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You've seen the Errol Flynn, Kevin Costner, and, perhaps -- courtesy of Mel Brooks -- the Cary Elwes versions of the Robin Hood legend. Now Disney's virtuoso animators present "the story of what really happened in Sherwood Forest." Released in 1973, Robin Hood was the second animated feature produced following Walt Disney's death, and while it doesn't blaze new paths, it does hit the bull's-eye with its anthropomorphic take on this familiar story, recast with a menagerie of distinctively voiced classic characters. Brian Bedford is the wily fox Robin Hood, the outlaw who "borrows from those who can afford it" to give to the poor, and pines for Maid Marian (Monica Evans), a real vixen. Peter Ustinov is a thumb-sucking lion/Prince John, with Terry Thomas as "silly serpent" Sir Hiss. Phil Harris gives it the old Baloo as Robin's bear sidekick, Little John. Western hands Andy Devine and Pat Buttram add some unaccountable twang and drawl to, respectively, badger Friar Tuck and the Sheriff of Nottingham, a wolf. George "Goober" Lindsey and Ken "Festus" Curtis provide further comic relief as vultures Trigger and Nutsy. There are cutesy children's voices for the adolescent animals that worship Robin and befriend Marian. The "King of the Road," Roger Miller, is rooster balladeer Alan-a-Dale. Of the handful of songs, only "Oo-de-lally" is noteworthy. In addition to direction by The Jungle Book's Wolfgang Reitherman, the credits include some of the studio's venerable Nine Old Men (Frank Johnston and Frank Thomas) and some promising young talent (Don Bluth). This Most Wanted Edition includes a deleted alternate ending and the Mickey/Minnie Mouse cartoon "Ye Olden Days." While not quite one of Disney's classics, Robin Hood is an entertaining, briskly paced romp that should delight younger kids. But like the evil Sheriff, older members of Generation Shrek and adults may find it too taxing. Donald Liebenson

All Movie Guide

Robin Hood is one of the first animated films produced by the Walt Disney Company after Walt Disney's death in 1967. For the film, the studio's animators took the Disney tradition of adding human-like animal sidekicks to established tales (Cinderella, Pinnochio) a step further by making Robin Hood's legendary characters creatures themselves. Robin Hood (Brian Bedford) is a wily fox; Maid Marian (Monica Evans) is a beautiful vixen; Little John (Phil Harris) is a burly bear; Friar Tuck (Andy Devine) is a soft-spoken badger; the Sheriff of Nottingham (Pat Buttram) is a greedy wolf; and the scheming Prince John (Peter Ustinov) is a sniveling, groveling, thumb-sucking undersized lion with a serpent sidekick named Sir Hiss (Terry Thomas). The film begins after Prince John and Sir Hiss have tricked the true King into leaving the country on a phony crusade. With the help of the Sheriff of Nottingham, they tax the life out of Nottingham's peasants, leaving them all penniless but with the courageous Robin Hood as their only hope. ~ Aubry Anne D'Arminio, All Movie Guide

Product Details

• UPC: 786936716245
• Source: WALT DISNEY VIDEO
• Region Code: 1
• Presentation: Pan & Scan
• Sound: Dolby AC-3 Surround Sound
• Editions: Special Edition, Dubbed, Repackaged
• Time: 1:23:00
• Sales Rank: 363

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