One This Day 50 Years Ago - Disney's Robin Hood was Released in Theaters

On this day in 1973, November 8, 1973 to be exact, Disney’s Robin Hood was released in US theaters.

Robin Hood is Walt Disney Animation Studios’ 21st animated classic feature film. The film was directed by Wolfgang Reitherman and is 83 minutes long.

Roger Miller composed the songs for the film. The most memorable songs from the film are “The Phony King of England” and “Oo-De-Lally”.

About the Film

Robin Hood is the story of England’s legendary hero who steals from the rich and gives to the poor. While King Richard, the King of England, is on the Crusades, his younger brother, Prince John, takes over the throne and over taxes the towns-people of Nottingham, keeping the money for himself.

Robin Hood, who had a prior romance with Maid Marian, hears that Prince John is hosting an archery tournament with a kiss from Maid Marian as the prize So, he and Little John disguise themselves so that Robin Hood can enter the tournament but the two are found out after Robin Hood wins. After fighting with Prince John’s soldiers, Robin Hood and Little John escape taking Maid Marian and Lady Kluck with them.

Later, the Sheriff of Nottingham visits Friar Tuck’s church to collect taxes and takes the poor box instead. Friar Tuck, enraged by the Sheriffs actions, attacks the Sheriff resulting in Friar Tuck’s arrest for treason. Friar Tuck is taken to the castle prison and sentenced him to death.

Robin Hood and Prince John sneak into the castle to rescue Friar Tuck and take back the towns-peoples money while they are there. After they are discovered, a fight breaks out that sets the castle on fire. Robin Hood jumps into the moat to escape and survives much to the dismay of Prince John.

When King Richard returns to England, he sentences Prince John, Sir Hiss, and the Sheriff of Nottingham to hard labor in the Royal Rock Pile. He pardons Robin Hood who then marries Maid Marian. King Richard states that “he has an outlaw for an in-law”.

The film received mixed reviews from critics, but it was nonetheless a box-office success, grossing $33 million worldwide against a production budget of only $5 million. Although some retrospective reviews have called out its use of recycled animation, the film’s reputation has grown positively over time and has since become a cult classic.

About the Characters & Voice Cast

Robin Hood is an excellent archer and the leader of a band of thieves. He is portrayed as a red fox and is voiced by Brian Bedford.

Maid Marian is the niece of King Richard. It is presumed that King Richard is her uncle by marriage and that his wife is the sister of either Marian’s mother or father which would explain their species differences. She is the love interest of Robin Hood and is also portrayed as a red fox. Maid Marian is voiced by Monica Evans.

Little John is Robin Hood’s best friend and partner in crime. He is portrayed as a brown bear and voiced by Phil Harris.

Allan-a-Dale is a traveling minstrel who serves as the narrator of the film. He is portrayed as a rooster and is voiced by singer-songwriter Roger Miller.

Friar Tuck is the priest of Nottingham. He is portrayed as a badger and is voiced by Andy Devine.

Prince John is the cowardly and spineless Prince Regent of England. He is portrayed as an scrawny lion and is voiced by Peter Ustinov.

King Richard is the rightful King of England. He is Prince John’s older brother and Maid Marian’s uncle. Unlike Prince John, King Richard is depicted with a mane and is portrayed as a strong adult lion. He is also voiced by Peter Ustinov.

Sir Hiss is Prince John’s advisor. He is portrayed as a snake and is voiced by Terry-Thomas.

Lady Kluck is Maid Marian’s lady-in-waiting. She is portrayed as a chicken and is voiced by Carole Shelley.

The Sheriff of Nottingham is a crooked lawman. He is portrayed as a wolf and is voiced by Pat Buttram.

Trigger and Nutsy is the Sheriff of Nottingham’s deputies and guardsmen. They are both portrayed as vultures and are voiced by George Lindsey and Ken Curtis respectively.

Skippy, Sis, Tagalong, and Toby are the children of Nottingham who idolize Robin Hood. Skippy, Sis, and Tagalong are portrayed as rabbits and are voiced by Billy Whitaker, Dana Laurita and Dori Whitaker respectively. Toby is portrayed as a tortoise and is voiced by Richie Sanders.

The Church of Nottingham’s Sexton and his wife are portrayed as church mice and are voiced by John Fiedler and Barbara Luddy respectively.

Mrs. Rabbit is Skippy, Sis, and Tagalong’s mother. She is also voiced by Barbara Luddy.

The Captain of the Royal Guard is portrayed as a crocodile. He is voiced by Candy Candido.

Otto is Nottingham’s blacksmith and is portrayed as a bloodhound. He is voiced by J. Pat O’Malley.

Robin Hood Today

While Robin Hood does not have an attraction at any of the Disney Parks, several of the characters can be found from time-to-time for character meet and greets including Prince John who I most recently met at Disneyland’s Oogie Boogie Bash.

Also, Robin Hood, Little John and Allan-a-Dale recently made an appearance in the Disney 100 short “Once Upon a Studio”. As the characters jump out of their portraits on the wall, Scrooge drops his money bags on the floor. Stealing from the rich to give to the poor, Robin Hood and Little John jump in to take the money bags. At the end of the film, Allan-a-Dale is seen sitting above the Disney Animation Building as he starts singing “When You Wish Upon a A Star”.