Why are The Rescuers´movies so overlooked?

[unprincess]

I think the reason 101 Dalmations doesnt feel dated to alot of people, (even though technically it is) is b/c the media had deemed the 60's and every decade prior to it (50's, 40's even up the victorian era), etc...as classy and stylish. Once you get to the 70's & on though(80's & 90's too) you start to get the association of tacky & gaudy, bad fashion/music etc...& it colors how we might percieve the films made in those eras.

[thelittleursula]

The Resistance era?

Oh crap, sorry

not the best at spelling

[Marce82]

I don;t think 101 DalmatiAns (note the spelling!) is dated. I think other than the telephones they use and the TV, nothing screams a specific decade. It is clearly set in the 20th century, but none of the clothing or hairstyles are specific to the 60s. I mean... look at Anita. She could have worn that in any decade after the 20s....

I dont think Aladdin is dated either. Some of the jokes might not be funny anymore, but the story at its core still works beautifully, and its art direction is still "once upon a time in the middle east".

I dont think Oliver and Co and Rescuers fail because they are dated, I think they fail because the stories/characters are weak. Both of their music is a little decade specific though... definitely not "timeless"

[thelittleursula]

These are so overlooked that people can't get the release dates right. :/

[Kraken Guard]

... Wow, that's pretty ancient, for a movie!

[Jay]

I think it mainly has to do with when it was released. It came out at a time that Disney doesn't care to remember. Every animated film they released between 1968 to 1989 is completely ignored for the most part. I have seen some Marie merchandise over the years but other thank that nothing. It's a shame because The Rescuers is one of my personal favorite Disney films. It was also very successful and popular when it was released and got people excited for Disney animation again. It also held the record for the highest grossing opening weekend of all time for an animated film until "An American Tail" came out 10 years later. Disney also saw it popular enough back in the 80's to give it a theatrically released sequel. They also originally planned "Oliver an Company" as a sequel to it focusing on Penny and her new family.

There was also the topless woman controversy back in the 90's which could also factor in. Because when I was growing up in the 90's all my friends knew about the movie and loved it. Disney could at least out out plushes of Bernard and Bianca they're both cute and well designed haha. And Medusa should be featured more in the villain line up. She is fabulously animated by Milt Kahl. It's ashamed his grand creation gets no attention. She is hilarious!

As for the sequel, well it's a sequel to a movie that Disney doesn't care about anymore. Plus it came out in between two big hits Mermaid and BatB. If it came out earlier it probably would have done better. Plus Disney didn't really give it a chance because the pulled it from theaters after it's opening weekend didn't they? I haven't seem the sequel in a while I'll have to rewatch it.

[unprincess]

They also originally planned "Oliver an Company" as a sequel to it focusing on Penny and her new family.

really? I didnt know that!

what gets me is that alot of this movies during the "dark age" where actually successful in the box office. I know Oliver was the highest grossing animated film when it was released & that was even with competition from Land B4 Time. I think Fox & the Hound made alot of money too(for the time).

[Walter]

I remember someone either mentioning it here, or reading it somewhere else, that there was suppose to be another sequel planned for the Rescuers, and even a TV series. But all of that got cancelled when Eva Gabor passed away.

"Oliver and Company" may be dated, but it also seemed like it would have fit into the Renaissance period better, and felt like Disney was testing the waters for the musical format. It would be the first in a line of musicals. I just notice that when watching all the films in chronological order.

[disneyftw1]

First rescuers- it's okay. Down Under- WHY ISN'T EVERYONE WATCHING THIS?!

[kidglov3s]

Was reading through a Box Office Magazine back issue from 1984, like ya do, and this review of The Rescuers reminded me of this thread.



For years and years, this was thought of as being a shining light in the 70s/80s. It's no coincidence that they kept trying to build it into a franchise through sequel project after sequel project, even a tv series, most of which became other things. It was re-released twice in the 80s. I think the combination of the sequel's theatrical performance, the crazy success enjoyed by the films of the late 80s/early 90s, the scandal surrounding the late 90s video release and the passing of time have made it less prominent, but it's still one of my favorites.