THE FOX AND THE HOUND. Directed by Art Stevens, Ted Berman sud Richard Rich; written by Larry Clemmone and others; produced by Wolfgang Reitherman and Art Stevens for Walt Disney. Animated. Rated G.
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The Fox and the Hound is a showcase for the top-quality animation that is the Disney studio's trademark. Its story and characters also have some appeal, but on their own, they're not memorable enough to rate the term "classic."
Put them together, though, with the detailed backgrounds, life-like expressions and natural character movements that are never seen in TV cartoons today, and the movie is well worth the price of admission.
The title tells it all as far as the story is concerned. A pet fox and a hunting dog become friends as children, unaware that they are actually natural enemies. In true Disney fashion, however, when the final conflict comes and the chips are really down, the childhood friendship triumphs over the adult tendencies to violence.
In addition to establishing the human and animal characters, the first half to three quarters of The Fox and the Hound contains some amusing slapstick action. But it is predictable and unremarkable, and the adults in the audience may find themselves getting drowsy.
The movie's final sequence, however, will certainly wake them up. Unfortunately, it might also scare the willies out of their youngest companions, especially those who are susceptible to such frights.
The bear that fox and hound both battle is enormous, and is probably as frightening as anything in Disney, short of the witch in Sleeping Beauty. All ends well, of course, but parents should be prepared to have little ones crawling into their laps before the final credits.
April 6, 1988