The Story of Robin Hood and His Merrie Men

Name: The Story of Robin Hood and His Merrie Men
Item: The Story of Robin Hood and His Merrie Men
Rating: 3
Author: Alistair Lawrence

Movie review by

Alistair Lawrence, Common Sense Media

The Story of Robin Hood and His Merrie Men Movie Poster Image

Common Sense says

age 8+

(i)

Live-action 1950s Disney adventure looks old; mild violence.

PG
1952
84 minutes

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age 12+

Based on 1 review

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We think this movie stands out for:

Character Strengths

A lot or a little?

The parents' guide to what's in this movie.

Educational Value

Although the story is based on folklore, younger viewers may be inspired to learn more about the time period.

Positive Messages

The central theme is good triumphing over evil. Also promotes generosity over greed and teamwork.

Positive Role Models & Representations

Robin Hood aims to deliver justice by fighting back against the corrupt officials who murder his father. Maid Marian is largely passive and underdeveloped. She must also disguise herself as a man in order to travel the country. Yet she -- together with the rest of the "merrie men" -- helps Robin achieve his goals. Robin does steal, but it is justified as he only robs from the rich and gives what he steals to the poor. The Sheriff of Nottingham tries to apprehend Robin Hood while threatening the locals and punishing them for not paying excessive taxes.

Violence & Scariness

Old-fashioned weapons appear throughout -- bows and arrows, spears, and swords. A bow is used to trip someone up, but this is playful and they are unharmed. A character is shot with an arrow and killed, but it is instant and there is no blood. Villains are threatened with knives. A poacher is hoisted by a rope and beaten with sticks -- their wounds are later shown being dressed with salt and water. Characters fight with wooden staffs. A character is attacked by a dog but not injured. Characters are captured, tied up, and thrown in jail. Punches and chokes are delivered in brief, non-bloody fight scenes.

Sexy Stuff

Some flirting, embracing, and kissing.

Language

Consumerism

Drinking, Drugs & Smoking

Characters drink beer on several occasions, either with food or at gatherings, but not to excess.

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What parents need to know

Parents need to know that The Story of Robin Hood and His Merrie Men is a 1950s Disney live-action retelling of the popular British legend that contains some moments of brief peril, music, and songs. Robin Hood (Richard Todd) is forced to become an outlaw after his father is murdered for speaking out against the bullying and excessive taxation of the corrupt ruling class. Robin is a thief, but a "moral" one as he only robs from the rich and gives to the poor. He is very much portrayed as the good versus the evil Prince John (Hubert Gregg) and Sheriff of Nottingham (Peter Finch) who behaves aggressively and punishes the locals. There are some non-bloody fight scenes with punching and choking. There is also some weapon use -- bows and arrows, swords, and spears -- but again there is no blood shed, although one man is shot dead instantly with an arrow. In another scene, a poacher is beaten with sticks as he's hoisted by a rope. There is some mild flirting between Maid Marian (Joan Rice) and characters drink alcohol but only in moderation.

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User Reviews

Parents say
Kids say

Adult Written bymovieraterandlo... July 12, 2020

age 12+

A film which struggles to put out the good in it!

This movie sucked like... well it sucked. It had plenty of violence but yet the goodness in here was hard to see. In this "good" and evil film well it... Continue reading

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What's the story?

THE STORY OF ROBIN HOOD AND HIS MERRIE MEN tells the story of Robin Hood (Richard Todd), a young man with a talent for archery who becomes an outlaw after Prince John (Hubert Gregg) kills his father. While hiding in Sherwood Forest, Robin recruits a band of men who swear loyalty to King Richard (Patrick Barr) the absent but rightful ruler of England. Together they undertake a series of ambushes and battles against Prince John's men -- including the evil Sheriff of Nottingham (Peter Finch) -- and redistribute wealth unfairly taken from local citizens.

Is it any good?

An old-fashioned telling of an even older tale, this familiar story is competently told, but there are few memorable moments. The Story of Robin Hood and His Merrie Men was a commercial hit upon its release in 1952, but has not remained as popular as other family-friendly versions, such as The Adventures of Robin Hood starring Errol Flynn or Disney's better-known animated version, Robin Hood. The story is partly told through music and song, something that underlines its historical look and feel. This may entertain some children, especially those who enjoy more modern Disney movies, which have many of the same hallmarks. But equally they may fail to be impressed by the then-cutting edge "Technicolor," which looks dated.

As is typical of movies from the 1950s, the scenes are highly staged with loud dialogue and its action scenes lack the sophistication of modern cinema. The story is slow moving and requires patience, but builds to a fitting climax where Robin Hood must save Maid Marian (Joan Rice) and defeat Prince John and the Sheriff of Nottingham once and for all.

Talk to your kids about ...

Families can talk about the violence in The Story of Robin Hood and His Merrie Men. Did it seem realistic? How does it differ from violence in movies made today?
Discuss the character of Robin Hood and the fact that he steals from people. Is he justified in his actions? If so, why? Talk about the idea of breaking the rules for the right reasons.
How is Maid Marian portrayed in the movie? How might her character be different if the movie was made today?
How is teamwork important to the story? What about courage? Why are these important character strengths to learn?
How does this movie compare to other Robin Hood movies?