The Secret of Nimh
Director: Don Bluth
Cast: Elizabeth Hartman, Derek Jacobi, Peter Strauss, Dom DeLuise, Arthur Malet, Hermione Baddeley, John Carradine, Wil Wheaton, Shannen Doherty, Jodie Hicks, Paul Shenar, Tom Hatten, Lucille Bliss, Ina Fried,
Based on Robert C. O’Brien’s extraordinary children’s tale, “The Secret of NIMH” follows Mrs. Brisby (Elizabeth Hartman), a courageous mouse who must embark on a dangerous journey in order to save her children from certain peril. Unable to leave because her son is gravely ill, Mrs. Brisby seeks the help of nearby rats because she must move her children to safety, before the local farmer starts plowing. Mrs. Brisby receives an unexpected gift from the elder rat, Nicodemus (Derek Jacobi), who also offers her hope for her family’s salvation.
The necklace plays a powerful role in the story in symbolizing Mrs. Frisby’s courage and determination as the story unfolds.
When the story begins, we see Nicodemus holding the necklace as he writes in his journal, revealing the fate of Jonathan Frisby (Mrs. Frisby’s husband) who died courageously, while trying to help with the Plan. Jonathan gives the necklace to Nicodemus, instructing his wise and noble friend to give the necklace to Mrs. Frisby when Jonathan died. As he mourns the death of his friend, we see Nicodemus’s reflection in the crimson stone of the necklace, telling his friend to comfort his beloved wife, because she will be waiting for him to come home, and he will not be returning to her. Mrs. Frisby’s courage is first shown when she ventures from her home to see Great Owl, who advises her to go and see Nicodemus in the rosebush to gain protection for her family. When Mrs. Frisby visits Nicodemus, he gives her the necklace and tells her the secret of it: that “courage of the heart is very rare, and the stone has power when it is there.” He goes on to tell Mrs. Frisby that the stone will glow red when worn by one with a courageous heart. By giving her this precious gift, Jonathan also gives his wife the courage she needs to fulfill her quest. In the end, it was Mrs. Frisby, herself, who moved her home and protected her children, when she shows courage of the heart. She empowers the stone with her courage and thus, saves her family.
Courage is a powerful theme in this film, and nowhere is courage illustrated more perfectly, than in the characters Jonathan, Justin, Jeremy the crow, and Mrs. Frisby, herself.
Jeremy’s courage is shown in his friendship with Mrs. Frisby. When Mrs. Frisby is returning home from Mr. Ages’ house, she meets Jeremy, who is tangled in red string. While Mrs. Frisby is trying to free the clumsy crow, the pair are attacked by the farmer’s cat, Dragon. Although he is allergic to cats, Jeremy bravely comes to her rescue, when he saves Mrs. Frisby from being attacked by Dragon and saves Timmy’s medicine, returning it safely to her. When Mrs. Frisby visits Nicodemus, he tells her of her husband’s courage and heroism…how he bravely helped the rats escape from NIMH and how he died heroically, trying to drug the farmer’s cat, Dragon, to fulfill the Plan and help the rats escape to Thorn Valley. Justin’s courage is shown when he bravely battles the villainous Jenner, after the stone that serves as Mrs. Frisby’s home collapses in the mud, and he attacks Mrs. Frisby, trying to claim the necklace.
Mrs. Frisby faces an impossible dilemma in the film. She knows that she must move her children to a new home before the farmer’s plough comes so they will not perish, but if she does this, she risks the life of her youngest son, Timothy, because he is deathly ill, with pneumonia, and she has been told by Mr. Ages that her child must stay in bed for at least three weeks, or he will surely die. Her love for her child is the catalyst which bolsters this mother’s courage and compels Mrs. Brisby to embark on a dangerous journey to seek help…first, from the Great Owl and then, from Nicodemus and the rats of NIMH. When the farmer’s plough arrives early, Mrs. Frisby must find her courage when Auntie Shrew compels the frightened mother to seek out the Great Owl for help in protecting her children. Although she is terrified at this thought, Mrs. Frisby journeys to the owl’s tree and asks for his help. And when all hope seems lost for saving her children, it is Mrs. Frisby’s courage which allows her to save them from death.
While it is the first film that Don Bluth created The Secret of Nimh is, by far, the crown jewel of Don Bluth’s film canon. The animation for this film is stunning, the story is timeless, and the casting is flawless, particularly for Elizabeth Hartman, who brings the brave mother, Mrs. Frisby, to life and allows her courage and love for her children to shine through as the story unfolds. I would highly recommend this film to anyone who loves Don Bluth at his best.
© 2022 Keriane Kellogg. All rights reserved.
Director: Don Bluth
Cast: Elizabeth Hartman, Derek Jacobi, Peter Strauss, Dom DeLuise, Arthur Malet, Hermione Baddeley, John Carradine, Wil Wheaton, Shannen Doherty, Jodie Hicks, Paul Shenar, Tom Hatten, Lucille Bliss, Ina Fried,
Based on Robert C. O’Brien’s extraordinary children’s tale, “The Secret of NIMH” follows Mrs. Brisby (Elizabeth Hartman), a courageous mouse who must embark on a dangerous journey in order to save her children from certain peril. Unable to leave because her son is gravely ill, Mrs. Brisby seeks the help of nearby rats because she must move her children to safety, before the local farmer starts plowing. Mrs. Brisby receives an unexpected gift from the elder rat, Nicodemus (Derek Jacobi), who also offers her hope for her family’s salvation.
The necklace plays a powerful role in the story in symbolizing Mrs. Frisby’s courage and determination as the story unfolds.
When the story begins, we see Nicodemus holding the necklace as he writes in his journal, revealing the fate of Jonathan Frisby (Mrs. Frisby’s husband) who died courageously, while trying to help with the Plan. Jonathan gives the necklace to Nicodemus, instructing his wise and noble friend to give the necklace to Mrs. Frisby when Jonathan died. As he mourns the death of his friend, we see Nicodemus’s reflection in the crimson stone of the necklace, telling his friend to comfort his beloved wife, because she will be waiting for him to come home, and he will not be returning to her. Mrs. Frisby’s courage is first shown when she ventures from her home to see Great Owl, who advises her to go and see Nicodemus in the rosebush to gain protection for her family. When Mrs. Frisby visits Nicodemus, he gives her the necklace and tells her the secret of it: that “courage of the heart is very rare, and the stone has power when it is there.” He goes on to tell Mrs. Frisby that the stone will glow red when worn by one with a courageous heart. By giving her this precious gift, Jonathan also gives his wife the courage she needs to fulfill her quest. In the end, it was Mrs. Frisby, herself, who moved her home and protected her children, when she shows courage of the heart. She empowers the stone with her courage and thus, saves her family.
Courage is a powerful theme in this film, and nowhere is courage illustrated more perfectly, than in the characters Jonathan, Justin, Jeremy the crow, and Mrs. Frisby, herself.
Jeremy’s courage is shown in his friendship with Mrs. Frisby. When Mrs. Frisby is returning home from Mr. Ages’ house, she meets Jeremy, who is tangled in red string. While Mrs. Frisby is trying to free the clumsy crow, the pair are attacked by the farmer’s cat, Dragon. Although he is allergic to cats, Jeremy bravely comes to her rescue, when he saves Mrs. Frisby from being attacked by Dragon and saves Timmy’s medicine, returning it safely to her. When Mrs. Frisby visits Nicodemus, he tells her of her husband’s courage and heroism…how he bravely helped the rats escape from NIMH and how he died heroically, trying to drug the farmer’s cat, Dragon, to fulfill the Plan and help the rats escape to Thorn Valley. Justin’s courage is shown when he bravely battles the villainous Jenner, after the stone that serves as Mrs. Frisby’s home collapses in the mud, and he attacks Mrs. Frisby, trying to claim the necklace.
Mrs. Frisby faces an impossible dilemma in the film. She knows that she must move her children to a new home before the farmer’s plough comes so they will not perish, but if she does this, she risks the life of her youngest son, Timothy, because he is deathly ill, with pneumonia, and she has been told by Mr. Ages that her child must stay in bed for at least three weeks, or he will surely die. Her love for her child is the catalyst which bolsters this mother’s courage and compels Mrs. Brisby to embark on a dangerous journey to seek help…first, from the Great Owl and then, from Nicodemus and the rats of NIMH. When the farmer’s plough arrives early, Mrs. Frisby must find her courage when Auntie Shrew compels the frightened mother to seek out the Great Owl for help in protecting her children. Although she is terrified at this thought, Mrs. Frisby journeys to the owl’s tree and asks for his help. And when all hope seems lost for saving her children, it is Mrs. Frisby’s courage which allows her to save them from death.
While it is the first film that Don Bluth created The Secret of Nimh is, by far, the crown jewel of Don Bluth’s film canon. The animation for this film is stunning, the story is timeless, and the casting is flawless, particularly for Elizabeth Hartman, who brings the brave mother, Mrs. Frisby, to life and allows her courage and love for her children to shine through as the story unfolds. I would highly recommend this film to anyone who loves Don Bluth at his best.
© 2022 Keriane Kellogg. All rights reserved.