THE FILM
TITLE: Robin Hood (1973)
RELEASE DATE: 08 Nov 1973
WATCH DATE: 01 Apr 2022
TYPE: animated feature film
ACCESS: streaming on Disney+
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THE PEOPLE
DIRECTOR: Wolfgang Reitherman
PRODUCER: Wolfgang Reitherman
WRITER: Larry Clemmons, Ken Anderson
ACTORS: Brian Bedford, Phil Harris, Andy Devine, Monica Evans, Peter Ustinov, Terry-Thomas, Pat Buttram, Carole Shelley, Roger Miller, Ken Curtis
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THE STORY
RUNTIME: 1h 23m
STORYLINE: a sly fox must outwit the greedy sheriff and the wicked prince to bring justice to the people and save the love of his life
GENRE/THEMES: adventure, romance, legends, animals, justice
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THE CRITIQUE
THIS REVIEW CONTAINS SPOILERS
The Disney touch brought to a timeless legend.
This is my favorite Disney movie.
The animation is that classic, hand-drawn style of the 60s, 70s, and 80s; there’s no way to replicate that. There's this unique humanity and flawedness about it that makes it appear so natural and welcoming to the eye.
It’s a Disney film, so of course they use animals in this era of filmmaking. The precise anthropomorphization of each of the characters is perfect.
Lady Cluck is cast as a chicken, the comedic relief for the story. The Sheriff is a wolf and they reference the aggressive connotation of wolves to portray his villainous character - but he’s also fat, which gives him also an aspect of comedy. The titular character is a fox. Robin is sly and crafty, always escaping the Sheriff’s clutches. This informs Maid Marian to also be a fox. Friar Tuck is a badger, which would normally be considered fierce, but this one is sort of jolly! So there’s some contrast at play here. Sir Hiss is a snake, and he often is seen whispering things in Prince John’s ear. King Richard is the lionheart, so naturally, he is cast as a lion. This means Prince John is also a lion - but younger, more clumsy, and less regal. All the villagers are little woodland creatures - turtles, rabbits, hares, etc. - the creatures that are more vulnerable and need protection.
The voice acting brought to each of these characters is flawless in the way they match the intonation and pitch of their voice to present them as the animal would sound. Sheriff - a wolf - is mean, but he's also fat and this symbol of bad power, so he's got this high-pitched, whistling, annoying voice that can also get kind of gravelly and mean like his character. Little John is a bear, and his voice is this kind of rounded, soft, cuddly sound, but gets loud and bold when he yells.
The storyline of Robin Hood will always be timeless… it’s sort of the masculine Cinderella. There are countless movies about him, but Disney makes this version feel original with the animation and the animals. The film obviously appeals to a younger audience, but the action and comedy are equally entertaining for adults.
The script is just as enduring as the story! The character development is well-crafted, and each scene naturally propels itself into the next. From the first scene, we are thrust into the middle of their lives, and hints in the dialogue inform us of the backstory for each of the characters.
The music is a perfect match for the film - especially the whistle-stop theme. ICONIC. There’s a simplicity about the score… but also about the film as a whole. It’s not trying so hard to be something it’s not, or to present an underlying message… it’s just storytelling and filmmaking at its finest.
Underrated.
Iconic.
Charming.
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THE RECEPTION
NOMINATIONS
Academy Award for Song, “Love” (1974)
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THE IMPRESSION
IN A SINGLE WORD: timeless, charming
MOST STRIKING ELEMENT: anthropomorphology
REWATCH: 100x yes
RATING: 4.5 // 5 stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
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