1 The last Disney classic of the second Golden Age!
The Rescuers, made in 1977 is known to be the last Disney animated film in the second golden age of Disney animation, it is trully a gem, filled with charm and simple beauty. It was also the last great classic before the studio fell in a deep era of "depression," in which films like The Fox and the Hound (1981), The Black Cauldron (1985), The Great Mouse Detective (1986) and Oliver & Company (1987), which although somehow had the simple magic (Except Oliver & Company) of earlier animated films from the '60s and '70s, were unable to capture a great deal of attention. The Rescuers is credited with bringing a new interest to animation that was slowly fading, but that didn't last too long as critics were later disappointed with films that followed, The Rescuers showed freshness and charm that weren't seen there after until The Little Mermaid (1989).
The Rescuers is the soft tale of a little orphaned girl, kidnapped by Madame Medusa, who needs the girl to retrieve the world's largest diamond and will stop at nothing to achieve her evil did, even if it means putting the little girl's life in threatening situations like lowering her into a dark cave by the shore, where the diabolic jewel rests. A cleverly developed organization of mice, named the Rescue Aid Society, gets an embottled plea for help from the girl and soon two chosen mice Bernard and Miss Bianca fly on the wings of Orville to rescue Penny from Madusa and Mr. Snoops. The film features beautiful animation, presented poorly in this dusty-looking DVD release, clever story-telling, lovely little characters and 4 expectacular songs, beginning with "The Journey," which opens the film in a breathtaking sequence of paintings, singing this song is the bottle wondering who will rescue it from the menacing waves and from being "lost at sea without a friend" in a never ending journey, a great, underrated song.
Now, this DVD isn't worth your money, get yourself the video tape instead which is not better, but just as good and much cheaper. The DVD offers horrid picture quality and the whole film and packaging seems neglected and rushed.
2 Where's the soundtrack?
I love this movie. I think it is one of the better and cutest Disney films out there. However, I can't find the soundtrack, is there one available? I want one that has the melodies and songs from this film only, not the one that has the ones from the sequel, whatever the name was. Also, that CD was missing "Rescue Aid Society."
3 A charming and overlooked Disney animated classic!
In the grand Disney library of classics there are a few that you could consider sweet and simply sweet, a few of those would be Disney films that easily bring a tear to your eyes, like Dumbo, Bambi, The Fox and the Hound and this timeless Disney adventure, The Rescuers. There's something so sweet surrounding the adventurous tale of a little orphan girl, being forced into a dangerous underground cave by an evil woman, you get to feel for this character in every angle and with that love the entire film more and more each time to watch it. I mentioned this being a sweet and charming film mainly because of the character of Penny, the little orphan but certain scenes jump out as most charming, one of them takes place in Penny's home, Morningside Orphanage where she shares her feelings and emotions with the local cat, Rufus, crying because she longs for the love of a mother and father. Another one happens while Penny is lonely and feeling hopeless, praying for help, the whole scene in her bedroom is absolutely beautiful, surrounded by lovely music and a sad and blue atmosphere. All of these things make Penny not only one of the most well developed Disney children in their history but also make her deserve everything she gains at the end of the film, which is happiness.
Opposite to Penny and the sweet animals in the film is the main villainess, Madame Medusa. Now, she is not often considered one of the greatest Disney villains but that is because few take the time to look at her from the film's point of view, now if Madame Medusa is not as evil as Maleficent or the Evil Queen is because she is expected to be defeated by a bunch of small critters which would have never been able to defeat a more dangerous and malicious villain like Shere Khan or Judge Claude Frollo, that's why characters like Madame Medusa and Mr. Snoops are just what a story like this needed for villains. Brutus and Nero, the aligators were also very challenging villains to deal with, as they followed orders from Medusa and their natural instincts, even with these, the rescuers where able to defeat them, making them even greater heroes.
It is a real shame that this wonderful film is often put aside and looked over when considering Disney's animated classics, for this film is a true jewel. Animation here is that sketchy style that Disney used after failing financially with Sleeping Beauty in 1959, but don't get scared, the film's sketchy style sort of adds to the mood of the story, you won't get cheap and dirty looking animated scenes like in Robin Hood, where animation was awful. The main problem here is this is one of those older Disney films which are desperate for a deep digital restoration, for some reason it isn't being given one, this is a big problem since they make the movie seem dirty and grainy and the colors seem washed out and faded. Let's keep hoping that Disney will make this their next grand release, many would love to see what this film has to offer in its original brilliance (Or beyond it, like in the recent restoration of Bambi (1942). Just a quick note, if you are thinking of buying the DVD, don't bother, any of the tape releases is just as good and the bonus features here are pretty dull and not too interesting, few even relate to the film.
Disney behaves pretty ungratefully towards this film, they have probably forgotten that it was The Rescuers that brought back to critics an interest in animation, perhaps without this lovely jewel, critical failures like The Fox and the Hound (1981) or The Black Cauldron (1985) and perhaps the beloved The Little Mermaid (1989) would have never been the same since some of the backgrounds during the soft "Kiss the Girl" scene came from this feature.
As closing thoughts, I will say that if you have never seen this film, you should give it a try, especially if you loved other sweet animated features from the studio. The film was followed by a terrible and weak sequel which never showed half the heart and warmth achieved with the original film. Greatly recommended, a winner in the Disney library!
4 Rescue Aid Society Mice Save Orphan!
When a little orphan girl falls into the hands of Madame Medusa and sends a message in a bottle, the Rescue Aid Society answers in the form of Bernard (Bob Newhart) and Miss Bianca (Eva Gabor). What can two mice possible do to help the little girl? It turns out they can do a lot.
The movie starts on a reasonably funny note, as the rodent duo hop aboard an albatross to head for the swamps. Albatrosses are incredibly aerodynamic, but they are less then stellar at takeoffs and landings, and Orville the Albatross (Jim Jordan) proves no more adept than his brethren. After a plummet off a building that thrills Miss Bianca and petrifies Bernard, the journey has begun.
In the swamps the duo marshals the other animals to take on Madame Medusa (Geraldine Page), who needs the little orphan Penny (Michelle Stacy) to fit into a hole that leads to a cave. In the cave is located a quantity of jewels, but Madame Medusa is interested only in a huge diamond called the Devil's Eye. The Rescue Society mice and their swampland friends must overcome Madame Medusa and her aids Mr. Snoops (Joe Flynn) and a pair of alligators, who also frequently play babysitter to Penny.
Madame Medusa never realizes that the mice and swamp animals are trying to rescue Penny, which makes this movie more interesting to watch. As happens with many such movies, Madame Medusa's henchmen are cerebrally challenged and the animals are able to plan around them.
The ending of the movie contains a few surprises, and I found the end interesting. This movie also nicely sets up the excellent sequel "The Rescuers Down Under."
The real star of this clever movie is Eva Gabor. Bob Newhart gets top billing, but Eva was perfect for her role and seems to get the best lines in the movie. She is clever, funny and fearless as compared to Bernard's timid character. Only when Miss Bianca is in trouble does Bernard seem to rise to some measure of courage. There were a variety of other notable characters. Evinrude (James MacDonald) the dragonfly was cute and funny. George Lindsey was classic as Deadeye the Rabbit. Other supporting characters gave this movie depth and interest.
The art of this movie is also unusual in that the artist drew some of the characters in a rough style. I am unsure of the reason, but I found the art style to initially be distracting. I eventually became accustomed to the style and no longer noticed it as the movie went on. The music was also notable. A song from this movie was nominated for an Academy Award.
This movie is clever and funny. In places the movie is tense and suspenseful. There are a few places where the alligators are a little bit scary, but I believe this movie should be suitable for all family members in line with the movie's G rating. I would recommend this movie for any collection of family-oriented movies and for those who collect animated movies. Most families will want to see this movie more than once.
5 An Overlooked Masterpiece
One of the most heartwarming films that I have ever had the pleasure to watch would have to be Disney's The Rescuers. The storyline is somewhat depressing, which is why some would prefer to not watch this film and watch something a little happier. I, for one, think that this aspect of the movie makes it original. It's not your ordinary fairy tale where the princess is locked away in a high tower and Prince Charming comes to rescue her and they live happily ever after.
Instead, this movie follows a young orphan through her trials living with the unfair desperado, Madame Medusa. Two mice from the Rescue Aid Society come to Penny's (the young orphan) rescue resulting in a very cute, heartwarming film. The depressing moments in the film make the happy moments all the more cheerful and warm, making the viewer feel apart of the world instead of just watching a scene laid before them.
The art has a rough, "sketchy" feel to it. While a lot of people would find this bothersome, and a sign of pure "laziness" from the artists, I kind of find it to add feeling to the film. The "sketchy" feeling matches the mood of the entire movie, and really makes this movie stand out.
I also loved the songs from the movie. "The Journey" was a great choice in song to open the movie, some would say that it was just thrown together because there is "no animation" involved. I feel, however, that this isn't a sign of laziness, I think this was the plan. It was beautiful, it added heart to the movie even before the characters were introduced. Truly visually impressive, and the song was just beautiful and started off the story properly.
Along with that the other songs fit seamlessly into the movie. Never was there a dull moment, the songs weren't too long, and weren't too short. They never seemed out of place, and they were always beautiful songs and easy on the ear. Truly wonderful music.
Wonderful story, intriguing plot, charming characters, beautiful music all combined together to make one masterpiece film. I thoroughly enjoyed this movie and would recommend it to any Disney fan - actually, I take that back, not just Disney fans would like this movie, anyone looking for a warming movie should watch this through. A true, overlooked masterpiece.
6 Poor Evinrude, your carburetor is all pooped out!
John Lounsbery directs this classic Disney animated film. His credits include the 1967 Jungle Book, the 1964 Mary Poppins, as well as the 1961 Walt Disney's 101 Dalmatians, the 1959 Sleeping Beauty, the 1955 Lady and the Tramp, the 1950 Cinderella, the 1951 Alice in Wonderland, and the 1953 Peter Pan, and 1941 Dumbo. Lounsbery also worked on the original Disney 1931 Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs.
I love the choice of voices with Bob Newhart as Bernard and Eva Gabor as Miss Bianca. They also do a nice job of utilizing Jim Jordan (1896-1988) as Orville. I also thought Geraldine Page did a fantastic job as the villain Madame Medusa.
The story in The Rescuers is very well developed, starting in a very similar fashion to what you would think of as a United Nations conference. Both Rescuers movies have a truly depressing story that concludes with a real pick-me-up at the end. The Rescuers really attempts to place you in the shoes of an orphan. The fact she gets kidnapped, then they stick her down a dark hole to work all day, makes the story that much more depressing. The story line, as I have alluded to, is very dark at times, in this film.
In addition, I, for one, truly appreciate the story of this movie. It is a movie where you get to see the story, and the story is not cut into by song and dance. People who may trash this movie may love other Disney films for the song and dance aspects instead of the story line. The story and plot is why I love the Rescuer movies.
If you liked the Rescuers, I think you should give The Rescuers Down Under an honest shot, as Newhart and Gabor reprise their roles as Bernard and Bianca. Nevertheless, The Rescuers remains one of the most under rated Disney movies of all time, and in my opinion deserves the accolades of such films as: Sleeping Beauty, Cinderella, Lady and the Tramp, and 101 Dalmatians; however, it never shall.
Grade: A
7 A Classic Disney Tale!!!
This is such a heartwarming story of two mice, (the voices of Bob Newhart and Eva Gabor), to set out to rescue little Penny from Madame Medusa on Devil's Bayou, that's it brings sentiment to my eyes when I think of it.
There's wonderful music, and the ensemble cast of the folks in the Bayou is terrific. Then of course there are the two crocodiles who are just as mean and evil as Madame Medusa, and all for what - the Diamond - and Medusa is going to never let Penny see her little Teddy again if she doesn't produce it.
This is classic melodrama for children, although not too heavy handed. It's a nice movie, but maybe a little too intense for the real small kids.
Highly recommended!!!
8 The movie is great, but this DVD is impossible to watch!
First of all, The Rescuers is and will always be my favorite Disney animated film of all time, not only is it sweet and charming in a way no other Disney film, but I just grew up with it, so the more I watch it, the more attached I feel to it. I didn't even know that the movie was going to have its DVD debut on May of last year, since Disney didn't even bother to advertise it. Well, I got a copy of this new DVD and couldn't be more disappointed with it.
This has to be the worst Disney DVD ever, the picture quality is terrible to begin and the colors are not the ones the film is meant to have. The film looks dark, making it's already dark atmosphere a very depressing one indeed. The film doesn't look very sharp, a deep digital restoration is defintately needed here. The colors were the worst part of course, the tint is all messed up causing some parts to look awful, notice how Bernard's sweatshirt appears brownish pink throughout some scenes of the film and how the beautiful blue colors of the bayou are now green, making it look like an underwater ship-wreck.
Bonus features are not enough to call this a good Disney DVD, I know there's a lot more that could have been added. So, what's up with the cover art? Where they too lazy to make a new one or what? Don't tell me they ran out of money, or did they lose it all making Home on the Range and getting about 50% of the spent budget back? Oh yeah! Also, there's no insert, the film is not presented in it's original aspect ratio, parts of the picture are cut off and this DVD stinks, that's the bottom line.
The movie is awesome but Disney sucks lately and this DVD proves it!
9 Another classic
I loved this movie, and always waited for the day they'd bring it back on DVD. This is another example of how Disney has some seriously good movies, and this is the last movie that all of the original Disney animators worked on. The characters, Bernard and Miss Bianca, are timeless characters that are fighting for a good cause. Penny, the girl in distress is one of those characters you won't forget. This was a great movie, and I recommend to any fan of Disney lookin' for a good flick.
10 Classic Disney animation, the way it was meant to be seen!
Don't listen to any of the pro "Pan and Scan" reviews. Disney's "The Rescuers" was meant to be seen in a widescreen format, so the bars are supposed to be there. If you have the VHS tape, yes there are no bars and slightly more image at the top and bottom, but the director intended one to view the film on a rectanglular screen, not a square TV.
As for the image, it's *very* clean for a film thats 20+ years old. Get it now!
11 The Journey
How much fun it was to gather the family together to see the last of the true Disney films, the last one done by Walt Disney's original team of animators and it is a true jewel. Definately not 'the only jewel' made in the '70s, since we also had The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh, and the fun The Aristocats.
The Story in The Rescuers is simple, a young girl named Penelope (Penny) has been kidnapped by the horrendous Madame Medusa, who needs the girl to retrieve the Devil's Eye, hidden in a cave in the coasts of the Devil's Bayou. Two agent mice, Bernard and Miss Bianca, helped by Orville the albatross, Evinrude the dragonfly, Ellie Mae and the rest of the Swamp Folks take off to rescue the young girl from Madame Medusa, Mr. Snoops and the two feracious crocodiles Brutus and Nero.
One of the most visually impressive scenes in the film is the opening credits, "The Journey". Critiziced for supposedly having no animation and for looking "cheap", is one of the most beatiful opening sequences in Disney history. I mean, look at the openings in Snow White, Pinocchio or Alice in Wonderland, just a bunch of sketches and simple drawings and no animation, still they are beautiful but they don't capture nor tell a simple story like 'The Journey'.
Then there was a sequel, The Rescuers Down Under, made at the beginning of the '90s after The Little Mermaid, which in my opinion is a true disappointment and didn't have quite the charm of the original. Funny was, though people comparing "The Journey" to whatever the Rescuers Down Under's openings were called. So, the sequel had animation in the opening, but they added nothing to the story. Also, if you read the 'Ouch!' review for The Rescuers Down Under you'll see that the person who wrote it had a very good point about the film being a remake of the original.
Anyways, in my book, The Rescuers gets 100%, 5 out of 5 stars.
12 Heart-warming
What really impressed me most about this film was the characters, each of them very unique and you connect with each character(even the villians...in a different sense). The animators seem to have taken special care to make sure that the characters 'come to life'.
The storyline is fun and adventerous, leaving you on the edge of your seat. By the time you get to end of the film you feel uplifted and touched. It's a very heart warming film, and no child should go without seeing it at least once.
13 Theatre Gem
I remember my parents taking me to see this gem of a film in the theatre. I was captivated by the cute girl Penny and the two mean gators. This film was a fun Disney film. It seemed weird when they released "Resuers Down Under" WAY before this one?!?!? But now you can complete or expand your Disney collection with this piece of Disney Gold!
14 Cool film!
Although this film doesn't particularly follow the same story line as the forgotten Margery Sharp classic, I have to admit that the film is better in it's own way. To start, in the book, the rescuers, janitor Bernard, Lady Miss Bianca and sailor mouse Nils go into the Black Castle to rescue a Norweian poet, but this is just some no-one who you really don't get to know that well, since he comes at the end of the book and barely even speaks, you can't feel for the character, however, Penny is filled with charming personality, and you learn to love her as you watch the film. Nils was a very charming little mouse in the book, too bad he wasn't in Disney's film. Then Madame Medusa is a great villain compared to the boring jailers and gate keepers in the book, since they do nothing to stop the young poet from scaping. In Disney's film, Madame Medusa has held Panny captive for months because she needs her to find the world's largest diamond, and the rescuers are flying into a journey to her rescue. Lovable film, pretty disappointing DVD, hopefully Disney will give us another, better edition.
There unconfirmed rumors that a new sequel, The Rescuers III: Journey to the Black Castle is in the works, and this time, little cute Nils would be joining us, I would loooove to see that!
15 R-E-S-C-U-E, Rescue Aid Society....
When a young girl's plea for help it found via bottle in the ocean, Miss Bianca of the Rescue Aid Society, along with her partner Bernard, go on an action packed adventure to rescue her.
Young Penny had disappeared from Morningside Orphange one day and no one has seen her since. With a tip from the Orphange's wise old cat, the two mice track down a pawn shop run by Madame Medusa. She is the one, along with her goofy sidekick Snoops, who kidnapped Penny and is holding her hostage deep in the bayou on a rundown Riverboat. Time after time Penny attempted to escape, only to be tracked down and brought back to her prison by Medusa's two pet crocodiles. The only reason Medusa is holding Penny hostage is because Penny is the only person small enough to fit down into the cave where Medusa's greatest desire, the Devil's Eye diamond, is at.
With the help of Miss Bianca, Bernard and some of the swamp's resident critters, Penny manages to bring Medusa her coveted diamond, outsmart her crocodiles and escape back to the orphanage and, ultimitly, unite Penny with the family she so yearned for.
A touching tale. I can see why this is considered a classic!
16 Nero!!...Brutus!!....Stop that making that noise in there!!!
The Rescuers is one of my all-time favorite Disney films to watch. I saw this movie when I was 6 years old and now that I'm 21, I still love this movie.
The story begins when a little girl named Penny is kidnapped by a evil woman named Madame Medusa who forces Penny to search and find a large diamond called the Devil's Eye, thats hidden in a underground cove called Devils Bayou. Penny, however, manages to send messages in bottles to get help from the outside, and the R.A.S. Rescue Aid Society, the secret organization that's composed of mice from around the world answer Penny's call for help and they send two mice Bernard, who's the janitor, and a agent from Hungray named Miss Bianca. The only way to get to Devil's Bayou is the Albatross Air Service that's ran by Orville, a bumbling, wise-cracking albatross who's the pilot, flight annoucer, and the plane.
When they do get to Devil's Bayou, Bernard and Bianca witness a escape attempt made by Penny, who get snatched by Medusa's two bumbling pet alligators, Nero and Brutus.
My favorite scene is where Nero and Brutus are trying to catch Bernard and Bianca when they're trapped in a pipe organ, and while Nero is playing the organ, Brutus trys to catch them when the air comes up through the pipes.
If you want a good family classic to watch, give The Rescuers a try, I love it.
17 I loved it!
This is one of Disney's greatest movies it is a shame that it isn't as popular now adays as it once was when it first came out, it really is a Disney Classic and deserves more than boring films like Aladdin or 101 Dalmatians. it is the story of Bernard and Miss Bianca, two little mice in a mission to rescue Penny, a little girl from the evil Madame Medusa, who wants to use Penny to retrieve the world's largest diamond.
The plot is simple, easy to understand and the animation is old times Disney at it's best, way better than the newer Disney films like "The Emperor's New Groove" or Hercules, I mean what kind of garbage is this? Anyways, back to The Rescuers, Disney has released this title in a way in which they show no care for it, as if they just felt they needed to release it. The DVd has very little extras, most of them have nothing to do with the film. I really do hope that Disney gives light to this memorable classic once again so a whole new generation of children can enjoy it as much as I did when I was little, and as much as I treasure it now.
There are rumors saying that Disney is planning on making "The Rescuers III: Journey to the Black Castle" in which our two little heroes will rescue an Norweian poet from a dark and sinister castle where the poor man has been inprisoned for years. This was Margery Sharp's original novel and a book I have read and enjoyed just as much as the Disney film.
18 A Well Done Disney Movie
During the seventies, Disney came out with a slew of films that were not huge like The Jungle Book and One Hundred and One Dalmatians, but a few stood out as almost awesome. This is one. In this movie, Disney takes you to two places it had never taken you, NYC, and the bayous of Louisiana. It had great vocal talens, good animation, and a good gripping plot. See it if you are a fan. I reccomend it.
19 One of My favorite Disney Movies!!!!
ONE of my favorite Disney movies along with Snow White and Sleeping Beauty. This is the story of two mice of the rescue aid society ,out to save a kidannped girl named penny. the story and music is beautiful. that song someone's waiting for you brings a tear to my eye and i am 28 years old! this movie is a classic!!
20 The Rescuers
My favorite Disney movie. It has two mouses trying to save Penny from Madame Medusa because she wants a diamond and Snoops wants it too, and so their too big to go down the whole so they kidnap Penny.
21 Truly touching
When I watched this movie the other day, it was a trip down memory lane. I hadn't seen it since I was a kid, maybe 7 or 8. I was amazed by how much I rememered, this is one of the defining movies of my life. The whole thing is beautiful. The story is heartwarming and even jerks a tear or two, the animation is great, I just loved it. i love Disney movies, and this would be high on my list of favorites.
22 The best Disney film since Lady and the Tramp!
I think this is an excellent film that is very forgotten and gets lost easily in Disney history. It tells the story of two rodents, Bernard and Miss Bianca, from the Rescue Aid Society in a great journey to rescue a little young orphan girl that has fallen victim of Madame Medusa. Mr. Snoops, Brutus and Nero will join Madame Medusa in her sinister plans to get the Devil's Eye, the world's largest diamond. Together with Ellie Mae, evinrude and of the other swamp folks, the rescuers will triumph in saving Penny and getting her adopted. The Rescuers also features heart warming and unforgetable songs, "The Journey", "Rescue Aid Society", "Tomorrow is Another Day" and the Award Winning song "Someone's Waiting for You". The Rescuers is high-flying fun you'll want to watch over and over again.
Also, check out its sequel, The Rescuers Down Under.
23 Big fun!
All my family had a lot of fun watching this fil, it is filled with jokes even if some parts are sad. The bad thing is that this film is very forgotten...
24 Great film!
The Rescuers is a great Disney film. People forgets it and makes me cry because I think it is as good as any other even The Lion King. I love Orvil because he is really funny... A Disney Classic!
25 I love this movie!
This movie has been my favorite since I was a little girl. I love the music and the characters. It's a classic that every child should own and watch again and again. I still watch it every now and again and sing along with the songs. Bernard and Bianca are adorable! I recommend this to anyone young or old!
26 Cruella de Ville has met her match. HERE;S MADAME MADUSA!!!
Besides Cruella de Ville and Ursula the sea witch, Madusa was my favortie villain of all. It all starts when the rescue aid society is summoned to answer a call for help from an orphan girl by the name of Penny. With enough begging, Miss Bianca gets the job of helping Penny but it is insisted that she has a man go with her. Her choice? Janitor Benard. Off they go to very very daring ways to save Penny from the clutches of Madame Madusa, her clusmy ... partner Mr. Snoops and her two aligators. You wont be sorry you got this. If you loved Ursula for "The Little Mermaid" and Cruella de Ville from "101 Dalmations", you'll love Madusa from "The Rescuers". You'll also loves Snoops Clumsiness. IT'S PRICLESS.
27 Swamp is no place for 2 mice named Bernard and Miss Bianca
Swamp is no place for 2 mice named Bernard and Miss Bianca The rescuers is high adventure and comedy that the whole family enjoys. We have given this movie 4 stars and rank it 11th out of 41 which is like a B. The stars of this story are the two mice who set out to rescue Penny from the evil Madame Medusa. They fly to the assignment via Orville Albatross. Imagine two mice having to deal with cut throat crooks and gators in the swamp. There is fun, mayhem, dry subtle humor from Newhart and slap stick.
We had a lot of fun by gathering the family together to rank the 41 Disney movies we have that include some cartoon work. All the kids, ages 6 to 27, participated along with mother and dad. Peter Pan is no Codfish, we rank it #2. Lion King was selected number 1 of the 41 as the family favorite, but narrowly. Peter Pan was 2. Pete's Dragon 3, Beauty & the beast 4, Sleeping Beauty 5, Snow White 6, Robin Hood 7, 101 Dalmatians 8, Fox and the hound 9 and Cinderella is 10th
28 A-HA! snarled the villain
When this movie first came out in '77 I saw it again and again......When Disney released it's 8mm cutdown I bought it at once....(one of their best) And the same for this DVD.
There are a few points in this movie where the animation is clearly on the cheap, but the main characters are so endearing...especially Eva Gabor as Miss Bianca...this can be forgiven.
This is a cartoon for fans of the old blood & thunder....we have gallant (if reluctant)hero & faithful heroine, plucky little orphan, dopey sidekick (Snoops) and one of the best snarling, half crazed evil villains since Cruella De Vil. In the role of foul hearted baddie, Madam Medusa is all that could be wished for right down to the crazed cackle and last reel come-uppance.
BUY THIS DVD! You know you want to!
29 Clean Fun
This Disney feature is good and wholesome fun. This title was produced in the '70s and some scenes allude to that era. I recommend for all families that want good clean fun in a film.
30 This DVD doesn't have a chapter index.
I have purchased over 20 Disney DVDs, and lots of more other DVDs but I have never seen a single DVD without a chapter index..you know, a paper having the list of all chapters which is holded on the opposite side of the DVD. But "The Rescuers" DVD doesn't have that chapter index. It's not much, but it certainly feels as if something big is missing. If there are customers who purchased "The Rescuers" WITH the chapter index like other Disney DVDs, would you please post a message here so that I can know that I have received an imcompletely packed DVD?
However, I'll give this DVD 4 stars since it's the first time "The Rescuers" is realeased in DVD, which I have been waiting for so long.
31 Excellent. Heart Warming.
So, another mouse movie huh? I gotta admit this is one of the best movies involving mice for heros/heroines. The film basically begins when the cute, but orphan, Penny atempts to send an S.O.S. message-in-a-bottle to the New York orpanage. Instead, it washes under a fishing dock in a harbor where a bunch of mice (who luckily happen to be in the area) find it and send it to the Rescue Aid Society (a hidden organization run by mice who dedicate thier lives to help humans in danger). After reading the message, Bianca and Bernard (two of the would-be most famous deligates in RAS history) set out to rescue Penny from the evil Madame Medusa, a crazy, Cruela De Ville remake with 2 pet crocodiles named Nero and Brutus as henchmen. Her plan is to use Penny to find a huge diamond because Penny is the only one who can squeeze into the cave where the diamond is. Eventullay, the 2 heroic rodents charter a flight to Devil's Baiyou (Medusa's hiding place) on the wings of Orville (an albatross who's obviously been in the air force before). Anyhow, this movie can be both funny and sad. Like the scene in which Penny clearly gives up hope of escaping Medusa's clutches (gosh, when that part happened, my eyes watered tears like a public fountain)
Buy this movie and enjoy watching Penny getting rescued and all, I gaurentee ya' you'll be as happy as can be by the end!
32 I didn't know
I didn't know that Disney was planning are releasing this movie on dvd, until today. And I watched this movie tonight. I had a vhs copy of this movie around. And I think this was the first Disney movie to have a sequel, and this movie was out about 13 years, before the sequel to this movie was made. It tells a story about 2 mice, 1 a janitor and the other a lady on a mission to save a young girl named Penny that was kidnapped from an orphanage. As the movie opened, Penny (Michelle Stacey) drops a bottle that is a cry for help, and the bottle finds its way to New York, where a couple of mice discovers it, and the Recure Aid Soceity calls to order, a meeting. A janitor mouse named Bernard (Bob Newhart) brings ladder (that is really a comb), cames the comb, and goes inside, manges to get the message out of the bottle, but keeps falling back to the bottom of the bottle. The message is all watered out, and a mouse named Miss Bianca (Eva Gabor) manges to make out some of the message, including Penny's name. Miss Bianca decides to ask to take the misiion, even though Bernarnd doesn't think it is a good idea for Miss Bianca to go alone. So the chairmouse, decides for Miss Bianca to selct a co-agent to go with her, and she has a lot of vanletters, which makes it hard for her to chose, and she picks Bertand.
33 Widescreen--sort of
Potential buyers should take notice that the "widescreen" presentation is achieved by matting the top and bottom of the standard "Full screen" image. I'm not sure if this is how the film was originally projected in theaters or not, but it will be immediately obvious to anyone who has viewed the VHS version of the film that you really are getting LESS picture with this release, not MORE.A full screen option would have been nice.
Also, the set-top game included is absolutely dull and would be unlikely to hold the interest of even a very young child.
It is nice to have a Disney "True-Life Adventure" tacked on, though, as well as a Silly Symphony.
34 Wish it were out on DVD already
I love this one. It is tender and touching and just a sweet movie altogether. I do however wish it were out on DVD already. My VHS tape is just about worn out, I have watched it so much.
35 why no dvd listing??
This is by far and away one of my favorite Disney movies.
Some of the scenes are a little harsh for a younger audience, but in all it is a very cute, very well written and animated piece.
36 Probably the only good Disney movie from the '70s.
"The Rescuers" is one of the better later Disney movies before "The Little Mermaid". I think it had more heart than the other two Disney movies before it, "The Aristocats" and "Robin Hood". It also had a better story to follow. Miss Bianca and Bernard are two of the most memorable Disney characters ever. Their voices [Eva Gabor and Bob Newhart] are distinguished and perfect. There are more memorable characters in this movie than most Disney movies made at that time [the 1970s]. They include the villianess Madame Medusa, Orville the albatross, Evinrude the dragonfly, and, best of all, an orphan girl named Penny. Of all the Disney animated children, Penny has the most personality. I recommend this movie to any Disney lover. The sequal, "The Rescuers Down Under", is even more exciting, with better animation and some great new characters.
37 A Pure Disney Masterpiece! Full Of Fun For The Whole Family!
The first time I saw this movie I fell in love with it, it bacme my favorite Disney film of all time. The two main characters Bernard & Bionca were the most likable of all Disney characters & Madam Medusa though not the most evil Disney villin was pretty scary. The story starts with the kidnapping of young orphaned Penny who was taken straight out of a public orphanege. When the authorites give up on her search the Rescue-Aid Society which is run entirely by rodents decide to send two agents to find her pretty Bionca volunteers at once and her chosen parter is Bernard basicly the custodian for the Rescue-Aid Society.
The two find that Madam Medusa, a pawn shop owner kidnapped the girl and has hidden her in her boat which is located in a desserted swamp. The two mice fly to the swamp on a gull were they find a young Penny trying escape the evil Medusa put is caught by Medusa's pet crocadiles. Bernard & Miss Bionca befriend a group of rodents who help the mice get on board the boat. There they over-hear that Medusa kidnapped Penny so that she could get her hands on the largest un-cut diamond in the world, the Devil's Eye, and that Penny is the only one who can fit in the cave. When the two help Penny get the diamond they call upon their rodent friends to help them catch & turn Medusa over to the police.
The movie was followed by a sequel in 1990 "The Rescuers Down Under" which was probally the only ever decent Disney sequel.
38 Wow
After all of these years, Madame Medusa is still the scariest Disney villian hands down. Aside from the fact this film is overall darker than it's modern counterparts, I've always thought she was purposefuly drawn to resemble one of her beloved crocodiles. Even her bumbling co-conspirtor Snoops is more humane, and he is no model of morals either.
Whenever this film came on as a little girl, I could not watch it because it gave me night mares. Even if there were real kids who were in horrible (but obviously not the same) experiences, I had no way to relate to it. Yet looking back, it was a perfect offering for the decade.
I largely developed my current hypothesis about this film from realizing (as sad as it seems) compared to the nightly broadcast of the vietnam war and other urban/social programs---this WAS very kid friendly for it's time. In a time when American social protest was still very visible, the children's fare Disney itself had previously produced seemed outdated and simplistic.
It's also worth noting that efforts in locating missing and exploited children really did not begin until this time, even if it certainly was not Disney's intention to bring issues to the forefront. Again, the somber screenplay and emphasis on social justice owes much to the day's politics where many social safeguards we are accustomed to were non-existent.
The fact that Penny was adopted from an orphanage with little or no safeguards and subjected to such intolerable conditions for so long without any human contact other than the two creeps is another really telling area of the movie. To some extent it was hollywood dramatization, but to another extent that was how things were back then. Thankfully, world governmental bodies (such as the rescue aid society) are around.
Many years later, I like this movie, but am convinced it is more adult oriented. I am now fancinated by this screenplay and see something new each time I am watching. While it might not work for somebody accustomed to the light hearted nature of today's Disney movies, anybody willing to open their mind would love this movie.
39 Offbeat but enjoyable Disney flick
A superb effort from Disney, as per usual, but quite different to much of their other work. It's much gloomier and more intense than today's spread of Disney films, but still a classic (with plenty of humour and fun) that should keep viewers of any age entertained time and time again. The animation is somewhat gritty, but this adds to the dark atmosphere; the vocal work is outstanding. A winner.
40 What is the world coming to?
I almost could not believe my eyes. The "Rescuers" books, which are absolutely charming children's classic, out of print, to live on only in this very indifferent Disney version? No, never! Say it ain't so, Joe!
The movie is no fitting legacy for these books- indeed, it only resembles the real story in the names of its principal characters. The delightfully human Mouse Prisoners Aid Society has entirely lost its flavor of a local committee, being transformed what I can only describe as Disneyfied murine cross between the United Nations and a spy ring. The Norwegian poet in the Black Castle has unforgivably become a cute little teddy-toting girl in a Lousiana swamp. Bernard has become a bumbling booby, and Miss Bianca has changed from the sheltered, rather affected, yet clever and charming pet white mouse of the original to a sophisticated spy.
Miss Bianca's Disneyfied counterpart, however, despite her bearing no resemblance to the literary mouse of her name, does have a certain icily Hitchcockian charm at moments. She could have been, in fact, the lovely foreign agent, remote and brave, yet vulnerable and loving, etc. had not this been almost as out of character in the Disney movie as would have been Miss Bianca's true self.
For the rest, it is a mere pastiche of Disneyesque characters- evil alligators, bumbling birds, sinister skulls, cute kids, and a host of various protagonistish rodents.
41 Good wholsome family entertainment!
A real Disney masterpiece! Wellplotted story with lovable characters. A movie you can't helplove.
42 just a great film!
The rescuers has great vocial tallents.I would recomend this movie to people young or old.
43 Wonderful
I still remeber being a small child going into the theatre to watch it i was only 3 and remember it vividly. It is a wonderful childrens movie unlike some of the newer animation there is no violence and i recommend it for all ages it is truly a movie to be passed on from generation to generation it is a favorite of my 5 yr old as well. And i still prefer the artistry of the older animated cartoons over the newer computer generated cartoons. There is no equal to a walt disney orignal.
