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| Directed by: | Jules Bass Arthur Rankin, Jr. |
| Written by: | Romeo Muller |
| Music by: | Maury Laws |
| Narrated by: | Tennessee Ernie Ford (as William) |
| Release date: | November 23, 1968 |
| Running time: | 45 minutes |
| Original network: | NBC |
The Mouse on the Mayflower is a 1968 animated Thanksgiving special produced by Rankin/Bass Productions. The special is about the very first Thanksgiving, as seen from the point of view of a church mouse name Willum.
Plot[]
William, a church mouse in present-day, tells the viewers that there is more to Thanksgiving than the big feats associated with the holiday. He knows this because his great-great-great-grandfather, named Willum, came to America on the Mayflower. He pull out his great-great-great-grandfather’s journal (which is written in “mouse”) and begins to tell the story of the first Thanksgiving from a mouse’s point of view.
350 years ago, the Pilgrims, along with Willum, listen to their preacher William Bradford. The congregation all decide to sail to the New World of America to find freedom from British power. On September 16th, 1620, they pack the Mayflower with their worldly possessions and set sail. A beautiful young woman, Priscilla Mullins, receives royal treatment from Captain Standish, through the services of his assistant John Alden. The ship sails under the command of Captain Jones, who asks Bradford to supply the money required to finance the rough journey ahead. Unbeknownst to anyone, two sinister seamen, Quizzler and Scurve, concoct a dastardly scheme: should a storm arise, causing everyone to abandon ship, they will steal the gold and escape back to England without anyone being the wiser. Willum, meanwhile, overlsleeps, and barely makes it aboard before the ship heads out.
When the ship is trapped amidst a huge storm, the Pilgrims hold a prayer meeting, with John comforting Priscilla by telling her that Captain Standish will see them all through. Meanwhile, a main beam cracks, which is seen by only Willum, Quizzler and Scurve. The two scheming sailors hope to use this to their advantage, as the crew might abandon ship and leave the gold unguarded. Luckily, their plan is foiled by Willum, who alerts Captain Standish to the situation by stealing his medal and leading him down to the lower decks after it. After gathering the crew to inspect the situation, Captain Jones is about to declare they abandon ship, until Willum calls Standish’s attention to the printing press. They use it as a jack to screw the beam back up to its regular position, which delights both Standish and Jones, who are impressed by the mouse’s resourcefulness.
After the storm finally passes. John apologizes to Priscilla, who has eyes for him, on behalf of Captain Standish for not looking after her during the storm. One morning, land is finally sighted. However, Captain Jones says that they are not in Virginia, but are instead in New England. He advises, with winter fast approaching, that they should set up a new colony in New England. Excited by this notion, the Pilgrims write up the Mayflower Compact and sign it, including Willum who signs it with his pawprints.
Landing on Plymouth Rock, Priscilla and John share a romantic moment together, while Willum goes exploring and encounters an Indian mouse named Little Big Thunder, who becomes a life-long friend. The local Indians are all peaceful and friendly folk, except for their token bad apple Smiling Buzzard, and his grizzly bear sidekick Big Wheeze. They soon come across Quizzler and Scurve, and the four form a group of miserable scoundrels. They play a trick by Quizzler pretending to be shot by the Indians in front of the Pilgrims. This ruse almost convinces them to break out into war, until Willum and Thunder show them that they are friends, breaking up the confrontation. Quizzler is exposed by Charity Blake’s pet hen pecking him. Furious over his trick, Standish chases him and his cohorts away with his rifle. The villains quickly head west, never to be seen again.
Afterwards, the Pilgrims begin to build their colony and church. The winter snowfall comes quite soon, and thus the terrible winter of 1621 arrives. The food is scarce and many give up hope of ever seeing spring again. A few months later, as Willum honors those who passed on at the cemetery, he finds small flowers in bloom. Overjoyed by this sign of springtime, he plucks one and shows it to Bradford. With springtime now upon them, the Pilgrims begin to plant crop, with help from their Indian friends. Towards the onset of the autumn season, they all decide to celebrate a grand feast—the first Thanksgiving—and invite all their Indian friends. Thus, with the establishment of Thanksgiving, they affirm that the Lord is good to all and give thanks for their new home.
Songs[]
- "Mayflower, Mayflower"
- “How About a Little Elbow Room”
- “When He Looks At Me”
- “Time Stands Still”
- “This Land Was Meant to Be Free”
- “November”
Cast[]
- Tennessee Ernie Ford as William (Narrator), Willum Mouse, Esq.
- Eddie Albert as Captain Standish
- John Gary as John Alden
- Joanie Sommer as Priscilla Mullins
- Paul Frees as Captain Jones, Quizzler, Scurve, Smiling Buzzard, Little Big Thunder, Pilgrims, Sailors
- June Foray as Charity Blake, Pligrims