The Death of Maid Marian

Maidenhead Advertiser

I made it into some newspapers back in 2009. It was after my research into an almost completely forgotten film star.

Dorothy Joan Mckenzie died in Maidenhead, Berkshire England on New Year’s Day 1997. She was the wife of former journalist Ken McKenzie and was just 66 years old. During the 1960s, she had various mundane office jobs, including working for the Inland Revenue in Slough. In between this, she trod the boards in stage productions. Then in 1970, she set up her own letting agency in Maidenhead.

Joan Rice

But, it was as Joan Rice that Dorothy was better known and had touched stardom, wooed Hollywood and been sprinkled with Disney magic. After winning a beauty contest, this former Lyons Tea House waitress was picked out by a film agent and sent to attend the Rank Charm School, a training institution for young actors. At 21 years old, she was given a two-year Rank Film contract. After appearing alongside Dirk Bogarde in ‘Blackmailed’ she was personally chosen by Walt Disney from six others to play the part of Maid Marian alongside Richard Todd in his live-action ‘The Story of Robin Hood’ (1952).

I saw Disney’s ‘Story of Robin Hood’ during my school summer holidays in the early 1970s, it not only triggered my interest in the legend but I instantly fell in love with Joan. Back in the days before the internet, although there were plenty of biographies about stars in the film like Peter Finch and Richard Todd, I could not find anything about Joan. Who was she, and what happened to her? Meanwhile, this wonderful film faded from memory as Disney released a second movie about Robin Hood - a cartoon.

Richard Todd (Robin Hood) and Joan Rice (Maid Marian)

So, in 2006, using the pseudonym Clement Glen, I started a blog about the film and began to inquire into her life. I dedicated the website to Joan. Gradually down the years, my readers and her friends and family contacted me with their memories and anecdotes about her. I soon realised what an amazing life she had led.

“It was nice to find something on the internet about my Aunt Joan. I miss her a lot… She and I wrote each other up until her death and I still have her letters. My Mum and I went to see her grave shortly after she died... it was a sad trip”.

(A relative of Joan Rice)

Joan Rice

In 2009, a reporter from the Maidenhead Advertiser emailed me asking about my research into the life of their ‘forgotten’ resident. The reporter had been reading my blog and was surprised to read about Joan Rice’s short but glittering film career and learn she had lived first in Windsor and then settled in Maidenhead, Berkshire in 1964. 

Joan Rice and Ken McKenzie in Cookham near Maidenhead 1983

Using details from my blog, including how Joan was personally chosen by the legendary Walt Disney to play Maid Marian, the reporter appealed for information on her and where her final resting was? By the following week, the reporter got back to me saying it was confirmed that Joan Rice was buried in Braywick Cemetery in Maidenhead. 

Many local people were surprised to learn how this former resident had spent 8 years in a children’s home, became a waitress, and then experienced a Cinderella-like rise to stardom in Hollywood. 

Walt Disney, Richard Todd and Joan Rice

So, it was rewarding to know I had helped keep Joan's memory alive

and that this beautiful English rose had not been forgotten. If you want to know more about Joan's life and career just click on the blog label.

Merrie Christmas

 

When I began this blog seventeen years ago, I never imagined how it would grow. So, I sincerely want to thank everyone who has contributed over the years and helped keep the memory of this wonderful film alive. Merrie Christmas everyone and see you amongst the Sherwood glades in the New Year.

ROBIN HOOD E I COMPAGNI DELLA FORESTA

 

This wonderful Italian book (above) entitled, ROBIN HOOD E I COMPAGNI DELLA FORESTA, (Robin Hood and the Companions of the Forest), is owned by Laurence. It is a commemorative version of Walt Disney's live-action movie The Story of Robin Hood and his Merrie Men (1952).

Laurence has very kindly scanned the pages so I can share some of the fabulous images. Enjoy!

 

A big thank you to Laurence for sending these pictures from this book. 

Behind The Scenes

Richard Todd, Walt Disney and Joan Rice

As we celebrate the centenary of the formation of The Walt Disney Company this year. I thought I would share a few publicity shots of the day the great man visited Burnham Beeches and Denham Film Studios in Buckinghamshire to oversee the filming of The Story of Robin Hood and his Merrie Men (1952).

Elton Hayes, Walt Disney and Richard Todd

In July 1951, just as his cartoon version of Alice in Wonderland was released in America, Walt Disney visited Europe with his wife Lillian and their daughters to supervise his second live-action movie, The Story of Robin Hood and his Merrie Men (1952) which was financed again by the blocked monies of RKO and Disney. Apparently, he was thoroughly pleased with the way things were going.

Walt Disney and family visiting England in 1951

Before leaving America, Walt had screened films at the studio, looking at prospective actors and directors and making what he called ‘merely suggestions’, while he left the final decisions to Perce Pearce, who was producing. For his part, Pearce had laid out every shot in the movie in thumbnail sketches, or storyboards, just as the studio had done with the animators, and sent them on along with photostats and the final script to Walt for his approval, which Walt freely gave, though not without a veiled threat that Pearce had better make the film as quickly as possible. “This is important not only to the organisation but to you as the producer,” he wrote.

Anthony Eustrel, Patrick Barr and Walt Disney

Richard Todd is vague about how he was chosen to play the part of Robin Hood for Disney. He didn't remember if it was through his agent or the legendary filmmaker himself.  But, after agreeing to play the part of the outlaw he met Perce Pearce and Maud Spector (the casting director) at the Dorchester Hotel in London and went through lists of candidates for parts in the film. Todd's only contribution was to suggest James Robertson Justice as Little John.

Joan Rice with Ken Annakin

What is certain is Disney personally chose Joan Rice to play the part of Maid Marian. Todd doesn't mention Joan in his biography but, Ken Annakin, the director of The Story of Robin Hood, does. He depreciatingly describes Joan as Disney's, Achilles Heel and only fit to be somebody's housemaid! 

Audiences around the world disagreed with Annakin.

Picture Strip

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!

The Nobleman of the Woods

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'.

Joan Rice in 1969

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?

Robin Hood Fotobusta and Lobby Cards

Matt Crandall has recently made me aware of an Italian fotobusta (above) from an early release of Walt Disney's live-action movie The Story of Robin Hood and his Merrie Men (1952).

The fotobusta/photobusta serves a similar purpose to the 'lobby card' found in other countries.

They are usually issued in a set, each showing a different image or scene from a film. They can be found in both portrait and landscape formats. 

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.

After seeing this wonderful film all those years ago, I would have loved to have owned these!

Don't forget to visit my 'Disney's Story of Robin Hood and his Merrie Men' Facebook page.

Robin Hood Model

 

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."

 

I think my readers will agree with me when I say Laurence has an amazing talent.

The detail of these models is truly amazing and would enhance any collection. Many thanks, Laurence for sharing these with us.