The Rescuers (1977)

The rescuers is an animated film made in 1977 about two mice and their quest to save a young girl. With classic Disney villains, adventure and animals what more could you want! Based on a book with the same title, this sweetly drawn film will touch your heart and make your day!

The Rescue Aid Society is a group of highly organised mice who set out to cheer up prisoners and rescue people. They make use of human items and repurpose them, using matchboxes as seats and combs as ladders. In the midst of a meeting of the society, we are introduced to Miss Bianca, an elegant and slightly self obsessed mouse who is fashionably late and Bernard, a charming janitor with a superstitious nature. As a reply to a message in a bottle, they venture out to assist a kidnapped orphan, Penny! On the way they meet Rufus, the friendly cat, Orville, the ungainly albatross and Madame Medusa, the power-hungry villainess who has kidnapped penny. Madame Medusa has two crocodiles, a henchman and a getaway vehicle. It’s going to be a challenge!

This ”era” of Disney animation was so cute and cartoony! Having read the book, this film doesn’t accurately represent it. Disney kept about 1% of the novel, which was quite disappointing. This film was a mix of the first two novels, the second of which was a bit dark. Likewise, the second half of the film is slightly gloomy.

I would rate this film 4.7 out of five, as it was brilliant but it scrapped so much of the book. This film is suitable for most ages, although under 5s may find it upsetting how Penny was treated (WARNING: brief skeleton scene).

Want a picture-perfect fairytale? Then you want The Rescuers!