Three Robin Hood Jigsaw Puzzles

It really is great to have a number of regular blog readers (our merry band of Whistling Arrows) who not only are fans of Walt Disney’s Story of Robin Hood (1952), but also collect memorabilia from the film. So when Neil had a tidy-up recently, he re-discovered and sent me images of three 58 year old jigsaw puzzles depicting scenes from our favourite film, that will certainly make us all go Lincoln green with envy!

A year ago I posted a picture of one of these exquisitely painted puzzles showing Richard Todd as Robin Hood firing his bow. I thought at the time that the style of the artist is very similar to the artwork on the original film poster of 1952. Perhaps we will never know for sure, but in the meantime we can just admire these three excellent examples of Disneyana, courtesy of Neil.

Wouldn’t it be wonderful to see the original artwork!

To see more memorabilia from Walt Disney's 'Story of Robin Hood and his Merrie Men,' please click on the Label 'Memorabilia' below.

The Number 1 Robin Hood Website

One of the initial searches I did on my first visit to the World Wide Web, all those years ago, was to key in the name ‘Robin Hood,’ to see what came up. The top site that appeared on my screen was Allen Wright’s ‘Robin Hood Bold Outlaw of Barnsdale and Sherwood.’ Since that first visit I have lost count of how many times I have read his various features and interviews or entered the forum to discuss various aspects of the legend on his web site. Today Allen’s multi award winning web site remains the number one place to visit for students and everyone else interested in finding out about the world’s most popular outlaw. It is THE Robin Hood web site.

As someone still fascinated by the history behind the legend and now with a blog of my own, I have often thought about contacting Allen. So it was quite a surprise to find myself inadvertently talking to him via Word Press a few weeks ago. I was also taken aback when he said that he thought my blog was ‘fantastic’ and would link it to his site!

So grasping the opportunity I asked Allen when he first began his website and he very kindly sent me this detailed history of its origins:

"The official beginning of my site was in Feb. 1997 back on Geocities. I created it back in the day when personal sites were the equivalent of Facebook pages - just a "hey, look at me" page and it was supposed to have only a couple links to Robin Hood. But I think Ben Turner's site (which I had visited before) was down at the time, and I don't know if Rochester's site was online yet. It certainly seemed to me at the time that there were no sites covering the Robin Hood legend as a whole. Most of the ones were dedicated to Robin of Sherwood or even the Rochester site primarily focused on the ballads. It felt wrong to me, because there were dozens of detailed sites covering the whole scope of the Arthurian legend and I felt Robin Hood deserved the same.

If Ben's site hadn't crashed in early 1997, I might never have felt the need to create mine.

It was called "Robin Hood - Famed Outlaw of Barnsdale and Sherwood" for about six months and for a while was one page with a few half-finished articles and some links.

There was a time when I thought I'd put the whole site - the growth of the legend, the real Robin Hoods, the links (which were what the site was back in the beginning) all on one page. I must have been insane. By late 1997, it was closer to what it eventually became and I had renamed it to "Bold Outlaw".

The earliest Internet Archive I can find at the moment is from Jan. 1999: http://web.archive.org/web/19990117024612/http://www.geocities.com/Athens/Acropolis/4198/rhood.html

It reveals the past in all its garish glory. Yellow on green leaves - what was I thinking? Thankfully, my friend Alison Carter redesigned the look for me in early 2000.

http://web.archive.org/web/20000511224927/www.geocities.com/Athens/Acropolis/4198/rh/index.html

And then I moved it to the http://www.boldoutlaw.com/ URL in 2004, and I tweaked it a bit to have its present look.

I honestly can't remember a time when I didn't know about Robin Hood. Certainly as a child, there were some versions I absolutely loved. I must have been about six or seven when I saw a Robin Hood panto. Pantos aren't quite as common in Canada as the UK, but from what little I can remember, I think it conformed to the standard panto. Dames, audience participation ("Duck!" "What, no I told you it's Tuck! Friar Tuck!" "Duck!") and the like. Also, there were two children's books, the Rocket Robin Hood cartoon and a movie which was likely the Errol Flynn film (although the Flynn movie doesn't quite match my jumbled memories). What's not to love about Robin? He's a witty, dynamic trickster hero with a strong streak of social justice.

In high school, I thought about how the legend had always appealed to me and did my big "independent study" on it. That's when I first read J.C. Holt, Dobson & Taylor, etc. and really got a sense of how legends grew and changed over time. I don't think Robin Hood's unique in its development over time. But usually we aren't taught about development. We're taught myths and legends (for example, the Greek myths) as if the version on hand is the only one. And it was a real eye-opener to realize that things weren't that simple. At the same time, I started watching my first episodes of Robin of Sherwood. They featured elements like the Earl of Huntingdon and Adam Bell which I had just researched for that school project. It was really that combination of research and finding Robin of Sherwood just at the right moment that turned a fondly-remembered childhood favourite into the lifelong interest it is now.”

(Allen W Wright)


I would like to say a big thank you to Allen for placing a link on his web site to my blog. It really is a thrill and a great honour. His excellent website can be found at http://www.boldoutlaw.com/ Also, a very special thank you goes out to my regular contributors, who help make my blog what it is.

Walt Disney's First Maid Marian

This blog is dedicated to the memory of Joan Rice. So it is always a great thrill to receive an email from someone who has memories that they can share with us of the beautiful actress of the 1950’s who played Maid Marian in Walt Disney’s Story of Robin Hood (1952). A couple of weeks ago I was contacted via disneysrobin@googlemail.com by Teresa who sent me this:

“Hi.

Just wanted to drop you a line after reading your piece on Joan Rice.

I worked at The Kings Arms in Cookham from summer '88 to summer '89, during which time Joan was a regular customer. It is true to say as was mentioned in your article that Joan was smoking and drinking a lot, however it was clear that she was a fascinating lady. I don't recall any other person living with her at this time, although this is not to say that she did live alone. She was always accompanied by her German Shepherd who would lay loyally and obediently by her feet.

She was very kind - hiding a Christmas gift for me in her own home which I collected on Christmas Eve. She showed me photos of herself in her movie days.

I remember her appearance on ‘This is Your Life’. She had been incredibly nervous and wasn't entirely sure she could do it. She had also had to keep it secret so help and support was not readily available to her.

What I remember most was her great pride in her role as Maid Marian, telling anyone who would listen that she was Walt Disneys' first Maid Marion. She talked little of her other roles, although she did talk about how things had changed within the movie industry which she felt had hampered her career.

I have thought of Joan many times over the years and was saddened if not surprised to hear that she had passed away some time ago. I am glad that your work will help to ensure that she will not be forgotten.

Remembering Joan Rice - Walt Disneys' First Maid Marion.

Yours

Teresa"

Joan Rice’s appearance on Thames TV’s This Is Your Life was first broadcast on 23rd November 1988. It was hosted by Michael Aspel who presented the life of Richard Todd. Joan appeared near the end of the program after a short clip from Disney’s Story of Robin Hood was shown in which she is captured by the outlaw. Here is the dialogue from her appearance on the show:

“Michael Aspel: The lovely young actress who played your Maid Marian went on to make more than 20 films, but it is 35 years since last you met.

[Joan’s voice is heard saying, “But I’ll never forget being thrown into your arms Richard-In fact I’ve still got the marks to prove it!”]

Michael Aspel: Re-united with Robin Hood for the first time since 1953, Maid Marian herself, Joan Rice!

Richard Todd: How marvellous!

Michael Aspel to Joan: Actually we have just seen you being thrown into Richard’s arms, is the memory still strong after all these years?

Joan Rice: How could I forget? Richard always did his own stunts. Little John was played by James Robertson Justice, he picked me up and threw me into Richard’s arms and he went flying!

Michael Aspel: You both went flying?

Joan Rice: [Laughing] I went flying as well!

Michael Aspel: Has he changed at all?

Joan Rice: No. He’s still as gallant and as dashing as ever.

Michael Aspel: He’s glad you said that. Thank you very much Joan Rice! Thank you.

Richard Todd: Lovely to see you.”

Thank you Teresa for taking the time to send this email and giving us your fond memories of Joan, please stay in touch. I will certainly do my best to make sure Joan Rice is never forgotten.

As usual I am indebted to Neil, this time for sending me a copy of the program This Is Your Life, with Richard Todd from 1988.

To read more about Joan Rice, Walt Disney’s ‘first’ Maid Marian, please click on the Label Joan Rice.

Another 'Teaser Trailer!'

The excitement is building as the premier of the new Ridley Scott ‘Robin Hood’ movie approaches and yet another ‘teaser trailer’ has been released by Universal Pictures via Yahoo Movies to whet our appetites. This time we get a longer peek at the film, including scenes with Cate Blanchet as Lady Marian. Let me know what you think!

Film Script3: A New Sheriff of Nottingham

Script From 'The Story of Robin Hood and his Merrie Men'

(From the screen play by Lawrence Edward Watkin)

Scene 3: Nottingham Castle Battlements

[Prince John is looking out over the turrets of Nottingham Castle, watching the Crusaders disappearing into the sunset].

Prince John: De Lacy!

[De Lacy steps out of the shadows of the castle].

De Lacy: My Prince?

Prince John: A heavy responsibility rests upon me from this hour. Kings have died on Crusades. The prince in line for the succession needs men about him he can trust.

De Lacy: My lord, I’m yours as blade to hilt.

Prince John: Good! You shall be my new Sheriff of Nottingham. As Sheriff you will enforce the trespass laws in Sherwood Forest, not with Richard’s lenient hand, but to the very letter of those laws. For such a task we will need a larger posse.


De Lacy: We need an army!

Prince John: Aye an Army! An army of hard shooters, men that can feather their arrows at ten score yards, should their prince so much as whisper his command.

De Lacy: Can your estate maintain so larger force?

[Prince John gives an evil smile].

Prince John: Our men will maintain themselves, gathering my new taxes.

De Lacy: My lord, you have a kingly mind.

Prince John: Then bestir you man. I shall look to see the finest bowman in the kingdom, wearing the Sheriff’s livery.

De Lacy: Give me but a fortnight; I’ll have such men enlisted.

Prince John: Good. You shall show me what they can do at the shooting match at Nottingham Fair.

Elton Hayes at Burnham Beeches

I recently saw this unusual still on EBay of Elton Hayes (1915-2001). Elton played the spirited Alan-a-Dale in Walt Disney’s live-action Story of Robin Hood (1952). After recovering now from my second bout of Flu (thank you so much for your kind words- everyone), during this endless winter; seeing this immediately took me back to April of last year when my wife and I made an unforgettable visit to the areas used for the location filming in 1951.


We were extremely lucky with the weather and the forest was beautiful. In the picture above Elton is fishing from a bridge at Middle Pond during a break from filming. This was probably during the recording of the romantic scene in which he sings ‘Whistle My Love.’


Below are a couple of pictures of Middle Pond at Burnham Beeches that I took in April 2009.

To read more about Burnham Beeches and Elton Hayes please click on the Labels below.

Sorry to let you all down, but this blog will not be updated until Monday evening. I have been very poorly this week and hope to feel better by the start of next week.



Clement

Robin Hood Badge

This was another of those unusual finds. Initially I thought it was just an ordinary badge from the 1950’s until I looked a little bit closer at the images in the background. The white horse and the colour of the ‘sheriff’s’ costume certainly seem to be an interpretation of a scene from Disney’s Story of Robin Hood (1952) with an illustrated image of Richard Todd as the outlaw.

So the badge is probably another example of very rare Disneyanna from our film-and yes, I did let it go!

Joan Rice in 1950

A while ago I posted a rather blurred photo that I had found of Joan Rice at ‘The Milliner’s Hat Fashion Show’. Above is the stunning original of that same photograph, kindly supplied by Joan’s friend Maria Steyn. It looks to me like it could have been taken yesterday, although it is dated 1950.

Joan would have been about 20 years old; a year after she had won the ‘Miss Nippy’ beauty contest and on the brink of movie stardom. A year later she would be personally selected by Walt Disney, from six other actresses, to play the part of Maid Marian in his live-action movie the Story of Robin Hood and his Merrie Men (1952) at Denham Studios. Not bad for a young girl who had in arrived in London a couple of years earlier with only half a crown in her purse.


Please click on the label 'Joan Rice' for more images and details about her life.