Back in 2011, Laurence kindly provided readers of this blog with a picture strip of the whole of Walt Disney's Story of Robin Hood and his Merrie Men (1952). It is an amazing piece of work and provides our fans of this movie with a keepsake of the story and every scene. To read it just go to ' Click on a Label' on this blog and click on 'Picture Strip'. Enjoy!
We have seen hundreds of promotional items for Walt Disney's live-action film The Story of Robin Hood and his Merrie Men (1952). Many of them are on this blog and can be seen by clicking on the label 'Film Promotion' and 'Memorabilia.'
When a new Disney film was released, every form of advertising was used. Toys, books, clothing, games, sweets, records etc. Above is unusual stationery from Portugal, which I presume you would describe as a letterheading. Below Maid Marian (Joan Rice) and Robin Hood (Richard Todd) is O Fidalgo Dos Bosques, ' The Nobleman of the Woods'.
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| Joan Rice with her two labradors c.1969 |
This website is dedicated to the memory of Joan Rice (1930-1997) and down the years I have tried to piece together the life of this forgotten English actress. Joan was always quick to say that she was Walt Disney's first Maid Marian. And it is this role that has stayed in the hearts of myself and most of my readers.
I discovered this newspaper clipping about Joan quite recently, unfortunately, it has no date or name of the publication. But it must have been about 1969:
"At 40 Joan is still as attractive as she was in her heyday. Her green eyes shine brightly, her hair is tousled and she has a face which has lost its plumpness but retained its photogenic qualities... in fact, a perfect film face.
The last time she appeared in the cinema was in Payroll with Michael Craig and Stanley Baker.
'Also in the film was Billie Whitelaw who became a great chum of mine and has helped me an awful lot over the last few years,' says Joan.
Dissolved
After she got out of show business she had a succession of office jobs. But her life of obscurity since then hasn't depressed her in the slightest.
Her marriage was dissolved in 1964 and now she lives alone. Asked if she would consider marrying again she gives a flat 'NO' in reply.
She has a 16-year-old son, Michael, at school in America who she hasn't seen for over two years. 'That's just one of the things you have to accept,' she told me sadly.
After this film at Elstree, there is nothing definite in the pipeline for Joan's second assault on the pinnacle of success. She knows it won't come as easily as it did last time, but she is now experienced and prepared to work hard.
'Life begins at 40 for some people,' she says. 'However, I believe it starts whenever you want it to. When you are old enough to take things as they come and accept that there have to be problems it is then that it really begins."
If this press report was published in about 1969, a year later she would be filming at Hammer Studios where she played the grave robber's wife alongside Dennis Price in The Horror of Frankenstein.
Dennis Price and Joan Rice
I have been told by several people that Joan adored her two labradors (see photo at top of page). In fact, it was reported that the dogs often attended rehearsals with her. I wonder if they accompanied Joan to the Hammer Studios?
We now have a huge collection of film posters on this blog, issued during the various release dates of The Story of Robin Hood. But I think these lobby cards are also worth looking at.
The style and quality of this selection make me think they were produced during the early release dates of the film.
Laurence has made many valuable contributions to this website over the years. Who can forget the popular comic strip he created using images from the film and the of course the amazing banner for this blog!
Last week he sent me an email:
"Hi, I don't think I have shown you these before. It's a model I made in the 1970s. It was a conversion from a 1/32 scale Airfix (remember them!!) World War 2 soldier. Then another which is a 1/12 scale conversion from an Airfix, if I remember correctly, Bengal Lancer which I did about ten years later.
Anyhow, just thought I would show them to you.
Best regards,
Laurence."
Laurence has been busy sorting through his collection of film memorabilia and sent me images of this game. He says:
"It is a Chad Valley game from 1952 called "Sherwood Forest" which
features our Robin Hood movie [Disney's Story of Robin Hood]. I acquired it some time back but
apparently, it didn't come in a presentation box but just as you see it
here as two separate parts.
Anyway, just wanted to share it with you and the merrie band!"
Matt Crandall has kindly sent me a copy of this 'Robin Hood Flour' poster. It was issued as part of the promotion for Walt Disney's live-action movie The Story of Robin Hood and his Merrie Men (1952).
We have looked at this advertisement several times. Janet VanMeter, a Robin Hood fan and regular blog reader, shared pictures of her complete cookie-cutter collection.
Also included in the film promotion were three giveaway small comic books, 7.25 inches tall x 5 inches wide and printed by Western Publishing. The first free comic was ‘The Miller’s Ransom,’ followed by the ‘Ghosts of Waylea Castle', the third is sadly unknown. The comics were written by Don Christensen and illustrated by Tony Sgroi and Russ Manning.
Robin Hood Flour was founded in 1900 by Donald Mclean in Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan, in western Canada. In 1909 the mill was taken over by Francis Atherton Bean of Minneapolis and within two years, it produced over 1,600 barrels of flour daily.
Using the green and red archer emblem as a sign of good value and respectability, Robin Hood Flour and its recipes have remained popular for over a century. In the late 50s and early 1960s, the company even used a jingle made from the theme tune of the classic TV series The Adventures of Robin Hood which starred Richard Greene.
Although the illustration on the poster is supposed to represent Richard Todd as Robin Hood, I don't think it's a very good likeness. What do you think?
If you want to see previous articles about Robin Hood Flour, just click on the label 'Film Promotion.'
Above is a screenshot from the Daily News (London) on March 14th 1952 showing Joan Rice at the London Première of Walt Disney's "Story of Robin Hood and his Merrie Men":
'There's no mistaking Maid Marian (Joan Rice) as she arrives for last night's première. Robin Hood motifs trim her tulle skirt. Her velvet bodice is in Lincoln Green, of course.
The amount of advertising and promotion that went on before and during the release of Walt Disney's Story of Robin Hood and his Merrie Men (1952) never ceases to amaze me. I have once again been delving in the newspaper archives and discovered another glimpse of the work that went on. This article appeared in Kinomatograph Weekly on March 5th 1952:
RKO’s Showmanship Link with CMA for ‘Robin Hood’ and ‘Saturday Island '
"The world premières of both ‘Robin Hood’ and ‘Saturday Island’ are to be presented by RKO-Radio, with the operation of CMA, in traditional showmanship fashion. They will be launched with publicity campaigns outstanding even in RKO showmanship.
A few days before the opening, on March 13, of Walt Disney’s ‘Robin Hood’ in Technicolor, at the Leicester Square Theatre, the Daily Graphic will start its picture serialisation and will be sponsoring a £200 competition on popular lines. It will be backed by widespread national campaigns by Kelsey Newspapers. The première, like that of the provincial opening later, in Manchester, will be in aid of the National Advertising Benevolent Society.
The BBC will serialise ‘Robin Hood’ on five successive evenings starting April 28 on the Light programme from 6.15-6.45 p.m., a time when the film will be at the height of its general release. The material will be from the sound track of the film with added matter recorded by stars Richard Todd and Joan Rice.
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| Joan Rice and Richard Todd |
It will also be featured on the day of the première itself, in ‘Film Time’, while Joan Rice has a special ‘Robin Hood’ spot on television’s ‘Kaleidoscope.’ Many of Britain’s large circulation magazines are also devoting big spaces to the picture tying in with its première and general release.
In addition to this editorial coverage, national advertising started last Thursday with prominent spaces in leading journals and a widespread poster campaign both in the West End and in the provinces.
National tie-ins have also been arranged with a large number of commercial houses.
Elton Hayes, the BBC man with a small guitar, who makes a film debut in the picture, will tour key presentations in the provinces."
Kinomatograph Weekly March 5th 1952
I would love to hear those recordings that Richard Todd and Joan Rice made for the BBC!
Does that episode of 'Kaleidoscope' with Joan Rice survive?
