D52–The Rescuers

Delving into the world of the Rescue Aid Society, the mouse version of the United Nations, 1977’s The Rescuers follows the adventures of Bernard and Bianca as they attempt to rescue an orphaned girl who has been kidnapped. Originally intended to have Cruella deVille as the villain, that detail was altered midway through production, though some traces, such as her car, still remain in the finished product.

From a technical perspective, the film is noteworthy for being the first to use colour photocopying. The Disney studio had used Xerox machines to transfer the pencil drawings to the cel since 101 Dalmatians, but they were always restricted to black lines. With the advent of colour copying, drawing outlines could now be made in colors that matched or reflected the characters themselves. The film features the darker tone that would become typical of Disney for the next decade. While not outright sad, it is definitely sombre from start to finish. It has some bright character moments, but the majority is subdued.

As I child, I didn’t enjoy this film, feeling it was too slow and much preferring the brighter sequel The Rescuers Down Under. Revisiting it, it’s still far from my favourite. None of the characters or story elements really connect with me and it feels a little hollow. I would consider it essential viewing only as an introduction to the characters on display in the sequel, which we’ll get to in a few weeks.

1977 television ad for The Rescuers

Up next: The Fox and the Hound (1981)