#334: Robin Hood (1973)

Release Date: November 8th, 1973

Format: Streaming (Disney+)

Written by: Ken Anderson, Larry Clemmons, Eric Cleworth, Vance Gerry, David Michener, Julius Svendsen, and Frank Thomas

Directed by: Wolfgang Reitherman

3.5 Stars

My favorite Disney film growing up, Robin Hood is much smaller than I remember it.

Back then I felt engulfed by the adventures of Robin Hood and Little John, an anthropomorphic handsome fox and jolly big bear, respectively, crusading through Sherwood forest while robbing the sniveling Prince John, clandestinely winning archery competitions, and rousing the humble people of Nottingham to stand up to their royal oppressors. 

Now watching the film as an adult, it’s still all of those things, but I perceived some of the film’s threadbare production values. The first completely post-Walt feature film (the founder died in ‘66), Robin Hood was made under relative creative and financial constraints. Look closely and you’ll see re-purposed animations from their two previous releases, The Jungle Book and The Aristocats (#250), as well as Disney’s very first feature film, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (#314), of all things. You’ll also notice a story that’s a bit uneven and simplistic. 

How wonderful it is to be a child, where these elements go unnoticed. They can instead innocently submit themselves to the film’s wonderful textures and emotions.  These humanlike animals are adventurous and vulnerable in ways that may evade an adult’s perception. 

If nothing else a child can sense acts of love and fairness, and Robin Hood bravely gives them the hero of their imagination.