Tony award winning actor Brian Bedford, who provided the voice for Disney's Robin Hood has died.
Bedford was a classical Tony award winning actor, who performed on stages in the UK, the US and Canada. His film roles include The Grand Prix, 1966, and Nixon, 1995.
A few years ago, during an interview, he admitted that to audiences he is mostly known for Robin Hood.
Milt Kahl, who struggled with the design for the character, nevertheless liked the debonair quality in Bedford's voice. (The studio originally had cast Tommy Steele for the part, but for some reason it didn't work out.)
Someone tweeted today about Robin Hood: The only cartoon character many people admit to having a crush on.
I so wished Milt was still alive to comment on this phenomenon. I can hear his boisterous laugh.
But when you think of it, what an achievement...
This scene shows an early, long nosed version of the character. Only a few scenes like this one were re-drawn and altered to represent a shorter nosed fox. But as usual, Milt's strive for superior graphic design is incredible. The way paws function as hands, the feeling for loose fabric and the ability to draw the head from any angle beautifully.
This is part one of a long scene. Robin is reacting to a comment from Little John: Why don't you stop moaning and moping around...just marry the girl!
His response in this scene:
Marry her? You just don't walk up to a girl, hand her a bouquet and say: Hey, remember me, we were kids together, will you marry me? No...it just isn't done that way.
I'll post the rest of the scene if you are interested.
Here are some of Milt's thumbnail sketches in preparation for the scene
If you'd like to see Milt talk about Robin Hood, go to this previous post, which includes a strange interview.
http://andreasdeja.blogspot.com/2012/11/milt-kahl-talks-robin-hood.html
Super sad :(
ReplyDeleteRobin Hood is my absolute favorite Disney film. Then Wreck it Ralph :)
Of course I'd love to see more of the scene! This is great!
ReplyDeleteYes, please post the rest :) Beautiful and inspiring as usual, and Mr. Bedford's portrayal helped to establish much of the appeal of Robin. Great stuff Andres, Thanks ~
ReplyDeleteYes, please. One cannot get enough of them!
ReplyDeleteHis voice work as Robin was excellent.
ReplyDeleteThese are beautiful anticipation and staging drawings. This is really what makes your site so unique. Please post more.
ReplyDeletePlease post the rest! Would love to see it. Thanks!
ReplyDelete"I'll post the rest of the scene if you are interested."
ReplyDeleteYES, PLEASE !
Thank you so much for sharing!
ReplyDeleteRobin Hood was one of the last honest Disney characters, a hero of a better era!
That film and this character have the power to bring me back yo the earlys 80,s. And turn me into the kid that i was. Now i got 41 years old thanks Deja, and thanks for the great "the nine old men" book
ReplyDeleteSorry to hear about this. I saw Brian Bedford in a production of The School for Scandal back in high school, which he also directed. He made the material perfectly entertaining, even for us younguns who didn't totally grasp the language.
ReplyDeleteI admit, though, that I'll remember him best as Robin Hood. It's easily my favorite Disney film from that era, and his and Milt's sincere combined performance goes a long way towards that.
P.s. By all means, post the rest!
Please do post the rest of this scene!
ReplyDeleteRest in Peace, Brian ...
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing this, Andreas...
Robin Hood is one of my favorite Disney movies ...
Like noticing Robin wasn't wearing his shoes here as in the finished film.
ReplyDelete