A writer named Wrigley creates a comic strip character named Miss Robin Hood for a children's story paper. It is a modernized retelling of the Robin Hood legend in which the heroine robs banks with the assistance of a gang of teenage girls and then redistributes the money.
Unfortunately the cartoon is dropped from the paper, and Wrigley leaves his job. However, Miss Honey, who is director of a home for the orphans of London in Hampstead, recruits Wrigley to carry out a little light safebreaking, believing that he has such skills because he created Miss Robin Hood. Difficulties arise when Scotland Yard becomes involved.
Filming took place in June 1952.[4] The film features a variety of unusual camera work such as unexpected extreme close-ups and fast motion sequences. Disney were making The Story of Robin Hood and were reportedly unhappy that the Group 3 film could be confused with theirs.[5]
Critical reception
The Monthly Film Bulletin wrote: "This new production from Group 3 is a haphazard mixture of farce and fantasy. ... A few authentically comic moments, and an exuberant hit-or-miss approach, do something to sustain the film, but the humour ... too often seems merely juvenile. Margaret Rutherford, playing the strange Miss Honey with a Robin Hood outfit and a hockey captain vocabulary, makes the character almost excessively grotesque, and the mild Richard Hearne might be happier in a more conventional type of comedy. Lack of discipline in both script and direction is, however, responsible for most of the shortcomings of this slapdash and undergraduatish piece."[6]
Kine Weekly wrote: "There are a few bright satirical touches, but most of its fun is fourth form. ... The picture, which gives Margaret Rutherford her head, tries desperately hard to be both clever and funny, but few of its arrows hit their targets. Richard Hearne, who, by the way, deserves a more rational vehicle, introduces a pleasing touch of whimsy, but, like most other members of the cast, is soon swept off his feet by the script. It is more wild than witty."[7]
Bosley Crowther of The New York Times wrote, "Even with stalwart Margaret Rutherford playing the principal role – that of a good-natured looney – in this utterly slap-happy film, and even with several cheering flashes of tomfoolery to light the way, the whole thing is just a bit too labored – too fatuous – to be continuous fun."[8]
The Radio Times Guide to Films gave the film 2/5 stars, writing: "This disappointing comedy gave the much loved Margaret Rutherford a rare chance to star. Considering the infectious enthusiasm of her performance as the mischievous Miss Honey, she deserved better material than slight skirmish with a gang of crooks over a valuable whisky recipe. There are solid turns from Sid James and James Robertson-Justice, but writers Val Valentine and Patrick Campbell have over diluted the mixture for most tastes."[9]
In British Sound Films: The Studio Years 1928–1959David Quinlan rated the film as "mediocre", writing: "Would-be Ealing-style comedy is too silly for words."[11]
Graeme Clark of the website The Spinning Image wrote, "It's all very fluffy and inconsequential, but with Patrick Campbell contributing to the script and this array of talent in front of the camera, vintage Brit comedy fans are well catered for."[12]
Filmink said "It has a decent enough central idea ... but it doesn’t have enough faith in the idea, so all this other extraneous stuff is added."[13]
^Round the British Studios
Nepean, Edith. Picture Show; London Vol. 58, Iss. 1524, (Jun 14, 1952): 11.
^"Don't miss it". The Sun. No. 2556. New South Wales, Australia. 13 April 1952. p. 34. Retrieved 26 September 2020 – via National Library of Australia.
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