Review: The Fox and the Hound

Adapted from a 1967 novel (and apparently only very loosely), this is the story of the ups and downs in the relationship of a fox named Tod (voiced as a youngster by Keith Coogan, credited as Keith Mitchell, and as an adult by Mickey Rooney) and a hound dog named Copper (voiced as a youngster by Corey Feldman, and an adult by Kurt Russell), two species of animal destined to be sworn enemies, unbeknownst to them. Copper’s sour (but not very bright) owner Amos Slade (voiced by Jack Albertson) intends to raise Copper as a hunting dog like grizzled, mean-spirited Chief (voiced by Pat Buttram), who is now getting a bit long in the tooth. Jeanette Nolan voices Widow Tweed, Tod’s adopted owner, and the polar opposite of Amos. Pearl Bailey voices the wise old owl Big Mama who looks out for Tod, especially as a youngster. John McIntire, Sandy Duncan, John Fiedler, and Paul Winchell (AKA Tigger) round out the cast of characters, voicing the cranky Badger, female fox Vixey, the aptly named Porcupine, and woodpecker Boomer, respectively (The latter of whom is more in keeping with modern Disney output and their cute comedic side characters).

 

It doesn’t reinvent the wheel, but this 1981 Disney animated film is awfully cute and an easy watch. Yes it’s got a lot of “Bambi” to it, but the array of different animal characters here are more interesting. The title characters are especially adorable as youngsters and the film leaves you all warm and fuzzy inside. The songs, few as they are, are terrible, with Pearl Bailey doing much better with her voice work as Big Mama than with her singing. The entire voice cast is excellent, though it’s a bit disconcerting to hear Jack Albertson (Grandpa Joe from “Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory”) as a mean old hunter, and you’ve also got Kurt Russell here as Copper the same year he first essayed the role of Snake Plissken. Full credit to the inimitable Mickey Rooney for not making the adult Tod sound 40 years older than the adult Copper. It’s remarkable how young The Mick sounds here. The man was middle-aged in the 60s for cryin’ out loud. I’m not a Sandy Duncan fan, but she plays well off Rooney here in a brief part (which was apparently animated by an uncredited Tim Burton, not that you’ll believe me). It’s also great to hear veteran character actor John McIntire briefly, as the crotchety old badger.

 

It’s probably not as good as “Bambi”, especially since the central premise is a tad tough to accept as something to get misty-eyed about (foxes are pests, for starters, and it’s a fact of life that hounds track foxes), but it means well, and is perfectly sweet and cute. It’s a nice, if unmemorable film that although not classic Disney (and I consider underrated films like “Robin Hood” in that category along with “Pinocchio” etc.), has more elements of classic Disney than just about any Disney animated film to come after it.

 

The film comes from the directorial trio of Ted Berman (“The Black Cauldron”, “The Rescuers”), Richard Rich (“The Black Cauldron”, “The Swan Princess”), and Art Stevens (co-writer of “101 Dalmatians”). Based on a Daniel P. Mannix book (which sounds much, much darker), the script is by Larry Clemmons (“The Jungle Book”, “Robin Hood”, “The Rescuers”), Ted Berman,  David Michener (“The Great Mouse Detective”, “The Rescuers”), Peter Young (“The Great Mouse Detective”), Burny Mattinson (“The Great Mouse Detective”, “Beauty and the Beast”), Steve Hulett (“The Great Mouse Detective”), Earl Kress, and Vance Gerry (“The Jungle Book”).

 

Rating: B-