An American Tail (1986)

While emigrating to the United States, a young Russian mouse gets separated from his family and must relocate them while trying to survive in a new country.

Director:

Don Bluth

Writers:

Judy Freudberg (screenplay), Tony Geiss (screenplay),

Stars:

Erica Yohn, Nehemiah Persoff, Christopher Plummer

Nominated for 1 Oscar. Another 5 wins & 4 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview:
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)

Storyline

Fievel is a young Russian mouse separated from his parents on the way to America, a land they think is without cats. When he arrives alone in the New World, he keeps up hope, searching for his family, making new friends, and running and dodging the cats he thought he'd be rid off.

---

Plot Keywords:

cat | mouse | russian | irish immigrant | teeth | 

---

Taglines:

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.

---

Genres:

Animation | Comedy | Drama | Family | History | Musical

---

Certificate:

G

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

21 November 1986 (USA)

Also Known As:

Feivel, der Mauswanderer

Box Office

Gross:

$47,483,002 (USA)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Universal Pictures, U-Drive Productions, Sullivan Studios

Technical Specs

Runtime:

80 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

When Tony and Bridget emerge from the wreckage after the cat attack at the market, a bottle of "Pomeroy Hair Tonic", named after co-producer John Pomeroy, can be seen in the background.

---

Goofs

In the establishing shot of the water tower where Bridget leaves Fievel, the moon is high in the sky. A couple of shots later, as Fievel starts singing "Somewhere Out There", the moon is just rising over the horizon.

---

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.

---

Connections

Referenced in Mad: Spy vs. Spy Kids/The Superhero Millionaire Matchmaker (2011)

---

Soundtracks

"Somewhere Out There"
Music by James Horner and Barry Mann
Lyrics by Cynthia Weil
Performed by Phillip Glasser and Betsy Cathcart

User Reviews

A celebration of the American Dream

As a non-American who has heard so often of The American Dream, I saw this movie as a celebration of that dream. The flight of the poor and oppressed (and Jewish?) from Europe to the proposed Land of Freedom and Wealth (There are no cats in America and the streets are paved with cheese?) to find more poverty and oppression (workhouses, cats and workhouse tout Warren T. Rat), but with the opportunity to do something about it that they did not have in the old country.

The song "Somewhere Out There" is quite perfectly matched with Fyvel and his family searching for each other, and the version heard in the movie is rather more expressive than the released single.

It is not necessarily fun for the whole family. Children will find it fun. Adults will find it interesting, not so much in fun as in pride and awareness, at least if they are Americans .