DISNEYLAND: THE STORY OF ROBIN HOOD (TV)
Summary
One in this series of family programs, presented under the umbrella title of "Disneyland," hosted by Walt Disney. This "Fantasyland" episode is a presentation of the tale of Robin Hood. Disney tells why he chose to film the classic legend about "the rogue of Sherwood Forest," and how Disney staffers conducted research to find if the story is based on a man that really existed.
The narrative begins in England of 1190 after Richard the Lionheart summons his armies for a crusade to the Holy Land. Among the knights to answer his call is the Earl of Huntingdon. At Huntingdon Manor, the Earl's daughter Marian is nowhere to be found. Her nursemaid correctly suspects that she's with her beau, Robin Fitzooth, who's shooting arrows in the woods. The Earl and Marian go to the king's castle as Richard prepares for his mission. Before departing, Richard asks his brother, Prince John, to rule Nottingham in his absence. The Earl requests that the king's mother, Eleanor of Aquitaine, let Marian stay in the castle until they return. Finally, the elderly Sheriff of Nottingham begs to accompany Richard and is told to name a successor. Instead, John appoints a shady friend as the sheriff, then sets up strict laws to be enforced by an army of archers and establishes crippling new taxes. Wandering minstrel Allan-a-Dale sings of the day's events as John's soldiers take part in an archery competition at Nottingham Fair. As Marian watches, Robin shows off his skills with a bow and arrow, as does his father, Hugh. Upon being presented with the prize of a golden arrow by Robin, Marian informs him that she's to travel to London with the queen. When Robin and his father soon refuse the sheriff's request to join his army, the sheriff tells his men to take revenge. Hugh is shot in the back with an arrow while Robin eludes the killers. The sheriff then declares that Robin is an outlaw and puts a price on his head.
Now known as Robin Hood, he begins to live in Sherwood Forest while robbing the rich and giving money to the poor. Meanwhile, the sheriff's men jail locals for non-payment of taxes, offering amnesty if they turn in Robin. One of Robin's followers overhears as a starving peasant is captured for shooting one of the king's deer. After passing word to Robin of a punishment planned in Nottingham Square, Robin saves the man as villagers cheer. The sheriff then promises John that he'll find and kill Robin. The following day, Robin meets a giant man while trying to cross a wooden bridge. Robin is subsequently challenged to fight the giant with a staff. The giant wins, declaring that his name is Little John and that he's on his way to join Robin's group of "Merry Men." Will Scarlet and Will Stutely, two of Robin's archers, help to "christen" Little John, who later suggest that they recruit "a man in holy orders," Friar Tuck, into their ranks. Robin travels to see Friar Tuck and engages in a series of water-based contests with him. As the sheriff's men surround them, Robin gets away while Friar Tuck's dog subdues the sheriff.
Robin brings the sheriff back to his lair and makes him eat with the Merry Men. The sheriff is then forced to give money for all the property stolen from the men before being humiliated and sent back to John with a message. Two years later word reaches London that Richard's crusade has failed, and Richard is being held prisoner in Austria for 100,000 pounds. As Eleanor and the Archbishop of Canterbury gather monies for the ransom, they learn that John will contribute nothing from the Midland counties. When John tells Eleanor that Robin is the reason for his "impoverished" state, Marian comes to Robin's defense. She asks Eleanor to send her to Robin to clear up the confusion. When Eleanor refuses, Marian strikes out on her own for Sherwood Forest, dressed as a boy. En route, she comes across Allan-a-Dale, who is singing of Robin's latest exploits, and the two seek Robin with the aid of a miller. They soon come across Robin, Little John, and Will, but don't recognize them. When the miller gets into a scuffle with Robin, Marian joins the fray, and all the identities are revealed. She tells Robin and his men about Richard's ransom and they quickly give her their gold to take to Nottingham.
Upon returning to the castle, Marian presents Robin's monies -- which the sheriff refuses. The crowd demands that he give an equal amount, which he grudgingly does. Robin's disguised men then take all the riches from John's coffers and present them for Richard's ransom. Before heading back to the forest, the Merry Men throw the sheriff in the moat. As John watches the tax money being carried off, he tells the sheriff to have his servants disguise themselves as the Merry Men and steal the money back. John has Marian imprisoned, realizing that she can foil his scheme. As John's plan is put into motion, Will Stutely's arrow summons Robin and his men to the scene in the forest, just as Eleanor and the Archbishop disembark from their carriage. Robin shows Elearnor that the ruse was part of John's design to get the throne. A grateful Eleanor then tells Robin that Marian is missing, with Robin promising to free her from John's dungeon. The Merry Men disguise themselves as the sheriff's henchmen and gain entry to the castle with Robin, after which he finds Marian. The sheriff is then forced to help the Merry Men escape.
Robin spares the life of the sheriff, who then breaks his word and tries to kill Robin. As the drawbridge closes, the sheriff is crushed. Robin jumps, but is shot with arrows as he swims to freedom. Little John saves Robin from the moat and brings him to the forest to recover. Soon, a masked horsemen arrives to confront Robin, and ultimately reveals himself to be Richard. The king thanks Robin and dubs him Robin, Earl of Locksley. Richard then tells an overjoyed Marian that her father is safe and that she can marry Robin at the castle. The lovers embrace as Allan-a-Dale puts their latest exploits to song. The program is followed by a preview for the following week's show: "Cameras in Africa," about the making of "The African Lion," and the nature film "Beaver Valley." Includes commercials.
(Series title varies: From 1954 to 1958 this series was telecast under the title "Disneyland"; from 1958 to 1961 this series was telecast under the title "Walt Disney Presents"; from 1961 to 1969 this series was telecast under the title "Walt Disney's Wonderful World of Color"; from 1969 to 1979 this series was telecast under the title "The Wonderful World of Walt Disney"; from 1979 to 1981 this series was telecast under the title, "Disney's Wonderful World"; and from 1997-2005 this series was telecast under the title "The Wonderful World of Disney.")
(Network varies; this series was telecast on ABC from 1954-1961, on NBC from 1961 to 1981; on CBS from 1981 to 1983; and on ABC from 1997-2005.)
Details
- NETWORK: ABC
- DATE: November 2, 1955 7:30 PM
- RUNNING TIME: 1:56:20
- COLOR/B&W: B&W
- CATALOG ID: B:61754
- GENRE: Drama, action/adventure
- SUBJECT HEADING: Drama, action/adventure
- SERIES RUN: ABC - TV series, 1954-1958
- COMMERCIALS:
- TV - Commercials - "The African Lion" motion picture
- TV - Commercials - American Dairy Association products
- TV - Commercials - American Motors Corporation products
- TV - Commercials - Derby's Peter Pan peanut butter
- TV - Commercials - Kelvinator washing machines
- TV - Commercials - Nash automobiles
CREDITS
- Walt Disney … Executive Producer
- Perce Pearce … Producer
- Ken Annakin … Director
- Lawrence E. Watkin (See also: Lawrence Edward Watkin) … Writer
- Bill Walsh … Adapted by
- Al Teeter … Adapted by
- Lee Chaney … Adapted by
- Clifton Parker … Music by
- Walt Disney … Host
- Richard Todd … Cast, Robin Hood
- Joan Rice … Cast, Maid Marian
- Peter Finch … Cast, Sheriff of Nottingham
- James Hayter … Cast, Friar Tuck
- James R. Justice (See also: James Robertson Justice) … Cast, Little John
- Marita Hunt … Cast, Queen Eleanor of Aquitaine
- Hubert Gregg … Cast, Prince John
- Bill Owen … Cast, Will Stutely
- Reginald Tate … Cast, Hugh Fitzooth
- Elton Hayes … Cast, Allan-a-Dale
- Anthony Eustrel … Cast, Archbishop of Canterbury
- Patrick Barr … Cast, King Richard
- Anthony Forwood … Cast, Will Scarlet
- Michael Hordern … Cast, Scathclock
- Clement McCallin … Cast, Earl of Huntingdon
- Hal Osmond … Cast, Much the Miller
- Louise Hampton … Cast, Tyb
- Archie Duncan … Cast, Red Gill
- Julian Somers … Cast, Posse Leader
- Bill Travers … Cast, Posse Man
- David Davies … Cast, Forester