The Story of Robin Hood at the Box Office

The original film poster of 1952

One of the many questions I have tried to answer since starting this blog is how much did Walt Disney's Story of Robin Hood and his Merrie Men make at the box office in 1952? It has not been easy to get an accurate figure. Also, the available sources vary as to the top box office hit films of that year. Kinematograph Weekly (Saturday 31st January 1953) judged the top 15 films of 1952 (based on box office returns) as:-

1.The Greatest Show on Earth

2. Where No Vultures Fly

3. Ivanhoe

4. Angles One Five

5. Sound Barrier

6. African Queen

7. Mandy

8. The Story of Robin Hood and his Merrie Men

9. Reluctant Heroes

10. A Christmas Carol 

11. Planter's Wife

12. Son of Paleface

13. The Quiet Man

14. Sailors Beware 

15. Room for One More 

From the various lists we can assume that Disney's second live-action film was a success at the box office and for the studio.

This move by Walt Disney to make films in England had come about due to his studio's post-war funds being frozen by the British government in an attempt to revive its own film industry. Disney had considered building an animation studio here but opted to produce live-action movies instead.

We won't turn into a live-action studio, but we'll get into the live-action business. (Walt Disney)

The studio's first live-action movie Treasure Island cost $1.8 million (using up the blocked funds) and was released in July 1950. Produced and supervised by Disney, it made the studio and RKO Pictures $4 million, returning $2.2 and $2.4 million. So with this success under their belt Disney embarked on another historical adventure.

For The Story of Robin Hood and his Merrie Men Disney used just three of his American production crew, Perce Pearce (producer), Lawrence Watkin (writer), and Fred Leahy (production manager). All three of them sailed with Walt and his family on board the Queen Mary to England in January 1951 to begin planning their next live-action film. 

Walt Disney and family visiting England in 1951

In mid-January 1951 Richard Todd met Perce Pearce at the Dorchester Hotel in London and eventually accepted the role of Robin Hood. Todd also suggested James Robertson Justice as Little John to Pearce.

The Story of Robin Hood premiered on March 13th 1952 at the Leicester Square Theatre in London and according to press cuttings of the time was a huge success.

The queues outside the Leicester Square Theatre in London to see Robin Hood.

This article is taken from 'To-Days Cinema' (March 27th 1952):

Walt Disney’s Story of Robin Hood and his Merrie Men, the RKO Radio release in Technicolor starring Richard Todd with Joan Rice is keeping up its second week pressure, as evidenced by these photographs taken outside the Leicester Square Theatre, where it has been attracting spectacular business since its World Premiere on March 13^th. Part of the second week-end queues to one side of the house, with a defile waiting patiently across the other side of the street, facing that along the theatre itself.

A programe from the world premiere

My regular contributor Neil Vessey, has recently found a reference for the box office takings for Walt Disney's third live action movie The Sword and the Rose (1953).  In The Animated Man : A Life of Walt Disney (2007) the author doesn't give us a figure, but states that The Sword and the Rose exceeded the budget of Robin Hood, but only earned the studio $2.5 million - less than half of its predecessor.

Neil concludes from this, that Robin Hood must have made the Disney Studio about $5 million from its original outlay of $1.9 million dollars. 

At last, this is a breakthrough and since Neil's email to me I have been hunting for more information. At the moment all I have found is a snippet on Google Books from volume 41 of Newsweek (1953). On page 97 it has this:-

The Story of Robin Hood also made in England, was budgeted at $1,300,000 and promptly grossed a $3,000,000 return. And only a few months of the "Robin Hood" box-office potential is reflected in Disney's...  

From the information available we can deduce that The Story of Robin Hood and his Merrie Men had significant success for the studio.

Using a familiar production crew and cast, Disney ventured into the legends of the misty hills of Scotland for his fourth and last live-action movie Rob Roy the Highland Rogue, which was released in October 1953. It was openly described by its director Harold French as a 'western in kilts'!  Rob Roy contained the same technical quality and outstanding acting talents of the previous three Disney live-action adventure films but it was not received as well. 

After the release of Rob Roy, Walt and his older brother Roy formed their wholly owned distribution company Buena Vista. It was up and running when Disney embarked on his next and most expensive live-action adventure film, 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea. Costing a staggering $4.5 million this would be the studio's first American-made live-action feature.

But the production in Britain of Treasure Island and Robin Hood had led the way and proved that Walt Disney's company was now not just a small studio devoted to animation.

Friar Tuck's Feast: Pomesmoille

There has been a great deal of interest in the recipes and information I have posted under the label Friar Tuck's Feast. This section of the blog covers the type of food and drink that the jolly friar might have tasted during the medieval period. So far I have researched the history behind Malmsey Wine (mentioned by Friar Tuck in the Story of Robin Hood) and cooked a stuffed chicken recipe dating back to the Norman Conquest. 

Friar Tuck played by James Hayter

So this time I have decided to attempt a recipe taken from a fifteenth century manuscript (Laud MS. 553 from about 1420). This was a dessert that Friar Tuck might have been familiar with. It was known as Pommesmoille:

Nym rys & bray hem in a morter; tempre hem up with almande milke, boile hem. Nym appelis & kerve hem as small as douste; cast hem in after the boillyng, & sugur; colour hit with safron, cast therto goud poudre, & zif hit forth.

1 lb cooking apples, peeled, cored and finely diced.
2-4 oz ground almonds
2 cups water, milk or a combination.
1/2 cup of sugar (less if apples are sweet)
1/4 cup of rice flour
1/2 tsp of cinnamon
1/8 tsp of ginger
A pinch of ground cloves, salt, nutmeg
optional: pinch of saffron.

Mix sugar, rice flour and almond milk* in a saucepan; stir in sliced apples and bring to a boil over medium heat.

The chopped apple

 Stir and boil for about 5 mins, or until quite thick.

The mixture before adding the apples.

Combine a spoonful of the pudding and all seasonings except nutmeg in a small dish or cup, then stir mixture into the pot of pudding. When thoroughly blended, pour into a serving dish. Sprinkle nutmeg on top and allow to cool. This dish may be eaten either hot or cold.

Pomesmoille

Jules and I tried the Pomesmoille warm and thoroughly enjoyed it. It was fascinating to think that we were tasting something that was eaten during the reign of Henry V and at the time of the Hundred Years War. It tasted rather like a spicy apple pie, but without the pastry. Next time I want to try it with cream!


*Almond milk was a regular ingredient in medieval dishes. It is obtained by steeping ground almonds in hot water or other hot liquid, then straining out the almonds, so that the milk is thick and smooth, not gritty. The milk was either wrung through a clean cloth or forced through a fine strainer and the more almonds you use in proportion to water, the smoother, tastier and creamier the almond milk will be. For quickness I cheated and bought mine from a supermarket!

Walt Disney's Robin Hood Props

I am very grateful to Brian Varaday who has been busy hunting down more examples of the props that were designed by Carmen Dillon and her art department for Walt Disney's Story of Robin Hood and his Merrie Men. The live-action movie was the last of its kind to be made at Denham Studios in 1951. Sadly the huge size of the studios there became its downfall and eventually it merged with Pinewood. Then in 1977 the site was sold to a developer and most of  Alexander Korda's 'Dream Factory' was tragically demolished to make-way for an industrial estate.

One of my regular contributors, Neil Vessey informs me that shortly after Disney's Robin Hood was finished, there was a large sale of props from Denham Studios. This will explain why we have found what we now call 'Robin Hood's Chair' and other items used in the movie in various later productions. Many examples of this can be seen here.

The beautifully designed bench in Disney's 'Story of Robin Hood.'

Brian Varaday explains his latest find:

Another link between "The Dark Avenger" (1955) and "The Story of Robin Hood" (1952). The light coloured bench in the Tower of London with Queen Eleanor (Martitia Hunt) and the Archbishop of Canterbury (Anthony Eustrel) appeared again in "Dark' in a scene with Joanne Dru, Errol Flynn and Peter Finch, Once again Finchie was the chief villain.

'The Dark Avenger' (1955) showing the same bench.

Special thanks to Brian for finding yet another example of Disney props being used in a later movie. If any readers have spotted any more, please get in touch.

The Return of the King

The news of the coming of the king, so long and so desperately awaited, flew faster than the north wind. (William of Newburgh)

Richard I (1157-1199)

At the end of most Robin Hood films and stories we witness the return of King Richard I after being held as a hostage by Leopold of Austria. Disguised as an abbot, the king hunts down Robin Hood in Sherwood Forest and pardons all the outlaws. Prince John's evil attempt to usurp his brother's throne is foiled and the country rejoices at the return of the crusading king. But what was the Lionheart's reception really like when he got back to the shores of England?

Richard I from the Chronicle of King's and Patrick Barr as King Richard

I have been fascinated with the legend of Robin Hood for over forty years and have spent much of that time researching the history behind his phenomenal popularity. Surprisingly Richard I does not appear in the existing medieval ballads about the outlaw of Sherwood Forest. It was the Scottish chronicler John Major (or Mair) (1469-1550) who first linked the two of them together in his History of Greater Britain (1521). Since that time, Robin Hood's activities have been placed at the time of England's lionhearted king and his treacherous brother Prince John.The historical turmoil at that time provided a perfect backdrop to an endless stream of theatrical productions and fictional novels. 

Recently I returned to Kent with my new partner, Jules Frusher and together we visited Rochester Castle. With it's stunning 12th-century stone keep, it probably has the best preserved example of early Norman castle construction anywhere in England or France. During a long eventful history, it was besieged by King John's (1166-1216) forces during the first baron's war. I also learnt that Richard I had stopped off at the fortress during his journey back from the Holy Land. Looking at the remains of the Great Hall, I couldn't help but imagine what it must have been like during the time of the Plantagenet kings and in particular Richard I. So I decided to investigate the return of the Lionheart to England and see if it was as dramatic as Hollywood would have us believe. 

On the 4th February 1194 at 9 o'clock in the morning King Richard I's ransom of 100,000 marks was completed and hostages were handed over to insure the outstanding 50,000 marks would be paid. It was then that the Archbishops of Mainz and Cologne formerly released  Richard and he was brought to his mother, the formidable Queen Eleanor of Aquitaine. It was said that she was so overcome with emotion upon seeing her beloved son again that she broke down in tears. According to Richard of Howden's (the king's clerk) calculations, Richard had been in prison for one year, six weeks and three days. 

Martia Hunt as Eleanor of Aquitaine

During their journey back to England, through Europe, Richard and Eleanor stopped for three days in Cologne and on the 12th February the Archbishop received him with joy and they sang mass in the beautiful cathedral, which included the choir singing:

Now I know that God has sent his angel and taken me from the hand of Herod.

From Cologne, Richard traveled to Louvain and then onto Brussels, arriving there on the 25th February. A number of ships from England had now sailed into the port of Antwerp including Richard's favourite galley, Trench-e-mer (the sea cleaver) and the king and his mother were welcomed aboard by its faithful captain, Alan Trenchemer, who sailed the vessel onward to Zwin.

It was in the tidal inlet of Zwin on the Belgian-Dutch border, that the royal party dropped anchor for five days, supposedly delayed by bad weather. But historians generally agree that this was to allow Richard time to survey the inlets and islands under cover of darkness, through fear of being intercepted. The Lionheart was well aware that he faced not only a land-based invasion threat from King Philip of France, but a naval risk too.

19th Century image of Richard I on-board ship

Finally, on the 13th March, five weeks after his release, the little convoy docked in bright sunlight at Sandwich in Kent and Richard set foot on English soil for the first time since December 1189. But there were no big celebrations as they stepped off the vessel. Instead, Richard decided to visit Canterbury, claiming he did not want to visit any other church until he had visited the seat of St. Thomas Beckett of blessed memory and payed his respects. (Beckett had been murdered twenty three years before).

After giving thanks for his freedom at Beckett's shrine, Richard and Queen Eleanor travelled along the Pilgrims' Way. This included journeying along the old Roman road known in Anglo-Saxon times as Watling Street which ran from Dover to London, and passed through Ospringe, Chatham and Rochester. 

Pilgrims Way in Kent

As the royal party rode through the Kent countryside, news of the king's release was steadily spreading across the kingdom. Between them Philip of France and Prince John had offered to pay the German King and Emperor, Henry VI, a much larger sum than the current ransom, to detain Richard in captivity. But the deal never took place and when Philip heard Richard had been freed, he sent Prince John a message:

Look to yourself; the devil is loosed

Hubert Gregg as Prince John

Prince John's treacherous attempt at usurping the throne had failed miserably. The council of the realm declared his estates forfeit, his castles were besieged and the bishops excommunicated him. One of John's supporters, the castellan of St Michael's Mount in Cornwall, Henry de la Pomeroy, died of fright when he heard the Lionheart had been released. John fled at once to the safety of the French court.

Hubert Walter, Richard's new Chief Justicar and Archbishop of Canterbury was waiting for him at Rochester Castle. As his monarch approached, Walter dismounted and knelt before him. Richard too climbed down from his horse and gave his fellow crusader an emotional embrace. That night they both stayed in the keep of the castle, spending most of the evening deep in conversation.

Rochester Castle in Kent

Below the Great Hall in Rochester Castle

Three days after arriving at Sandwich in Kent, King Richard and Queen Eleanor crossed the Thames by the old wooden bridge and entered London:

to the great acclaim of both clergy and people, he was received in procession through the decorated city into the church of St. Paul's to give thanks for his restoration. Afterwards as they rode to the palace of Westminster they were hailed with joy along the Strand. (Ralph of Diceto)

The citizens of London decked the streets with banners and bunting and received their king and his mother with an enthusiastic and honest joy. Although the country had been fleeced of a huge amount of its wealth, there was still enough to give him a lavish reception. The German agents who were present to oversee that the outstanding balance of Richard's ransom would be paid, were stunned to see that the country had not been brought to its knees and commented that the ransom had been put too low.

Oh king! if our emperor had suspected this, you would not have been let off so lightly. (Brompt.-Hemingford)

The legendary knight William the Marshall, was so keen to greet his king that he missed his brother's funeral so that he could hurry to witness all the celebrations.

Such joy have I in the king's coming that I can withstand the grief that I did not believe I could bear. (William Marshall- Crouch)

But the jubilation was cut short when Richard's attention was drawn to the two remaining strongholds still holding out for his treacherous brother. These were the garrisons at Tickhill and Nottingham Castle.

Richard reached Nottingham on 25th March: 

with such a vast multitude of men, and such a clangor of trumpets and clarions, that those who were in the castle were astonished and confounded and alarmed, and trembling came upon them, but still they did not believe that the king had come and supposed that the whole of this was done by the chiefs of the army for the purpose of deceiving them. The king, however,took up his quarters next to the castle, so that the archers of the castle pierced the kings men at his very feet. The king being incensed with this put on his armour, and commanded his army to make an assault on the castle. (Roger de Hovenden, Itinerarium Regis Ricardi )

Ralph Murdoc and William de Wendeval were holding Nottingham Castle in Prince John's name and refused to surrender.

Nottingham Castle

The siege had already been started by William earl of Ferrers, David earl of Huntingdon (the brother of William the Lion, king of Scots) and Randulf earl of Chester. This is peculiar because the legend of Robin Hood not only links the outlaw with the earldom of Huntingdon but also with Randulf earl of Chester (Piers Plowman c.1377).

David, earl of Huntingdon, took part in Richard's coronation and shortly afterwards married the sister of Randulf earl of Chester.

King Richard according to some sources arrived with just a few hours of daylight left, and as he stood watching the siege two of those next to him were suddenly hit by arrows. The defenders were convinced that the fanfare was just a trick and fought on. The Lionheart ordered an immediate assault. Such were his military talents that by dusk the wooden gateway to the outer bailey and the barbican had been captured and burnt. But the defenders lay secure behind the high stone walls of the middle bailey and during the night deliberately burnt down the castle's outer works, depriving the besiegers of as much cover as possible.

Clothed in a simple coat of light mail, with a steel cap on his head, he [Richard] advanced as far as the gate of the castle, preceded by men bearing before them large shields. 

The next day Richard ordered  Master Elias of Oxford to bring stone throwing engines from London.The king decided not to make another assault on the castle until the machines were ready. Meanwhile he hung from gibbets, in full view of the defenders, some men at arms captured outside of the castle.  Richard's message was clear, if they continued to hold out they would all suffer the same fate. The Archbishop of Canterbury was also ordered to excommunicate the defenders. 

On the 27th March the bishop of Durham brought additional forces and prisoners from nearby Tickhill Castle. 
But while the king was at dinner:

Ralph Murdac and William de Wendeval, constables of Nottingham Castle, sent two of their companions to see the king; who after having seen him, returned to the castle, to tell those who had sent them what they had seen and heard respecting the king and his preparations. When William de Wendeval and Roger de Montbegum heard of this, they went forth with twelve others from the castle, and threw themselves at the king's mercy, and returned to the castle no more.(Roger de Hovenden, Itinerarium Regis Ricardi)

Richard is reported to have said to his visitors from Nottingham Castle, 'Well, what can you see? Am I here?' But it was not until the third day of the siege, and the mediation of the archbishop of Canterbury, that the rest of the defenders were persuaded to surrender:

Philip de Worcester and Ralph de Worecester his brother, and all the rest who were in the castle, surrendered the castle to the king, and threw themselves on the king's mercy, for life and limb and worldly honour. (Roger de Hovenden)

The gates were opened and Richard entered Nottingham Castle and after which, according to Roger de Hovenden:

Richard, king of England went to see Clipston and the forests of Sherwood, which he had never seen before, and they pleased him greatly; after which on the same day he returned to Nottingham. (Roger de Hovenden)

Sherwood Forest

Two days later, a Royal Council was held in the hastily repaired Great Hall of Nottingham Castle. Richard sat between the two archbishops. The 72 year old Queen Eleanor also attended the debate along with Hugh, bishop of Durham, Hugh bishop of Lincoln, William bishop of Ely, the king's chancellor, William bishop of Hereford, Henry bishop of Worcester, Henry, bishop of Exeter, John, bishop of Whitherne, earl David, brother of the king of Scotland, Hamelin, earl of Warenne, Ranulph earl of Chester, William earl of Ferrers, William earl of Salisbury and Roger Bigot.

The council would last four days. On the second day, legal proceedings began against not only Prince John but also the bishop of Coventry:

being aware of their secret plans, had devoted himself, and had give his adherence to the king of France and earl John, devising all kinds of mischief to the injury of his kingdom. Judgement was accordingly given, that earl John and the bishop of Coventry should be peremptorily cited, and if they should not come within forty days to take their trial, they pronounced that earl John   had forfeited all rights in the kingdom and that the bishop of Coventry would be subjected to the judgement of the bishops. (Roger de Hovenden)

Two months later John, who had now been abandoned by the King of France and dispossessed of his revenues and lands in England, visited his mother Queen Eleanor. After a private consultation with her, he fell at Richard's feet in Lisieux, France and begged his brother's forgiveness. It was immediately given by Richard who said to his younger brother, 'Don't be afraid John, you are a child (John was in fact, 27 years old). You have got into bad company and it is those who have led you astray who will be punished.'

Later, one of Richard's envoy's, John of Alencon, looked Prince John in the face and warned him that the king had treated him better than he deserved and no doubt better than he would have treated his own brother.

The feuding brothers were reconciled, with the help of their mother.

So, on Richard's return to England, not only did he dramatically attack Nottingham Castle and expel his scheming brother, but also spent a day hunting in Sherwood Forest. Sadly there is no record of him meeting Robin Hood, but I hope that you will agree the history is just as intriguing as the legend.

More information can be found here on the research and history about Robin Hood. There are also many more pages about Nottingham Castle, the ballads about Robin Hood and Sherwood Forest.

Sources:
The Annals of Roger de Hovenden, (1853) Henry T. Riley
The Life and Times of Richard I, (1973) John Gillingham
Richard I, (1999) John Gillingham
Lionheart, (2014) Douglas Boyd
Eleanor of Aquitaine, (1999) Alison Weir
Blondel's Song, (2006) David Boyle
Lionheart and Lackland, (2006) Frank McLynn

Joan Rice and baby Michael

Joan Rice and baby Michael

This web site is dedicated to the memory of Joan Rice (1930-1997) and down the years I have attempted to piece together the life of the beautiful English actress who charmed us all with her portrayal of Maid Marian in Disney's Story of Robin Hood in 1952.

This would not have been possible without the response from my many blog readers who have kindly sent in their memories of her. Here is another example - this was sent to me by Annie Winkler last week:

I have read with interest your website about Joan Rice, and saw you had asked for any anecdotes etc. about her. 

You may be interested to know that we used to know the Greens quite well.   I am just one month older than Joan and David’s son Michael.  Our family lived very near them up to 1964 in Maidenhead.   Actually it wasn’t Cookham, which your website said.  Cookham was about five miles from us.   Both our house and the Green’s house backed onto Maidenhead Thicket.  Interestingly we could see Richard Todd’s house just across the Thicket from our windows upstairs. We used to play nearly every day with Michael and other children of the neighbourhood, especially in the school holidays.  I was really sad to learn of Michael’s suicide.  It must have been a terrible shock to the whole family.  Unfortunately we lost touch with them when we moved to Bath in 1964 when Michael and I were about 11 years old.  I am now living in Derby, about one hundred yards from the City Hospital where I see from your website that Joan was born. 

Their house had a long drive and was one of the only ones, if not then the only one, with a swimming pool in the garden.  We occasionally went to swim in their pool, but not very often as it seemed freezing.  We were in and out of each others houses, but more often than not Michael came to play at our house.

Best wishes,  Annie Winkler

Joan Rice with David Green at Kiss Korner in London c.1953

Joan Rice and David Green were married at Maidenhead Register Office on the 16th February 1953 and the reception was held in Gables Lodge just outside Maidenhead. David was a film salesman (for a Hollywood company) and they met at a Christmas party shortly after Joan's return to England after filming His Majesty O'Keefe. It was a classic whirlwind romance. They were engaged on 15th January and married a month later!

Their son Michael was born in December 1953, but sadly Joan and David's marriage was dissolved in 1964. It was soon after that the Rank Organisation dropped Joan's contract, but she continued to work hard, by accepting bit parts in films and often touring the country doing live theater plays. She always supported herself, not accepting any support from her broken marriage. 

In 1984 Joan married Ken McKenzie, a former journalist with the Daily Sketch and they lived together at Quinney's, a house in Cookham in Berkshire. But by now her she was having problems with her health and she had become very frail. Joan passed away due to emphysema complications on January 1st 1997 aged 66.

Tragically, Michael had taken his own life in the early 1990's.

In December 2012 I received this short email from David Green, Joan's former husband :

I am alive and well and live in Las Vegas. Joan and my son Michael died over 10 years ago in the South of France. His 2 daughters live in Holland.  David Green.

There are now over 70 pages on this site of images and information about the life of Joan Rice, including pictures of her wedding and stills from her movies. Please click here.

Joan was always proud of the fact that she had been Walt Disney's first Maid Marian and this blog will certainly never forget her. So if you have any memories of Joan that you would like to share with us, please get in touch at disneysrobin@googlemail.com.

Movie Stills

Here are a couple of unusual movie stills from Walt Disney's live action movie the Story of Robin Hood and his Merrie Men, which was released in 1952.

Above we see Peter Finch as the Sheriff of Nottingham with Robin Hood (Richard Todd) and Little John (James Robertson Justice) disguised as castle guards. Below that image is Patrick Barr as King Richard the Lionheart summoning his Crusading army from Nottingham Castle. To see more stills from this classic movie please click on the Picture Gallery here.

Did Joan Rice Pass Her Driving Test?

This photograph of Joan Rice (1930-1937) is said to have been taken in 1951 and has raised a number of questions. She is leaning against the British School of Motoring's Austin A40 Devon, a four door saloon. Had she just passed her driving test?

Joan played the part of Maid Marian in Walt Disney's live-action movie the Story of Robin Hood  and his Merrie Men (1952) and this blog is dedicated to her memory.We know from Ken Annakin's autobiography So You Wanna Be A Director that during the making of Robin Hood, Joan was cycling to Denham Film Studios in the early months of 1951. He says:

Joan used to ride a bicycle to and from the local hotel and between shots would go speeding around the Denham lot. Nearly every day she fell off and came back bruised and some part of her costume hanging loose. One evening I saw her standing forlornly outside the studio door, and took pity on her. "Where's your bike?" I called."Smashed up, as usual, she grinned guiltily..."

Also in the short promotional film The Riddle of Robin Hood we get a glimpse of 'our Joan' riding through Denham's security gate and into the studio grounds. So, was this just an advertisement for the British School of Motoring? Or did Joan pass her driving test after Robin Hood had been made? Perhaps one of our readers can help.

James Robertson Justice

James Robertson Justice as Little John

James Robertson Justice (1907-1975) will always be remembered for his booming voice, bushy beard and the larger than life characters he played in movies, such as his portrayal of Little John in Disney's Story of Robin Hood (1952) and as the bombastic head surgeon Sir Lancelot Spratt in Doctor in the House (1954).

After getting his big break into the movies (at the age of 37) through the help of Peter Ustinov, Jimmy gained a two year contract with the Rank Organisation and went on to become one of Britain's most recognized screen personalities, appearing in over eighty films. His early ones included:

The Black Rose (1950)
David and Bathsheba (1951)
Captain Horatio Hornblower (1951)
Les Miserables (1952)
Story of Robin Hood and his Merrie Men (1952)
Rob Roy (1953)
Sword and the Rose (1953)
Doctor in the House (1954)
Land of the Pharaohs (1955)
Moby Dick (1956)
Chitty Chitty Bang Bang (1968)

James Robertson Justice, Richard Todd and James Hayter in Robin Hood

The film producer Ken Annakin made several movies with James Robertson Justice and in his autobiography described how the big man could always be relied upon to add verisimilitude to any 'larger than life' character that he played. Annakin also recalled how the film crew would eagerly look forward to lunch-time breaks during the filming to hear more about Jimmy's exploits.

James Robertson Justice told of many amazing adventures that he had experienced during his early career. Tales like how he had joined the International Brigade against General Franco in the Spanish Civil War (where he gained a price on his head), or fled from Arabia on a camel after penetrating a Sheikh's harem. When the Germans marched into the Rhineland, Jimmy described how he had dropped his gun in front of Hitler. He also told how he had attended Bonn University and gained a doctorate in philosophy and a science degree at the University College London. He could speak three languages (later he increased it to twenty) -  and boasted about the fact that he was born under a distillery on the Isle of Skye in Scotland.

In fact JRJ seemed to have done more in a year than most of us do in a life time. He claimed to have become a professional racing driver, professional ice hockey player, worked for British Intelligence during WWII, was twice elected Rector of Edinburgh University, became friends with several members of the Royal Family taught Prince Charles how to fly falcons and was a notorious womaniser.

But how much of this was true? 

James Robertson Justice

Regular contributor Neil, runs a fantastic web site of his own, called Films of the Fifties, in which he often looks at stars of that golden era of movie making. This week he has included an article on James Robertson Justice  and using information from a latest biography on this larger than life character, reveals how behind Jimmy's mask there was a deeply contradictory and troubled man.

Although James Robertson Justice claimed he was Scottish (apparently he even played the bagpipes) his birth certificate shows he was actually born in the London borough of Lewisham and brought up in Bromley, Kent. At the age of 30 he added the 'middle name' Robertson to sustain the myth of his Scottish ancestry. Neither did he receive a doctorate in philosophy at Bonn University or a degree in science at University College in London.

So Neil's website Films of the Fifties unearths some of the truth behind those stories that JRJ loved to tell - and we learn a little more about the unrepentant socialist that drove a Rolls Royce and was a friend of the Royal Family. He was certainly a colourful character - one of a kind - and I am looking forward to reading the biography of our Little John.

To visit Neil's website please click here.

Robin Hood's Chair (Again)

Over the last few years, interest in my Disney's Story of Robin Hood Facebook page has been growing and there are now 41 members. One new member, Brian Varaday, has very kindly sent me another example of what has become known on this blog as Robin Hood's Chair.

The chair used in The Dark Avenger (1955)

Brian sent me a still from the movie The Dark Avenger (1955) which not only starred Errol Flynn, but also had many people involved in its production who would have been familiar with the chair when it was first used on the set of Walt Disney's Story of Robin Hood at Denham Studios in 1951. Actors such as Peter Finch, Michael Hordern, Ewen Solon, crew members Guy Green, Alex Bryce and technical adviser Charles R. Beard had all previously worked on Robin Hood.

The original chair used in Walt Disney's Story of Robin Hood (1952)

It was while watching the classic television series the Adventures of Robin Hood (1955-1960) starring Richard Greene, that I noticed a familiar piece of furniture in the Sheriff of Nottingham's chamber. I was sure I had seen the highly decorated chair with its circular headrest and carved pineapples before.

                             

That chair in the Adventures of Robin Hood (1955-1960)

I immediately paused the DVD and quickly grabbed my illustrated copy of Walt Disney's Story of Robin Hood and his Merrie Men. I was correct! It was the same chair that had been designed by Carmen Dillon and her art department for Disney's live-action movie in 1951. Somehow it had found its way to Nettlefold Studios and the ground-breaking set of the black and white television series.

The chair used in TV's Adventures of Robin Hood (1955-1960)

As a young lad, these two versions of the Robin Hood legend had a huge influence on me. So you can imagine my surprise when I recently found, what I believe to be that very same chair (over thirty years later) in another all-time favourite of mine Robin of Sherwood (1984-1986).

The chair used over 30 years later in Robin of Sherwood (1984-1986)

I made a few enquires about this remarkable coincidence and received this message from a member of the Britmovie forum:

“I think it’s quite normal for props and costumes and even whole sets to be used in other films over the years. Studios normally had their own prop stores and there are also several large independent prop hire companies around London that have been on the go for years. I remember visiting one in Acton many years ago while helping a friend find some props for a theatre production; it was like an Aladdin’s cave with the proprietor cheerfully pointing out what other famous plays some of the props had been used for in the past.”

And:

"I guess most of the props these days are located in private rental firms. In the old days before studios went four walls they contained huge prop departments on site. I know Pinewood had a massive prop dept so it’s not unusual for the same prop to pop up in many films and are now privately owned. I know when MGM Borehamwood closed they flogged a lot off in a huge auction and many went down the road to Elstree."

The Robin Hood Chair in The Men of Sherwood (1954)

A while ago another regular blog visitor kindly sent me stills of those chairs being used in another movie, The Men of Sherwood Forest (1954). This was the first of a trilogy of Robin Hood features made by Hammer Film productions and also their first colour movie. Recently some critics have described it as the possibly the worst sound film about the outlaw ever made! Although in my opinion, American actor Don Taylor gives a good performance as Robin Hood and Reginald Beckwith is an excellent Friar Tuck in this low budget romp.

The Men of Sherwood (with chairs designed by Carmen Dillon for Disney in 1951)

To read more about the work of art director Carmen Dillon, please click here.

If anybody reading this blog, knows of any other movies in which the props (particularly those chairs) from the Story of Robin Hood can be clearly seen (and if they still exist) please get in touch!