November 8, 1973 – The 21st Disney Animated Feature, Robin Hood, is Released to Theaters
“Rob? That’s a naughty word, we never rob. We just, sort of borrow a bit from those who can afford it.”
On November 8, 1973, the 21st Disney animated feature film, Robin Hood, premiered in theaters. The film began as an adaptation of the medieval European Reynard the Fox stories; however, Walt wasn’t convinced that Reynard would make a suitable hero. The film also proved to the public that the studio would be able to survive after Walt Disney’s passing. The romantic song in the film, “Love,” written by Floyd Huddleston and George Bruns and performed by Nancy Adams, was nominated for an Academy Award. The story was written by Ken Anderson, and was directed by Wolfgang Reitherman. The film stars Brian Bedford as Robin Hood, Phil Harris as Little John, Roger Miller as Allan-a-Dale, Peter Ustinov as Price John, Terry-Thomas as Sir Hiss, Andy Devine as Friar Tuck, Monica Evans as Maid Marian, Pat Buttram as the Sheriff of Nottingham, and Carole Shelley as Lady Cluck.
The film begins with Robin Hood and Little John “walking through the forest,” dodging the Sheriff of Nottingham and his men. As they escape into the trees, they hear trumpets and see Prince John’s carriage passing through the forest. Inside his carriage, Prince John laughs about being able to collect taxes from the people of England. His right hand, Sir Hiss, compliments the Prince’s plan to have Sir Hiss hypnotize King Richard into fighting the Crusades. As the caravan continues to Nottingham, Robin and John disguise themselves as fortunetellers and con the Prince out of his jewels, his clothes, and his sack of gold coins.
The “Honorable” Sheriff of Nottingham shows up at people’s doors and takes all their money as taxes for Prince John
In Nottingham, the Sheriff travels the town to collect the taxes, taking from Friar Tuck’s donations to the poor, as well as from a widow rabbit and her family. A blind man, who turns out to be none other than Robin Hood, appears at the widow’s door, surprising her with some money, and her son, Skippy, with a hat and archery kit for his seventh birthday. Skippy and his friends go out to test the bow and arrow, which he accidentally sends flying into the yard of Maid Marian. The kids sneak inside to retrieve the arrow, and end up playing a game of make-believe with Marian and her handmaiden, Lady Cluck, pretending that Skippy is Marian’s childhood sweetheart, Robin Hood. After the children leave, Marian daydreams about Robin, wondering if he’s forgotten all about her.
In Sherwood Forest, Robin is daydreaming of Maid Marian, telling Little John that he’s in love with her, but is worried that it wouldn’t work out between them because she’s a lady, and he’s an outlaw. Friar Tuck surprises him tells him that Prince John is having an archery tournament the next day, with Marian to give a kiss to the winner. Although Robin is anxious to run off to the contest, as he is sure he will not lose, he and Little John plan to show up in disguises, since the tournament could very well be a trap. At the tournament, Little John disguises himself as the Duke of Chutney to get close to Prince John, while Sir Hiss goes off to find out where Robin Hood is. Robin has disguised himself as a stork, and ends up winning the tournament; however, Prince John sees through his disguise and has Robin arrested. Marian pleas for his release, but Prince John refuses. A fight breaks out between Robin Hood and his friends against the Prince’s soldiers, and Robin and Marian escape into Sherwood Forest. The two reaffirm their love, and are surprised by the townsfolk with a party and a public mocking of Prince John, calling him the “Phony King of England.”
Almost everyone is Nottingham is jailed for being unable to pay the taxes increased by the Prince
Angered that the town is mocking him, Prince John decides to triple the taxes, sending most of the townsfolk into prison. Friar Tuck rings the church bell in the steeple to give people hope, but is upset that he can do only so little for his congregation. Angered when the Sheriff comes to collect all the money in the poor box, the Friar begins to fight back, only to be arrested. Prince John decides to use Friar Tuck as bait to trap Robin, with the Friar set to be hanged. Hearing this, Robin decides that he and Little John need to stage a jailbreak. While they manage to break everyone out, the guards are quick to attack on orders of Prince John. When Robin goes back to save one of the widow’s children, he is captured inside the castle. During the battle that follows, the castle is set on fire, and Robin dives into the moat surrounding the castle. Prince John thinks they have finally killed Robin, but Robin escapes once again.
In the end, King Richard arrives back from the crusades and pardons Robin and Little John. Prince John and his cohorts are sent to jail, working at the Royal Rock Pile. Robin and Marian are finally wed, riding away in a carriage marked “Just Married.”
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