IMDb > An American Tail (1986)
An American Tail
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An American Tail (1986) More at IMDbPro »

Videos (see all 2)
An American Tail (1986) -- Sinematurk - Trailer (Flash)
IMDb Holiday Movie Guide

Overview

User Rating:
6.6/10   8,783 votes
MOVIEmeter: ?
Up 4% in popularity this week. See why on IMDbPro.
Director:
Don Bluth
Writers:
David Kirschner (creator)
David Kirschner (story) ...
more
Contact:
View company contact information for An American Tail on IMDbPro.
Release Date:
21 November 1986 (USA) more
Genre:
Animation | Adventure | Drama | Family | Musical more
Tagline:
This Holiday Season Steven Spielberg and Don Bluth bring you a magical experience. A musical journey. And a story that will live in your heart forever. more
Plot:
While emigrating to the United States, a young Russian mouse gets seperated from his family and must relocate them while trying to survive in a new country. full summary | add synopsis
Plot Keywords:
more
Awards:
Nominated for Oscar. Another 5 wins & 4 nominations more
NewsDesk:
(7 articles)
Community Review: "Environmental Science"
 (From TVfanatic. 20 November 2009, 7:31 AM, PST)
'Community' recap: Beneath the pale moonlight
 (From EW.com - PopWatch. 20 November 2009, 5:41 AM, PST)
User Comments:
Warm family cartoon is definitely a winner more (68 total)

Cast

  (Credited cast)
Erica Yohn ... Mama Mousekewitz (voice)

Nehemiah Persoff ... Papa Mousekewitz (voice)
Amy Green ... Tanya Mousekewitz (voice)
Phillip Glasser ... Fievel Mousekewitz (voice)

Christopher Plummer ... Henri (voice)

John Finnegan ... Warren T. Rat (voice)
Will Ryan ... Digit (voice)
Hal Smith ... Moe (voice)
Pat Musick ... Tony Toponi (voice)
Cathianne Blore ... Bridget (voice)
Neil Ross ... Honest John (voice)

Madeline Kahn ... Gussie Mausheimer (voice)

Dom DeLuise ... Tiger (voice)
more
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Additional Details

Parents Guide:
View content advisory for parents
Runtime:
80 min
Country:
USA
Language:
English
Color:
Color
Aspect Ratio:
1.37 : 1 more
Sound Mix:
Dolby
Certification:
Australia:G | Canada:F (Ontario) | Canada:G (Manitoba/Nova Scotia/Quebec) | Portugal:M/6 | Finland:K-6 (1987) | Argentina:Atp | Chile:TE | Iceland:L | Peru:PT | Singapore:G | Sweden:7 | UK:U | USA:G | West Germany:6
Company:
Universal Pictures more

Fun Stuff

Trivia:
CASTLE THUNDER: It is heard a few times in the film, it is first clap of thunder as the storm hits the boat, and a variation is heard again when Fievel first sees the fish on the flooded deck of the boat, and once more right before the wave monster rams right into the ship, knocking Fievel overboard. more
Goofs:
Continuity: When Tony pulls Bridget from the wreckage at the market, she has a white petticoat under her dress. When she lifts her skirt up while searching for Fievel during the fire, only the underside of her outer dress is seen. more
Quotes:
[first lines]
Mama Mousekewitz: Fievel! Tanya! Stop that twirling, twirling! I mean it!
Papa Mousekewitz: But Mama, it's Hannukah.
Mama Mousekewitz: For you, every night is Hannukah.
more
Movie Connections:
Featured in Hollywoodism: Jews, Movies and the American Dream (1998) (TV) more
Soundtrack:
A Duo more

FAQ

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User Comments

   (Comment on this title)
8 out of 9 people found the following comment useful.
Warm family cartoon is definitely a winner, 1 November 2003
7/10
Author: Vladimir from Sydney, Australia

I was introduced to An American Tail after perpetually reading the 'book' of the second film, Feivel Goes West. I can't say which one I enjoyed more although at the time, I think I was seven, but this one I understood a lot better.

The sweet-hearted tale of a family of Russian mouse emigrants who travel to America, the 'land of opportunity' but on their way lose their son, really manages to perk up your day. It has all the classic elements of a family flick: great characters, wonderful score and songs, and of course a happy ending (You can't say you didn't expect that).

In some ways it's meant to be almost a satire, a parallel story of many Russian immigrant families who flee to America from the Cossacks: there is actually a scene in the beginning involving the ransacking of a Russian village by Cossacks, aided of course, as most history books conveniently omit, by their vicious slavering cats who destroy the mouse population. This satire is slightly lost once they reach America, but the simple plot of the mouse boy trying to find his family again works very well. It's quite frustrating at times as we see how close they all come to running into each other; a split second here and a well-timed door slamming there, and it could have been all over in thirty minutes of screen time. But where would be the movie in that?

Lastly, the voice cast does a great job. While I personally think the sequel had a better cast, An American Tail boasts some fine names as well - Dom DeLuise and Nehemiah Persoff who also did the sequel, Christopher Plummer, and Madeline Kahn all combine for a great effect. It's not necessary to see this to also see the sequel but it definitely deserves to be watched. Touching, light-hearted and with one of the most beautiful theme songs you will ever hear, it's a winner. ***1/2 / *****

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Most Underrated Movie of All Time PowderedToastMan333
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There are no cats in America clacton0
OF these two scenes. d_fife
Why so monstrous? codyhoskins
Dom DeLuise disorder2001-1
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