Product Details

• Actors: Peter Finch, Richard Todd, Patrick John Barr
• Format: Color, DVD, NTSC
• Language: English
• Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1
• Number of discs: 1
• Rating: PG (Parental Guidance Suggested)
• Studio: Walt Disney Video
• DVD Release Date: April 26, 2009
• Run Time: 84 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• ASIN: B001TPGNBK
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #14,284 in Movies & TV (See Bestsellers in Movies & TV)

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  Movies & TV > Action & Adventure > Series & Sequels > Robin Hood

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

Studio: Buena Vista Home Video Release Date: 04/24/2009 Rating: Pg

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

20 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The best movie version of the Robin Hood legend, April 20, 2009

By	JLind555 - See all my reviews

It's about time they finally released this excellent film version of the Robin Hood legend on DVD. Many Disney fans born after 1960 aren't aware that Disney wasn't all about cartoons; in the early 1950s his studio released a number of live-action adventure films, which were nowhere near as financially successful as his animated movies. But a few of them were as good as many of his cartoon features, and none was better than "The Story of Robin Hood", which appeared in the summer of 1952.

Set in 12th century England at the start of Richard the Lionheart's crusade to the Holy Land, we see England as it was then, rural, mainly poor, solidly Catholic, devoted to the Holy Mother Church, and ruled over by a benevolent king about to set off to holy war while he leaves his evil, scheming younger brother, Prince John, behind to rule in his stead. When the film opens, their mother, Queen Elinor of Aquitaine, is giving her blessing to the enterprise while reminding all within earshot that she needs no looking after ("The woman who bore two sons like you", she informs her oldest son the king, "can take care of herself"). And here is Robin, 18 years old, wishing he could tag along after the king, but without a care in the world except winning the upcoming archery tournament and chasing Maid Marian. But this idyll is about to come crashing down; after winning the tournament and rudely rejecting to serve under the wicked Sheriff of Nottingham, Robin's father is murdered by the sheriff's right-hand man, and is killed by Robin in turn. It's off to Sherwood Forest for life on the run as an outlaw, while Robin gathers around him other outcasts who have been impoverished by the sheriff's rapacious deputies. There's fun galore as we see Robin and his merrie men robbing the rich to aid the poor, rescuing the downtrodden from the sheriff's villainy, kidnapping the sheriff himself and lightening his purse, and helping to pay King Richard's ransom after he is captured in the Crusades by robbing the loot King John and the Sheriff have stolen from the poor.

Ken Annakin keeps the film solidly on target in time and place. The movie's score is exceptional; from Allan A'Dale broadcasting the news as a wandering minstrel, to the Gregorian chant sung by the knights as they set off on Richard's crusade, we are transported 800 years back in time. And Annakin reminds us, in a telling scene where Allan A'Dale is snubbed by some villagers, that not everyone in merrie olde England thought Robin and his men were saviors; to most of the upper class, and many of the small but growing middle class, they were a gang of thieves and worse.

A great cast helps keep the film rolling. Richard Todd was never better than he was as Robin; bold, generous, not to mention full of himself; merciless to the enemies of the underclass, he's a winning hero. Joan Rice is sweet and sassy as Maid Marian; no simpering damsel is this young lady, she gives as good as she gets. And the minor cast is terrific: James Robertson Justice is just right as Little John; Elton Hayes is excellent as Allan A'Dale; Anthony Forwood is sly and cynical as Will Scarlett, and James Hayter almost walks off with the film with his hilarious performance as Friar Tuck. The movie works both as an action/adventure film and a fascinating romp through medieval England. It's one of Disney's best.

Judy Lind

12 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Wonderful Version of the Robin Hood Legend, April 10, 2009

By	Robert W. Lundy "Film Music Fan" (Oak Park, Illinois) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I believe that this Disney version of the story of Robin Hood is as good as the Errol Flynn movie and far superior to the Kevin Costner movie.

The cast is uniformly excellent: Richard Todd is very good as Robin Hood and Joan Rice is a sweet and very believable Maid Marian; Peter Finch is easily the best Sheriff of Nottingham and James Robertson Justice is the best Little John of all the Robin Hood movies; and Elton Hayes singing as Allan-a-Dale throughout the movie is wonderful.

The cinematography by Guy Green is beautiful. All in all, a great version of the Robin Hood legend.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Best!, April 30, 2009

By	Azalea4421 "Azlea4421" (Waldport, OR United States) - See all my reviews

This is amazing! I love this movie! What more needs to be said? The acting is definitely characteristic for the time in which it was filmed, but it's got everything you could ask for - humor, drama, action and much more! This is probably the best film of the story of Robin Hood I've ever seen!