Ben and Me

This marvelous film, while occasionally being run in the wee hours on the Disney Channel, has been otherwise shoved to the back of the vault and for being woefully neglected, has suffered a much better fate than much of Disney's output in the 1940's and 1950's. Disney regularly put out one and two-reel shorts and documentaries back then and the majority probably haven't been seen in decades. Ben and Me is a case in point-not in print and rarely shown, while we get the umpteenth replay of Cosmic Capers-a good short, but with so much material available, why not air some less-seen stuff? This film, for example, a funny take on Ben Franklin and why he accomplished so much. One wonders what Edison must have consulted with. Most recommended.

This is by far one of the cutest animated "history" lessons anyone can watch or show to children. Of course it is fictional with a mouse as the hero and main character but does present the founding of our nation and the writing of the constitution in a very entertaining matter. Amos is really portrayed as the hero in place of Benjamin Franklin, with Franklin portrayed as somewhat of a bumbling, "absent-minded" professor type. We are also shown some of Benjamin Franklin's inventions as well as some of his famous sayings scattered throughout the short movie. We do have a video version of this and I believe it is still available. I highly recommend this very entertaining and educational 25 minute feature by Disney at his best.

AMAZING ACCOMLIISHMENTS IN many fields are the legacy of our own "Renaissance Man" of the Colonial & Revolutionary Period, Mr. Benjamin Franklin. Some have said that he did enough in so many divergent fields in such excellence that he must have had help from others. This kids story adapted by Walt Disney & Co., suggests that he also had counsel of a rodentian nature. That would be one Amos Mouse (Sterling Holloway-voice).

AS WITH ALL and everything that is Disney, the best is expected and delivered. This includes the animation, character design, the music, the Technicolor and the cast of voice actors. He cast consisting of names like: Sterling Holloway (Mouse), Hans Conreid (Thomas Jefferson), Charlie Ruggles (Ben) and Bill Thompson (Governor).

AND WE WELL remember this two reel cartoon opening up with a modern day tour-guide lecturing a group of interested history Buffs before a statue of the Great Philadelphian, himself. While the guy continued spouting his well rehearsed spiel, the camera's eye panned up, bringing our view to the sculpture's three corner hat. There we're privy to a much smaller tour. Being conducted by a mouse tour guide for other interested mice, this scene mirrored the human's; but the emphasis was on the little one's accomplishments and how he was the power behind Ben's throne.

DONE MAINLY IN flashback, this story unfolds with the two meeting and befriending each other. One by one, each invention, discovery or accomplishment or idea is revealed as being largely the work of the mouse.

THAT WOULD INCLUDE inventing the potbelly stove, flying that kite in the lightning storm and the development of the bifocal lens. A particularly amusing gag unfolds in the scene where the now broken lenses are cut by Amos and joined together using his teeth.

THE MOUSE WOULD ride around town in Franklin's hat and remind him of the names of the fine ladies and gentlemen that he met; as poor been apparently had a poor memory.

WE DO SEEM to remember some reference to the Contoinental Congress and the Declaration of Independence, but all of that is very shady; this original screening having taken place nearly 60 years ago. This is a good reason for us to either buy a DVD or rent one (you know, for the grandkids)!

NOW THEN SCHULTZ, why don't you do the same!

Guess what? It turns out that the much lauded Benjamin Franklin wasn't actually one of the architects of American independence after all. Nope. It was his mousey friend "Amos" who came up with all that "we the people" malarkey. After Benjamin had visited King George III and left with short shrift, he returned home to colonies full to brimming with folks like Thomas Jefferson determined that it is time to sever the links with the mother country. Treason? They'll all be hanged? Well first things first, they have to come up with a declaration that will set their daring vision onto paper and into motion. Thing is, they just can't find the words. Well, not for the first time, that's where the eloquent ball of fur comes to the fore and the rest is history... Well if Scottish history sees no problem awarding credit for it's rebellions to a spider, then why not the US of A according the same accolades to a wily and journalistic critter that is colourfully and mischievously depicted here. It's good fun with some entertaining dialogue from both the kite-flying mouse and his printer mentor. History, schmistory - maybe there really was a mouse on the moon, too?

Well, not as neglected as it was but Ben and Me is still one of Disney's most under-appreciated short films. And unjustly, because it is a treasure. It's animated beautifully, all the characters are well drawn, with a couple that are reminiscent of a couple from Disney's Cinderella(like a cat that looks like Lucifer) and it is hard not to admire the sumptuousness of the backgrounds. There is a music score that brims with energy too, and the dialogue has humour that amuses and it educates as well. The story is probably Ben and Me's biggest strength, it is cute without being too cutesy, it is good-natured in its funny parts and very warm-hearted. It is also very educational and there is a great lesson to be learnt without showing any signs of preaching, even at the end when we see how the declaration of independence comes about. The characters have engaging personalities and are in no way superfluous to the story, they are easy to relate to as well. Ben and Me is also brilliantly voiced, particularly by Sterling Holloway as mouse Amos who has the lion's share of the written material as well(considering that the story is told from his viewpoint). His voice-work is warm, witty and moves the storytelling forward rather than trying to over-explain(like a few shorts with Holloway narrating, The Pelican and the Snipe comes to mind). I prefer Hans Conried in villain roles but he is very distinguished here and like Holloway you recognise his voice immediately. Charles Ruggles is very endearing as Ben. So all in all, an animated treasure that ought be better known. 10/10 Bethany Cox