MovieChat Forums > The Rescuers (1977) Discussion > Anyone else think this film is pretty da...

Anyone else think this film is pretty dark?

posted 10 years ago by LadyN1
17 replies | jump to latest

I mean it's not got the creepy edge of Snow White or Pinocchio but when you look at the story objectively it's about a child who is kidnapped, physically and verbally abused or threatened. She is put into forced labour with her captor having no qualms about leaving her to die should she fail. You then pretty much have the animal equivalent of the United Nations having to send agents on a rescue operation to get her out. Now look at that and tell me does that ring typical Disney for you? Same with the sequel

Don't get me wrong I love Disney and having recently rewatched it it is an underrated gem but if you take the plot for what it is devoid of the Disneyisms that make it family friendly like the music, the comedic side characters etc that isn't a cute family movie or a fantasy, that's essentially a crime drama with talking animals. When the movie ends you don't get that sense of the typical Disney ending as it were. Disney has a way of making happy endings that Are complete. They are emotionally satisfying to conclude the adventure and trials the characters have faced you can believe the happily ever after. In this it's not what I call a total happy ending.,Yes the victim in the scenario escapes and gets a family. BUT as soon as that ends evanroot comes in with another message and Bernard and Bianca are off again. That implies more victims like Penny in similar situations. And so the story goes on. There is no full happy ending just another person to save. Another adventure with all the lightness two talking mice can provide sure but still another bad situation to resolve. It literally ends with the tomorrow is another day song a new day a new challenge. It's a pretty sombering thought.

But in a way it makes it up there as one of Disney's somewhat pretty realistic films. It's a nice change in tone from the similar stuff from that period in Disney film like the Aristocats or Robin Hood. The happiness isn't simple it comes from the protagonists bringing happiness to others even at the risk of danger to their victims or to themselves like international spies/agents and what not in real life who do similar work. That's a pretty mature concept to underscore a film like this with.

But that's my little spiel on the movie. Do you guys agree at how dark it is or do you disagree and think it's a fairly light movie?

beauty freedom love truth

[–] Taran_Wanderer_2 10 years ago

I actually think that the ending to The Rescuers is one of the happiest and most satisfying Disney finales, right along with Lady and the Tramp. The prince marries the princess ending never really did much for me.

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[–] Tinny-Tinette 10 years ago

Although it's been a while since I saw the film, I found to be very dark. However, I must see it again soon.

[–] idonnowho 10 years ago

Not too dark, but still a beautiful, heartfelt masterpiece, which certainly deserves more attention from the general public than it gets...

[–] 10 years ago

[deleted]

[–] Taran_Wanderer_2 10 years ago

It's one of those films that proved that "Dark Age" of animation had just as much if not more quality than any other era.

That's probably because the auto-inclusion of the '70s decade into the time frame of the period known as the "dark age" is little more than a common misconception. The actual 'dark age' or period of transition started with The Fox and the Hound due to the significant problems during that film's production, as well as the mediocre reception the film received overall (similarly to that of the films that followed).

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[–] 10 years ago

[deleted]

[–] Taran_Wanderer_2 10 years ago

Well, even in that contest, Robin Hood, The Aristocats and Oliver & Company would be excluded, although this last one fits right in within the context of 'inferior quality.'

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[–] 10 years ago

[deleted]

[–] ZakkWyldeMyLittlePony 9 years ago

It is a tad dark I suppose. Nowhere as dark as The Black Cauldron per se.

RIP
Clive Burr
1957-2013

[–] pioneergrrrl 9 years ago

But this is why I like it. I don't like the 'must find a prince/husband' endings.

I like that Penny is the one who actually rescues herself.

Bianca and Bernard only are there to 'listen' to her and provide emotional support--which she did not have before.

This movie would be a good exception for people who say Disney fills young women's heads with sexist stereotypes re: body images.

*The only thing 'bad' in it is that Africa is listed as a country (it is a continent) in the Rescue Aid Society delegate hall.

[–] Taran_Wanderer_2 9 years ago

*The only thing 'bad' in it is that Africa is listed as a country (it is a continent) in the Rescue Aid Society delegate hall.

Well, to be perfectly honest, nowhere does it say that the delegates are each representatives of a nation. If there isn't a considerable amount of representatives for each or at least some of the African nations, it is believable that a representative of the entire African state would represent them all, or most.

And I think the only somewhat bad thing about the film is the poor directing job by wannabe Don Bluth during the heliport scene; it becomes painfully obvious that the men under his leadership were not thrilled with his unappealing, overly modern, take on the sequence, and though I wish they'd make a better effort for the sake of the film, I can't say I blame them. Don Bluth is just entirely clueless about animation aesthetics; one only needs to look at the hideous character designs on so many of his films.

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[–] TutuAnimationPrincess 9 years ago

And I think the only somewhat bad thing about the film is the poor directing job by wannabe Don Bluth during the heliport scene; it becomes painfully obvious that the men under his leadership were not thrilled with his unappealing, overly modern, take on the sequence, and though I wish they'd make a better effort for the sake of the film, I can't say I blame them. Don Bluth is just entirely clueless about animation aesthetics; one only needs to look at the hideous character designs on so many of his films.

While I have always found Don Bluth to be overrated, especially by his fan base, he's not incompetent either. He made at least two very good films, along with two or three others that are at least decent. The last line here really bugs me since visuals were never an issue for his work and he's highly regarded for his style. I know it's a preference thing, but he shouldn't be called clueless just because you don't like his style choices.

"Unless you're an alien, time traveler, or esper, your opinion doesn't matter."

[–] Taran_Wanderer_2 9 years ago

I'm sorry, but it takes more than your disagreement to make any commentary unnecessary, and if I bothered to write it out it is probably because I have my reasons to make it, and I do. Great if Bluth made "at least two very good films" in your opinion; care to name just one? And visuals have always been an issue in his works, particularly the likes of Thumbelina and A Troll in Central Park since those are the two most engraved in my mind for their atrocious character designs. I think the fact that Don Bluth's works have consistently been dubbed unaesthetic and even painful to look it is not just because I "don't like his style choices."

I don't care for the man at all, and I wish he had walked out of the Disney studio sooner. His claim that he walked out because he disapproved of the inferior quality of Disney's films of the time is utter BS; he walked out because the people working for Disney did not care for his "style" and who could blame them? Good riddance.

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[–] TutuAnimationPrincess 9 years ago

I'm very sorry, it seems my late night posting got the best of me again. I deleted that first line from my post, it was very rude. I wasn't trying to be insulting, I get overzealous sometimes.

I still think you're being too harsh on Don Bluth. A lot of his 90s projects were very studio run and didn't turn out as well as he would have liked. But all four of his 80s films are generally well regarded, Secret of NIMH and Land Before Time especially. Personally I'm more of a fan of the other two though, An American Tail and All Dogs go to Heaven. I even find a film like Thumbelina to have a "so bad it's good" quality and charm to it. Don Bluth never lived up to what he wanted to and he does tend to get overrated by his more hardcore fan base. But he was once highly regarded for the wonderful animated films he made, if only for a short time. If you don't like any of his films, that's fine. I do still think he has a solid place in animation history just the same.

"Unless you're an alien, time traveler, or esper, your opinion doesn't matter."

[–] pioneergrrrl (2389) 3 years ago

it does show some of the individual non-African nations. So I do have to be nitpicky on this one point. Miss Bianca herself is explicitly seated as the delegate from Hungary.

If they had only shown continents for all of the delegates, it would be fair.

but again paired against what kids are NOW expected to watch and aspire to be, this film still holds up.

[–] Furienna (3321) a year ago

It is really not as fun as many other Disney movies, but I would say that "The Black Cauldron" and "The Hunchback of Notre-Dame" are darker.

[–] urrutiap (950) 3 months ago

i watched the Rescuers just last night and while it was good it was at the same timer a pretty dark and messed up movie for kids to even watch.

you got Madame Medusa who's worse than Miss Hannigan. Shes' got two giant gators as "pets" and to keep an eye on Penny.

Plus some stupid long lost diamond that's hidden or whatever in a sea cave where the water/tide rushes in every second. Add that to putting a little girl's life in danger by forcing her to go into the cavern area to find the stupid diamond.

Two ways for Penny to be harmed/die. By drowning or being eaten by two giant gators