Customer Reviews

Mouse on the Mayflower [VHS]

5 star:		(18)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

This is a Thanksgiving tale that begins with the ship Mayflower being caught up in a big storm. A churchmouse named William tells the story from a mouses viewpoint. He begins with the decision by the pilgrims preacher to move to America, and the packing of the Mayflower. A disaster at sea threatens to sink the ship, but William the pilgrim mouse has an idea to save the ship. The pilgrims land safely and write the Mayflower Compact. They begin to build their new colony and church, but it is already Fall and they do not have enough food stored. The winter is so harsh and food so limited that many pilgrims do not live through the winter. The pilgrims learn to plant crops in the Spring, and in the Fall celebrate with a big feast, the first Thanksgiving. William also scuttles a plan to blame the Indians for an attack on the pilgrims.

Romeo Muller who wrote/adapted the Rudolph special and others wrote this story. Maury Laws who did such a good job with the music on the other specials wrote the music for this one, while Jules Bass wrote the lyrics. The songs include "Elbow Room" about the tight conditions on ship, A song by Priscilla called "When He Looks at Me", a love song between John and Priscilla called "Time Stands Still" which is reprised with the arrival of Spring. The Pilgrims sing "This Land was Meant to be Free", while they are full of hope and building a new church and village. Kids love this film, and it has a wonderful ending.

This 1 hour TV special originally aired on NBC on November 23, 1968. It is done in traditional cel animation. The tale is narrated and sung by Tennessee Ernie Ford, Captain Standish is voiced by Eddie Albert, Priscilla is voiced by Joanie Summers (yes, of Happy Days). Four different characters are are performed by the famous voice artist Paul Frees, including Captain Jones, Smiling Buzzard, Quizzler, and Scurv.

This was produced by Rankin/Bass Studios, who were in high demand due to the success of their 1964 stop motion hit, "Rudolph, the Red Nosed Reindeer". After Rudolph their next holiday special was "Cricket on the Hearth" in 1967, a traditional cel animated feature, then the Mouse on the Mayflower the following year. In addition to Rudolph the studio made over 35 TV specials, of which about 19 are holiday specials. Some of the others include Year without a Santa Claus, Nestor the Long Eared Donkey, The Little Drummer Boy, Frosty the Snowman, Santa Claus is Coming'to Town, Here Comes Peter Cottontail, Cricket on the Hearth, the Stingiest Man in Town, 'Twas the Night Before Christmas, A Christmas Tree, Pinnochio's Christmas, Rudolph's Shiny New Year, the First Easter Bunny, The Easter Bunny is Coming'to Town, Leprechauns Christmas, The First Christmas, and Frosty's Winter Wonderland. They also made non-holiday films such as the Hobbit; Flight of Dragons; Mad Monster Party, & the Last Unicorn. It is incredible that one company is responsible for all those TV specials, which are 95% of the ones broadcast every year. Their studio's work includes standard animation, stop-motion animagic, and live action. They really are a huge part of our pop culture history. I hope this comes out on a restored DVD soon, I have bought all the other Rankin/Bass that has been released on DVD.

The publishing rights to most of the Rankin/Bass catalog of films is currently owned by Little Golden Books, and they have begin the long and expesive process of preserving and restoring the original films, and releasing them on DVD. They have done a great job with the other films, some that look as good as they did when they were made. They even restored missing footage to Rudolph. Theyhave been adding extra features and behind the scenes featurettes to the DVD's as well, and creating some very nice box sets.

For as long as I can remember, this movie came on TV every Thanksgiving. A few years ago, they stopped playing it. Unaware of that, I looked for it on TV every Thanksgiving. I was very upset when I was unable to find it. Finding it here was a blessing. It has been a few years since I have seen it, but the feelings it invokes in me are the same as they were when I was a child. There aren't very many Thanksgiving movies out there, and this has become a classic in my household. My sisters love it, I love it, and my 15 month old son loves it. I can't imagine a Thanksgiving without it!!

This was a movie I enjoyed watching as a young person. It is a lot of fun with Tennessee Ernie Ford doing the songs and the narration. It helps children to learn about how the Pilgrims came to America & the hard times they had. I gave this video to my niece & nephew & they love the movie.

This is the BEST THANKSGIVING special around...and I am not just saying that because I am the RANKIN/BASS Historian. The sound on this VHS is magnificent and it should be on DVD! I have the original GAS LP Soundtrack on CD. MAURY LAWS and JULES BASS did a wonderful job with the score. ELBOW ROOM, sung by TENN. ERNIE FORD was part of the RANKIN/BASS off-Broadway play A MONTH OF SUNDAYS, before it was put to GREAT use in this special! A GREAT Special! E-mail me with any questions: Rickgoldsc@aol.com

I don't know who owns the rights to this wonderful production, but considering all the other Rankin/Bass goodies available on DVD, why has Mouse On The Mayflower been ignored for release? It's ludacris! Release it!! For heaven's sake!! This production deserves at least the same repect that was given to lesser productions like "Rudoloph's Shiny New Year" or "The Little Drummer Boy, Book II", which were not half as good as Mouse On The Mayflower". Most of us Baby Boomers grew up with this stuff. We got our baths & teeth brushed early so we could watch them before being scurried off to bed, and anxiously awaited repeats year after year. Did anyone else but me sit with a cassette recorder next to the TV speaker so they could record the show audio? LOL. I did. I loved the songs, and I'd listen to the tapes I made and play the visuals over and over in my head. God it was great being a kid! C'Mon Rankin/Bass! Bring this one back on DVD! It's a classic!

Simply put, this is a fun kids movie about Thanksgiving. The songs are (I feel) catchy, and act mostly to develop the characters, rather than to convey historical information.

The Indian characters are presented in no more buffoonish a manner than their European counterparts. In fact, great trouble is made to demonstrate that there are scoundrels on BOTH sides of the pond, and to show the nobility and desire for friendship in the native peoples of the area. It is no use hiding children from racism; it is far more constructive to allow them to confront it and recognize it for what it is--the discarded relic of those who lived 400 years ago.

I cannot believe The Mouse and the Mayflower does not come on Television anymore. It is a true classic that puts you right in the holiday spirit no matter your age. I am 26 years old and still till this day I love this movie every year. This film is a great movie to watch the morning of thanksgiving for both adults and children alike. I can't imagine a thanksgiving without it.

i grew up watching this movie every year at thanksgiving. i looked forward to it. the mouse is so cute and the songs still stick with me. too bad this program isn't shown on television much anymore.

My 2 and 4 year old kids want to see this video over and over. They love the mouse character and have memorized the songs. The kids are having so much fun with the video, they don't realize they are learning history.

The Mouse on the Mayflower is a must see for all ages in my opinion. While I don't remember ever seeing this wonderful movie on TV when I was a child, I learned of it as an adult when my children were small. Since there are so few movies about Thanksgiving I purchased this on VHS and my children loved it. Since then I have worn out two tapes and my third is getting "grainy". I teach second grade and every year recommend to parents that they rent this from one of our local Video Rental stores. The content tells a fairly accurate story of the pilgrims in a way children will enjoy and remember. Having talking mice tell a story of historic value is just one way to teach children of their nation's heritage.