An American Tail (1986)

User Rating:

6.6/10   

Director:

Don Bluth

Writers:

Judy Freudberg (screenplay)
Judy Freudberg (story)

Release Date:

21 November 1986 (USA)

Genre:

Animation | Adventure | Drama | Family | Musical

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.

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.

Plot Keywords:

Mouse | Russian | Talking Animal | Storm | Three Word Title

Awards:

Nominated for Oscar. Another 5 wins & 4 nominations

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)

Runtime:

80 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

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:

Amblin Entertainment

Trivia:

During production, director Don Bluth staged a demonstration of the difference between limited TV animation and the full animation used in the film. He had his staff stack up animation cels by his feet into two piles, one representing two minutes of limited animation, the other two minutes of full animation. The TV pile reached only to Bluth's shoelaces; the film pile went all the way up to eye level.

Goofs:

Continuity: When Warren T. Rat sees Fievel through his mirror, the reflection is not reversed (note the position of the gold teeth).

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.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Mystery Science Theater 3000: Radar Secret Service (#6.20)" (1993)

Soundtrack:

Never Say Never

has a charm that is totally undeniable and appealing for (most) children

As a kid I watched this film many times, as it had four key things that it had (and still has) going for it: 1) a story that does not skim on really putting peril for the characters (the separation sequence on the ship is absorbing, but also devastating if you're heavily invested in Fievel and his father); 2) good songs that aren't too preachy, and with enough emotional tug to be Disney-like, but unusual or unexpected in some of the styles of; 3) how the characters are animated- I love the variety given to the different mice and cats and how the humans are wisely left in the shadows or with just a hand or a foot; and 4) the comedy in the film balances without a fault with the comedy. In terms of subject matter, there is a lot of historical background information that kids today may have no care for, but it doesn't matter; Fievel and his family could be any immigrant mouse family, and really the core of the story (the importance of family and love) is what carries it through. And because of this balance between comedy and drama- there are allusions to the Pogroms in Russia, the struggles of the immigrant working life in 19th century America, and racism, but voices like Madeline Kahn and Dom DeLouise are featured in key roles- it may throw some in the audience off, or be too much on a first viewing. It may not even be a 'great' film. Yet as expertly Don Bluth directed hand-drawn animation, with a big heart and a bright, and dark, story of mice versus cats, it has a wonderment about it that should be appealing almost twenty years down the line. It's certainly better than the sequel, which is all slapstick as opposed to being comic-tragic, which also has an appeal for some older kids and adults.