The Rescuers (1977)

The Rescuers (1977)

7/10

Starring

Bob Newhart

Eva Gabor

Michelle Stacy

Geraldine Page

Joe Flynn

Directed by Wolfgang Reitherman, John Lounsbery and Art Stevens

Watching this movie now in 2020, I still have to rate it as a Disney Classic from the mouse factory. The movie is very touching, it dives into all emotional streams it could, while holding on to the plot and not letting it run away from you the viewer. The movie movies at a steady pace and it is easy to follow and understand.

I like the strong female character Miss Bianca who took charge and choose who she would rather go on the adventure with. Also when the going got tough, she was the one who kept the mood and kept the team going.

As at the time of release it was considered of Disney's best work. The movie carved a name for it's self because of the innovative ways things were done in the story. We have two little mice out there trying to save a little girl in a human world. If it looks really out there with the world not set for such a thing to be a success, it is because it is. The story did the job, we get to see these mice play detective, investigate, take chances, recruit assistance and get the job done perfectly. All these done by a novice pair working together for the first time.

This was the 23^rd Disney animated feature film, and the film is adapted from a series of books by Margery Sharp. The main being her book titled The Rescuers and Miss Bianca.

The film introduces us to the Rescue Aid Society, an international mouse organization who are dedicated to help rescue victims around the world.

After receiving a message in a bottle from a little girl named Penny (Michelle Stacy) asking to be rescued, Miss Bianca (Eva Gabor) volunteered to go help the girl, and she asked for the then janitor of the organization Bernard (Bob Newhart) to be her co-agent.

The note gave details of the girls previous location so the duo set out to go save her. We soon learn that Penny ran away from the orphanage she was in and is in the grasps of treasure huntress Madame Medusa (Geraldine Page). Medusa is using Penny's small statue to help search for a diamond called the Devil's Eye. Medusa is hellbent on finding that diamond even if it means putting Penny in danger, so she needs to be saved quick and our duo must come up with a great plan.

If you read much about the development of this wonderful animation, you will be intrigued by the amount of changes this project undertook before the final draft was marked ready for production. The Rescuers was nominated for an Academy Award for the song "Someone's Waiting for You". The movie was a critical success and a huge commercial success at the box office.

With beautiful voice casting of Bob Newhart and Eva Gabor, this animation is something done mostly for children. It is fun seeing it again as the nostalgia does most of the excitement for me, but I can safely say this in one classic animation in the Disney era. The Rescuers is the first theatrical release to have a sequel which was done thirteen years after in 1990, The Rescuers Down Under.