4 March 1950
Alongside modelling hats, Bernadette O’Farrell (Maid Marian) also modelled swimwear. Meanwhile, her acting career continued to develop on the stage and screen.
8 July 1950
News of Bernadette O’Farrell’s marriage to film director Frank Launder.
4 August 1950
Bernadette O’Farrell in The Happiest Days of Your Life
🏹 🏹 🏹
The Adventures of Robin Hood
Episode 10: Queen Eleanor
Introductory minstrel song: “Eleanor of Acquitane, to Nottingham for treasure goes; there to learn who are her friends, and those who are her foes!”
Regular Cast
Sir Robin of Locksley – Richard Greene
Maid Marian – Bernadette O’Farrell
The Sheriff of Nottingham – Alan Wheatley
Little John – Archie Duncan
Friar Tuck – Alexander Gauge
Original air date: 27 November 1955
Screenplay: Eric Heath (pseudonym of Ring Lardner Jr.)
Director: Dan Birt
Plot: Queen Eleanor arrives in Nottingham to collect funds for King Richard. With the Sheriff scheming against Eleanor, Lady Marian and Robin Hood give her safe passage through Sherwood Forest.
Standout scene: No standout scene in this episode. Instead, lots of screen time for Maid Marian, mainly with Queen Eleanor. Bernadette O’Farrell must have been pleased to read this script and firmly establish herself in the series.
Ballard Berkeley featured in this episode, as Count de Waldern. He is probably best remembered for his portrayal of the Major in Fawlty Towers.
Sword fights – 1. Bow fights/bow skills – 0.
Running total: Sword fights – 7. Bow fights/bow skills – 11.
🏹 🏹 🏹
Jill Edmond played Queen Eleanor in this episode. She also played the Queen Mother in The Bandit of Sherwood Forest (1946). An accomplished stage and screen actress, Jill Esmond was married to Laurence Olivier for ten years. She tolerated Olivier’s affairs, but agreed to a divorce when he wanted to marry Vivien Leigh, an actress who suffered with her physical and mental health.
Jill Esmond appeared in her final film, A Man Called Peter, around the time this episode of Robin Hood was filmed.
Coming soon, my Adventures of Maid Marian series
🏹 🏹 🏹
For Authors
#1 for value with 565,000 readers, The Fussy Librarian has helped my books to reach #1 on over thirty occasions.
A special offer from my publisher and the Fussy Librarian. https://authors.thefussylibrarian.com/?ref=goylake
Don’t forget to use the code goylake20 to claim your discount 🙂
Hannah Howe 