The Great Mouse Detective (1986)

Basil, the rodent Sherlock Holmes, investigates the kidnapping of a toy-maker and uncovers its link to his arch-enemy, Professor Ratigan.

Directors:

Ron Clements, Burny Mattinson

Writers:

Peter Young (story adapted by) (as Pete Young), Vance Gerry (story adapted by)

Stars:

Vincent Price, Barrie Ingham, Val Bettin

1 win & 3 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Vincent Price	...	Professor Ratigan (voice)
Barrie Ingham	...	Basil of Baker Street / Bartholomew (voice)
Val Bettin	...	Dr. David Q. Dawson / Thug Guard (voice)
Susanne Pollatschek	...	Olivia Flaversham (voice)
Candy Candido	...	Fidget (voice)
Diana Chesney	...	Mrs. Judson (voice)
Eve Brenner	...	The Mouse Queen (voice)
Alan Young	...	Hiram Flaversham (voice)
Basil Rathbone	...	Sherlock Holmes (archive sound)
Laurie Main	...	Dr. Watson (archive sound)
Shani Wallis	...	Lady Mouse (voice)
Ellen Fitzhugh	...	Bar Maid (voice)
Walker Edmiston	...	Citizen / Thug Guard (voice)
Wayne Allwine	...	Thug Guard (voice)
Tony Anselmo	...	Thug Guard (voice)

Storyline

In Victorian London, England, a little mouse girl's toymaker father is abducted by a peglegged bat. She enlists the aid of Basil of Baker Street, the rodent world's answer to Sherlock Holmes. The case expands as Basil uncovers the crime's link to a plot against the Crown itself.

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Plot Keywords:

london england | talking animal | sherlock holmes character | rodent | toy maker | 

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Taglines:

New! In The Classic Walt Disney Tradition

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Genres:

Animation | Adventure | Family | Musical | Mystery

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Certificate:

G

Details

Official Sites:

Disney's Official Site Official Facebook

Country:

USA

Language:

English French German Italian

Release Date:

2 July 1986 (USA)

Also Known As:

The Adventures of the Great Mouse Detective

Box Office

Budget:

$14,000,000 (estimated)

Gross USA:

$38,600,000

Company Credits

Production Co:

Walt Disney Pictures, Silver Screen Partners II, Walt Disney Feature Animation

Technical Specs

Runtime:

74 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Stereo Dolby Digital (uncredited)

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Alan Young had performed a near-perfect Scottish accent as the voice Scrooge McDuck for the 1977 Disneyland Records adaptation of "A Christmas Carol" (which he also developed and wrote). He repeated the role of McDuck in Mickey's Christmas Carol (1983), and was a natural for the Scottish brogue of Hiram Flaversham.

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Goofs

After Basil tells Toby "To Buckingham Palace!", as Toby begins to run at the next shot, a black vertical line suddenly appears.

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Quotes

[henchmen cheer as Ratigan reviews his illustrious career]
Ratigan: Thank you, thank you. But it hasn't all been champagne and caviar. I've had my share of adversity, thanks to that miserable, second-rate detective, Basil of Baker Street!
Henchmen: Boo!
Ratigan: For years, that insufferable pipsqueak has interfered with my plans, and I haven't had a moment's peace of mind.
Henchmen: Aaw...
Bartholomew: [cries]
Ratigan: But all that's in the past! This time, nothing, not even Basil, can stand in my way! All will bow before me!

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Connections

Featured in The Nostalgia Chick: Nostalgia Chick & Rantasmo: Disney Needs More Gay (2013)

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Soundtracks

The World's Greatest Criminal Mind
Music by Henry Mancini
Lyrics by Larry Grossman and Ellen Fitzhugh
Performed by Vincent Price and Chorus (uncredited)

User Reviews

Walt Disney picture about a Sherlockian mouse with lots of entertainment and amusement

¨The great mouse detective¨ also titled ¨The adventure of the great mouse detective ¨ is a Walt Disney cartoon feature based on famous characters created by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle adapted of Eve Titus' book titled ¨Basil of Baker Street¨ . This amusing cartoon movie deals with Basil , the rodent Sherlock Holmes who investigates the kidnapping of a toy-maker and uncovers its link to his archenemy , Professor Ratigan . It begins when Hiram Flaversham ( voice by Alan Young) , a master toymaker , is abducted by a peg-legged bat , on his daughter Olivia's birthday . The nefarious Professor Ratingan (voice by Vincent Price) kidnapped him for forcing his victim Flaversham to make some diabolical device . The young mouse has no one to turn to for help , so she strikes out on her own , looking for the greatest detective in all mousedom , Basil of Baker Street ( performed with gusto by Barrie Ingham) . En route , Olivia encounters Dr. David Dawson (voice by Bettin) , a mouse recently gone back from military duty in Afghanistan . They manage to encounter his rooms at 221 1/2 Baker Street in the cellar of a very notorious address , and the mouse himself soon makes his appearance running around the apartment , ignoring his two hosts , in anticipation of bringing his latest case to a successful final with an experiment in ballistics . Nevertheless , the experiment is a flop , and the detective is thrown into a deep depression, still unwilling to help poor Olivia . But Basil is again galvanized into action . The Sherlockian mouse matches wits with the nasty Professor Rattingan . The crime lord Ratigan is planning in the sewers of London nothing less than the demise of the Queen on the day of her ¨Diamond Jubilee¨ and his own ascension to the throne . Later on , Basil , Dr. Dawson and Olivia are submitted a tempestuous trap by Professor Ratingan and are imprisoned .

This fun animation is set in England's mouse population, who lives not so different from ours, in the mouse holes and basements of the British Empire . The funny characters are the following : Basil who is a bundle of energy , he is played in a clever , broody and impetuous manner similarly to Holmes-Basil Rathbone . Good Doctor Dawson/Watson is drawn or played in kindly way , he's the perfect counterpoint to Basil/Holmes . Ratigan , the arch-nemesis , a Doctor Moriaty-alike is the worst criminal in London, a veritable Napoleon of Crime . Furthermore , a sympathetic thug ,an unfortunate peg-legged bat . This agreeable animation movie contains a lively and enjoyable musical score by the great Henry Mancini . The motion picture is well realized by Ron Clemens and John Musker (among others) who subsequently would have several successes such as ¨The little mermaid¨, ¨Aladdin¨ , ¨Hercules¨, ¨Tresure planet ¨, and ¨The princess and the frog¨ . Rating : Good , worthwhile watching and reissued successfully in 1992 .