Voices of Pearl Bailey, Mickey Rooney, Kurt Russell, and Jeanette Nolan
Directed by Ted Berman, Richard Rich, and Art Stevens
Music and Lyrics by various
Disney was in transition when they made this one. This dark and unassuming animal story was a first for them in many respects. It was their first animated movie whose creation Walt had no involvement with. The book it's based on debuted in 1967, the year he died. It was also the last movie made by their Nine Old Men who had helped animate many of their earliest films, and the first for many animators who would help create hits for them and elsewhere in the 90's and beyond. How did all this effect the tale of a fox cub and hound puppy who are friends when they're young, only to become mortal enemies when they grow into adulthood? Let's begin with Big Mama Owl (Bailey) rescuing an abandoned fox cub after the death of its mother and find out...
The Story: Big Mama and her bird friends Dinky (Dick Bakalyan) and Boomer (Paul Winchell) bring the cub to lonely Widow Tweed (Nolan). She names him Tod (Keith Coogan) and raises him as a pet. Around the same time, hunter Amos Slade (Jack Anderson) brings home a hound puppy named Copper (Corey Feldman). When the two meet in the woods, they become fast friends and vow to stay that way forever. Neither Tweed nor Amos are thrilled with their relationship. Amos thinks Tod is after his chickens, and Tweed doesn't like Amos harming animals.
Amos takes Copper and his older dog Chief (Pat Buttram) on a long winter hunting trip. When they return in the spring, Copper (Russell) and Tod (Rooney) have grown to adulthood. Tod wants to renew their friendship, but Copper doesn't want to go against his owner and friend. After Chief is badly hurt in an accident with a train, Copper is determined to track Tod down. Widow Tweed lets Tod into a nature preserve to protect him. Tod's lonely, until Big Mama introduces him to sweet Vixey (Sandy Duncan). Amos and Copper are still after them...but when a bear attacks the entire group, Copper has to decide if he wants revenge, or to respect the friendship they once had.
The Animation: Disney was only just pulling itself out of its 70's slump when they made this. It isn't the best they ever did, but it's also not without its virtues. It's kind of obvious Don Bluth worked on some scenes before he and 13 other animators walked out. This looks and feels more like one of his movies at times, especially in the beginning when Tod and Copper are younger and play with their tongues hanging out.
The Song and Dance: Considering how much they softened from the original anti-deforestation novel, this still wound up being one of their darker films. I forgot what a terrific cast it has. All four of the actors playing Tod and Copper are splendid; Rooney and Russell give a lift to the dramatic scenes in the second half, and the younger boys would go on to have substantial careers as teens and young adults. Bailey's three songs are charming and sweet, and Anderson and Nolan play off each other well as the cantankerous hunter and the kindly old widow who wishes he'd leave her pet alone.
The Numbers: The first song isn't until more than 15 minutes in, but it's the charming and bittersweet "Best of Friends." As Tod and Copper frolic in the woods, Mama wishes they really could stay friends forever. Mama and Dinky try to explain why a "Lack of Education" could lead Tod to an early grave, and why Copper won't be his best friend for much longer. Amos claims he's "A Huntin' Man." Widow Tweed talks the lyrics for the heartbreaking "Goodbye May Seem Forever" as she releases Tod into the wild before the chorus takes over. Big Mama encourages Tod to "Appreciate the Lady" and get to know Vixey better after his bad night in the woods.
Trivia: This was also the last Disney movie to simply feature a "The End" graphic at the end and push all the credits to the beginning and the first to use CGI graphics (mainly when Amos is trapping Tod and Vixey in their burrow).
Though Kurt Russell did ten other Disney movies, this would be his only appearance in one of their animated films.
Phil Harris and Charo were originally going to appear in the film as two goofy cranes, but it was decided that they and their comic number slowed the pacing and they were removed early in development.
What I Don't Like: Did I mention how dark this is? Amos and Chief get hurt, there's shooting and gunplay, not to mention the fact that Tod and Copper's relationship, no matter how adorable it is in the beginning of the film, is doomed from the start. Despite all that, I wish they'd gone even darker. Not as dark as the book, where everyone dies and the woods are demolished, but at least let Chief die and give Copper more of a reason for wanting to attack Tod. Unfortunately, I think that was the Disney old guard getting wishy-washy.
And I'm glad they cut the Harris and Charo cranes. Winchell and Bakalyan do have some funny moments as the two birds relentlessly chasing a caterpillar, but their side story seems out of place and disconnected from the main plot about Tod and Copper's relationship. Other than "Best of Friends," Bailey's songs don't really seem to belong, either, and she doesn't have much to do besides sing and rescue Tod in the opening.
The Big Finale: This has never been my favorite Disney movie, thanks to the uneven tone and dark themes, but if your older kids are fans of other animated animal movies like The Secret of NIMH or you're a fan of anyone in the cast, it's worth checking out for that great voice cast and the animation.
Home Media: It took them so long to release this on video, it was the last movie to appear in the original Walt Disney Classics line in 1994. Thankfully, it's long out of the Vault and is now easily found in all formats, including on Disney Plus. The current disc versions bundle it with its direct-to-video sequel, which I'll be looking at next week.
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