Film Review - Robin Hood (1973)

[theradicalchild]

Oo-De-Lally

Walt Disney Productions sort of fell into disarray after the death of its namesake founder, with the studio's Robin Hood being their first animated feature following his demise. Walt's interest in adapting the tale went back to his interest in the tale of Reynard the Fox after Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, with the idea coming to full fruition albeit with an all-anthropomorphic animal cast when the film released in 1973.

The minister Alan-a-Dale, depicted as a rooster and voiced by musician Roger Miller, narrates the story, with the opening credits being notable, using the theme "Whistle Stop," which would inspire the "Hamster Dance" that would become an early internet meme. He performed the subsequent track, "Oo-De-Lally" that introduces Robin Hood, depicted as a fox and voiced by English actor Brian Bedford, and Little John, voiced by Disney regular Phil Harris, who coincidentally had previously voiced another bear, Baloo in The Jungle Book.

Read my lips

The film pretty much follows the standard "rob from the rich, give to the poor" story of Robin Hood, although it can be interpreted either way ideologically since the "rich" are government officials and the "poor" are taxpaying citizens. Prince John, depicted as a lion, is sitting in his brother King Richard's throne as he fights in the Crusades, his henchman the Sheriff of Nottingham depicted as an obese wolf and having a hillbilly southern accent.

Robin Hood is overall one of Disney's underrated classics, with the mix of American and English voice actors being a nice touch and preventing the dialogue from feeling too stuffy if the studio had hired performers solely from Britain. The animation is good as well, even if the studio recycled from previous films like Snow White--which is really visible during "The Phony King of England--The Aristocats, and The Jungle Book. It's also blatant the film was made in the 1970s, with some other oddities like vixen Maid Marian having lion relatives, but otherwise, it's a fun movie worth seeing.

The Good

• Good anthropomorphic cast and interpretation of tale of Robin Hood


• Nice mix of American and English performers


• Some catchy music

The Bad

• Obviously made in the 1970s


• Reused animation from previous Disney films


• A few minor oddities

The Bottom Line
One of Disney's underrated classics.