Joan Rice in the Make-up Department

Here is my own copy of Joan Rice (1930-1997) in the make-up department for her role as Maid Marian during the filming of Walt Disney’s Story of Robin Hood in early 1951.

I am not sure who the gentleman is applying the make-up, it could be Geoffrey Rodway the Makeup Supervisor on the movie or Trevor Crole-Rees, Stuart Freeborn, Eddie Knight, A. L Lawrence, Robert Alexander or Wally Schneiderman. They are listed in various articles as uncredited makeup artists on the Disney live-action movie. My guess is the supervisor Geoffrey Rodway. But of course if anyone out there could let me know, I would be much obliged.

Crowe's Robin Hood Trailer

The writers of the original script, Ethan Reiff and Cy Voris, recently spoke about the new Russell Crowe movie:

“Nottingham [the original name of the film] was about us both wanting to see a new and different version of a classic old story retold. The truth is the movie Ridley Scott made doesn’t have all that much to do with the script we sold to Universal, in the midst of a bidding war with various other Hollywood studios, about 3 years ago. Our script was told from the Sheriff of Nottingham’s point of view (thereby the title), and Russell Crowe signed on to play the part of the Sheriff, who was the hero of our screenplay.

There are a few things remaining in the movie which had their origin in our script, like including Eleanor of Aquitaine (mother of Richard the Lionhearted and Prince, later King, John) as a key character in a Robin Hood movie for the first time (at least that I know of), plus the movie would never have been made to being with if Russell Crowe hadn’t signed on to play the Sheriff in our original script. I guess for us, without having seen the movie, it’s a mix of triumph and frustration. Triumph because we got the ball rolling that led to a massive medieval period piece being made with an excellent cast by arguably one of the greatest directors in movie history, but also frustration in that the world will never see the original movie we wrote. But we did get paid, so I’m not complaining. Once they bought it, Universal had the right to do whatever they wanted with our script.”

As readers of this blog will know, it was the Walt Disney movie The Story of Robin Hood (1952), with its screenplay by Lawrence E. Watkin that first used Eleanor of Aquitaine (1122-1204) as a key character in a film about the legendary outlaw. The legendary queen was played by the tall, stately, velvet voiced, Martitia Hunt (1900-1969) who was quite simply ‘made for the role.’ But we admirers of this quality Disney live-action movie are used to it getting over looked aren’t we!

As for Universal’s re-writing of the screen play to a more traditional one - I think that they are quite simply playing safe. I and many other Robin Hood enthusiasts-I am sure-would have preferred to have seen a refreshingly new angle to the same tired old plot, but would the general public? What do you think?

Robin Hood Film Strip Viewer

It never ceases to amaze me how much promotional material was manufactured during the release of the various Disney movies. In particular of course for Walt Disney’s Story of Robin Hood (1952). One of my favourites was the beautifully illustrated jig-saw puzzle of Robin and his father at the archery contest, which would have looked stunning when it was first produced. The jig-saw can be seen by clicking on the Memorabilia label.

But above is an item that I would once again appreciate some information on. It is a rather primitive looking ‘cine viewer’ that I presume was made during the early 1950’s in conjunction with the release of the Disney live-action movie.

Robin Hood Capitol (78) DBX 313B

This is a continuation of a post on the start of a disc promotion for Walt Disney’s live action movie The Story of Robin Hood (1952). We looked at an article in The Billboard April 19th 1952 and below is a follow-up on the release of Capitol’s Robin Hood with its 20 page booklet and colourful illustrations from The Billboard August 16th 1952:

Robin Hood (2-10”)

Capitol (78) DBX 313B

"This is certain to be treasured by the many youngsters who will be lucky recipients of the album. What is etched on the two discs is just part of attraction. Bound into the album is a superbly illustrated 20 page book telling the Robin Hood story as it is given on the records. It is an excellent adaption of the Walt Disney pic by Capitol exec Alan Livingston. Nester Paiva is the narrator and songs are contributed by Eddie Pola, George Wyle, Elton Hayes and Lawrence E. Watkins with Billy May conducting the work. All do fine jobs. Dealers who tie in with the runs of the movie should move plenty of copies; also the set is capable of doing well enough on its own.

Based on reports received for August 6, 7 and 8 [1952] the records listed were those records selling best in the nations retail record stores (dealers) according to The Billboard’s weekly dealer survey".

The Billboard - April 19th 1952

The following text is taken from The Billboard on April 19th 1952 at the start of Walt Disney's promotion of his second live-action movie which was released as The Story of Robin Hood (RKO RadioPictures) in New York on 26th June 1952 (although the article puts in in July of that year). I hope you will find it interesting:

The Billboard

New York, April 12th 1952

"Capital Records have obtained the album rights involving the original cast of the forthcoming Walt Disney flick Robin Hood. Capital has become increasingly active in all phases of the album market. The company recently secured the rights to original cast recordings of the musical, Three Wishes for Jamie and Of Thee I Sing and is now riding high with the Jane Froman set, With a Song in My Heart.

Capitol intends to go all out promotion-wise with the Robin Hood album. It will be a two set record set, with an illustrated story included. In addition to the usual window displays and streamers to hype sales, the company is mulling the idea of Robin Hood archery contests, with archery sets as prizes for kids. For radio publicity, Capitol intends to make disc jockey interview records with the star of the flick, Elton Hayes, and will arrange personal appearances of the actor. A large newspaper and magazine advertising campaign is also skedded.

Simon and Schuster has latched on to the rights to release 25-cent discs of the Disney Robin Hood flick, for Little Golden Records, as well as the right to release one 10 inch platter for the Big Golden Records line.

The movie is set to open in theatres in July. Both Capitol and Simon and Schuster expect to have their waxings ready for release in July."

Joan Rice and Kathryn Grayson

Happy New Year to you all! I would like to begin a new year of postings with a great press photo sent in by Neil of Joan Rice with Kathryn Grayson in Hollywood. This according to our timeline must have been taken about August 1952 when according to the newspapers of the time; Joan was ‘flashing her engagement ring to the Hollywood wolves.’

Joan Rice had got engaged in July 1952 to Martin Boyce, who is described as, "a regular pip of a fellow.” He was British, and “the manager of an auto parts factory/manufacturer of air compressors.”

"We went together for a year and three months before he proposed," Joan revealed to reporters. "As I recall it, we held hands after four months, then he kissed me on the sixth month of our meeting each other and things were on a standstill after that, until I got the news I was coming to the States."

If anyone has more information on Martin Boyce or any other details on the life of Joan Rice please get in contact with me at disneysrobin@googlemail.com

To read more about the life of Joan Rice please click on the Label below.

MERRIE CHRISTMAS!

This blog has now reached its third Christmas. It has been a year full of wonderful highs but also a number of very sad lows.

We lost our ‘Robin Hood’ this year when Richard Todd passed away aged 90 and our director Ken Annakin 94, both of them rightly awarded the status of ‘Disney Legends.’ Also Roy E Disney, nephew of the great man and executive of the Disney organisation who sadly lost his long battle with cancer a week ago.

At beginning of this year I was stunned to find my blog had made it into the newspapers when my article on the life of Joan Rice had interested the Maidenhead Advertiser and Windsor Express. I was contacted by their reporter and with all the publicity and help of the local readers, our ‘Maid Marian’s last resting place was eventually found.

Horace Ward contacted me and managed to find his press photographs from over half a century ago of Joan Rice’s wedding to David Green. This was remarkable considering they had no negatives and were originally on glass plates. Horace very kindly scanned them to me along with important details of where the wedding took place.

In January I was extremely proud to receive a ‘Your Blog Is Fabulous Award’ from Alianore. She has a blog and website dedicated to historical research into the reign of the much maligned English king, Edward II. This is a time-period in which I have had an interest for many years and her work brings his reign to life in a vibrant and entertaining way. Alianore’s blog and website and all the others that I follow can be found in the right hand panel of this site and are all highly recommended.

I have always relied on the input from my readers and luckily I have been blessed with support from some wonderful people. Geoff Waite supplied me with a concise list of Elton Hayes’s discography, along with the detailed obituary by Evelyn Branston. Jeremy Young, the Keeper at Burnham Beeches, not only gave us details of exactly where Disney’s Story of Robin Hood was filmed, but also about Walt Disney’s visit and his daughters amusing experience with a Rook.

This prompted a weekend break by my wife and me to Burnham Beeches Hotel and the forest in April and what a beautiful place it was! We were lucky to have glorious sunshine and took some great photos of the areas where Disney’s Robin Hood was shot, including Mendelssohn’s Slope and Middle Pond where ‘Whistle My Love’ was filmed. It was an unforgettable weekend and we thoroughly recommend a visit.

Herbert Smith started sweeping the floors at Denham Film Studios in Buckinghamshire when he was 13 years old and his son kindly gave me permission to use one of the photographs from his website, taken in 1977 just before those great film studios were demolished.

Do you remember the discovery of an extremely valuable Victorian painting depicting Robin and Maid Marian which was found by a cleaner in the broom cupboard of a Sussex workings men’s club, or Dr Luxford’s incredible find of a medieval manuscript containing an English account of Robin Hood by a fifteenth century scribe? Or can you remember the cartoon character created by Walt Disney’s producer Perce Pearce?

At the beginning of the year Mike joined us and sent in some images from his collection, which included the wonderful original poster and the souvenir programme from Disney’s Story of Robin Hood. Mike, known as Herne’s Son, is a regular contributor and very talented painter and film maker; his latest movie – a western-is currently being edited at the moment.

The DVD version of Walt Disney’s Story of Robin Hood was released across America this year and Ridley Scott began filming his version of the legend in Wales with his leading stars, Russell Crowe and Cate Blanchett. These two events in their own way have prompted more regular visitors to my blog, as has the final series of the BBC’s Robin Hood with Jonas Armstrong. I now have ten official blog followers which is great! Along with those are our loyal band of Whistling Arrows who this year answered the ten questions to win the extremely rare picture of Joan Rice at the premier of Disney’s Story of Robin Hood in 1952 very kindly supplied by Horace Ward.

One of my visitors from America was the multi talented Adele Treskillard. She first visited my blog when researching the early ballads of Robin Hood. As a folk singer she was interested in reconstructing the ballads and taking them back to their Celtic roots and soon we began sharing our views on the incredibly complex origins of the Robin Hood ballads. Along with her family she has been performing ancient ballads with her band known as Wren Song and is currently recording some of her music. For her birthday this year her family bought her the DVD of Disney’s Story of Robin Hood and her father informed me that the whole family thoroughly enjoyed the movie!

In August we spotted a ‘blooper’- a plane flying over Nottingham during the torture of Will Stutely in Disney’s Robin Hood and learnt about "the composer, who never disappoints,” - Clifton Parker, who scored the music for over 50 major feature films including our favourite Robin Hood film. Information on how Joan Rice won the Miss Lyons Beauty Pageant and transformed from being a Lyon’s Nippy to a film star was sent to me by Peter Bird and we also visited the Annual Robin Hood Festival in Sherwood Forest.

As autumn turned to winter more details of the new Russell Crowe movie of Robin Hood was released, including behind the scenes pictures and footage. These have always been popular with my blog visitors. On this site I have also tried to bring details of the history behind the legend of Robin Hood and in October this included a look at one of the first scholars to research the history behind the outlaw, Joseph Ritson.

One of the last survivors of the Golden Age of cinema, Olivia de Havilland, gave a very rare interview in November which included details about her on and off screen relationship with Errol Flynn. We also saw a rare photograph of another of our favourite Maid Marians-Joan Rice with her new born son Michael in 1953.

At the time of the discovery of this picture of Joan with her baby, I was puzzled at the timing, as her pregnancy would have coincided with her filming His Majesty O’ Keefe. But luckily I have a stalwart enthusiast and regular visitor who supplies invaluable information to me. Neil put me straight and explained how the film had taken two years to make.

Without the regular in-put, visits and enthusiasm of Neil and Mike this blog would not have got off the ground. And there is also someone else I would personally like to take this opportunity to thank - Maria Steyn. Maria has not had a particularly good year, but she has continued to contact me from time-to-time and send me some of her own personal pictures of Joan Rice. Without Maria’s help we would never have learnt about the life of our beautiful Maid Marian.

So a very big thank you to all my new and regular readers for your wonderful support and encouragement throughout the year.

Have a very Merrie Christmas and a Happy New Year. See you all in 2010.

Two Mystery Books

These two books habe both appeared on Ebay during the last year, but I must confess I know very little about them, so I would appreciate any information.

This first one has for its front cover a nice coloured still from Walt Disney’s Story of Robin Hood (1952). It shows Will Scarlet (Anthony Forwood) ‘Christening’ Little John (James Robertson Justice) shortly after the quarter-staff fight, but the story inside is Howard Pyle’s classic novel Robin Hood of Great Renown in Nottinghamshire! I can only presume it was published during the release of the Walt Disney live-action movie and I would be very interested to know if the book contained more stills from the film or, some of Pyle’s wonderful illustrations.

The second is even more of a mystery. It is the Adventuras Walt Disney, a comic book from Chile but printed in Spanish. It clearly has a very violent looking illustration of Robin Hood, which might just be meant to represent Richard Todd! So if you have one or even both of these books in your collection, I would be interested to know a little bit more about them.

Russell Crowe's 'Robin Hood' Trailer

Below I have posted various ‘snip its’ from the publicity websites promoting the new Ridley Scott film ‘Robin Hood’ starring Russell Crowe and Cate Blanchett:

'The project is the fifth collaboration between the antipodean star and veteran director Ridley Scott.'

'This new 155 million dollar “historical” epic was filmed at the same location as ‘Gladiator’ and Crowe has revealed that just before production began, Scott instructed him to crop his hair close and grow a beard.

“I said: ‘Well, that’s Maximus’,” said Crowe, referring to his best-actor Oscar winning role in ‘Gladiator’.

“He said: ‘Look, I think if we’re going to steal from anybody, we’re OK to steal from ourselves!’” he added.'

'The action-packed flick features scenes with thousands of extras and horses. It includes a full-scale seaborne entrance of England.'

'Universal Pictures is hoping that the film, which is in post-production is an improvement on the Erroll Flynn and Kevin Costner versions!'

Hmm!

Plot Details: Russell Crowe plays Robin of Loxley in an 'origin' of the story of Robin Hood that hews close to historical facts of the period. Abandoned as a child, he finds community with the common people of Nottingham. Robin’s abandonment and trust issues hamper his ability to fall in love. He meets his match in Marian (Blanchett), a strong, independent woman.


For more details, interviews and clips from this new motion picture please click on the Robin Hood Films Label.