Sherwood Forester

Issue 14

September 2007

A warm welcome to our latest edition of the online magazine, number 14.

Our cover image comes from "The Sheriff's Boots" and was kindly supplied by Stephanie Connell, daughter of Thelma Connell, script editor and associate producer, and Paul Connell who appeared in a number of "The Adventures" episodes.

Continuing our series of articles from Anna and Lucy, looking at the story behind the series, the writers.  In this issue we cover Waldo Salt and Adrian Scott.

More from "The Ladies of Sherwood". 

Introducing the Writers

Continuing our series in which Lucy and Anna look at the story behind the series - the writers!

Waldo Salt

Waldo Pressman Salt was born in Chicago on the 18^th October 1914.  He entered Stanford University at the age of 14, and graduated at 20.  He first taught drama and music at Menlo Junior College, California, and then worked as a contract writer for MGM (from 1936 to 1942).  His first screenplay, “The Shopworn Angel”, was produced by Joseph Mankiewicz in 1938.  In the same year Waldo Salt joined the Communist Party.  From 1942 to 1945 he served as a civilian consultant to the Office of War Information.  He was married to the actress Mary Davenport (they later divorced); in 1944 their daughter Jennifer was born.

Waldo Salt was the author of the script to a popular swashbuckling adventure “The Flame and The Arrow”, released in 1950 – a promising start to his writing career.  But in April 1951 Salt was called before the House Un-American Activities Committee.  He refused to testify, and was blacklisted for eleven years.  During the 1950s and early 1960s he worked mainly for television, under various pseudonyms; he wrote scripts for “Colonel March of Scotland Yard”, for “The Adventures of Robin Hood” and for “Ivanhoe”.  After the blacklist was lifted Waldo Salt returned to film work; that was the time of his greatest screenwriting achievements: “Midnight Cowboy” (1969), “Serpico” (1972), “The Day of the Locust” (1975) and “Coming Home” (1978).   He won two Oscars – for “Midnight Cowboy” and for “Coming Home” (shared with Nancy Dowd and Robert C. Jones).

Waldo Salt taught script-writing at the Sundance Institute in Utah.  In 1983 he married Eve Merriam, a writer.  In 1987 he received the highest award of the Writers Guild – the Laurel Award for Screen Achievement.  He died of lung cancer on the 7^th March 1987 in Los Angeles.  In 1991 a documentary was made about him - “Waldo Salt: A Screenwriter's Journey”, and in 1992 an annual screenwriting award was named after him.   

His daughter, Jennifer Salt, is an actress, producer and writer.

A short video interview with Waldo Salt can be found on http:\\www.pbs.org/wnet/americanmasters/database/salt_w.html.

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Adrian Scott

Robert Adrian Scott was born in Arlington, New Jersey, on the 6^th  February 1911. He studied English and history at Amherst College.  After graduating in 1934, he moved to Hollywood and worked briefly for RKO where his brother Allan was employed as script-writer.  From 1936 till 1938 he was associate editor and assistant editor for film at Stage magazine in New York.  He then returned to Hollywood  and tried, unsuccessfully, to produce documentaries about social issues - poverty, disease and public health.

Later he worked on scripts to “Keeping Company” (1940), “The Parson of Panamint” (1941), “We Go Fast” (1941) and “Mr. Lucky” (1943). From 1942 he was again employed by RKO, this time as a producer.

Some of the films he produced were “My Pal Wolf” (1944), “Murder, My Sweet” (1944), “Deadline at Dawn” (1946) and “Crossfire” (1947).  In 1944 he joined the Communist Party.   In 1945 he married the actress Anne Shirley.

Adrian Scott appeared before the HUAC in October 1947 – he was one of the Hollywood Ten.  They claimed the Fifth Amendment of the United States Constitution and refused to answer any questions.  They were found guilty of contempt of Congress; Adrian Scott was sentenced to a year at the federal prison in Ashland, Kentucky, and fined $1000; he served nine months.  In 1948 he sued RKO for wrongful dismissal (the case was rejected by the Supreme Court in 1957).  In 1949 his wife divorced him because of his stand against HUAC.   

As a blacklisted writer during the 1950s, Adrian Scott wrote for television under various pseudonyms - for “The Adventures of Robin Hood”, “The Adventures of Sir Lancelot”, “Ironside”, “The Bold Ones”, and “Lassie”.  At that time he met Joan La Cour, an aspiring writer, who acted as a “front” and collaborated with him on scripts; they married in 1955. In 1961 they settled in London, where Scott found a position as executive assistant at the British division of MGM. 

Adrian Scott returned to the United States in 1968.   His last major work was “The Great Man's Whiskers”, shown on NBC Television in 1972*.  He died of lung cancer in Los Angeles on the 25^th December 1973*(A. F.)

The dates marked with an asterisk are taken from IMDb and other internet sources.  Bernard Dick gives slightly different dates in his book “Radical Innocence”: Adrian Scott’s year of death is given as 1972, and the year in which “The Great Man’s Whiskers” was broadcast - as 1973.  On the basis of the information I have at the moment, it is impossible to determine which dates are correct.  (A. F.)

Shooting at Stardom

The following article is reproduced from the Chicago Tribune's TV Week for 28th September - 4th October 1957, with thanks to Morley Peters.

Patricia Driscoll is an anomaly in the television world.  She performs in the medium for her daily bread but prefers her cats to owning a television set. 

The third season of Robin Hood (beginning Monday at 6:30 pm on channel 2) finds Pat in the role of Maid Marian.  Well known to British movie and television audiences, she has taken over the role formerly played by Bernadette O'Farrell who has left to await the birth of her baby.

Pat and her husband Duncan Lamont, who, incidentally, also appears in the adventure series, live in a tiny flat overlooking London's Regent's park.  Their space, says Pat, is completely filled by herself, her husband, their furniture and their three cats.  Hence, no room for a television set.

Tho she lacks one of the "essentials" of modern living, Pat has done well for herself in the big city.  The 27 year old, gray eyed brunet trained for the stage at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts and went straight into repertory.  She has played featured roles in British films and has appeared in television series called Looking with Mother, aimed at the under 5 kids.

An update on the crusade idea in Robin Hood stories

Many years ago (in 2003) I wrote in the second edition of our magazine: “If a new version of the Robin Hood story appears, could we expect it to contain some references to the war in Iraq?  Unfortunately, this time the analogy would be only too obvious.  So it is quite possible that the subject will be avoided as too controversial, and Robin will never be a crusader again…  “

Now that we have the new Robin Hood, Jonas Armstrong in the BBC series, we can see that Robin is an ex-crusader again.  Dominic Minghella who created the series has described him in a press interview as “a Gulf War vet”. 

But there is another interesting development: in 2003 the Robin Hood scholar Prof. Stephen Knight published another book on the subject, “Robin Hood – A Mythic Biography”.  In the book he mentions a novel “Maid Marian, The Forest Queen” by a little-known Victorian writer Joachim H. Stocqueler.  Stephen Knight writes that in Stocqueler’s novel Robin “has gone away on crusade, having lost his social position for some unclear reason (but apparently involving debts)”.   

 “Maid Marian, the Forest Queen” was first published in 1849 - thirty years after Walter Scott’s “Ivanhoe”.  Could this be “the missing link” between “Ivanhoe”, where Robin Hood the outlaw and Ivanhoe the crusader knight were two different characters, and the Douglas Fairbanks 1922 Robin Hood film, where they merged into one?  Is it possible that Stocqueler’s novel was the source of the crusade idea for Douglas Fairbanks, and not “Ivanhoe”?  We may never know, but it is an intriguing thought!  (A. F.)

THE CHALLENGE

Marian: This was such a fun episode; the excitement of "Who is the Best Archer in England" - as if we even had to guess at that answer! Young romance, Robin and Marian; I got the impression this was early into their romance, you could feel the excitement of their wanting to be together. Marian even voiced this sentiment to Robin while the Sheriff was close by. They were so wrapped up in each other that I thought it surprising the Sheriff didn't notice the deep affection between them, perhaps he was too upset at losing his bet to Sir Richard of the Lea, or as I like to refer to him, "Sir Richard of the Needy".

Inevitably when Robin comes in contact with Sir Richard money is involved and Sir Richard is in need.

Marian's “Dance Lessons" - they just look so right together, that special chemistry - Robin and Marian; he looking so dashing and handsome in Sir Giles’ clothing and she, the blushing young lady, free to be with the man she loves; Friar Tuck and Little John joining in the dance class. Sir Richard's locked castle kept out the Sheriff and his men and any danger for Robin Hood. This was all a magical reprieve for Robin and Little John - a taste of the good life, to be able to forget all of the worries that lie ahead, and to just eat, drink and be merry!

All the eating, drinking and merrymaking began to wear on Sir Richard and Lady Leonia - they felt their guests had overstayed their welcome.  Surprisingly, Sir Richard was able to rid his estate of the Sheriff and his men and make it safe to send Robin and Little John back to Sherwood Forest, despite their pleas to stay.

As I watched this fun story unfold I recognized the style of writing to be that of "Eric Heath/Ring Lardner, Jr.", so I wasn't surprised to find his name in the credits.  Great episode, a lot of fun, a preview as to what Lord and Lady Locksley would be like as Lord and Lady of the Manor.

I hope that you ladies enjoyed the fun as much as I did.

Suzette: It always makes me laugh, and I saw it several times already.  There are some wonderful lines in it – “The serfs decorate themselves with buttercups”, or “A man’s castle is his home”.  Lady Leonia is a snob, but very funny – aristocracy without money… But it’s not just Sir Richard’s gambling that causes their money problems; he’s an honest landowner, and fair to his people (someone says so in “The Profiteers”, if I remember correctly). But he’s probably not the best manager – maybe he’s too soft on those serfs.

There was just one sad moment in “The Challenge” – when the Sheriff said to Robin and Little John, “I think it’s time for you to leave”.  But they got their well-deserved celebration in the end.

It was great to see Marian dancing on the table.  There is another dancing scene in Sir Richard’s castle in one of the later episodes – I can’t remember where, help!  But I remember that the dancers are a bit older, and the dancing is slower, and more dignified.

My favourite moment is when Robin says to the Sheriff, “I believe you’ve given your word before, and broken it”, and the Sheriff replies, “Not to a gentleman”.  Robin doesn’t say anything, but he screws up his face in such a hilarious way!  And then, to make things even worse, Sir Richard says to Robin, “My word as a gentleman”; then he realises what he said, and adds quickly,  “I beg your pardon”.  Robin just smiled, but I’m sure there must have been times when he found remarks like that hurtful.  No longer a gentleman. Do you remember “The Traitor”, when the noblemen who were on King Richard’s side said they didn’t trust him, because he was an outlaw?  That wasn’t a pleasant scene, but he just stared at them, and said nothing. I think he often chose to say nothing, when he was very angry.  I wonder if Robin had some sort of anger control technique?  When you watch him in scenes like that, he looks like he is concentrating – counting, or trying to breathe slowly?  Oh, I do watch him – can’t get enough…

I liked the minstrel, but what a waste of a good ballad!  “Who the blazes is Giles Black?”

Paul Connell

Stephanie Connell (the daughter of Thelma and Paul Connell) has recently provided both a complete listing of the episodes and parts in which her father appeared in "The Adventures".  Stephanie has also provided four photographs.  We have been able to identify two - the one from "The Sheriff's Boots" is featured on this issue's cover and the second will be included in the cast section of the website very shortly.

However, we are seeking your help to identify the remaining two.  Sorry, no prizes, just a mention in our next issue.

Memorabilia

We are always on the look-out for various collectibles, and not just those found on the internet. 

So to start with, some very nice slippers.  Thanks to Howard Rogofsky for supplying the images.  Not sure if Howard actually wears these to bed though?

Lucy, our regular eBay watcher, has also come up with a similar pair of slippers

and a tent!  We have included the description from the seller as well.

Attention Richard Greene ROBIN HOOD fans and collectors, especially items from the classic 1950's CBS Television series starring Richard Greene. Here is a very rare item  for those cool nights camping out in Sherwood forest. It's a Robin Hood Umbrella tent made by the J. W. Johnson Company of Bellwood Illinois in 1955. This is a full size umbrella tent with great ROBIN HOOD graphics. It is in used but still very good condition for a 52 year old tent. Comes in the original box with label that shows the tent, RICHARD GREENE as ROBIN HOOD and the logo. here's what you get...

TENT

2 POLES (TWO PIECE)

ROPE

5 STAKES

ORIGINAL BOX

But Lucy, never one to leave any stone unturned, has also found the following Herald play set, also on eBay.  Once again we have included the sellers description.

HERALD UNBREAKABLE MODELS

1956

Robin Hood and and his Merrie Men Plastic playset in box , some figures never removed from the  box.

Herald was purchased by Britains. 1956 to 1959 the finest figures ever produced were rolled off their production line. This period was known as  the Four Golden Years which Roy Selwyn Smith was credited with the design and sculpting of two exceptional sets. In 1956, the Robin Hood set comprising of Robin, Maid Marion, Friar Tuck, Little John and a mounted Sheriff was released to coincide with the television series ( Im sure every baby boomer can remember the tv series) , "The Adventures of Robin Hood". The figures bear a passing resemblance to the actors that played in the series . Richard Greene,  Alexander Gauge, Archie Duncan, Alan Wheatley  and lovely Bernadette O' Farrell.

I have for auction the Robin Hood and his Merrie Men missing the Sheriff. This set is in good condition, the box has a small rip on the front and one on the top a few bends and creases , but still  wonderful to find  it in a box . Four of the pieces have not been removed from the box. The one piece is a repeat from another set.  I have taken lots of pictures to show the condition of Robin hood , his merrie men and of course Maid Marion.  These figures are about 2 1/2 inches high.  Im starting this auction at 49.99.   If you are a collector of mini figures this is a MUST have . Bid Now !!!!!