The Mouse
and His Child
(1977, U.S./Japan) color animated 83 minutes
Voices: Peter Ustinov (Manny Rat), Cloris Leachman (Euterpe the Parrot), Sally Kellerman (the Seal), Andy Devine (Mr. Frog), Marcy Swenson (The Mouse Child), Alan Barzman (The Mouse), Cliff Osmond (C. Serpentine)
***
A fairly faithful (if toned down) animated version of Russell Hoban's violent, philosophical and satiric children's book of 1967. A father and son team of toy wind-up mice encounter perils, along with a cast of assorted toy and flesh-and-blood animals. Chief among the latter is the villainous garbage dump ruler Manny Rat, voiced expressively by Peter Ustinov who enslaves and then pursues the wandering mice. In the end, the title characters learn what lies "beyond infinity" and realize their dream of an extended family. Overall, a nicely mounted production with memorable characters (Andy Devine as a fortune-telling frog and others). It lacks much of the bite of the book, but nevertheless remains yet another example of interesting 1970's theatrical animation.
-- Marc Berezin
***
-- Kevin S. Butler
Video/DVD availability: VHS (oop)
de Faria-Lockhart-Sanrio Film / Murakami-Wolf Enterprises
Story: Russell Hoban (based on his Novel)
Screenplay: Carol Mon Pere
Music: Roger Kellaway
Lyrics: Gene Lees
Music Supervisor: Jules Chaikin
Production Design: Sam Cirson, Vincent Davis, Bob Mitchell & Al Shean
Produced by Walt de Faria
Directed by Fred Wolf, Chuck Swenson
about Andy Devine
THE MOUSE AND HIS CHILD was the last film that comic/character actor Andy Devine worked on. He would pass away before the film was released in 1977. Mr.Devine (real name: Jeremiah Schwartz) was born in Flagstaff, Az. Originally, he didn't want to be an actor. He trained himself to be a pro football player. But while he was studying at USC, he was invited to appear in a movie as an extra. His performance was so successfull that Mr. Devine gave up sports and became a performer. He appeared in many films during the 1930's through the 1960's. He also performed on many popular radio shows including "The Lum & Abner Show". But Andy Devine will always be remembered for his work on three popular kids tv shows: "Wild Bill Hickok", with Guy Madison, "Andy's Gang!" with June Foray, Jerry Maren, Lou Krugman, Vito Scotti and Joe Mazzucca, and "Flipper", with Luke Halpin, Tommy Norden and Brain Kelly. Mr. Devine continued to do guest appearances on numerous tv shows and in comedic character parts in many movies, until he was forced to retire in the latter part of 1976, when he was diagnosed with blood cancer and diabetes. Devine passed away in February of 1977.