The Sheriff Arrives at Robin's Camp

The Sheriff is brought to the camp

Another rare couple of  images to add to the many now on this blog from Walt Disney's live-action version of the Robin Hood legend. Stills like this show the amount of detail used in this wonderful film.

A warning arrow lands at the camp.

These two scenes of Robin's camp in Sherwood were created by Carmen Dillon and her art department. Remarkably, the camp was built on one of the huge soundstages at Denham Studios in Buckinghamshire. But, sadly, The Story of Robin Hood and his Merrie Men (1952) was the last big budget movie made there.

There is much much more on this blog about the making of the film. Just click on the various links to discover the history behind this underrated Technicolor masterpiece.

Joan Rice in 1939

As some of you know, I am a genealogist and have recently started my own business. My website can be seen here. Family history has been a passion of mine for over 35 years. I have been fascinated with history all my life, particularly the medieval period and the legend of Robin Hood. 

Tony Wait Genealogist and Family Historian

As a youngster I first saw Walt Disney's Story of Robin Hood and his Merrie Men in the 1970's. This film made a huge impression on me and I started this blog to raise awareness of this forgotten film and the lives of the actors and actresses that appeared in it.

One star of that film, has been the topic of many of my blog posts, Joan Rice (1930-1997). Combining my interest in family history and my love of the movie I have slowly pieced together her life story.

Joan Rice as Maid Marian

Joan was born Dorothy Joan Rice on the 3rd February 1930 at the City Hospital in Derby.  Her parents were Harold and Hilda Rice (née Watson). Harold and Hilda had married a year earlier.

Very little is known about Joan's early childhood and this is something I would like to work on. 

The 1939 Register

One avenue of research is the 1939 Register. Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain announced over the airwaves that Britain was at war with Germany on September 3rd 1939. The 1939 Register was taken twenty six days later, over a single weekend and was created essentially for identity cards, evacuations and rationing. Sadly this survey is the only surviving record of the population between 1921 and 1951. The 1931 Census documents were completely destroyed in a fire and the 1941 Census was not taken because of war. So this is the closest to modern times that I will get because of the law protecting confidentiality.

Detail of the 1939 Register showing Dorothy J Rice

I found Joan, or Dorothy as she was known then, living in Burton-on-Trent in Staffordshire with the Watson family. George Watson the head of the household, was probably Joan's grandfather a brewery labourer aged 63. Her grandmother Rebecca was a year younger. Next we see Thomas G Watson aged 36 and John W Watson aged about 20. These men were possibly her uncles. Dorothy J. Rice is the fifth person living at 47 King Street. Her date of birth is given as 3rd February 1930 and she is at school. The last person to be recorded at the property is Gwendoline Bullock a domestic worker aged 29.

This is an example of how genealogy can help give a glimpse of the past. My research shows that Joan (Dorothy) and her sisters did not directly go to Nazareth House orphanage, after her father was imprisoned for child abuse.

If you would like me to investigate your family history, please contact me at tonywait@tonywaitgenealogist.com

Robin Hood Press Advertisement

Above is a newspaper advertisement for Walt Disney's live action movie The Story of Robin Hood at the Regent in Portsmouth and Gaumont in Southsea. 

The movie had its Premiere in London in March 1952. We can see from the newspaper that Joan Rice (Maid Marian) and James Hayter (Friar Tuck) were both making personal appearances at those cinemas on Monday 7th April 1952. The times shown were 7.25pm at the Gaumont and after a 4 mile car journey they arrived at the Regent at approximately 8.55pm.

In previous posts we have looked at those 'Provincial Premieres' and wondered how many there were? Geoff Waite made us aware of these, two years ago. He discovered that Elton Hayes and Joan Rice had made personal appearances in Manchester and Liverpool.

Elton Hayes and Joan Rice at the Provincial Premiere in Manchester

So we now know that after the 'official' premiere of The Story of Robin Hood in London at the Leicester Square Theatre on the 13th March 1952, there were 'provincial' premieres the following month. These were held in Portsmouth and Southsea on the 7th April with Joan Rice and James Hayter. 

On April 24th Joan also joined with Elton Hayes (Allan-a-Dale) at the Odeon in Manchester. Then Elton Hayes visited the Gaumont Theatre in Liverpool on the 27th. The accompanying film on these occasions were Hammer, The Toff starring John Bentley and Patricia Dainton.

Were there any more of these 'Provincial Premieres?'

Richard Todd (1919-2009)

This week I have uploaded some images of the Irish-born British actor Richard Todd (1919-2009). He was chosen by Walt Disney productions to play the part of Robin Hood in their live-action movie The Story of Robin Hood and his Merrie Men (1952). The RKO card above was sent in by John Nelson. It is a vintage German example singed by the great man himself.

Richard Todd c.1951

Richard Todd with his first wife Catherine Grant-Bogle

In the photograph above, we see Richard with his first wife Catherine Grant-Bogle in the early 1950's. Was he reading a draft of the Robin Hood film script?

Richard Todd as Robin Hood and Joan Rice as Maid Marian

Above is one of my favourite promotional shots of Richard Todd in the role of Robin Hood with Joan Rice as his love-interest, Maid Marian.

There are over 55 pages on the life and career of Richard Todd. So to read more please click here.

Favourite Pictures

Maid Marian in the outlaws camp.

I have neglected this blog recently, due to my other projects. But I never grow tired of this wonderful movie. So for this post, I have uploaded some of my favourite images from the film.

Richard Todd (Robin), Walt Disney and Joan Rice (Marian)

James Robertson Justice as Little John

Richard Todd as Robin and Joan Rice as Marian

Peter Finch as the Sheriff of Nottingham

Prince John is confronted at Nottingham Castle

Marian helps Robin recover

There are of course hundreds more images on this blog. And I have many other favourites! Just click on the task bar to view the various subjects.

Your Family Tree

Have you ever wondered who your ancestors were? Where they lived? What they did for an occupation? Let me help you take those first steps back to your family's past.

With over 25 years experience and a qualification in genealogy from Strathclyde University, I can search birth, marriage and death certificates for you. I can also access the Census returns - taking your family tree back to the 18th century.  Parish records also make it possible to trace back to the reign of Henry VIII. 

So message me and let’s start that journey today.

Anthony Forwood (1915-1988)

Anthony Forwood

Above is an image of Anthony Forwood in his role as Will Scarlet in Walt Disney's Story of Robin Hood and his Merrie Men (1952). 

Tony was born in the seaside town of Weymouth in Dorset on 3rd October 1915 and in 1939 he started courting the husky-voiced Welsh actress Glynis Johns, whom he later married. Their only child, Gareth was born in London in 1945. (Gareth Forwood was later to appear in films such as Ghandi in 1982). But it was during the filming of Robin Hood in 1951 that their marriage began to break up. Glynis was to appear the following year as a young Mary Tudor, in the Walt Disney production of The Sword and the Rose.

Anthony Forwood’s early films included :

Man in Black (1949)
Traveller’s Joy (1949)
Meet Simon Cherry (1949)
The Black Widow (1951)
Colonel March Investigates (1952)
Appointment in London (1952)
The Story of Robin Hood and his Merrie Men (1952)

Knights of the Round Table (1953)

In 1939 Tony had met Dirk Bogarde who was later to become one of the biggest British matinee idols of the 1950’s. They struck up a relationship that would last over fifty years, but they both kept their personal lives very private. Tony died aged 72 in London in 1988.

Dirk Bogarde, Kathleen Tynan and Anthony Forwood

Below is another still taken of Tony to promote Robin Hood. But this one has been rarely seen.

'Tony' as Will Scarlet

To see more images and read more about Anthony Forwood please click on the label in the task bar.

Richard Todd at Elstree

Richard Todd's plaque at Elstree

My fiancee and I recently visited Elstree, Borehamwood in Hertfordshire. It was an exciting day and one of the highlights for me was seeing the many plaques dedicated to the stars and films created at the legendary studios there.

The wall sculpture at Elstree station

The British Film Institute plaque to Richard Todd (1919-2009) is located on the south east side of Shenley Road in Borehamwood. It is one of a series commemorating 100 years of cinema. These memorials are now part of Elstree's Film & TV Heritage Trail.

Richard Todd's plaque contains a quote by the star saying:

Elstree Studios was my second home for fourteen years and I have the fondest memories of Borehamwood and all those those I worked with during those productive times."

It was in 1951 that Richard Todd filmed Walt Disney's Story of Robin Hood at Denham Studios. This was the last major film production at those legendary studios approximately 20 miles from Elstree Studios.

Joan Rice as Maid Marian and Richard Todd as Robin Hood

To read more about Richard Todd, Denham Studios and the making of this wonderful movie, please click on the subjects in the task bar.

Scathelock's Farm

We have recently looked at some pages from the original script of the film The Story of Robin Hood and his Merrie Men and seen how certain dialogue and scenes were dropped. 

Below is a very rare still from the movie that shows the moment when one of the Sheriff's men grabs a child at William Scathelock's farm. But this very rare still is taken from an unusual angle in the field. A shot not shown in the movie. Is this perhaps another example of a scene that ended up on the cutting room floor. What do you think?

If you have any rare images from the film, please get in touch.