the guest explains the biological effect to the stomach and digestion this food can have. To which Friar Tuck rather squeamishly asks for a scrap of dried bread.
Hal Osmond as the King's Commissioner
“I carry my own diet,” said the Commissioner and brought out a bag of eggs and nuts. So when he is asked to pay his way, he firmly refuses, grabbing his sword, saying he ‘will give up not one jot of the king’s property, certainly not to outlaws!’
Robin, now assured of the Commissioners determination to defend the monarch’s interests with his life, orders his men to accompany him back to his horse. “Now I begin to see why Sir Gyles could contemplate murder!” said Marian. “He’s too honest to be long in Nottingham Castle,” said Robin who then asks Marian, as she is going to have her accounts read, to keep a watchful eye on him. But Marian is concerned about leaving Robin with a serious wound to his upper chest. Robin, after giving Marian a reassuring kiss warns her to take a dagger for her own protection.
Within the grey shadowy walls of Nottingham Castle, Sir Gyles of Wren and the Sheriff are deep in conversation. “No! I will not risk everything to correct your blundering stupidity, blusters the Sheriff. “Don’t stir your bile, Sheriff”, growls Sir Gyles, “he’s got to go one way or another.” But the Sheriff, who is obviously involved in the plot to kill the King’s Commissioner, is concerned about ‘the shadow of suspicion.’ Marian, meanwhile, is following the Commissioner’s every move and when she offers to fill his flagon his frustration boils over. Sir Gyles then intervenes with: “Commissioners of the Exchequer get over sensitive about poison, you baggage*!”
(*An unusual term that was used in Romeo and Juliet: ‘Hang thee young baggage, disobedient wretch.’ Capulet to Juliet Act 3 Scene 5).
The Disney chair behind Maid Marian (Bernadette O'Farrell)
This abusive term used at Lady Marian, angers the rather foppish Sir Walter of the Glen (played by Nicholas Parsons). But Sir Gyles dismisses Sir Walter’s anger. “Any knighthood or womanhood that can’t stomach my language, I’d have my doubts about, particularly a minx that uses a dagger at her girdle. Afraid of the Sheriff, my girl?”
Sir Gyles then moves behind Marian and in front of Sir Walter. He carefully places his arms around her and sneeringly says, “Maybe you’re planning to do the Commissioner in at that, eh?” While Sir Walter protests, Sir Gyles, holding Maid Marian closely, slyly slips her dagger out of its scabbard.
The Sheriff intervenes, apologizing to the Commissioner (who is beginning to show signs of a heavy cold) for the unrest, and suggests he puts off reading the documents till tomorrow. But he insists on being conducted to the room containing the shire accounts.
Sir Walter touchingly attempts to comfort the Lady Marian after her treatment by Sir Gyles. But Marian is preoccupied by the sudden disappearance of the evil knight whom she suddenly sees making his way up the torch lit steps towards the Commissioner’s room. So in a moment of panic she rushed up the winding castle stairs, through the open door, into his room, only to find the poor man lying dead by the fireplace.
Her beautiful face is frozen with shock as she suddenly realises her ornate dagger is missing and as she attempts to remove it from the Commissioner’s back the booming voice of Sir Gyles is heard. “Hold!” The Lady Marian froze with the dagger in her hand. Sir Gyles, Sir Walter and the Sheriff then entered the room. “How could you!” barked Sir Gyles. “You’re inhuman. How could you kill this poor little man?”
The Sheriff immediately jumps to Marian’s defence, astonished that Sir Gyles could accuse the Lady of such a thing. But the evil knight points out that Marian was removing her dagger from the Commissioner’s back. He then threatened the Sheriff that if he didn’t report this, he would inform Prince John of ‘a few other matters he would be interested to hear.’
So reluctantly the Sheriff orders Lady Marian Fitzwalter to stand trial before her peers for the murder of the Commissioner of the King’s Exchequer. The first half of the episode finishes with a close up the beautiful Marian looking frightened and very vulnerable.
Gathered in a rather cramped shadowy courtroom, Sir Gyles informed the jury how he witnessed Lady Marian drawing the dagger out of the Commissioner’s chest. She stood looking vulnerable, flanked closely by two armed guards and immediately replied, telling the members of the court how Sir Gyles had put his arms around her and stolen her dagger.
But the concerned Sheriff reminded her that there was no evidence that the dagger was ever stolen and that witnesses had established that the dagger was in her possession before the Commissioner had retired for the evening. When he then asked her why she had decided to wear such a weapon, she mistakenly revealed that she already knew that Sir Gyles had attempted to murder the commissioner once before.
Anxiously the Sheriff glanced at Sir Gyles and then lowered his voice and asked her where she had heard this information. Realising what she had said Marian tried to cover her tracks by nervously saying that it must be Sir Gyles because he had succeeded in murdering the Commissioner in the castle. Once more Lady Marian pleaded to the Sheriff that her dagger had been stolen. “When did you notice its loss?” asked the Sheriff. “When I drew it out I realised,” she replied. “So you admit that you drew out the dagger!” There was silence and then the Sheriff rose to his feet….. “Milords," Marian interrupts," I can read my judgement and doom on your faces, but I will not be hanged on the word of a murderer. I challenge Sir Gyles to defend the truth of his cause, in trial by battle.” “So be it!” announced the apparently relieved Sheriff. “By the Moot Court of Nottinghamshire, that Sir Gyles of Wren will meet the champion of Marian Fitzwater in trial by battle one week hence from this day!”
Friar Tuck visits Maid Marian in her cell
In her cell, Marian is visited by Friar Tuck, who in a hushed voice informs her that she can’t rely on Robin because his wound had not healed. Marian breaks down: “I expect I always counted on Robin, without knowing it. You take it for granted he will be there if you need him. I felt so brave, but now I am frightened.” In desperation Friar Tuck visits Sir Walter, but he had been recently ambushed by four knights who had broken his legs. His next visit was the Lord of Drune, who admitted to the Friar of selling his soul to the Devil. His lands would be forfeit if he defended the Lady Marian.
Back at the camp, an anxious Friar Tuck tells the outlaws the grave news around the flickering campfire. Robin lying on his sick bed overhears this and weakly staggers to his feet. He awkwardly removes his blanket and slips unnoticed out the camp.
Maid Marian faces the executioner
The drum beats menacingly slowly as the Lady Marian is led from her cell towards the long black shadow of the executioner. She suddenly sees her accuser, who sneeringly asks her, “Frightened, girl? No champion? I hear there is a plague of palsy in the knee among the flower of knighthood!” A desperately concerned Sheriff tells Marian he hasn’t slept for a week with worry. He advises her to confess her guilt and she will only lose her lands and live under house arrest as his prisoner. “Marian,” he pleads, “I claim to be no better than the evil times we live in, but I am no worse. Would marriage to me be so harsh a sentence?” “When I am married,” she replied, “I will be bound to my husband with something stronger than chains!”
With the shadow of the executioner behind him, the Sheriff announces to a gathering, consisting of some ashamed and embarrassed knights that he will call for Lady Marian’s Champion three times before divine providence. Disguised as a pilgrim, a worried Little John informs Friar Tuck that Robin had visited an apothecary during the evening and when told to lie down had gone off.
On the third and final call, to Marian’s surprise, a rustic appeared from the crowd and announced himself as Hugh son of Tom, freeman and freeholder on the land of Fitzwalter. As he approaches her she eventually sees through his disguise and realises it is Robin. Marian tells ‘Hugh’ that she can’t allow him to fight as she had heard he had been ill. But the rustic replies, “Sickness of the body can be cured, but sickness of the heart, to let you die without raising my hand, I could never endure.” So a relieved Marian, with a sparkle in her eye announces her acceptance of her new found champion.
Robin, with his left arm almost motionless, eventually manages to back Sir Gyles into a wood pile and with superb swordsmanship flicks the murderer’s sword from his hands. Sir Gyles immediately cries craven. The Sheriff’s face cannot hide his relief. “Lady Marian,” he announces, “You are now free and innocent before Heaven and man.” There is much rejoicing, but Robin’s weakness shows through and he begins to stumble. But help is at hand as the disguised outlaws rush to his aid and he is led away.
Robin defeats Sir Gyles
This wonderful episode ends in a similar way to the final scene in Walt Disney’s Story of Robin Hood, where Robin is held down on his sick bed and he is forced to eat some broth from a wooden spoon by the determined Maid Marian.
Robin is forced to eat broth
Writer: Arthur Behr (Waldo Salt)
Director: Terence Fisher
Stars:
Richard Greene (Robin Hood)
Bernadette O’Farell (Maid Marian)
Alexander Gauge (Friar Tuck)
Alan Wheatley (Sheriff)
Archie Duncan (Little John)
Guest stars:
Arthur Skinner (Outlaw), John Dearth (Outlaw), Willoughby Gray (Earl of Drune), Charles Stapley (Outlaw), Nicholas Parsons (Sir Walter of the Glen), John Longden (Sir Gyles of Wren), Barry Shawzin (Sir Hubert the Stout), Hal Osmond (King's Commissioner)
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