Ben and Me (1953)

Charles Ruggles: Ben Franklin

Photos 

Quotes 

• [after Amos is nearly killed during the kite experiment] 

  Ben Franklin : Amos, speak to me. Was it electricity?

  Amos Mouse : Was it electricity?

  [shouting, with lightning coming out of his mouth] 

  Amos Mouse : WAS IT ELECTRICITY? Goodbye! Goodbye, and forever!

• Amos Mouse : My name's Amos, one of the church mice from over on Second Street, and the first thing I'd do is figure a way to heat this place. All your heat's going up the chimney.

  Ben Franklin : And what would you propose?

  Amos Mouse : Put the fire in the middle of the room.

  Ben Franklin : Oh, nonsense! You want to burn the place down?

  Amos Mouse : Make something out of iron to put it in.

  Ben Franklin : Say, that might be an idea.

• Amos Mouse : Say, Ben, this your paper?

  Ben Franklin : That's it, Amos. "Poor Richard's Almanac".

  Amos Mouse : [Amos reads the paper]  "Sunrise: 6:22, Sunset: 7:43, High Tide: 4:20... a cat in gloves catches no mice..." Huh! "Poor Richard's Almanac." Poor, indeed.

  Ben Franklin : But Amos, consider all the information...

  Amos Mouse : Information! Ben, when the sun's up, it's up! Why read about it?

• Amos Mouse : [noticing Ben is about to run into a lamp post]  Post, Ben! Post!

  Ben Franklin : Oh, how do you do, Mr. Post?

• Tom Jefferson : I've been racking my brains, working day and night, but it's no use! I'm stuck!

  Ben Franklin : But Red, I thought it was finished.

  Tom Jefferson : It is, it is, Ben, but I don't like the beginning. It just doesn't sound right. Listen to this: The time has come when we the people of these colonies...

  Ben Franklin : Yes, yes?

  Tom Jefferson : No! No! Not big enough! How about this: Now is the time when we the people...

  Ben Franklin : Well, um...

  Tom Jefferson : No! No! Not strong enough! Uh... The time is at hand when we the people mu... Oh! You see what I mean, Ben? If I could only find the words...

  Amos Mouse : [whispering]  Psst! Ben! How about our contract?

  Ben Franklin : [whispering]  No, Amos. Not now.

  Amos Mouse : [whispering]  Yes! Now, or I'm leaving!

  Ben Franklin : [whispering]  Alright, Amos. Alright.

  [reads] 

  Ben Franklin : "When in the course of human events, it becomes necess..."

  Tom Jefferson : Ben! That's it! That's it! When in the course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to disolve the political bands which have connected them with another, and to assume, among the powers of the earth, the seperate and equal station to which the laws of nature...

  [fade to the House of Representatives] 

  Tom Jefferson : ...and, for the support of this declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of Divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our lives, our fortunes, and our sacred honor.

• [Amos has combined Ben's reading and regular glasses] 

  Ben Franklin : Well, well, well!

  Amos Mouse : Will they do?

  Ben Franklin : Will they? Why, Amos, this is a great idea. Two-way glasses. By George! Bifocals.

• Ben Franklin : Well, what would you suggest?

  Amos Mouse : First, I'd give it a new name. Something snappy, like... the Gazette. The Pennsylvania Gazette. It'll work perfectly.

  Ben Franklin : Well... sounds alright.

  Amos Mouse : And then, tell them what's going on! Give them some news! Real news! Wake them up!

  Ben Franklin : But where would I get news at this hour?

  Amos Mouse : I'll get it for you. Hold everything, Ben, until I get back.

• Amos Mouse : [voiceover]  As the years passed, Ben's reputation grew. Letters poured in from all over the colonies. Requests for money, for information on inventions, advice in business, and even advice to the loved one. I spent all my time answering them. Meanwhile, Ben putted around with his experiments.

  Ben Franklin : [sneaks up on Amos with and shocks him with his finger] 

  Amos Mouse : [screams]  Oww!

  Ben Franklin : [laughing]  Oh, Amos, you should have seen yourself! That was so funny!

  [notices that Amos is going away] 

  Ben Franklin : Amos, where are you going?

  Amos Mouse : I'm leaving!

  Ben Franklin : Leaving? Aww, Amos, can't you take a little joke?

  Amos Mouse : Joke?

  [shows Ben what he did to his tail] 

  Amos Mouse : You call *this* a joke?

  Ben Franklin : Oh, Amos, I didn't mean it. Now, please don't go. I'll never do it again.

  Amos Mouse : Well, no more tricks, now. Promise?

  Ben Franklin : I promise.

  [crosses his fingers] 

• Governor Keith : Good day, Franklin.

  Ben Franklin : Good day, Mister...

  Amos Mouse : [whispering]  Govenor Keith and Dr. Farmer.

  Ben Franklin : Govenor Keith, Dr. Farmer.

  Governor Keith : Read your new paper, my boy. Congratulations. First rate. Keep up the good work, Ben.

  Amos Mouse : [whispering]  Thank you, your excellency. I shall do my best.

  Ben Franklin : Thank you, your excellency. I shall do my best.

  Dr. Farmer : Bright man.

  Governor Keith : Yes, indeed. Very alert. Seems to know what's going on.

• Colonist : What happened?

  Colonist #3 : Did he listen?

  Colonist : What about the taxes? Did he lift them?

  Colonist #3 : Did he tell him, Ben?

  Colonist : What did the king say?

  Colonist #2 : What did he say?

  Ben Franklin : Gentlemen, I'm afraid the mission was a failure. The king was unreasonable. He wouldn't listen.

  Colonist : Alright, men! We'll fight for our independence!

  Colonist #2 : It has to be war!

  Colonist #3 : He's right!

  Ben Franklin : War? But gentlemen, there must be some other way.

  Colonist : Some other way?

  Colonist #2 : What way?

  Colonist : No! We've got to fight!

  Colonist #3 : What if we lose? Or we'll hang from trees!

  Colonist : What'll we do, Ben?

  Colonist #2 : Yes, what'll we do?

  Ben Franklin : If I only knew. If I only knew.

• Ben Franklin : Well, Amos, we're a success. What a day. What a day.

  Amos Mouse : Yes, Ben.

  [yawns] 

  Amos Mouse : What a day.

  Ben Franklin : Now I can pay my bills and you can have cheese.

  Amos Mouse : Cheese. Mmmmmm. Good night, Ben.

  Ben Franklin : Good night, Amos.