Pocahontas (1995)

An English soldier and the daughter of an Algonquin chief share a romance when English colonists invade seventeenth century Virginia.

Directors:

Mike Gabriel, Eric Goldberg

Writers:

Carl Binder, Susannah Grant

Stars:

Mel Gibson, Linda Hunt, Christian Bale

Won 2 Oscars. Another 13 wins & 7 nominations.

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Joe Baker	...	Lon (voice)
Christian Bale	...	Thomas (voice)
Irene Bedard	...	Pocahontas (voice)
Billy Connolly	...	Ben (voice)
James Apaumut Fall	...	Kocoum (voice)
Mel Gibson	...	John Smith (voice)
Linda Hunt	...	Grandmother Willow (voice)
John Kassir	...	Meeko (voice)
Judy Kuhn	...	Pocahontas (singing voice)
Danny Mann	...	Percy (voice)
Russell Means	...	Powhatan (voice)
David Ogden Stiers	...	Governor Ratcliffe / Wiggins (voice)
Michelle St. John	...	Nakoma (voice)
Gordon Tootoosis	...	Kekata (voice)
Frank Welker	...	Flit (voice)

Storyline

This is the Disney animated tale of the romance between a young Native American woman named Pocahontas (Irene Bedard) and Captain John Smith (Mel Gibson), who journeyed to the New World with other settlers to begin fresh lives. Her powerful father, Chief Powhatan (Russell Means), disapproves of their relationship and wants her to marry a native warrior. Meanwhile, Smith's fellow Englishmen hope to rob the Native Americans of their gold. Can Pocahontas' love for Smith save the day?

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Plot Keywords:

unsubtitled foreign language | disobedience | pocahontas character | captain john smith character | pet raccoon | 

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Taglines:

An American legend comes to life

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Genres:

Animation | Adventure | Drama | Family | Musical | Romance

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Certificate:

G

Did You Know?

Trivia

The first movie to feature Mel Gibson singing.

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Goofs

John Smith's helmet disappears and reappears throughout the movie.

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Quotes

[first lines]
Chorus: [singing] In sixteen hundred seven, we sailed the open sea for glory, God and gold and the Virginia Company/for the New World is like heaven, and we'll all be rich and free or so we have been told by the Virginia Company/so we have been told by the Virginia Company/For glory, God and gold and the Virginia Company.

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Alternate Versions

70mm prints were prepared for the world premiere at Central Park. To account for the large seating area, the soundtrack was set back by twelve frames.

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Connections

Spoofed in Animaniacs: Jokahontas/Boids on the Hood/Mighty Wakko at the Bat (1996)

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Soundtracks

If I Never Knew You
(2005 - Special Edition)
Music by Alan Menken
Lyrics by Stephen Schwartz
Performed by Judy Kuhn and Mel Gibson

User Reviews

A couple of minor flaws, but this is a beautiful film!

Why on earth is this movie rated so low? It's even rated lower than some of the DTV sequels. That shouldn't happen. It is historically inaccurate, but why should that be an issue? All I want is a visually stunning film with great music, and that's what I got. The animation is splendid. America looked so rich in colour, and the colours were so bright. The songs are sometimes the weakest element of an animation. Here it is the main reason why this movie is so memorable. "Colours of the Wind" is one of the most beautiful songs I've heard, and I've sung it before. Pocahontas's singing voice is none other than the Broadway singer, Judy Kuhn, who was absolutely terrific. When I was 12, I tried to sound like her. The incidental music is also definitely the most lyrical of the Alan Menken scores. The weakest element of the film, is actually the character development. The protagonist, voiced by Irene Bedard, is very well done, but most of the other characters are not as effective. Mel Gibson has a singing voice, but his speaking voice is too monotonous to my liking, and Ratcliffe isn't a very likable or memorable villain at all(one of Disney's blandest villains actually), despite enthusiastic voice work from David Ogden Stiers. But Meeko and Flit are great fun, and Grandmother Willow was good too. Don't say this film is racist. Some of the imagery is fantastic in the songs of war and animosity, and the film has a great love story and message. The ending was actually quite effective and poignant. In conclusion, one of the least memorable of the Disney movies, is so worth watching. 8.5/10. Bethany Cox

Details

Official Sites:

Official site

Country:

USA

Language:

English Algonquin

Release Date:

23 June 1995 (USA)

Also Known As:

Pocahontas

Filming Locations:

Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures - 500 S. Buena Vista Street, Burbank, California, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$55,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$2,689,714, 18 June 1995

Gross USA:

$141,579,773

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$346,079,773

Company Credits

Production Co:

Walt Disney Pictures, Walt Disney Animation Studios

Technical Specs

Runtime:

81 min 84 min (10th Anniversary edition)

Sound Mix:

Dolby SR (Dolby Stereo Spectral Recording) (Stereo)

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.66 : 1