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:

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.

Goofs:

Continuity: When Fievel climbs down into the sewer he leaves his hat on the grate. In the following few shots he is still without it. A bit later he is still walking, but clutching the hat in his hand.

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:

Spoofed in "South Park: Eek, a Penis! (#12.5)" (2008)

Soundtrack:

Somewhere Out There

A Tail (ahem!) of joy...

Ex-Disney animator Don Bluth brings us a tail (sorry, TALE! Well, that's the proper word in the context!) of the Russian Mousekewitz mouse family, who, like all of the other mice in late 1800's Russia, want to escape from the cats. They dream of a land known as America, where there are no cats. Travelling to

Germany, they board a ship bound for America.

However, during a violent storm, little Fievel Mousekewitz (voiced by Phillip Glasser) becomes separated from his parents and sisters. Fortunately for Fievel he was saved from drowning by being ensconced within a bottle, which quite by chance floats to New York, USA. Unfortunately not only is America very big, but it -- well, let's just say that for all mice concerned it's not all it was cracked up to be.

With the help of friends such as Tony Toponi (voiced by Pat Musick) and Tiger (Dom DeLuise), Fievel goes on a mammoth quest to become reunited with his

family.

Although it is a little on the sentimental side, it does have a certain charm, which is further helped by James Horner's musical score, as well as the wonderful

song 'Somewhere Out There' which has since become my favourite duet of all

time (I've even sung the end-credits version, as sung by Linda Ronstadt and

James Ingram, on Karaoke!). Some adults may not like the sentimentality, but stick with it, and you'll be rewarded with a gem, particularly if watching with either the young or the young-at-heart.