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:

Dom DeLuise, Christopher Plummer, Erica Yohn

Nominated for 1 Oscar. Another 6 wins & 6 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.

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Plot Keywords:

1880s | 19th century | ship | storm at sea | lost at sea | 

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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.

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Genres:

Animation | Adventure | Comedy | Drama | Family | Musical

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Certificate:

G

Did You Know?

Trivia

Erica Yohn's work as a Russian gypsy on a TV show attracted the attention of Don Bluth and John Pomeroy.

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Goofs

A piece of animation of Fievel rounding a bend and then climbing a crumbling pile of rubble is used twice. The first time is around the 52 minute and 30 seconds mark, and the second time is just before the 59 minute mark.

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Quotes

[first lines]
Mama Mousekewitz: Tanya, Fievel! Will you stop that twirling, twirling! Uh, no. No more, that's it. Time for bed, come.
Papa Mousekewitz: But Mama, it's Hanukkah.
Mama Mousekewitz: For you, every night is Hanukkah. Papa? Enough already. They'll never get to sleep.
Papa Mousekewitz: All right, all right.

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Crazy Credits

The first half of the end credits feature period engravings of what New York City looked like in the 1880s.

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Alternate Versions

The 2006 DVD release includes a remastered 5.1 soundtrack, both in Dolby Digital and DTS. It also has some dialogue changes compared to the original, most noticeably: Extra dialogue that was recorded but never used, and different voices for the orphans towards the end of the film (adults instead of kids - these are actually the original voices, which were replaced by children after the scene was animated).

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Connections

Referenced in Animation Lookback: Don Bluth Part 2 (2011)

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Soundtracks

Somewhere Out There
(End Title Version)
Performed by Linda Ronstadt and James Ingram
Produced by Peter Asher
Recorded by Allen Sides
Mixed by George Massenburg
Associate Producer: Steve Tyrell
Linda Ronstadt's performance courtesy of Elektra/Asylum Records
James Ingram's performance courtesy of Qwest Records Inc.

User Reviews

Still a classic masterpiece

I remember seeing American Tail when I was very little, and I loved it. I always felt sad for Fievel when he was away from his parents, and at the time, I never knew that they were always very near him. I thought that they were always far away from him like he thought. Not too long ago, I bought this movie and watched it again...for the first time in years. I'm 17 and I still love the movie. It's the ultimate animated movie when it comes to being gentle, heart warming, and full of good heart. And the film is such a wonder to behold, even after all these years. Despite another sequel and one (or was that 2?) (one was made in 1999 and it's coming soon to video?) direct to video movies. Out of the three I've seen, this one is still the best, and it's among my favorite animated movies of all time

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

21 November 1986 (USA)

Also Known As:

An American Tail

Filming Locations:

Sullivan Bluth Studios - 16134 Hart Street, Van Nuys, California, USA

Box Office

Opening Weekend USA:

$5,234,446, 23 November 1986

Gross USA:

$47,483,002

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$84,542,002

Company Credits

Production Co:

Universal Pictures, U-Drive Productions, Sullivan Studios

Technical Specs

Runtime:

80 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Stereo DTS-Stereo (re-release) (1997) DTS (re-release) (1997)

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.66 : 1