Robin Hood (Wolfgang Reitherman, 1973): USA
Reviewed by Byron Potau. Viewed on DVD.
From the looks of the trailers the recently released Russell Crowe/Ridley Scott Robin Hood appears far too serious for its own good and looks like a clone of Gladiator which I am not a fan of. I prefer a more playful Robin Hood and, therefore, decided to revisit a version of the story that had a much lighter tone, Disney’s Robin Hood. With foxes to portray Robin and his love Maid Marian, and lions to portray King Richard the Lionhearted and his scheming younger brother Prince John the film is a very fun and playful retelling of this old tale with all of its merriness intact.
This version of the legend is recited by a minstrel rooster (voiced by Roger Miller). Robin (Brian Bedford) and bear pal Little John (Phil Harris) are having a grand time in Sherwood Forest just enjoying each other’s company not realizing the wolf Sheriff of Nottingham (Pat Buttram) and his men are closing in on them. They make their escape as they always do, but realize it’s not as easy as it used to be. When Robin and Little John masquerade as fortune tellers and rob Prince John (Peter Ustinov) once again we find out that Prince John and his snake servant Sir Hiss (Terry Thomas) hypnotized King Richard and sent him off on a crusade. Prince John holds an archery contest to try and capture Robin, first prize being a kiss from Maid Marian (Monica Evans). When that fails Prince John raises taxes, punishing the people of Nottingham for making fun of him and harboring Robin Hood. Many of the town’s people end up in jail for not paying their taxes, including Friar Tuck (Andy Devine) whom they plan to execute for fighting with the sheriff. Robin and Little John must devise a last minute rescue to save him from the gallows.
This film is just as fun now as when as I was a kid. It has lost none of its charm. The exceptional songs with their intelligent lyrics and catchy music are a major reason why. My favorite is the sorrowful “Not in Nottingham” with its bluesy country sound, but it’s just as fun to sing or whistle the film’s opening song “Whistle Stop.”
The voice characterizations are right on the mark. Brian Bedford’s Robin Hood is suave, charming, and daring, while Phil Harris voices a loyal, tough, and playful Little John.
There are several noteworthy characters, but the best of them is Terry Thomas’s hilarious Sir Hiss. The lisping snake, often in Prince John’s ear, always seems to get the short end from Prince John despite his being the superior intellect of the two. His antics and the fine animation of him provide some of the film’s funniest moments.
Brilliantly written and fun for the whole family, this Robin Hood is a winner. If you’ve never seen it you’ll be in for a treat, and if you’re just revisiting it as I did you’ll be pleasantly surprised how much fun it still is.
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