The Fox and the Hound (1981)

User Rating:

7.0/10   

Directors:

Ted Berman
Richard Rich

Writers:

Daniel P. Mannix (book)
Larry Clemmons (story) ...

Release Date:

10 July 1981 (USA)

Genre:

Animation | Adventure | Family

Tagline:

Two friends that didn't know they were supposed to be enemies.

Plot:

Two childhood animal friends find themselves forced to become enemies.

Plot Keywords:

Dog | Friendship | Fox | Animal | Old Woman

Awards:

1 win & 2 nominations

Cast

Mickey Rooney	...	Adult Tod (voice)
Kurt Russell	...	Adult Copper (voice)
Pearl Bailey	...	Big Mama (voice)
Jack Albertson	...	Hunter (Amos Slade) (voice)
Sandy Duncan	...	Vixey (voice)
Jeanette Nolan	...	Widow Tweed (voice)
Pat Buttram	...	Chief (voice)
John Fiedler	...	Porcupine (voice)
John McIntire	...	Grumpy Badger (voice)
Richard Bakalyan	...	Dinky (voice)
Paul Winchell	...	Boomer (voice)
Keith Coogan	...	Young Tod (voice) (as Keith Mitchell)
Corey Feldman	...	Young Copper (voice)

Also Known As:

Tod & Copper (USA) (working title)

Runtime:

83 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA Photophone System)

Certification:

Peru:PT | West Germany:o.Al. | Iceland:L | New Zealand:G | Argentina:Atp | Chile:TE | Finland:S | Portugal:M/6 | Sweden:7 | UK:U | USA:G | Australia:G | Spain:T | France:U

Company:

Walt Disney Productions

Trivia:

The last Disney animated feature to simply end with a "The End; Walt Disney Productions" credit, as with all previous Disney animated films after Alice in Wonderland (1951). (All of the credits were at the beginning.) The next Disney animated feature, The Black Cauldron (1985), was the first one with closing credits.

Goofs:

Continuity: Early in the fight with the bear, Amos Slade lets off a gunshot that grazes the bear's arm. Later in the fight, Copper bites the bear's snout, which leaves several bite marks. Both the gunshot wound and bite marks have disappeared by the time Todd joins the skirmish.

Quotes:

Adult Copper: Tod... I don't want to see you get killed.

Movie Connections:

Featured in "Troldspejlet: (#27.7)" (2002)

Soundtrack:

Lack of Education

One of my most beloved Disney classics

The 24th animated Disney classic is one of the most emotional and heartwarming cartoons ever. Highly underrated, yes, but one of Disney's finest. It isn't one of the most popular Disney cartoons, but that doesn't stop it from being one of their best neither takes off any of its value as a classic. It has all the potential to deserve such honor. I'm glad that this movie has been gaining more respect with time and a cult following because it deserves.

This is one of those movies that touches our hearts. It is beautiful, depressing, joyful, emotional, heartwarming, nostalgic, dark, suspenseful, thrilling and hilarious.

"The Fox and the Hound" is a rich production like "Bambi". In fact, it resembles "Bambi" for its enchantment, magnificent artwork, attention to detail, music, magic, touching story and unforgettable characters. It's almost like a "Bambi" made in the 1980's. For those who love "Bambi", there's no reason to love "The Fox and the Hound" any less.

This movie is often criticized for being conservative and also for its songs. There's nothing conservative about it. It is a timeless classic with the same nostalgia feeling as the great Disney classics. Probably it is accused of being conservative because of its very classic and traditional artwork. That is one of its best attributes and so artistic that is timeless.

About the songs, "Best of Friends" is a hymn to the beauty and magic of childhood. "Goodbye May Seem Forever" is a very sad, emotional and depressing song which can make one cry because it plays during one of the saddest moments of the movie. "Lack of education" and "A Huntin' Man" are the only songs here I don't like very much.

Tod and Copper, when little, are both cute, adorable and innocent. When they grow up, they're still cute but they lose their innocence and their friendship ends. The circumstances of the whole dog/fox thing makes Copper become Tod's enemy.

Widow Tweed is a funny character. She's a kind-hearted old lady but she has a strong personality at the same time, which allows her to confront the cruel Amos Slade. One of these confrontations is among the funniest moments of the film - to be more specific, when she shoots the radiator of Slade's Ford Model T.

Boomer and Dinky are a perfect comic relief. Boomer is a woodpecker voiced by the genial Paul Winchell (Tigger's voice!). So, as you can see, Boomer is another humorous character. Boomer is the funniest one. Dinky (a sparrow) is more serious, but still funny. Whenever Boomer and Dinky chase and try to catch Squeeks (the little caterpillar) is hilarious. They look so silly whenever they're doing it (always unsuccessfully, of course). They even go through tortures for Squeeks, including to get "fried" - LOL! The cranky Chief is very serious and nasty, but somewhat cool. Chief is voiced by one of Disney's legends: Pat Buttram.

Other voice talents include Mickey Rooney as adult Tod, Pearl Bailey as the owl Big Mama, Jeanette Nolan as Widow Tweed, John Fiedler (Piglet's voice!) as the friendly Porcupine, John McIntire as the rude and unkind Grumpy Badger, Keith Coogan as young Tod, Corey Feldman as young Copper, Sandy Duncan as Vixey and Jack Albertson as Amos Slade (very likely, his last movie role). What amazes me most is how Mickey Rooney (Lampie from "Pete's Dragon") managed to do such a youthful voice for adult Tod, considering his age even at the time when the movie was made.

A very good movie indeed. Aside the two songs I like less and the fact that Copper blames Tod for Chief's accident and turns against him, there isn't that much to criticize. Even its small faults aren't enough to stop me from rating this as a 10. It deserves such rating.

This should definitely be on Top 250.