The Great Mouse Detective

About The Great Mouse Detective

The Great Mouse Detective is a 1986 American animated mystery film produced by Walt Disney Feature Animation and released by Walt Disney Pictures. The film draws from the children's classic the "Basil of Baker Street" series by Eve Titus and is set in the Victorian era of London. The plot follows Basil of Baker Street, a detective mouse, who is enlisted to locate and recover a kidnapped toymaker named Hiram Flaversham. When Olivia, Flaversham's daughter, seeks Basil's help, a thrilling adventure begins that involves fighting off his nemesis, Ratigan a criminal mastermind rat.

Making / Production

The production of The Great Mouse Detective began in 1984 under the supervision of the directing team, Ron Clements, John Musker, Dave Michener, and Burny Mattinson. It was the 26th Disney animated feature film and was known for its use of computer-generated imagery for the clock tower gears, a first in the animation spectrum. The film was released in 1986 and was a blend of traditional and advanced animation techniques.

Actors

• Barrie Ingham as "Basil", the detective protagonist of the story, brought to life his character with wit and grit.
• Vincent Price portrayed "Ratigan", the antagonist with finesse and charm, making the character memorable.
• Susanne Pollatschek voiced "Olivia Flaversham", the innocent young mouse with warmth and tenderness.
• Alan Young played "Hiram Flaversham", the toymaker mouse, excellently capturing his character's gentle nature.

Trivia / Interesting Facts

• The film is often regarded as the project that kept the Disney animation department going and ultimately lead to Disney's "renaissance" in animation.
• The character name Basil was a nod to Basil Rathbone, known for his portrayals of Sherlock Holmes.
• Ratigan was Vincent Price's favorite role.

Awards

Despite critical acclaim, there were no significant awards for The Great Mouse Detective.

Quotes

• "There's always a chance, Doctor, as long as one can think." - Basil
• "Oh, I love it when I'm nasty." - Ratigan
• "Father! I thought I'd never find you." - Olivia

Music and Soundtrack

• Henry Mancini composed the film's lively score, matching the Victorian era setting.
• The film features the memorable villain song, "The World's Greatest Criminal Mind," performed by Vincent Price (Ratigan).
• "Let Me be Good to You" is a lovely and entertaining musical number performed by a tavern mouse.