Robin Hood 1973

In a whimsical tale featuring an ensemble of animal characters, the story revolves around Robin Hood, a clever fox, and his formidable companion Little John, a brown bear, who courageously rob the rich to uplift the poor.

At the film’s outset, they cleverly outsmart Prince John, a treacherous lion, and his sidekick Sir Hiss, a cunning snake. Prince John has taken over the throne from the rightful ruler, King Richard, who has been hypnotized by Sir Hiss and sent off on a Crusade. In a daring act, Robin and Little John disguise themselves as fortune tellers, successfully making off with valuable items from the royal carriage of Prince John.

As their adventure unfolds in Nottingham, we see the ‘honorable’ Sheriff of Nottingham, portrayed as a scheming wolf, collecting taxes from the townspeople. After pressuring a local blacksmith, a dog, for dues, the Sheriff confronts a widow bunny and her children, snatching away a farthing given to her son Skippy, who has just turned seven. But hope arrives when an old blind fox enters, revealing himself to be Robin Hood. He gifts Skippy a bow and arrow along with his signature hat, igniting a spark of joy in the young rabbit.

Skippy, along with his two sisters and turtle friend, eagerly tries out the bow and arrow. His first attempt sends an arrow flying into Prince John’s castle. In a brave move, Skippy sneaks in to recover it, crossing paths with Maid Marian, another fox, and Lady Cluck, a lively hen. They invite him and his siblings inside, sharing stories of Marian’s affection for Robin and engaging in playful games, where Lady Cluck whimsically impersonates Prince John.

Meanwhile, in the depths of Sherwood Forest, Robin and Little John enjoy some downtime until they are joined by Friar Tuck, a wise badger. He informs them of an upcoming archery tournament hosted by Prince John, offering a kiss from Maid Marian as the grand prize. Despite Little John’s concerns, Robin decides to compete in disguise as a stork, with Little John masquerading as a Duke. Robin triumphs in the tournament but is soon exposed by Prince John, who plans to seize the rogue. Just as danger looms, Little John creates a distraction, transforming the event into chaos, allowing Robin, Little John, Maid Marian, and Lady Cluck to escape back to the safety of Sherwood Forest.

Later that evening, the forest resonates with laughter as they sing a parody about Prince John, affectionately dubbing him “The Phony King of England.” This merriment ripples through Nottingham, inciting the Sheriff to sing along, much to Prince John’s outrage. In retaliation, the prince imposes exorbitant taxes, imprisoning many townsfolk unable to pay up. Things escalate when the Sheriff raiding the church Poor Box prompts Friar Tuck to stand against him, ultimately leading to his arrest.

Determined to capture Robin Hood at all costs, Prince John devises a trap, threatening to hang Friar Tuck. In a daring rescue mission, Robin Hood, along with Little John, sneaks into the castle, freeing all imprisoned townsfolk while making off with Prince John’s gold. Amidst the chaos, they save Skippy’s youngest sister, but Robin finds himself caught inside the castle. As the Sheriff pursues him with a flaming torch, it ignites the castle, forcing Robin to leap into the moat and escape.

As the tale concludes, peace returns with King Richard’s arrival from the Crusades. He punishes Prince John, Sir Hiss, and the Sheriff by assigning them to hard labor, while the townspeople joyfully celebrate the union of Robin Hood and Maid Marian, marking a new beginning for Nottingham.