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Robin Hood (1973)
The story first hit the big screen way back in 1938 and made an official movie star out of an actor named Errol Flynn. Disney Studios scored with their 1973 animated version of Robin Hood.
Of course since it's Disney, all of these well known characters are now animals. The title character is a slick and charming fox (voiced by Brian Bedford) who robs from the rich and gives to the poor, with the aid of his pal, a bear named Little John (voiced by Phil Harris), who bears more than a passing resemblance to Baloo in Jungle Book. Robin makes the mistake of stealing from the kingdom's leader, an evil and miserly lion named Prince John (brilliantly voiced by Peter Ustinov) who, when things aren't going his way, sucks his thumb. Of course, the war between Robin and John interferes with his romance with his childhood sweetheart, a pretty young fox named Maid Marian.
This reviewer hasn't had much exposure to this story. Haven't seen the Errol Flynn classic, hell, I haven't even see Robin Hood Men in Tights. I have seen the Rat Pack's 1964 take on the story called Robin and the Seven Hoods. I did find this take on the story a lot of fun. This Robin is a total charmer who is brave, skilled, and best of all, humble. For some reason, I expected this character to be arrogant, but he wasn't. I also loved that he spent a lot of the screen time in various disguises. Love when he gets busted at the archery tournament. Also loved the outright brass of just plucking Baloo from Jungle Book and making him Little John.
Country singer Roger Miller contributes to the pleasant musical score and also provides the voice for the narrator, a guitar playing rooster named Allen-A-Dale. The musical highlights include :"The Phony King of England", "Fight On", "Ooh-de-Lally", and "Not in Nottingham/"
There is other strong voice work by Terry-Thomas as John's snake assistant, Sir Hiss, Andy Devine as Friar Tuck (who actually looks like Devine), and Monica Evans and Carole Shelley as Maid Marian and her lady in waiting, a chicken named Lady Kluck. Evans and Shelley also voiced a pair of geese in The Aristocats, but are best known for -playing the Pidgeon Sisters in The Odd Couple, but Ustinov effortlessly steals the show as the whiny Prince John. This movie was all kinds of fun.
The story first hit the big screen way back in 1938 and made an official movie star out of an actor named Errol Flynn. Disney Studios scored with their 1973 animated version of Robin Hood.
Of course since it's Disney, all of these well known characters are now animals. The title character is a slick and charming fox (voiced by Brian Bedford) who robs from the rich and gives to the poor, with the aid of his pal, a bear named Little John (voiced by Phil Harris), who bears more than a passing resemblance to Baloo in Jungle Book. Robin makes the mistake of stealing from the kingdom's leader, an evil and miserly lion named Prince John (brilliantly voiced by Peter Ustinov) who, when things aren't going his way, sucks his thumb. Of course, the war between Robin and John interferes with his romance with his childhood sweetheart, a pretty young fox named Maid Marian.
This reviewer hasn't had much exposure to this story. Haven't seen the Errol Flynn classic, hell, I haven't even see Robin Hood Men in Tights. I have seen the Rat Pack's 1964 take on the story called Robin and the Seven Hoods. I did find this take on the story a lot of fun. This Robin is a total charmer who is brave, skilled, and best of all, humble. For some reason, I expected this character to be arrogant, but he wasn't. I also loved that he spent a lot of the screen time in various disguises. Love when he gets busted at the archery tournament. Also loved the outright brass of just plucking Baloo from Jungle Book and making him Little John.
Country singer Roger Miller contributes to the pleasant musical score and also provides the voice for the narrator, a guitar playing rooster named Allen-A-Dale. The musical highlights include :"The Phony King of England", "Fight On", "Ooh-de-Lally", and "Not in Nottingham/"
There is other strong voice work by Terry-Thomas as John's snake assistant, Sir Hiss, Andy Devine as Friar Tuck (who actually looks like Devine), and Monica Evans and Carole Shelley as Maid Marian and her lady in waiting, a chicken named Lady Kluck. Evans and Shelley also voiced a pair of geese in The Aristocats, but are best known for -playing the Pidgeon Sisters in The Odd Couple, but Ustinov effortlessly steals the show as the whiny Prince John. This movie was all kinds of fun.