MovieChat Forums > Twelve O'Clock High (1950) Discussion > Significance of the Toby Robin Hood mug

Significance of the Toby Robin Hood mug

posted 11 years ago by rlippman-2
2 replies | jump to latest

I'm told that in the book the author goes into this in some detail, but nary a word about it is spoken in the film. There is a rumor (debunked) of a deleted scene in the film where the mug's significance is explained, and I've read a theory or two, but does anyone have a definitive answer with a source?

What I am trying to understand is both the significance of Robin Hood to the squadron and also why the mug is turned around before and after missions.

Thanks for replying if you know!

_______

A wrench to the head changes everything.

[–] rmh_228 11 years ago

In both the book and film, the Toby Jug depicting Robin Hood is used as a signal in the Officer's Club, to discreetly warn aircrews that there will be a mission the following day, without spilling the beans to outsiders who might be visiting. The significance of it being Robin Hood? Well, Robin was thought to be dashing, bold, and fighting for the right, and I suspect that's how the bomber crews thought of themselves.

[–] atg_commish 11 years ago

I assumed they had Robin Hood for their symbol because they were based in Archbury, and he was an archer. Archbury Farm is 37 miles from Nottingham.