Edited Version

I grew up watching this cartoon all the time on vhs. I just picked up the Disney Rarities dvd collection and, for some reason, the version of Ben and Me they've included is edited. They removed an entire sequence (and my favorite sequence at that!).

Originally, right after the intro, with the guide talking to the mouse audience at the statue of Amos (on the brim of the hat of Franklin), there was a segment that explored the history of Amos' family. It lasted a couple minutes, and was presented as pieces from his family's journal, as narrated by Amos. We got to see his family immigrate to England from France, one member sail across the Thames in a teacup, one become a master painter by living under the floorboards of an old master, and finally his family immigrate to America on the Mayflower. From here, it picks up where the edited version continues, with Amos and his family in the church.

I can understand why this part may be removed when shown on television; time is a factor, and this scene isn't necessary to the plot. However, why Disney chose this reduced version for their definitive collection is beyond me. Recently, someone uploaded the full version to youtube, so see it there while you can. What's worse is that this makes me wonder what other cartoons are edited on these Disney Treasure collections. I only noticed this one was altered because I saw it often growing up. The editing is seemless, and there isn't even an "alternate versions" section here on imdb. I worry the full cartoon may end up lost to time, since nobody apparently notice it was altered, and it's not popular enough to warrant investigation.