The Rescuers (1977)

Two mice of the Rescue Aid Society search for a little girl kidnapped by unscrupulous treasure hunters.

Directors:

John Lounsbery, Wolfgang Reitherman

Writers:

Margery Sharp (suggested by "The Rescuers" and "Miss Bianca" by), Larry Clemmons (story)

Stars:

Bob Newhart, Eva Gabor, Geraldine Page

Nominated for 1 Oscar. Another 2 wins.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Bob Newhart	...	Bernard (voice)
Eva Gabor	...	Miss Bianca (voice)
Geraldine Page	...	Madame Medusa (voice)
Joe Flynn	...	Mr. Snoops (voice)
Jeanette Nolan	...	Ellie Mae (voice)
Pat Buttram	...	Luke (voice)
Jim Jordan	...	Orville (voice)
John McIntire	...	Rufus (voice)
Michelle Stacy	...	Penny (voice)
Bernard Fox	...	The Chairman (voice)
Larry Clemmons	...	Gramps (voice)
James MacDonald	...	Evinrude (voice) (as James Macdonald)
George Lindsey	...	Rabbit (voice)
Bill McMillian	...	TV Announcer (voice) (as Bill McMillan)
Dub Taylor	...	Digger (voice)

Storyline

When a bottle containing a plea for help from a little girl named Penny makes its way to the Rescue Aid Society, a mouse organization in the basement of the United Nations building dedicated to the rescue and well-being of anyone in need, it is up to the brave mouse Miss Bianca and her chosen partner, the shy janitor Bernard, to rescue the girl. Searching for clues at Penny's home at Morningside Orphanage in New York City, the two mice discover that the girl has been kidnapped by the evil pawn shop owner Madame Medusa and her companion Mr. Snoops. On the back of Orville the albatross, Miss Bianca and Bernard travel to the terrifyingly gloomy Devil's Bayou where they learn the shocking truth: the innocent young girl is being forced down into a dangerous, dark underground pirate's cave where she must find the Devil's Eye, the world's largest diamond and Madame Medusa's greatest obsession. Before returning safely home, Miss Bianca, Bernard, and Penny will have to combat Madame Medusa's ...

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Plot Keywords:

bayou | mouse | albatross | diamond | orphan | 

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Taglines:

Two tiny agents vs. the world's wickedest woman in a dazzling animated adventure!

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Genres:

Animation | Adventure | Comedy | Family | Fantasy

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Certificate:

G

Details

Official Sites:

Disney

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

22 June 1977 (USA)

Also Known As:

Bernardo y Bianca

Box Office

Budget:

$7,500,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$2,111,582, 16 December 1983, Wide Release

Gross USA:

$71,215,869

Company Credits

Production Co:

Walt Disney Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

78 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA Photophone Sound Recording)

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.75 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The name of the cave where Penny must locate the Devil's Eye, the world's largest diamond, is never mentioned by a character in the movie, but according to the map that Madame Medusa is looking at, the name of the place is the "Black Bayou".

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Goofs

After Medusa gets word that Snoops captured Penny with Brutus and Nero's help, she flies the swampmobile onto the deck where Snoops is waiting for her. The next time we see the swampmobile (when Penny, Bianca, Bernard, and the Swamp Folk are staring it to escape Medusa), it's back in the water.

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Quotes

Bernard: [Climbing the steps to board Orville] ... eleven, twelve... Oh no. There... there are thirteen steps on this ramp.
Bianca: [chuckles] Why don't you jump the last one?

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Crazy Credits

The opening credits describe the journey of Penny's bottle through raging ocean waters. The entire sequence is made up of still paintings.

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Alternate Versions

On 8 January 1999, Disney issued a recall of 3.4 million copies of the home video version because two frames included an "objectionable background image", probably inserted without permission during production as an in-joke. The offending frames appear in a scene featuring a pan across an apartment: in one of the apartment windows, a picture of a topless woman can be glimpsed. This scene was intact for the original theatrical release in 1977. However, it was not in the 1992 video version because that was "made from a different print" according to a Disney spokesperson.

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Connections

Featured in The Magical World of Disney: Disney Animation: The Illusion of Life (1981)

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Soundtracks

For He's a Jolly Good Fellow
(uncredited)
Traditional
Performed by the Disney Studio Chorus

User Reviews

My favorite Disney movie of all time

Why is The Rescuers my favorite Disney movie? I'm not sure, other than the fact that it's just so sweet, and never fails to make me really happy. Seeing those mice from all over the world is just too adorable for words!

The animation is beautiful, as are the backgrounds, and the character design is some of the best among Disney movies (Madame Medusa is a great departure from typical Disney characters). The songs are nice too (my favorite part of the whole movie is the sequence to "Tomorrow Is Another Day").

They just don't make movies like this anymore. Penny, the orphan that Bernard and Bianca rescue from that nasty old Medusa, is truly warm and sweet, and you really care about her. Something was missing from the boy that Bernard and Bianca rescued in the sequel. Penny's truly something else.

The Rescuers is an underrated gem, and has something for everyone.