Putting the Castle on the Hill

Peter Ellenshaw (1913-2007)

Above, we see Huntingdon Manor magically emerge from a drawing to 'reality' from the opening scene of Walt Disney's Story of Robin Hood and his Merrie Men (1952). Later, there are some stunning views of Nottingham Castle from the archery contest, Sherwood Forest, and much more. But how was it done?

Nottingham's Archery Contest

One of the many elements that gave Disney's live-action film such a sumptuous quality was the matte effects of Peter Ellenshaw (1913-2007). 

In the days before CGI, filmmakers relied on ‘matte painting’ as a cost-effective substitute for building sets or filming on location. Matte paintings were created by artists using paints or pastels on large sheets of glass or integrated with the live-action footage via double exposure.

A camera set up for a matte shot

Its foremost practitioner was Peter Ellenshaw, who joined Denham Studios in 1935 as an uncredited assistant to his stepfather, W. Percy Day, the inventor of matte painting on such things as Things To Come (1936) and The Thief Of Bagdad (1940).

In 1947, he created the wonderful mountain scenery for Michael Powell’s and Emeric Pressburger’s Black Narcissus. Martin Scorsese, a big fan, said that watching it was ‘like being bathed in colour.’

After Black Narcissus, Ellenshaw worked on over 30 films for Walt Disney Studios. He began working as a freelancer for Walt Disney in 1947 and became involved in making Treasure Island, the studio's first live-action movie. The great art director Carmen Dillon recommended Peter’s work to Walt for his next project in England, The Story of Robin Hood and his Merrie Men in 1952. 

The Earl of Huntingdon rides to Nottingham Castle

                                    

Above, we see Ellenshaw's beautiful artwork on glass in the scene where the Earl of Huntingdon approaches Nottingham Castle. Below, we see the original scene as the riders approach the hill before Ellenshaw applies his masterful brushwork. 

Ellenshaw did fifty-two matte paintings for The Story of Robin Hood.

        

The riders approach the hill before the painted castle

Elton Hayes

Elton Hayes as Alan a Dale

 Above is a rare publicity still of Elton Hayes (1915-2001) as Alan a Dale in Walt Disney’s live-action movie The Story of Robin Hood and his Merrie Men (1952). Elton said Robin Hood was his second association with Walt Disney.

Elton Hayes was also hired by Disney to prepare original sea chanties for Treasure Island because his collection of old English ballads was unrivalled in all of England. At the time he was described as Britain's counterpart to America's Burl Ives, a ballad and folk singer.

So, Hayes was ‘made for the part’ of Alan a Dale, the legendary wandering minstrel. He carried the story uniquely from scene to scene, imitating the link the legend has with the balladeers that first spread the legend in medieval England.

James Hayter as Friar Tuck and Elton Hayes as Alan a Dale

Over 73 years ago, Elton together with a rich array of talented actors and actresses filmed the Story of Robin Hood at Denham Studios and Burnam Beeches in Buckinghamshire, England. Although this wonderful version of the legend has held up remarkably well down the decades and many critics rate it highly in the long list of Robin Hood productions, today, it is generally forgotten.

There are a couple of CDs available of the music of Elton Hayes. But for fans of the Story of Robin Hood, I recommend the remastered compilation by Windyridge (WINDYVAR90), which includes 'Whistle My Love,' and 'Riddle de Diddle De Day.’

Special thanks to John Nelson for sending this image.

Joan Rice at Riverside Studios

Joan Rice

Thanks to John Nelson for sending me this image of Joan Rice (1930-1997) - our Maid Marian. It was taken in the early 1950s at Riverside Studios in London, and it was here in 1945, that producer Sydney Box set up The Company of Youth for Rank Organisation. As a student of what became known as The Rank Charm School, Joan was given an allowance of £10 a week and trained in breathing, deportment, mime, accent correction, script reading, diction and rehearsing.

Among the many stars who attended this acting school were Petula Clark, Christopher Lee, Diana Dors, Joan Collins and Anthony Steele.

This blog has over 115 pages dedicated to the life and career of Joan Rice.

Splitting Arrows, Episode 14

"How in a fair and just world is this movie so under the radar? This movie was great ... it was really good. The performances are excellent, the costumes are great, the sets are lavish, and the matte paintings are well done."

These were just a few comments from Episode 14: Splitting Arrows - A Dedicated Lack of Foxes in Disney's Story of Robin Hood in 1952.

 

This is an available podcast that is part of a series of discussions on the various interpretations of the legend in movies and television down the years.  Episode 14, with Richard Hopkins-Luntz and Mike Nichols, is dedicated to The Story of Robin Hood. And my blog gets a special mention!

Not only do they give a link to my blog and Facebook Page, but they also discuss how I have uniquely delved deeply into every aspect of Disney's Story of Robin Hood in well over 800 posts. 

These podcasts can be found on YouTube, Spotify etc.

During the first few minutes of the podcast, they describe The Story of Robin Hood as "Walt Disney's unknown Robin Hood".

Hopefully, after Seventy-Two years, this wonderful film is finally getting the recognition it deserves. 

Thanks guys!

The Story of Robin Hood on TV

The Best Robin Hood Film Ever made (O.k. i'm Biased) is on tv in the uk today September 14th 2024 at 6:10 pm:

Talking Pictures TV Sky 328 Freeview 82 Freesat 306 Virgin 445

THE STORY OF ROBIN HOOD AND HIS MERRIE MEN (1952)

Director: Ken Annakin

Stars Richard Todd, Joan Rice & James Hayter

Saturday 14th September at 6:10pm

*Subtitles Available* on #TalkingPicturesTV

Alan-a-Dale's Dog

Elton Hayes as Alan-a-Dale with his dog

Throughout the movie, The Story of Robin Hood (1952), Alan-a-Dale played by Elton Hayes is followed by his faithful little dog, along the streets of Nottingham and through the winding paths of Sherwood Forest. By the end of the film, the minstrel and his loyal dog are in the outlaws' camp.  

To my knowledge, we never learn the little dog's name. But we do now!

Joan Rice with Alan-a-Dale's dog

On the back of a publicity photograph from the time of the films release, the name of the dog is revealed:

" RH-Pub-A8--JOAN RICE dressed as a page for her role as Maid Marian in "Robin Hood," makes friends with "Rusty." Rusty plays the part of Alan-a-Dale's (Elton Hayes) dog in the all-live-action Technicolor production, now being made by Walt Disney for RKO Radio."

So now we know!

Robin Hood Autographs

 

A big thank you goes out to John Nelson, who kindly sent in images of this autograph collection. The book must have been signed during the making of Walt Disney's Story of Robin Hood and his Merrie Men in 1951. Whoever gathered these signatures was possibly at Denham Studios or with the 2nd unit in Burnham Beeches in Buckinghamshire. An experience fans of the film can only dream about!

What a wonderful collection! Six members of the cast including Richard Todd (Robin Hood), James Robertson Justice (Little John), Elton Hayes (Allan a Dale), Peter Finch (Sheriff of Nottingham), Hubert Gregg (Prince John) and Joan Rice (Maid Marian). 

This blog has a large collection of autographs amongst over 91 pages of memorabilia. Just click on the label, 'Memorabilia.'

Disney's Merchandise Division 1952

Matt Crandall has sent me many interesting items over the last few years. His latest contribution to this blog is a page from Walt Disney Merchandising News about the release of The Story of Robin Hood and his Merrie Men. This was the second edition of 1952 and also includes information on the advertising of his upcoming animation Peter Pan.

Merchandising News

We have seen many times on this blog the phenomenal amount of advertising Disney used to promote its films. Below is another example, as they prepare for the release of The Story of Robin Hood:

"WALT DISNEY'S STORY OF ROBIN HOOD will be advertised with colorful ads like this one. A heavy schedule includes consumer and leading movie fan magazines.

ROBIN HOOD merchandise includes a beautiful 20-page record reader in full color by Capitol. Simon and Schuster plan one Big Golden Record and two Little Golden Records featuring songs from ROBIN HOOD--"Come Sing High," "Riddle Dee Dee and "The Ballads of Robin Hood."

Beginning July 13, a 25-instalment series on Walt Disney's STORY OF ROBIN HOOD will be distributed by King Features to leading Sunday comics. A Dell Comic, Whitman Classic and several advertising tie-in campaigns will round out the great promotion behind ROBIN HOOD."

Regular readers of this blog will have seen images of the various records and comic strips among the many pages labelled 'Film Promotion' and 'Memorabilia.'

Below are just some of the huge collection of promotional material from this blog:

Jigsaw Puzzles

Record and 20-page Storybook Capitol US 1952

Record and 20-page Storybook Capitol US 1952

Comic Strip

Click on the labels below to see the vast amount of promotional material for Walt Disney's Story of Robin Hood on this blog.

Martitia Hunt

 

The fabulous actress Martitia Hunt as Miss Haversham in David Lean's award-winning Great Expectations (1946) and Queen Eleanor in Walt Disney's Story of Robin Hood (1952).