Alan-a-Dale - Modern Incarnations

Modern Incarnations

• Alan-a-Dale is the musical narrator of Disney's 1973 animated Robin Hood film. He is depicted as a lute-playing rooster voiced by country singer Roger Miller and played the role of both narrator and minor ally to Robin Hood and Little John.

• Alan Dale is the main character in Angus Donald's novels Outlaw, Holy Warrior and King's Man.

• He is played by Elton Hayes in the 1952 film The Story of Robin Hood and His Merrie Men.

• Alan A ‘Dale was the subject of a comic song performed on Dudley Moore and Peter Cook's show, Not Only But Also in 1965. The lyrics consisted of little more than a repetition of his name. Along with Cook and Moore, the performers were Joe Melia, Bill Wallis and John Wells.

• He was played by Bing Crosby in the rat pack film Robin and the 7 Hoods.

• He was played by Peter Hutchinson in the 1984 British television series Robin of Sherwood, appearing in the fifth episode, entitled "Alan A Dale". In this version, Alan's sweetheart is named Mildred and is to be married to the Sheriff of Nottingham. Friar Tuck weds Alan and Mildred.

• In the 2002 video game Robin Hood: The Legend of Sherwood, Allan appears briefly to disguise himself as Prince John's man Guillame de Longchamps to deliver the ransom to save King Richard.

• LeVar Burton's character Geordi La Forge was cast as Alan-a-Dale in a Robin Hood fantasy episode of Star Trek: The Next Generation.

• Allan A Dale is played by Joe Armstrong in the 2006 BBC production of Robin Hood. Here he is portrayed as an expert pickpocket and a compulsive liar with a sarcastic nature and no musical ability. After being captured by Gisborne he sells him information. When Robin finds out that he has turned traitor, Allan goes to work for Gisborne, but he later returns to the band of outlaws and tries to help them defeat the Sheriff of Nottingham. He is killed in the series finale.

• Alan Doyle of the band Great Big Sea is cast as Alan-a-Dale in the Ridley Scott production of Robin Hood starring Russell Crowe and Cate Blanchett released in 2010. He is a war veteran who goes home with Robin Longstride and seems to have some musical talent.