An American Tail

An American Tail is a UK VHS release by CIC Video and Universal on 21st September 1987 for rental, and 7th November 1988 for retail. It got re-released by CIC Video and Universal on 29th June 1992. It got re-released by CIC and Universal on 11th October 1993 and it got re-released by Universal on 4th March 2002.

The film also got aired on these UK Channels over the years. The film premiered on Sky Movies in 1989, and Channel 4 during 1990 before finally made its UK terrestrial television premiere on BBC One on 26th December 1991 and again on 31st December 1993, 28th August 1995 and 28th March 1997, Cartoon Network on 26th December 2000.

Description

Presented by Steven Spielberg and directed by by famed animator Don Bluth, the critically-acclaimed films follows the humorous and dramatic adventures of Fievel, a little boy mouse who journeys from Russia to America with his family, late in the 19th century, to seek a new life free of cat persecution.

During the stormy boat trip Fievel is lost at sea, finally washing up ashore in new York Harbour, where he vows to find his family.

The voices of Dom DeLuise, Madeline Kahn, Nehemiah Persoff and Christopher Plummer bring the story of Fievel and his friends and his enemies to life in this endearing "American" tale.

Cast

• Phillip Glasser as Fievel Mousekewitz. While "Fievel" is a generally accepted spelling of his name, the opening credits spell it as "Feivel", the more common transliteration of the Yiddishname (פֿײַװל Fayvl) (Cf. Shraga Feivel Mendlowitz and Feivel Gruberger). The main protagonist, he is the only son of Papa and Mama Mousekewitz. A high-spirited, daring yet naïve Russian-Jewish mouse, Fievel becomes a frightened child when he is separated from his family. The strength and the encouragement from his new American friends from Henri to Tony and Bridget give him the fortitude to reach his goal in reuniting with his family while starting a new life in America. Fievel was the name of Steven Spielberg's grandfather, whose stories as an immigrant influenced the film (the ending credits spell his name as "Fievel"). However, many English-speaking writers have come to adopt the spelling Fievel, especially for this character; this spelling was used on the film's poster, in promotional materials and tie-in merchandise, and in the title of the sequel An American Tail: Fievel Goes West. His last name is a play on the Russian-Jewish last name "Moskowitz", the name of the human occupants of the house his family is living under at the beginning of the film.
• John Finnegan as Warren T. Rat, a small Havana Brown who disguises himself as a rat. He is the leader of the Mott Street Maulers, an all-cat gang which terrorizes the mice of New York City. Conniving and a schemer, he misleads the gullible Fievel at one point. Later on, he gets his comeuppance when Fievel discovers and later exposes him as a cat to the Mouse community. He is accompanied everywhere by his accountant Digit, a small English-accented cockroach.
• Amy Green as Tanya Mousekewitz (singing voice provided by Betsy Cathcart), Fievel's older sister, whom he mutually adores. Optimistic and cheerful, less daring but more obedient than her brother, she alone believes (correctly) that he survived being washed overboard en route to the United States. She is given the American name "Tillie" at the immigration point at Castle Garden.
• Nehemiah Persoff as Papa Mousekewitz, the head of the Mousekewitz family who plays the violin and tells stories to his children.
• Erica Yohn as Mama Mousekewitz, Fievel's mother. Countering Papa's dreamy idealism, she is a level-headed pragmatist, besides being stricter with their offspring than he is. She also has a fear of flying.
• Pat Musick as Tony Toponi, a streetwise teenage mouse of Italian descent. His "tough guy" attitude suits his New York surroundings. The name "Toponi" is a play on "topo", the Italian word for "mouse". He hits it off with Fievel, acting as a surrogate big brother to the younger mouse, whom he calls "Philly". In a subplot, he falls in love with Bridget.
• Dom DeLuise as Tiger, the most physically imposing member of the Mott Street Maulers, for whom he serves as an enforcer, and often is the brunt of their cruel jokes. Although not especially intelligent, Tiger is very friendly, and his warm nature endears him to mice and birds. He is mostly vegetarian, aside from the occasional bit of fish. Tiger becomes Fievel's best friend. He enjoys card games like poker and gin rummy, despite being terrible at them. Tiger's singing voice also helps him stand out; he sings Lyric and Dramatic Bass and Lyric and Dramatic Baritone, from D2 or E2 to F4 or G4.
• Christopher Plummer as Henri le Pigeon, a pigeon of French descent, who oversees construction of the Statue of Liberty.
• Cathianne Blore as Bridget, an attractive, elegant Irish-born mouse and Tony's significant other. Her parents were slain and devoured by the Mott Street Maulers, making her an advocate in speaking out against the cats. Kind, passionate yet soft-spoken, she acts as a surrogate big sister to Fievel.
• Neil Ross as Honest John, a local Irish-born mouse politician who knows every voting mouse in New York City. An ambulance-chasing drunkard, he takes advantage of voters' concerns to increase his political prestige. John is a caricature of real-life Tammany Hall boss John Kelly (also nicknamed "Honest John") and other 19th-century New York City politicians.
• Madeline Kahn as Gussie Mausheimer, a German-born mouse considered the richest in New York City, who rallies the mice into fighting back against the cats. Despite being against cats, she later accepts Tiger for helping reunite Fievel with his family.
• Will Ryan as Digit, Warren's British cockroach accountant who has a fondness for counting money but is plagued by frequent electrical charges in his antennae whenever he gets nervous or excited.
• Hal Smith as Moe, a fat rat who runs the local sweatshop. Fievel is sold to him by Warren.
• Dan Kuenster as Jake, Warren's burly aide-de-camp. Among the Mott Street Maulers, he alone enjoys listening to his leader's violin music. Jake catches Fievel after a chase through the sewers. After Tiger takes pity on Fievel and sets him free, Jake and his fellow Maulers pursue the young mouse to the Chelsea Pier, only to face the "Giant Mouse of Minsk".

Credits

“AN AMERICAN TAIL”

Created By DAVID KIRSCHNER

Screenplay By JUDY FREUDBERG & TONY FEISS

Story By DAVID KIRSCHNER and JUDY FREUDBERG & TONY GEISS

Music Composed By JAMES HORNER

Executive Producers STEVEN SPIELBERG, DAVID KIRSCHNER, KATHLEEN KENNEDY and FRANK MARSHALL

Produced by DON BLUTH, GARY GOLDMAN and JOHN POMERY

Directed By DON BLUTH

A UNIVERSAL Picture

Release Dates

• USA: 21st November 1986
• UK: 24th July 1987

Opening (Original 1988 release) (with no trailer)

• CIC Video Warning Screen (1988-1991)
• CIC Video Ident (1986-1991)
• BBFC U Card (1985-1997)
• Universal Pictures Ident (1963-1990)
• Start of An American Tail (1986)

Closing (Original 1988 release) (with no trailer)

• End of An American Tail (1986)
• Closing Credits Film
• A Don Bluth Film Ident (1986-1991)
• Amblin Entertainment Ident (1985-2018)

Opening (1992 Re-Release)

1. CIC Video Warning Screen
2. An American Tail: Fievel Goes West Trailer [announced by Emilio Delgado]
3. CIC Video/Universal
4. BBFC U Card (1985-1997)
5. Universal Pictures Ident (1963-1990)
6. Start of An American Tail (1986)

Closing (1992 Re-Release)

1. End of An American Tail (1986)
2. Closing Credits Film
3. A Don Bluth Film Ident (1986-1991)
4. Amblin Entertainment Ident (1985-2018)
5. CIC Video Warning Scroll

Opening (1993 Re-Release)

1. CIC Video Warning Screen (1991-1996)
2. The Universal Pictures Big Screen, Best Sellers Trailer from 1993 with clips of "Back to the Future", "Back to the Future Part II", "Back to the Future Part III", "Out of Africa", "E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial", "Kindergarten Cop", "The Blues Brothers", "The Land Before Time", "Twins", "An American Tail", "An American Tail: Fievel Goes West" and "Backdraft".
3. The Land Before Time Trailer [announced by Emilio Delgado]
4. An American Tail: Fievel Goes West Trailer [announced by Emilio Delgado]
5. BBFC U Card (1985-1997)
6. Universal Pictures Ident (1963-1990)
7. Start of An American Tail (1986)

Closing (1993 Re-Release)

1. End of An American Tail (1986)
2. Closing Credits Film
3. A Don Bluth Film Ident (1986-1991)
4. Amblin Entertainment Ident (1985-2018)
5. CIC Video Warning Scroll

Opening (2002 Re-Release)

1. Copyright Notice Warning Screen (2002-2005)
2. Universal Pictures Video logo (1997-2012)
3. Universal Mediterranea advert
4. Universal Pictures Ident (1963-1990)
5. Start of An American Tail (1986)

Closing (2002 Re-Release)

1. End of An American Tail (1986)
2. Closing Credits Film
3. A Don Bluth Film Ident (1986-1991)
4. Amblin Entertainment Ident (1985-2018)
5. Universal Pictures Video logo (1997-2012)
6. Copyright Notice Warning Screen (2002-2005)

Trailers and info

Rental 1987 re-release

1. Batteries Not Included
2. E.T. the Extra Terrestrial (Coming Home on October 28, 1988)

1992 Re-release

1. An American Tail: Fievel Goes West

1993 Re-release

1. The Universal Pictures Big Screen, Best Sellers trailer from 1993 with clips of "Back to the Future", "Back to the Future Part II", "Back to the Future Part III", "Out of Africa", "E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial", "Kindergarten Cop", "The Blues Brothers", "The Land Before Time", "Twins", "An American Tail", "An American Tail: Fievel Goes West" and "Backdraft".
2. The Land Before Time
3. An American Tail: Fievel Goes West

Gallery

Spine

Cassette

Rental re-release

1997 Re-release front cover

1997 Re-release back cover and spine

1997 re-release cassette

Poster

2002 Re-release front cover