The Mouse on the Mayflower

1968 "A story of the first Thanksgiving..."
6.7| 1h0m| G| en| More Info
Released: 23 November 1968 Released
Producted By: Rankin/Bass Productions
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Budget: 0
Revenue: 0
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The famous ship called Mayflower is trapped amidst a huge storm. The entire story is narrated by a church-mouse called Willum, from his viewpoint. The tale begins with the pilgrim preachers deciding to move to America and getting aboard the Mayflower. However, because of the huge storm, the ship gets on the verge of sinking. Then, Willum, the pilgrim mouse, comes up with an idea to save the ship. When the pilgrims land safely, they write the Mayflower Compact and start constructing their new church and colony. However, it is already the autumn season and they do not have much food stored for the winter. The pilgrims then learn to plant crops during the spring season and celebrate a big feast toward the onset of the autumn season or fall. This is their first Thanksgiving celebration.

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Director

Jules Bass, Arthur Rankin, Jr.

Production Companies

Rankin/Bass Productions

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The Mouse on the Mayflower Audience Reviews

Solemplex To me, this movie is perfection.
Abbigail Bush what a terribly boring film. I'm sorry but this is absolutely not deserving of best picture and will be forgotten quickly. Entertaining and engaging cinema? No. Nothing performances with flat faces and mistaking silence for subtlety.
Deanna There are moments in this movie where the great movie it could've been peek out... They're fleeting, here, but they're worth savoring, and they happen often enough to make it worth your while.
Bob This is one of the best movies I’ve seen in a very long time. You have to go and see this on the big screen.
Dawalk-1 This is one of the less aired Rankin-Bass specials, so I didn't grow up on watching this one, among certain others. I watched it a couple late nights/early mornings ago on Youtube, on Thanksgiving day. I've got to say, it's a nice spin on a piece of history. I think the only, other reinterpretation of this I've seen is This is America, Charlie Brown. Although I'm sure many are all familiar with the true story of how this country came to be, has anybody else besides all those who viewed it and the reviewers here ever heard of the little known fact of how at least a couple of mice were involved in how that was made possible?The special begins with a church mouse named William telling the viewers a story of how not only how that all happened, but also explains just how his ancestor, also named Willum, played a part in this too. Aside from the difficult, challenging, perilous expedition of getting there and after with all of the things that got in the way of the pilgrims, and they had to go through like a storm, going in the wrong direction, a harsh winter, and illness, they would manage to make their way to their destination successfully eventually. There are also sub-plots of a love triangle amongst Captain Miles Standish, John Alden, and Priscilla Mullins, as well as a side story about a pair of baddies aboard the Mayflower who are seeking golden riches and they'd later team up with another pair of baddies, a rogue Native American named Smiling Buzzard and his bear after arriving on what would later become known as the American shores. William himself would team up with a Native American mouse or red mouse named Big Little Thunder.As to the technical aspects of this. There may be those who find the art style in this Rankin-Bass/Toei co-production to be better than several of the other, 2-D animated Rankin-Bass productions, such as, say, 'Twas The Night Before Christmas. I didn't think about what was the perfect art style and what wasn't at the time, but I think I like the art style in this more than the other traditionally animated Rankin Bass projects. It's just so different that it separates itself from the more, typical style that those may not see as the nicest looking. As much as I like the stop-motion efforts as well, I also don't know how anybody would know what form of animation worked best for R-B. As for the animation quality itself, it seems fine and fluid enough. The 2-D animation, especially in this, is alright to me. The voice work is well done by the whole cast. Both Willums are great, lead characters, the other heroes and villains are as well. This animated, historical musical contains several great songs, such as the one about forming a new colony. Found the all the music enjoyable. Everything else about this is the same.I know that some time after its original airing, it ended up fading into obscurity. This Is America, Charlie Brown is good, but I think I like this version of The MayFlower story more, for the fact that it's essentially a what-if-spin on the story. For all those who haven't seen it, I recommended it. Another R-B holiday classic in my eyes.
richard.fuller1 This program seemed to emerge when I was two. However long after that in which I saw this, I'm not sure, four or five years, but somewhere along the way, it seemed to be removed from HOliday viewing. There just didn't seem to be as much emphasis on Thanksgiving programs, which is a shame.Also add to the fact this one is animated with illustration, not puppetry as Rudolph and the Winter Warlock are done, so that may have worked against this here, but whereas Frosty is also drawn, he was a Christmas staple.Nevertheless, it seemed the Mayflower Mouse never seemed to air regularly for me as a kid, or maybe it was the central character never spoke, making it difficult to follow his adventures with his little chirps.It's a shame in that regard as it really is delightful, especially for Tennessee Ernie Ford's singing and narration.I think the 'love triangle' with Standish, John and Prisilla took up too much of the story, as well as the comedy relief characters in hillbilly yokels (on the Mayflower?) and the Indian.Nothing else to deal with, I guess.Still, an alltime fave.
rach_1997 I really enjoyed this movie. As a child I looked forward to the Thanksgiving holiday when this movie would be played on t.v. We had it on tape at one point, but over the years the tape has been lost. I haven't seen it for quite some time and would love to see it on t.v. again. It had a lot of really great information on how the holiday came to be. I would recommend this movie to all those interested in animated shows as well as anyone who would like to watch a great movie on Thanksgiving. I hope they will start playing this show on t.v. again. Every kid should get the chance to watch a fun spirited cartoon on our history.
fbelverio We recorded the Mouse on the Mayflower in the 80's and have watched it almost every Thanksgiving since. It is very informative and entertaining. It is a good was to teach children the Thanksgiving story. In my opinion it was a great film, I recommend it to families with small children, and grandparents to show to their grandchildren.