Movie Musings: Disney and More

Robin Hood: Live and Animated

The stories of Robin Hood began as English folklore as far back as the second half of the 15th century or first decade of the 16th century. The legends tell the adventures of a bandit who was an exceptional archer and swordsman, and was known for “robbing the rich to feed the poor.” The popularity of Robin Hood and his “Merry Men” grew in the late-medieval period and continues today.

Walt Disney’s first live-action film, Treasure Island (1950), but soon after he produced The Story of Robin Hood and His Merry Men (1952). 21 years later, after Walt Disney passed away, the Animation Department of the Walt Disney Studios produced Robin Hood (1973). Robin Hood was also written into Disney/ABC’s Once Upon a Time (2011-present) in the show’s third season. In this blog, I thought we would explore the actors who have portrayed the character and their other connections to Disney.

Richard Todd portrayed Robin Hood in “Robin Hood and His Merry Men.” Todd also starred in Disney’s The Sword and the Rose (1953) and Rob Roy, the Highland Rogue (1953). In all “Sword and the Rose,” and “Rob Roy,” Todd worked with fellow Disney star Glynis Johns, and in all three films Todd worked with James Robertson Justice. Todd also was directed by Ken Annakin in “Robin Hood,” and “Sword on the Rose.”

Brian Bedford provided the voice of Robin Hood as an anthropomorphized fox in “Robin Hood.” While that is the only film Bedford ever made with the Disney label, Bedford did play the role of Clyde Tolson in Nixon (1995) which was distributed by Hollywood Pictures, a division of the Walt Disney Company.

Sean Maguire, who is known throughout the world for portraying Leonidas in the film Meet the Spartans (2008), played Robin Hood for three seasons of television’s “Once Upon a Time,” succeeding Tom Ellis in the role who played it for one episode in the show’s second season. Maguire reprised the role for the show’s spinoff, Once Upon a Time in Wonderland (2013-2014).

Other actors have portrayed Robin Hood in non-Disney film adaptations, but many of them have connections to Disney. 

Academy-Award-Winner Kevin Costner played Robin Hood in Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves (1991). Costner made the films Play It to the Bone (1999), Open Range (2003), which he also directed and produced, The Guardian (2006), and Swing Vote (2008), all of which were distributed by Touchstone Pictures. Costner also made the Universal/Touchstone movie Dragonfly (2003) and the Disney sports drama, McFarland USA (2015). 

Academy-Award-Winner Russell Crowe played Robin Hood in Robin Hood (2010). Crowe made the Touchstone films Mystery, Alaska (1999) and The Insider (1999). He also made the Universal/Touchstone film, Cinderella Man (2005).

Academy-Award-Winner Sean Connery played Robin Hood in Robin and Marian (1976) opposite Audrey Hepburn as Maid Marian, in which the characters are seen in their later, retired years. Before Sean Connery became best-known throughout the world as the first “James Bond,” Connery made the Disney film Darby O’Gill and the Little People (1959). He also made the Hollywood Pictures films Medicine Man (1992) and The Rock (1996).

Robin Hood’s intriguing history at Disney reached its pinnacle with the animated release in ‘73. It received an Academy Award Nomination for Best Original Song “Love,” but was beaten by the Barbara Streisand classic “The Way We Were,” in the film of the same name. But the film was positively reviewed in its initial release in 1973 and grossed around $9.5 million at the box-office. It was re-released in 1982, where it grossed even more money. Thanks to its success and the other film adaptations, the legacy of Robin Hood will continue for years to come.