The film opens in dramatic fashion as Olivia Flaversham tragically witnesses the kidnapping our her father by the fiendish Professor Ratigan. This leads Olivia to track down Basil of Baker Street to help her find her father. It is such a clever way to open this film because it allows us all to become instantly invested in the characters and the storyline. One of the most gut-wrenching moments in the film, and in Disney history for that matter, is when Olivia looks out over the destruction left behind by her father's kidnappers and simply exclaims, "Father!" Olivia is the glue that binds this story together, but it is Basil and his trusty assistant Dawson that deliver the goods time and time again. When Olivia finally connects with Basil and Dawson and they set off on their quest to find Ratigan, Disney magic comes alive. Basil is one of the best interpretations of Sherlock Holmes in Hollywood history as he is just as witty as he is enigmatic. He is fiercely determined to capture Ratigan once and for all, even when all hope seems lost. If Basil is the brains of the operation, Dawson is the heart of it. He is the bridge between Olivia and Basil whenever Basil tends to forget that the mission is to find this girl's father instead of solely finding Ratigan. Through this characterization, Disney does a masterful job of allowing Basil to evolve throughout the story. Therefore, when the mission is accomplished and they go their separate ways, we truly feel as if Basil will genuinely miss Olivia as he fights back tears towards the end of the film. Who knew Disney could make mice such complex characters?
You know how much I love Disney villains, and The Great Mouse Detective features an incredible one. Professor Ratigan may just be the most underrated Disney villain of all-time. Think about his grand scheme. He is willing to capture a toy-maker to create a robot to imitate the Queen so he can become ruler of all "mousedom." That's a bold and ingenious strategy! Ratigan's characterization is helped immensely by voice work provided by the legendary Vincent Price. Price is the perfect casting choice for Ratigan, exhibiting sarcastic wit as well as vileness oftentimes in the same line of dialogue. Plus, Ratigan is given one of the best Disney villain songs ever too. "The World's Greatest Criminal Mind" is a spectacular tune that is surrounded by an awesomely animated sequence featuring a wide variety of stellar characters. In a film that contains many highlights, Ratigan and this scene in particular are true standouts.
The new animators have clearly started to come into their own after their disappointing turn with The Black Cauldron because The Great Mouse Detective is a beautiful film. The detail in the animation is truly stunning, and the flawless blend of hand drawn animation with computer technology is sensational. In the climatic final battle between Ratigan and Basil, the animators put on an absolute tour de force performance. Additionally, the scene in which Ratigan's henchmen, Fidget, kidnaps Olivia is gorgeous as well. If The Great Mouse Detective had a flaw, it would be its peculiar soundtrack. I already alluded to my love for Ratigan's number, but it is one of only two songs in the film (the other being the delightful "Let Me Be Good to You"). These two songs are marvelous songs, but because they are never followed by more songs, they come across as random additions to the film. It feels as if Disney was not quite sure if they wanted this film to be a musical or not.
That being said, though, I truly do love The Great Mouse Detective. It is one of the most criminally underrated films in the Disney canon. Does it deserve to be mentioned in the same breath as such classics as Cinderella or Peter Pan? Probably not, but not many films actually deserve that honor, so that should not diminish the high quality of The Great Mouse Detective. While it may not go down as a bonafide Disney classic, it is still one of the studio's most entertaining and complex films to date.
Rating: 9/10
Historical Significance: Ratigan was initially intended to be a thin and relatively weak villain, but then Disney brought in Vincent Price to provide the voice. Upon seeing Price record the lines, the animators decided to radically change the physique of Ratigan. One example of this is Ratigan's facial expressions. Price would often exaggerate gestures and facial expressions during recording, so the animators decided to work that physicality into the character. It was a literal dream come true for Price as he had always wanted to voice a Disney character.
Behind the Scenes: The Great Mouse Detective marks the directorial debut of John Musker and Ron Clements. This dynamic duo would go on to direct such classic Disney films as The Little Mermaid, Aladdin, Hercules, and The Princess and the Frog. They will once again offer their talents for Disney when they direct Moana, coming to theaters in November 2016. Furthermore, Ratigan was inspired by Sherlock Holmes's most famous villain, Moriarty. The final scene showing Ratigan falling to his death and Basil escaping is exactly how it transpired in Arthur Conan Doyle's original tales. This was only the second time that a villain is shown dying in a Disney animated film (the first being the Evil Queen in Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs).
Favorite Character: You can probably guess where I am going with this. Professor Ratigan is one of my favorite Disney villains of all-time. From the animation to his song to that legendary voice work from Price, Ratigan is everything you could possibly want from a Disney villain. Like this film, he is severely undervalued. In my opinion, he deserves to be inducted into the pantheon of iconic Disney villains with equal value as Maleficent, Cruella De Vil, and the Queen of Hearts.
Favorite Scene/Song: Ratigan's ode to himself is the perfect villain song. As he begs for his gang to praise his name and his diabolical plans, we are given a legitimate insight into what makes Ratigan tick. As the song's title suggests, he wants to go down in history as "The World's Greatest Criminal Mind," and if you disagree with him or insult him (do NOT call him a r-a-t), he will simply dispose of you at the mercy of his cat, Felicia. This scene coupled with this song is an exquisite masterclass in animation, character development, and storytelling. (Watch this scene and listen to the song here)
Updated Ranking: No, that is not a typo. I do rank The Great Mouse Detective over Fantasia. That is just how much I love this film. Remember, these are my rankings. If you do not like it, we can agree to disagree.
- Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs
- Peter Pan
- Cinderella
- The Jungle Book
- Sleeping Beauty
- Pinocchio
- Lady and the Tramp
- The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh
- Alice in Wonderland
- Dumbo
- Bambi
- 101 Dalmatians
- The Great Mouse Detective
- Fantasia
- The Adventures of Ichabod and Mr. Toad
- The AristoCats
- Fun and Fancy Free
- The Fox and the Hound
- Robin Hood
- Melody Time
- The Three Caballeros
- Saludos Amigos
- The Rescuers
- The Sword in the Stone
- Make Mine Music
- The Black Cauldron
The Disney Renaissance is almost here, but we have one more film from the seventies and eighties to watch before it arrives. Tomorrow, Oliver and Company!
-Cody Fleenor
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