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 RINCE JOHN
There's nothing Prince John loves more than power, unless perhaps it's gold. He'll do anything to get either, even steal from his own subjects. It's not so difficult -- he stole his brother's crown, after all. He may be a cowardly, scheming, thumb-sucking, royal crybaby, but he's the closest thing England's got to a king while Richard is away on crusade. Meanwhile, "Rob the poor to feed the rich" is Prince John's motto. True to his pledge he travels the countryside with his sycophant sidekick Sir Hiss in tow, spreading taxes and misery wherever he goes. If only his beloved "mummy" could see him now! It all seems so easy -- until Nottingham and that wily bandit Robin Hood. Vain and pretentious, Prince John falls for the outlaw's flattery and tricks, getting his gold and jewels stolen right out from under his very nose. Now he wants Robin Hood dead and will use every evil trick in his book to see that foxy bandit captured and tax-collecting resumed.
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The historical Prince John on which the legend is based was not, in all probability, as bad as portrayed. After King Richard's return from the Crusades, John was eventually made the legitimate heir and was king for 17 years. John is also famed for signing the Magna Carta, basis for constitutional monarchy and modern democracy. As a note, the "mom" Disney's Prince John cries for is the famous Eleanor of Aquitaine, a character seen in Disney's live-action "Story of Robin Hood."
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In addition to voicing both Prince John and King Richard for Robin Hood, Peter Ustinov did some live-action acting for Disney as well. He portrayed the blustery and mischievous Blackbeard for "Blackbeard's Ghost."
Film: "Robin Hood" (1973)Voice Artist: Peter Ustinov
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SIR HISS
Sneaky and suspicious, Sir Hiss is amazingly good at spotting schemes, probably because he's often scheming himself. With his talent for hypnotism, he was invaluable in sending King Richard off to the Crusades, but so far he hasn't been able to bring John under his spell. Too bad for Hiss. Maybe it's his tickly tongue that's the problem -- whenever he tries to whisper his suspicions in the royal ear, he sets his master laughing and is liable to end up in a basket under the royal backside ... An undignified position for any advisor. No matter what foolishness and insults he has to put up with, however, he'll continue to hiss his warnings. As advisor to the crown, it isn't just the Prince's hide he's got to protect, but his own scaly skin as well. He knows from personal experience that, where schemes are concerned, no one is to be trusted. Least of all a snake in the grass like himself.
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Sir Hiss was patterned after the British actor who voiced him, Terry-Thomas. Thomas had been a famed character actor since the early 1930s. In animating Sir Hiss, Terry-Thomas was asked to give creative input to help flesh the character out. The gap-toothed comedian was instrumental in creating a villain that was much less formidable that originally planned.
Film: "Robin Hood" (1973)
Voice Artist: Terry-Thomas
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Download images from "Robin Hood."
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