Picture Strip 41 : Walt Disney's Story of Robin Hood

This is part 41 and we are sadly comming to the end of Laurence’s excellent picture strip of Walt Disney’s Story of Robin Hood and his Merrie Men (1952).

If you want to learn more about the making of this wonderful film or the legend that inspired it, please click on the relevant subjects in the sidebar.

Please click here to see previous pages of Laurence's picture strip.

Robin Hood's Colourful Chair Part 2

‘Men of Sherwood Forest’ (1954)

I would like to thank fellow blogger ‘Robin Hood’ for making me aware of yet another production that included the now infamous ‘Robin Hood Chair.’ Or should I say chairs?

It was originally designed and first used in 1951 at Denham Studios for Walt Disney’s Story of Robin Hood and his Merrie Men. I then noticed it in the TV series The Adventures of Robin Hood (1955-1958) and also Robin of Sherwood (1984-1986). After my post last week about its appearance in the episode ‘Trial by Battle,’ he has kindly sent me stills of the chairs also being used in Men of Sherwood Forest (1954).

Some of the chairs used in '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 American actor Don Taylor gives a good performance as Robin Hood and Reginald Beckwith is an excellent Friar Tuck in this low budget romp.

No doubt ‘Robin Hood’s Chair’ was shipped out of Denham Studios with all the other thousands of props after Rank Organisation stopped film production there when Walt Disney’s Story of Robin Hood was completed. After that it was obviously hired out for various projects for the small and silver screen.

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

The chair in Robin of Sherwood (1984 -1986)

Below are some comments I received on the Britmovie forum in 2007:

Christoph404 said:

'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. Didn't the Carry On team use costumes and sets from other big productions that had filmed at Pinewood? I read that the costumes from Carry on Henry were originally used in Becket with Richard Burton, or was it A Man for All Seasons and that some of the costumes and props from Carry on up the Khyber were used in Zulu and so on. I guess it makes economical sense to recycle props,costumes etc. a point not lost on low budget film makers such as Roger Corman who was famous for doing deals with studios and using sets that had been used in other films, I’m pretty sure he came to Britain and purloined an existing set for one of his films.'

Silverwhistle said:

'Another one that a friend pointed out to me was that some helmets worn by a bunch of Knights Templar in an episode of Robin of Sherwood were those worn by the infamous 'Knights Who Say 'Ni!'' in Monty Python and the Holy Grail…'

d.dock54 said:

'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. Of course some props were spirited away when a production wraps 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. Stanley Kubrick was of the opinion that none off his props should turn up in future productions so burnt a lot of his on the lot.'

So it would be interesting to know if it the chair is still stored away somewhere and what other films and TV series it has appeared in. Please get in touch if you have seen it at: disneysrobin@googlemail.com

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.

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)

Picture Strip 40 : Walt Disney's Story of Robin Hood

This is part 40 and we are sadly comming to the end of Laurence’s excellent picture strip of Walt Disney’s Story of Robin Hood and his Merrie Men (1952).

If you want to learn more about the making of this wonderful film or the legend that inspired it, please click on the relevant subjects in the sidebar.

Please click here to see previous pages of Laurence's picture strip.

Robin Hood's Tomb

As we are in the season for spooky stories and tales of eerie events, I thought it would be appropriate to feature a mysterious account by Thomas Gent (1693-1778) about Robin Hood’s tomb.

Born in Ireland of English parents, Thomas Gent was a member of the Stationer's Company and worked with Samuel Richardson in London before setting up as a printer at York in 1724. From his print shop in York, Thomas Gent produced many editions of Robin Hood Garlands. This story however, appeared in Gent’s 1730 work, ‘Ancient and Modern History of the famous City of York,’ and was also published in Joseph Ritson’s collection on Robin Hood in 1832.

Gent had been told that:

“[Robin Hood’s] tombstone, having his effigy there on was ordered not many years ago, by a certain knight, to be placed as a hearth-stone in his great hall. When it was laid over-night, the next morning it was ‘surprisingly’ removed [on or to] one side; and so three times it was laid and as successively turned aside. The knight, thinking he had done wrong to have bought it thither ordered it should be drawn back again; which was performed by a pair of oxen and four horses, when twice the number could scarcely do it before.”

(Joseph Ritson Robin Hood page xxxix)

Robin Hood’s grave at Kirklees has been the subject of much controversy. The drawing of the gravestone above was made in 1665 and only a small portion of the stone now remains. It is said that a chip of Robin’s tombstone was a cure for toothache and when the Lancashire and Yorkshire railway was being constructed in the early 19th century, the navvies placed pieces of it under their pillows to allay the pain!

For more information on Robin Hood's death and Kirklees, please click here.

Peter Finch, Walt Disney and Errol Flynn

Laurence has recently returned from a trip to the United States of America, touring film locations and some of the Hollywood studios. While he was there he also visited some of the cemeteries, Forest Lawn, Glendale and also the Hollywood Memorial Cemetery where Peter Finch is interred. Above is a picture of Laurence taken at the last resting place of whom he describes as the screen’s greatest Sheriff of Nottingham, and I agree with him.



He has also very kindly sent in some other interesting pictures that will interest regular blog readers. At the Forest Lawn cemetery in Glendale, Walt Disney’s ashes are scattered in a corner garden to the left of the Freedom Mausoleum entrance. The great man sadly died of cancer aged 65 in 1966.

Walt Disney's Memorial



Just around the corner under a little brown statue is buried probably the most famous Robin Hood of them all, Errol Flynn who died aged 50 of a heart attack in 1959. I was stunned to read that Flynn lay in a unmarked grave until twenty years later. It is rumoured that he was buried with six bottles of whisky, placed there by his drinking buddies.



Picture Strip 39 : Walt Disney's Story of Robin Hood


This is part 39 and we are sadly comming to the end of Laurence’s excellent picture strip of Walt Disney’s Story of Robin Hood and his Merrie Men (1952).

If you want to learn more about the making of this wonderful film or the legend that inspired it, please click on the relevant subjects in the sidebar.

Please click here to see previous pages of Laurence's picture strip.

Parliament Oak

Although I have visited Sherwood Forest many times, I have never seen the Parliament Oak. So I am very grateful to Albie, who is lucky enough to live near Sherwood, for once again sending in some very interesting information and wonderful pictures of the legendary tree.

It was during his stay at Clipstone that King John (1166-1216), after hearing the news of a Welsh revolt, is said to have summoned a council of barons under the branches of this ancient oak in the summer of 1212. The boundary of Clipstone Park was formerly at this tree, which stood in the park fence. Seventy eight years later Edward I (Longshanks) is also said to have held Parliament here.

 
Albie says:
 
“The tree originally had two trunks but due to age damage and neglect one is much reduced in size. It is believed to be 1200 years old which make it the oldest tree we know of in Sherwood, if true. It once formed part of the pale (fence) that enclosed the deer park of Clipstone - this fence stretched nearly eight miles and was the sole reserve for the King's to hunt in. The tree marked the Hell Gate entrance of the park, which was in existence from 1180 until 1830.
 
Whilst staying at the Hunting Palace at Clipstone in 1212 King John was warned of a Welsh uprising. The legend is he gathered his nobles at the oak to 'have parley' with them about the situation. This was effectively a session of Parliament hence the association with the name. From here John returned to Nottingham where he was holding the young Welsh hostages in the castle. He then hung them one by one from the castle walls as a lesson to the Welsh rebels (whose sons they were). It is said their ghostly screams can still be heard at night near the castle walls.
 
 

Another local tradition states that the Ancient Barons met and brought to King John the terms which laid the foundation of the Great Charter (Magna Carta)' which was signed at Runnymede in 1215.
 
In Edward I’s reign another Parliament was said to have been held under the oak in 1290. The king was en route to Scotland. This was a large parliament held on St Michael's Day with nearly 300 petitions and pleas being heard. There has to be some doubt whether this session was held under the trees but the stories have persisted down the centuries that it did.
 
The tree survived the onslaught of the English Civil War (1642 -46) when most of the ancient oaks were felled for timber to build the Royal Navy up. It was largely neglected from then until a few years ago when its survival was looking bleak. Work was carried to ensure the tree will thrive and it is now in the care of the Sherwood Forest Trust based in Edwinstowe. A small enclosure helps protect the tree and a couple of parking bays nearby allow access as it stands alongside the busy A6075 road between Mansfield Woodhouse and Edwinstowe. At the rear of the tree is an excellent view across the Maun Valley across what was originally the Clipstone Deer Park. When in its heyday The Hunting Palace was probably visible from here.”


(ALBIE)

A Letter from Richard Todd

Mike has very kindly sent in a letter he received from the late actor Richard Todd (1919-2009).

He says:

"I thought you might like to see this thank you letter I got from Richard Todd. As you will see he was very good to reply in a personal way. The card I sent was the original poster [Robin Hood], I added birthday wishes etc which made it a bit special."

I am sure you will all agree that this is yet another example of the genuine warmth and kindness of the great man.