The Hero Robin Hood

 

Robin Hood has long been celebrated as a hero of the people, so when Walt Disney sought a leading man for his live-action film about the legendary outlaw, he could hardly have chosen a better fit than Captain Richard Todd.

Born in Dublin, Ireland, Todd became one of the first British officers to land on D-Day during the Second World War. Serving with the 7th (Light Infantry) Parachute Battalion of the British 6th Airborne Division, Lieutenant Todd took part in Operation Tonga on 6 June 1944. His battalion parachuted in as reinforcements shortly after the glider troops had secured the vital Pegasus Bridge, a key objective that prevented German forces from mounting a counterattack. Just five days after D-Day, Todd was promoted to Captain.

During the operation, he met Major John Howard on Pegasus Bridge—an encounter that would come full circle years later when Todd portrayed Howard in the 1962 film The Longest Day. Remarkably, the beret Todd wears in the movie is the very same one he wore during the D-Day landings.

After the war, Todd returned to acting, earning acclaim in films such as The Dam Busters and The Story of Robin Hood.

Captain Richard Todd passed away on December 3, 2009, at the age of 90. He is laid to rest at St. Guthlac’s Church in Little Ponton, Lincolnshire, England.

Joan Rice in her Promotional Dress

 

Another photograph of Joan Rice, our Maid Marian, taken at the premiere of Walt Disney’s The Story of Robin Hood and His Merrie Men at the Leicester Square Theatre on 13th March 1952. Joan’s gown was reportedly designed by Walt Disney’s promotional team. Newspapers described her arriving in a limousine, her tulle skirt trimmed with Robin Hood motifs, and her velvet bodice — naturally — in Lincoln Green. There were also “provincial” premieres the following month. On 7th April, screenings were held in Portsmouth and Southsea, attended by Joan Rice and James Hayter. On 24th April, Joan appeared with Elton Hayes (Allan-a-Dale) at the Odeon in Manchester, before Elton Hayes visited the Gaumont Theatre in Liverpool on April 27th.

Joan and Petula

 

I have to thank John Nelson once again for another amazing and rare photograph. 

This one captures Joan Rice, our Maid Marian, at the premiere of Walt Disney’s The Story of Robin Hood and His Merrie Men at the Leicester Square Theatre on March 13th, 1952.

Alongside Joan that evening was the talented singer, actress, and songwriter Petula Clark.

Joan's Promotional Photo

 

Even after all these years, I’m still amazed to come across promotional images from the release of Walt Disney’s Story of Robin Hood. Discovering this one was a complete surprise! It shows Joan Rice (1930-1999) as Maid Marian.

Joan's Dolcis Advert

A very special thank you to John Nelson for sharing this wonderful advertisement from the June 1951 issue of Picturegoer magazine. It features Joan Rice (1930–1991) endorsing Dolcis handbags. At the time, Dolcis was expanding its range to create a true “one-stop shop” for coordinated fashion accessories—perfectly in tune with the 1950s emphasis on elegance and matching styles. And who better to promote their brand than rising film star Joan Rice?

In June 1951, Joan was nearing the end of filming The Story of Robin Hood at Denham Studios in Buckinghamshire. That same month, Walt Disney himself visited both the location and the studio floor units—just as Joan’s film career was beginning to take off.

Seductive Maid Marian

Joan Rice as Maid Marian

Special thanks to John Nelson for this striking publicity shot of Joan Rice (1930–1997) as Maid Marian in Walt Disney’s The Story of Robin Hood (1952). One could easily argue that this version of Marian is far more subtly seductive than anything Walt would have allowed on screen.

Joan Rice in One Good Turn and the Arc of a Promising Career

Joan Rice (1930-1997)

Joan Rice (1930-1997) was one of the Rank Organisation’s early postwar discoveries, a young actress whose charm, poise, and natural screen presence quickly made her a rising star. She first captured attention with her spirited performance as Maid Marian in The Story of Robin Hood and His Merrie Men (1952), where she combined vivacity, wit, and emotional depth — qualities that suggested a long and varied career ahead. Her early work promised versatility: Rice could carry both action-oriented roles and romantic leads, and she radiated an easy charisma that connected with audiences.

By the time Joan appeared in One Good Turn (1955), however, the direction of her career was beginning to change. In this Norman Wisdom vehicle, she plays Iris Gibson, a sympathetic staff member at Greenwood Children’s Home. The role is more restrained and functional, mainly offering warmth, moral support, and a romantic contrast to Wisdom’s slapstick energy. Joan plays Iris with sincerity and grace, conveying a believable sense of care and compassion for the children and grounding the film’s sentimentality.

William Russell, Joan Rice and Norman Wisdom

But compared to the energetic Maid Marian, Iris Gibson feels more subdued. The script and film structure leave little room for Joan to show her comedic timing or dramatic presence — she is, essentially, a stabilising figure amid Wisdom’s chaos. Modern retrospectives see this role as emblematic of the gradual narrowing of her career: promising leading roles gave way to smaller, often decorative parts that rarely allowed her talent to shine fully.

While One Good Turn is an enjoyable, sentimental film, and Joan’s performance adds emotional credibility, it also indicates Joan's decline in opportunities. The industry that once saw her as a rising star increasingly confined her to supporting parts. Nevertheless, even in this limited role, Joan's poise, warmth, and charm shine through, reminding viewers of the promise she showed in her earlier films.

Richard Todd and Joan Rice

Looking back, Joan Rice’s career reflects both the opportunities and limitations faced by British cinema in the 1950s: a talented actress whose early potential was partly overshadowed by industry decisions and typecasting. One Good Turn may not be the showcase she deserved, but it captures her enduring screen presence — a quiet, understated grace that still resonates with fans of classic British cinema.

This Blog is dedicated to the memory of Joan Rice (1930-1997).

On Set with Robin and Marian

Well, it had to be done. Thanks to the magic of AI, I’ve managed to place myself alongside Robin and Marian in the final scene of The Story of Robin Hood (1952). What an incredible moment that would have been to witness firsthand.

Regular readers of this blog will no doubt remember the memories shared by Elspeth Gill (1936–2012). Her father, Alex Bryce (1905–1961), was a celebrated director, producer, and writer. He worked not only on Walt Disney’s The Story of Robin Hood and His Merrie Men but also on The Sword and the Rose (1953) and Rob Roy (1953).

Here’s a quick recap of Elspeth’s extraordinary experience:

Elspeth’s father was in charge of the Second Unit on Robin Hood, which handled all the action-packed scenes — from the ambush of the royal coach and the market square rescue of Scathelok, to Robin’s many clashes with the Sheriff. Elspeth was about sixteen at the time and recalled the filming vividly.

Elspeth Gill with Richard Todd as Robin Hood

She had the unique opportunity to watch scenes being shot not just in Burnham Beeches but also on the massive sound stages at Denham Studios. At the time, she lived just four miles from the studio. In a local fancy dress competition, she was allowed to borrow one of Richard Todd’s Robin Hood costumes — and naturally, she won! Afterwards, she even rode her horse all the way to Denham Studios, where the security guards had been informed of her grand arrival in advance.

Though more than sixty years had passed, Elspeth still recalled meeting Walt Disney himself and described the film’s Art Director, Carmen Dillon, as a truly formidable woman. As for Richard Todd, she fondly remembered him as “such a lovely, lovely man.” He became a family friend, and Elspeth even enjoyed Scottish dancing with him during the production of Rob Roy. Her father, she said, absolutely loved working on those classic Disney live-action films.

To read more about Elspeth’s memories on set, feel free to explore more on my blog.

The Eighth Robin Hood

Picturegoer March 15th 1952

 

The eighth Robin Hood is the best yet. I definitely would agree with that!