Robin Hood is a family animated film produced by The Walt Disney Company, first released in the United States on November 8, 1973. It is the twenty-first animated feature in the Disney animated features canon. The film recounts the traditional stories of Robin Hood with the characters cast as anthropomorphic animals.
A few of the voice actors utilized in this production are British. However, the creators of the film made the unusual decision to cast quite a number of American character actors in the traditional medieval roles. Many of these individuals were veteran performers from Western-themed movies and television programs - which meant that characters like Friar Tuck and the Sheriff of Nottingham have accents and mannerisms more associated with the rural southwestern United States than with England. This effect was further reinforced by the choice of country singer Roger Miller as the movie's songwriter and narrator.
The film features many original songs, including "Whistle Stop" by Roger Miller. The song was sampled and the pitch increased for use on The Hampster Dance website. This sample was later used by the Cuban Boys as part of their song "Cognoscenti Vs. Intelligentsia."
Plot[]
The film is narrated by the rooster Alan-a-Dale, who explains that Robin Hood and Little John live in Sherwood Forest, robbing from the rich and giving to the poor townsfolk of Nottingham. The Sheriff of Nottingham and his posse often try to catch the two but fail every time. Meanwhile, Prince John and his assistant Sir Hiss, arrive in Nottingham. Sir Hiss hypnotised Prince John's brother King Richard to go off on the Crusades, allowing Prince John to take the throne. Unfortunately, the prince is greedy and immature, even sucking his thumb whenever his mother is mentioned. Robin and Little John rob Prince John by disguising themselves as fortune tellers, prompting the prince to put a bounty on their heads and makes the Sheriff his personal tax collector.
The Sheriff taxes Friar Tuck and a family of rabbits. However, Robin gives back some money to the rabbits, giving his hat and archery kit to the young rabbit Skippy for his birthday. Skippy and his friends test out the archery kit, but Skippy fires an arrow into the grounds of Maid Marian's castle. The children sneak inside, meeting Maid Marian and her attendant Lady Kluck. Maid Marian reveals she and Robin were childhood sweethearts but they have not seen one another for years. Friar Tuck visits Robin and Little John, explaining that Prince John is hosting an archery tournament, and the winner will receive a kiss from Maid Marian. Robin agrees to participate in the tournament disguised as a stork whilst Little John disguises himself as the Duke of Chutney to get near Prince John. Sir Hiss discovers Robin's identity but is trapped in a barrel of ale by Friar Tuck and Alan-a-Dale. Robin wins the tournament, but Prince John exposes him and has him arrested for execution despite Maid Marian's pleas.
Little John threatens Prince John leading to a fight between Robin, Little John, Maid Marian, Lady Kluck and Prince John's soldiers. In the forest, Robin and Maid Marian fall in love again as the townsfolk mock Prince John, describing him as the "Phony King of England". Enraged by the insult, Prince John triples the taxes, imprisoning most of the townsfolk who cannot pay their taxes. The Sheriff visits Friar Tuck's church to steal from the poor box, enraging Friar Tuck who is arrested too. Prince John plans to hang Friar Tuck to lure in Robin and kill him. Robin and Little John sneak in, with Little John managing to free all of the prisoners whilst Robin steals Prince John's taxes, but Sir Hiss awakens to find Robin fleeing.
Chaos follows as Robin and the others try to escape to Sherwood Forest. The Sheriff corners Robin after he is forced to return to rescue a straggler, setting fire to Prince John's castle and causing Robin to leap from a tower into the moat below. Little John and Skippy watch as the moat is pelted with arrows and Robin is apparently shot and drowned, only for him to emerge unharmed after using a reed as a breathing tube. Prince John despairs and is driven into a blind rage when Sir Hiss points out his mother's castle is on fire. Later, King Richard returns to England, placing his brother and his cohorts under arrest and allows Robin and Maid Marian to be married and leave Nottingham with Little John and Skippy in tow.
Box office[]
Robin Hood was very successful upon its initial release, garnering around $9.5 million, the biggest Disney attraction at that time. Its 1982 re-release brought in even more income.
Release info[]
The movie was originally released in 1973, followed by a re-release in 1982. The film was released to videocassette in 1984, 1991 (the first two being in the Walt Disney Classics video line), 1994 and 1999 (these two were in the Disney Masterpiece Collection video line), staying in general release since 1991. In 2000, it was released on DVD in the Gold Classic Collection. On November 28, 2006, the movie was remastered as the "Most Wanted Editon" featuring a deleted scene/alternate ending, as well as the extras included in the Gold Classic Collection. A 40th Anniversary Edition Blu-ray was released on August 6, 2013.
Characters[]
- Robin Hood, a fox, voice: Brian Bedford
- Maid Marian, a vixen, voice: Monica Evans
- Little John, a bear, voice: Phil Harris
- Friar Tuck, a badger, voice: Andy Devine
- Prince John, a lion, voice: Peter Ustinov
- Sheriff of Nottingham, a wolf, voice: Pat Buttram
- Sir Hiss, a snake, voice: Terry-Thomas
- Lady Kluck, a hen, voice: Carole Shelley
- Skippy, a rabbit, voice: Billy Whitaker
- Sis, a rabbit, voice:Dana Laurita
- Tagalong, a rabbit, voice:Dora Whitaker
- Toby, a turtle, voice: Richie Sanders
- Mother Rabbit, a rabbit, voice: Barbara Luddy
- Otto, a dog, voice: J. Pat O'Malley
- Sexton Mouse, a mouse, voice: John Fiedler
- Little Sister, a mouse, voice: Barbara Luddy
- King Richard, a lion, voice: Peter Ustinov
International Versions[]
Danish[]
| DANSKE STEMMER | · KARAKTER | · ORIGINAL STEMME | |
| Poul Bundgaard | · Broder Tuck | · Andy Devine (Friar Tuck) | |
| Jesper Klein | · Fader Mus | · John Fiedler (Father Sexton) | |
| Preben Neergaard | · Hanen Allan-A-Dale | · Roger Miller | |
| Ove Verner Hansen | · Kong Richard Løvehjerte | · Peter Ustinov (King Richard) | |
| Ove Verner Hansen | · Krokodillen | · Candy Candido (Captain of the Guards) | |
| Vera Gebuhr | · Lady Kluk | · Carole Shelley (Lady Kluck) | |
| Susanne Bruun-Koppel | · Lady Marian | · Monica Evans (Maid Marian) | |
| Morten Grunwald | · Lille John | · Phil Harris (Little John) | |
| Else Marie Juul Hansen | · Moder Mus | · Barbara Luddy (Mother Church Mouse) | |
| Else Marie Juul Hansen | · Mor Kanin | · Barbara Luddy (Mother Rabbit) | |
| Jesper Klein | · Nutsy | · Ken Curtis | |
| Jesper Klein | · Otto | · J. Pat O'Malley | |
| John Price | · Prins John | · Peter Ustinov (Prince John) | |
| Finn Storgaard | · Robin Hood | · Brian Bedford | |
| Jesper Langberg | · Sheriffen Af Nottingham | · Pat Buttram (Sheriff of Nottingham) | |
| Claus Ryskjær | · Sir Hiss | · Terry-Thomas | |
| Paul Hagen | · Trigger | · George Lindsey |
Selected quotes[]
- "Mother always did like Richard best." - Prince John, voiced by Peter Ustinov
- "Praise the Lord, and pass the tax rebate!" - Friar Tuck, voiced by Andy Devine
- "Too late to be known as John the First, he's sure to be known as John the Worst!" - Hiss, voiced by Terry-Thomas.