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Title: The Secret of NIMH (1982)
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Cast
| Cast overview, first billed only: | |||
| Derek Jacobi | ... |
Nicodemus
(voice)
|
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| Elizabeth Hartman | ... |
Mrs. Brisby
(voice)
|
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| Arthur Malet | ... |
Mr. Ages
(voice)
|
|
| Dom DeLuise | ... |
Jeremy
(voice)
|
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| Hermione Baddeley | ... |
Auntie Shrew
(voice)
|
|
| Shannen Doherty | ... |
Teresa
(voice)
|
|
| Wil Wheaton | ... |
Martin
(voice)
|
|
 |
Jodi Hicks | ... |
Cynthia
(voice)
|
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Ian Fried | ... |
Timothy
(voice)
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| John Carradine | ... |
Great Owl
(voice)
|
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| Peter Strauss | ... |
Justin
(voice)
|
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| Paul Shenar | ... |
Jenner
(voice)
|
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| Tom Hatten | ... |
Farmer Fitzgibbons
(voice)
|
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| Lucille Bliss | ... |
Mrs. Fitzgibbons
(voice)
|
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| Aldo Ray | ... |
Sullivan
(voice)
|
|
Storyline
Mrs. Brisby, a widowed mouse, lives in a cinder block with her children on the Fitzgibbon farm. She is preparing to move her family out of the field they live in as plowing time approaches, however her son Timothy has fallen ill, and moving him could prove fatal. Mrs. Brisby visits The Great Owl, a wise creature who advises her to visit a mysterious group of rats who live beneath a rose bush on the farm. Upon visiting the rats, Brisby meets Nicodemus, the wise and mystical leader of the rats, and Justin, a friendly rat who immediately becomes attached to Mrs. Brisby. While there, she learns that her late husband, Mr. Jonathon Brisby, along with the rats, was a part of a series of experiments at a place known only as N.I.M.H. (revealed earlier in the story as the National Institute of Mental Health). The experiments performed on the mice and rats there boosted their intelligence, allowing them to read without being taught and to understand things such as complex mechanics and ... Written by MIss Victoria
Taglines:
Let unforgettable characters from a new film classic take you on a triumphant adventure to discover... See more »Parents Guide:
View content advisory »Details
Country:
USALanguage:
EnglishRelease Date:
2 July 1982 (USA) See more »Also Known As:
Mrs. Brisby and the Rats of NIMH See more »Box Office
Budget:
$7,000,000 (estimated)Company Credits
Technical Specs
Runtime:
Sound Mix:
DolbyColor:
ColorAspect Ratio:
1.85 : 1Did You Know?
Goofs
Mr. Ages's cast is on his left leg, but when seen through Nicodemus' "crystal ball" the cast is on the right leg (flopped shot). See more »Quotes
[first lines]Nicodemus: Johnathan Brisby was killed today while helping with the plan. It is four years since our departure from NIMH, and our world is changing. We cannot stay here much longer. Johnathan was a dear friend. I am lost in knowing how to help his widow. She knows nothing about us or the plan. Perhaps best that I do nothing at present. I shall miss him. Johnathan - wherever you are - your thoughts must comfort her tonight. She will be waiting and you will not return. Farewell... my friend.
See more »
Crazy Credits
The production storyboards are used for background in the end credits. See more »Soundtracks
"Flying Dreams"Composed by Jerry Goldsmith
Lyrics Written and Performed by Paul Williams
Arranged by Ian Fraser
Lullaby Performed by Sally Stevens
See more »
In the early '80s a group of Disney animators, headed by Don Bluth, decided to break away from the Disney studio. The Secret of NIMH was the first film they made. Based on a semi-classic children's book entitled "Mrs. Frisby And The Rats Of NIMH" by Robert C. O'Brien, the film emerges as a decent little animated feature. The story is a bit on the sombre side - probably a bit too serious and complex for really young viewers - but the animation is of a superb quality and the characters are very nicely voiced.
Field mouse Mrs Brisby needs to move her family from their home in a farmer's field, as it is almost time for the farmer to gather his crop with the combine harvester. Inevitably the Brisby home would be destroyed and anyone in it killed during the gathering of the crop. Unfortunately, one of her children, Timmy, is suffering from pneumonia and couldn't possible survive the move. Mrs Brisby is advised to contact the rats of NIMH, a group of hyper-intelligent rodents, to ask for their help. Apparently, her late husband Jonathan was a close friend of the rats and they held him in such high regard that they will do anything to help a member of the Brisby clan.
The story is told mainly through talk, with occasional bursts of action. As already pointed out, this means the film doesn't really lend itself to a very young audience. But older kids, especially those who are willing to listen with the appropriate degree of attention, will find the story interesting. There are other plus points - Jerry Goldsmith's rousing score; Dom DeLuise's amusing vocals as an accident-prone bird; and some very well-conceived "baddies" in the shape of rat conspirator Jenner and savage farm-cat Dragon. The Secret of NIMH is a moderately successful film - no masterpiece, true enough, and not really a serious challenger to the Disney dominance over the genre, but definitely a film that every child should see at least once.