The Rescuers parents guide

The Rescuers Parent Guide

A feel-good ending and promotion of the idea that little creatures can still do big things are the elements that rescue this tale of two mice.

Overall B-

When The Rescue Aid Society receives a message for help from a young orphan (voice of Michelle Stacy), they put two of their agents, Miss Bianca and Mr. Bernard (voice of Eva Gabor and Bob Newhart) on the case. The two little mice set out on the dangerous mission despite the enormity of the situation.

Release date June 22, 1977

Violence B-
Sexual Content A-
Profanity A
Substance Use B-

Why is The Rescuers rated G? The MPAA rated The Rescuers G

Run Time: 78 minutes

Parent Movie Review

Hidden below the auspicious auditoriums of the United Nations in New York City is a more humble meeting room where the mouse versions of the multicultural delegates gather. Calling themselves The Rescue Aid Society, these dedicated rodents are committed to offering help to anyone in need. And a call for such assistance has just been received in the form of a scribbled message tucked into a bottle that was retrieved from the sea.

Reading the piteous plea of the obviously young Penny (voice of Michelle Stacy), the author of the distress note, pulls at the heartstrings of Miss Bianca (voice of Eva Gabor), the glamorous representative from Hungary. Yet when the beautiful agent asked to be assigned to the case, her feminine delicacy is denied unless she can find a male companion. So she chooses the shy janitor Mr. Bernard (voice of Bob Newhart), even though he is not the most masculine candidate.

Determined to protect Miss Bianca, and encouraged by her faltering confidence, Mr. Bernard joins her on the daring mission to discover who Penny is, where the orphan has ended up, and why she needs to be rescued. Their quest leads them into many risky situations, onboard an albatross for a harrowing flight, and into the dangerous Devil’s Bayou in the Florida Everglades.

While the peril is played in comedic fashion, parents may feel a moments pause as they translate the animated adventure into real life terms. The little girl at the center of the search has been kidnapped by malicious characters that verbally berate, physically threaten and psychologically coerce her into seeking for pirate treasure in a small dark cave prone to flooding during high tide. And Penny’s reaction to her plight is remarkably poignantly despite being depicted in a simple drawing style. Somehow I suspect a live action version of this plot would never have received a G rating from the MPAA.

Softened by the picturesque background paintings, paced by the sentimental score and given a caricatured villain (Madame Medusa, voiced of Geraldine Page) with a bumbling accomplice (Snoops, voiced by Joe Flynn) that are hard to take seriously—even when they are pulling pistols, blasting fireworks or siccing alligators on escaping youngsters—the movie has managed to find an accepting audience.

A feel-good ending and promotion of the idea that little creatures can still do big things are the elements that rescue this tale of two mice. Parents who chose to share this film with their children may want to watch with them, just in case the scary themes and emotional scenes have their own kids calling for help.

Directed by John Lounsbery, Wolfgang Reitherman, Art Stevens. Starring Bob Newhart, Eva Gabor, Geraldine Page. Running time: 78 minutes. Theatrical release June 22, 1977. Updated

The Rescuers
Rating & Content Info

Why is The Rescuers rated G? The Rescuers is rated G by the MPAA

Violence: A desperate child sends messages for help in bottles she tosses into the ocean. An orphaned child is verbally abused and intentionally manipulated. She is also kidnapped, hounded by alligators and forced to enter a dark cave that floods during high tide. Characters experience perilous situations including frightening moments, scary car drives, a risky airplane ride (aboard a bird), near drowning, falling from heights, and threats of being eaten by other creatures. Guns are fired at characters and fireworks cause explosions. Skeletons are depicted.

Sexual Content: Some male characters express mildly chauvinistic views. Characters are seen in their underwear. A couple hugs and kisses.

Language: Name-calling.

Alcohol / Drug Use: A character, depicted as drunken, drinks moonshine and gives some to others.

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The Rescuers Parents' Guide

Mr. Bernard’s character is superstitious. Do you know where the fear of the number 13 came from? Find some of the theories here:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Triskaidekaphobia

http://voices.yahoo.com/the-number-13-superstitions-rituals-876723.html

The Rescue Aid Society, portrayed in this movie, claims their origins go back to the mouse that removed a thorn from the paw of a lion. This classic story is one of Aesop’s fables. You can learn more about it here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Lion_and_the_Mouse

Home Video

The most recent home video release of The Rescuers movie is August 21, 2012. Here are some details…

Home Video Notes: The Rescuers

Release Date: 21 August 2012

To celebrate the 35th anniversary of Disney’s The Rescuers, the animation and its sequel The Rescuers Down are releasing to home video together in a 3-disc Blu-ray/DVD Combo Pack. The package includes:

- Blu-ray and DVD copy of The Rescuers

- Blu-ray and DVD copy of The Rescuers Down Under

- Deleted Song: Peoplitis

- Silly Symphony Short: The Three Blind Musketeers

- Disney Nature Documentary: Water Birds

- Sing-Along: Someone Waiting For You

- Making-of The Rescuers Down Under

Related home video titles:

This movie is the prequel to The Rescuers Down Under.

You may notice some characters that are reminiscent of others found in Disney animations. Madame Medusa has a lot in common with the villainous Cruella De Vil of 101 Dalmatians. Her pet alligators look like the sidekicks of Ursula in The Little Mermaid. And Eva Gabor voices another glamour girl in The Aristocrats.