An American Tail (1 & 2)

AN AMERICAN TAIL (U)

D: Don Bluth

Universal/Amblin (Don Bluth, John Pomeroy & Gary Goldman)

USA 🇺🇸 1986

80 mins

Animated

W: Judy Friedberg & Tony Geiss

Mus: James Horner; Barry Mann & Cynthia Weil

voices of: Philip Glasser (Fievel Mousekewitz), Amy Green (Tanya Mousekewitz), Cathianne Blore (Bridget), Christopher Plummer (Henri), Dom DeLuise (Tiger), Madeliene Kahn (Gussie Mausheimer)

Cute animated feature about a group of Russian mice who emigrate to the United States in the 1880's.

The story is quite bland & uninteresting and the animation style generally wouldn't appeal to anyone over the age of 12.

The theme song "Somewhere Out There" gave the movie a little bit of longevity but it's all rather unremarkable as a whole.

Steven Spielberg had claimed that the story was inspired by his own ancestors journey to settle in America, except his grandparents probably weren't mice.

Many sequels followed, most going straight to home media.

6/10

Did You Know:

Fievel was the name of Steven Spielberg's grandfather.

Award Wins & Nominations:

MILSTEAD MOVIE AWARDS:

Wins: 1 (Best Original Song - Musical/Comedy)

Nominations: 1 (Best Animated Film)

OSCARS:

Wins: none

Nominations: 1 (Best Original Song)

BAFTAS

Wins: none

Nominations: none

OTHER WINS:

Young Artist Awards (Best Animation Voiceover)

AN AMERICAN TAIL: FIEVEL GOES WEST (U)

D: Phil Nibbelink & Simon Wells

Universal/Amblin (Steven Spielberg & Robert Watts)

USA 🇺🇸 1991

75 mins

Animated

W: Flint Dille

Mus: James Horner

voices of: Phillip Glasser (Fievel Mousekewitz), James Stewart (Wylie Burp), Cathy Cavadini (Tanya Mousekewitz), Dom DeLuise (Tiger), John Cleese (Cat R. Waul)

Fievel, the mouse from the first movie is tricked by a cat to move to the Wild West, where it has gunslinging adventures appropriate for a young audience.

Average sequel to a rather average original movie. Good entertainment for anyone under 12, but anyone older would have seen it all before.

Film enthusiasts may wish to note the vocal performance of James Stewart was amongst his last contributions to cinema, but it's not really befitting an actor of so many talents. More sequels followed, all direct to home video/DVD.

6/10

Did You Know:

John Cleese turned down the role of Cogsworth in Beauty and the Beast (1991) to voice Cat R. Waul in this film.

Award Wins & Nominations:

MILSTEAD MOVIE AWARDS:

Wins: none

Nominations: 1 (Best Animated Film)

OSCARS:

Wins: none

Nominations: none

BAFTAS

Wins: none

Nominations: none

OTHER WINS:

none