Robin Hood 1973

     This is an imaginative Disney version of the Robin Hood legend.  Fun and romance are all around in this film but also moments of peril.  The swashbuckling hero Robin Hood of Sherwood Forest and his valiant sidekick plot one daring adventure after another to outwit the greedy Prince John voiced by Sir Peter Ustinov and his partner as they put the tax squeeze on the poor.  This film is not was historical as Kevin Costner’s film.  It is not always as laughable and ridiculous as Mel Brooks’ film but this is still good.

     Disney's effort comes off as likable.  It's very much a product of its times but has a timeless quality that is unmatched.  The humor doesn't date itself as quickly as some of the jokes in other Disney features. The voice acting (as in almost every Disney film) is superb, and contains a few outstanding stars such as Peter Ustinov's in his especially well-done role.  All in all, a film well-deserving of all the praise it receives.  What I really noticed is how Prince John takes money from poor people who don’t have much to give??  He doesn’t do this himself but has has his henchman the Sheriff of Nottingham take the last coins from a widow and a young boy!!  Prince John’s brother is Richard the Lionheart and John usurped the throne while Richard was fighting in the Crusades.  5* (I liked this film and found enjoyable to watch)   

     This film is tame for the most part but does contain examples of bad behavior.  Greediness, gullibility, stealing, punishment.  Some medieval weaponry, some hitting, fighting, characters held at knifepoint, oppression, references to a noose and hanging.  Includes having having compassion for those who are less fortunate.  Usually, their being poor is through no fault of their own.  Parents will need to judge the maturity level of their children before allowing them to watch this film.    

93 min, Animation directed by Wolfgang Reitherman and David Hand, written by Larry Clemmons, Ken Anderson, Vance Gerry, Frank Thomas, Eric Cleworth, Julius Svendsen, David Michener with the voices of Roger Miller, Peter Ustinov, Terry-Thomas, Brian Bedford, Monica Evans, Phil Harris, Andy Devine, Carole Shelley, Pat Buttram, George Lindsey, Ken Curtis.

Note:  Imdb 7.6* out of 10* with 113,267 reviews, Rotten Tomatoes 54* with 28 critics 81% with 271,687 user ratings, Common Sense Media, Rafael Munsi, age 5+, 4* out of 5*, 3* positive, 2* role models, 3* violence and scariness, Metacritic 57 out of 100 with 9 critic reviews (5 positive 3 mixed 1 negative), 7.6 out of 10 with 36 user scores (26 positive 10 mixed 0 negative).