"Ben and Me" is an animated short film from 1953, so this one will have its 65th anniversary next year and if you take a look at the cast, you will find really many writers for a 20-minute film. The director is Hamilton Luske, who won an Oscar a decade later and worked on pretty many films that are considered classics somehow these days. You can find the list in his body of work. This one we have here is about inventor Benjamin Franklin and the various impacts he had on American history. All this is told through the eyes of a mouse who is depicted as one of the driving forces behind Franklin's spirit. It is a bit of an odd idea admittedly, but it somewhat fits in nicely with Disney's fantasy take on things frequently. This one here is without a doubt among Disney's more educational films and it is fitting that it was nominated for an Oscar in the short reel category and not in the cartoon category. Maybe this is even a movie that was shown in schools at some point. By the way, it lost the Oscar o another Disney work. The story here is fine, even if I did not really develop any deep interest in Ben Franklin. Maybe the premise was a bit too odd for my liking. The voice acting is decent too, but that's really a given with Sterling Holloway in the cast. As a whole, a fairly good work I believe, but nothing near Disney's best in terms of animation or story-telling and the comedy aspect is really negligible here. Thumbs up.
11 Reviews
An odd but enjoyable history lesson.
planktonrules25 September 2010
Warning: Spoilers
If you are looking for this short, try the "Disney Timeless Treasures: Volume 3". It's there along with several other seldom-seen cartoon shorts.
This is the story of a mouse that lived in the Colonies in the 18th century and was a friend to Benjamin Franklin. You'll immediately notice that the mice all look an awful lot like Gus and Jacques from "Cinderella"--which had debuted a few years earlier. Additionally, you'll no-doubt recognize the voice of the narrator. It's Sterling Holloway who was the voice for Winnie the Pooh--and he really did talk like Pooh in real life! Amos the Mouse is a nice fella and friend to Franklin. However, in this version of history, Ben isn't all that bright and it's actually Amos that gives him many of his best ideas--such as the Franklin stove, the volunteer fire department, improving his almanac, the kite experiment about electricity and so forth. However, Ben took advantage of their relationship--prompting Amos to leave. If you think about it, this really is the story that was later re-tooled into "Ratatouille"--about a rat who helped a hopeless aspiring chef to become famous in his craft. And, like in "Ratatouille", Amos does eventually return to help Ben when the Revolution approaches.
All in all, a nice way to teach history to kids--albeit a tad inaccurately. However, as only stupid children will really believe a mouse was responsible for Franklin's successes, I guess there's no harm in it! Well animated, cute and clever--this is a pretty good cartoon that manages to make history fun.
By the way, although you may not recognize them unless you are a fan of old films, the voice of Franklin was done by Charlies Ruggles and Thomas Jefferson was Hans Conreid (who also played Captain Hook in Disney's "Peter Pan").
Oh, and by the way, although the film asserts that Amos helped Jefferson write the Declaration of Independence, it was actually George Mason--whose Virginia Declaration was liberally 'borrowed from' by Jefferson.
This is the story of a mouse that lived in the Colonies in the 18th century and was a friend to Benjamin Franklin. You'll immediately notice that the mice all look an awful lot like Gus and Jacques from "Cinderella"--which had debuted a few years earlier. Additionally, you'll no-doubt recognize the voice of the narrator. It's Sterling Holloway who was the voice for Winnie the Pooh--and he really did talk like Pooh in real life! Amos the Mouse is a nice fella and friend to Franklin. However, in this version of history, Ben isn't all that bright and it's actually Amos that gives him many of his best ideas--such as the Franklin stove, the volunteer fire department, improving his almanac, the kite experiment about electricity and so forth. However, Ben took advantage of their relationship--prompting Amos to leave. If you think about it, this really is the story that was later re-tooled into "Ratatouille"--about a rat who helped a hopeless aspiring chef to become famous in his craft. And, like in "Ratatouille", Amos does eventually return to help Ben when the Revolution approaches.
All in all, a nice way to teach history to kids--albeit a tad inaccurately. However, as only stupid children will really believe a mouse was responsible for Franklin's successes, I guess there's no harm in it! Well animated, cute and clever--this is a pretty good cartoon that manages to make history fun.
By the way, although you may not recognize them unless you are a fan of old films, the voice of Franklin was done by Charlies Ruggles and Thomas Jefferson was Hans Conreid (who also played Captain Hook in Disney's "Peter Pan").
Oh, and by the way, although the film asserts that Amos helped Jefferson write the Declaration of Independence, it was actually George Mason--whose Virginia Declaration was liberally 'borrowed from' by Jefferson.
Though my uncle did NOT know Tom Jefferson personally . . .
oscaralbert3 November 2021
Warning: Spoilers
. . . he knew quite a bit about him, and the Tom pictured during the conclusion of BEN AND ME does not seem to jive with the stories my uncle told. During the U. S. Bicentennial, Uncle Chuck was hired as a historical interpreter guide for the reconstructed Jacob Graff, Jr. Home in which Tom wrote the Declaration of Independence at Seventh and Market Streets, downtown Philadelphia. (Apparently since Uncle Chuck's time the site name has been changed from The Graff House to the Declaration House, and the second floor spot from which visitors could view Tom's reimagined apartment has been closed to the Public due to Fear of Germs.) Because the pernicious Pachyderm Political Party controlled everything Bicentennial, Uncle Chuck said he would have been fired for saying the words "Sally" or "statutory rapacious assault." There also were a lot of no-no's when it came to documenting Ben's relationships with women--though reams of not-so-amusing anecdotes have been passed down through True History over the years. But BEN AND ME avoids most of the facts.
An example of Disney's neglect of a treasure trove.
llltdesq3 January 2001
This marvelous film, while occasionally being run in the wee hours on the Disney Channel, has been otherwise shoved to the back of the vault and for being woefully neglected, has suffered a much better fate than much of Disney's output in the 1940's and 1950's. Disney regularly put out one and two-reel shorts and documentaries back then and the majority probably haven't been seen in decades. Ben and Me is a case in point-not in print and rarely shown, while we get the umpteenth replay of Cosmic Capers-a good short, but with so much material available, why not air some less-seen stuff? This film, for example, a funny take on Ben Franklin and why he accomplished so much. One wonders what Edison must have consulted with. Most recommended.
Entertaining, enjoyable and somewhat fictional history lesson about Benjamin Franklin
robinj223 July 2005
This is by far one of the cutest animated "history" lessons anyone can watch or show to children. Of course it is fictional with a mouse as the hero and main character but does present the founding of our nation and the writing of the constitution in a very entertaining matter. Amos is really portrayed as the hero in place of Benjamin Franklin, with Franklin portrayed as somewhat of a bumbling, "absent-minded" professor type. We are also shown some of Benjamin Franklin's inventions as well as some of his famous sayings scattered throughout the short movie. We do have a video version of this and I believe it is still available. I highly recommend this very entertaining and educational 25 minute feature by Disney at his best.
A favorite literary short from my childhood
ja_kitty_7131 May 2008
I have always loved films (animated and live action) and theatrical shorts based on books. This is one of my favourite literary shorts from my childhood because I've watched it a bunch of times as a kid; I've even read the book too.
This short has a great cast, featuring Sterling Holloway as Amos Mouse/Narrator, Charles Ruggles as Benjamin Franklin, and Hans Conried as Thomas Jefferson. I love the talents of Hans. I also love why they joined old paintings and the animated characters in the backgrounds-excellent work! I recommend this short to those who like literary shorts and films like me.
This short has a great cast, featuring Sterling Holloway as Amos Mouse/Narrator, Charles Ruggles as Benjamin Franklin, and Hans Conried as Thomas Jefferson. I love the talents of Hans. I also love why they joined old paintings and the animated characters in the backgrounds-excellent work! I recommend this short to those who like literary shorts and films like me.
Franklin was a phony, we owe it all to a mouse
dcorr12330 July 2000
Warning: Spoilers
Amos is as poor as a church mouse, if fact he is a church mouse. He leaves home to seek his fortune is 18th century Philadelphia, finding employment with a news publisher, Benjamin Franklin. Amos rides about in the brim of Ben's tri-cornered hat; and you thought those hats were only for style. Amos, it turns out is the real source of many of Franklin's inventions. Possibly a spoiler if you ever get a chance to see this film: Eventually Franklin sends Amos on a kite ride, ostensibly to gain a new perspective on news gathering. When Amos learns the "shocking" truth he's led to drastic measures. Franklin is reading Amos' declaration as Thomas Jefferson is fretting over how to word his own Declaration...The rest is history. I wish Disney studios would someday release this little gem to tape.
An animated treasure and unfairly neglected...
TheLittleSongbird11 August 2014
Well, not as neglected as it was but Ben and Me is still one of Disney's most under-appreciated short films. And unjustly, because it is a treasure. It's animated beautifully, all the characters are well drawn, with a couple that are reminiscent of a couple from Disney's Cinderella(like a cat that looks like Lucifer) and it is hard not to admire the sumptuousness of the backgrounds. There is a music score that brims with energy too, and the dialogue has humour that amuses and it educates as well. The story is probably Ben and Me's biggest strength, it is cute without being too cutesy, it is good-natured in its funny parts and very warm-hearted. It is also very educational and there is a great lesson to be learnt without showing any signs of preaching, even at the end when we see how the declaration of independence comes about. The characters have engaging personalities and are in no way superfluous to the story, they are easy to relate to as well. Ben and Me is also brilliantly voiced, particularly by Sterling Holloway as mouse Amos who has the lion's share of the written material as well(considering that the story is told from his viewpoint). His voice-work is warm, witty and moves the storytelling forward rather than trying to over-explain(like a few shorts with Holloway narrating, The Pelican and the Snipe comes to mind). I prefer Hans Conried in villain roles but he is very distinguished here and like Holloway you recognise his voice immediately. Charles Ruggles is very endearing as Ben. So all in all, an animated treasure that ought be better known. 10/10 Bethany Cox
History As Told By A Mouse
Ron Oliver22 August 2003
A Walt Disney Cartoon.
Amos the Philadelphia church mouse greatly influences Ben Franklin and the founding of the American Republic.
Robert Lawson's classic 1939 story BEN AND ME comes to life in this delightful short film. Celebrated children's author Bill Peet penned the script and left in the original's sense of whimsy and good fun, featuring a slightly bumbling Ben and a remarkably astute Amos - whose ideas become some of Franklin's most famous inventions. The voice cast is perfect, with Sterling Holloway as Amos, Charles Ruggles as Ben & Hans Conried as Tom Jefferson.
Walt Disney (1901-1966) was always intrigued by pictures & drawings. As a lad in Marceline, Missouri, he sketched farm animals on scraps of paper; later, as an ambulance driver in France during the First World War, he drew comic figures on the sides of his vehicle. Back in Kansas City, along with artist Ub Iwerks, Walt developed a primitive animation studio that provided animated commercials and tiny cartoons for the local movie theaters. Always the innovator, his ALICE IN CARTOONLAND series broke ground in placing a live figure in a cartoon universe. Business reversals sent Disney & Iwerks to Hollywood in 1923, where Walt's older brother Roy became his lifelong business manager & counselor. When a mildly successful series with Oswald The Lucky Rabbit was snatched away by the distributor, the character of Mickey Mouse sprung into Walt's imagination, ensuring Disney's immortality. The happy arrival of sound technology made Mickey's screen debut, STEAMBOAT WILLIE (1928), a tremendous audience success with its use of synchronized music. The SILLY SYMPHONIES soon appeared, and Walt's growing crew of marvelously talented animators were quickly conquering new territory with full color, illusions of depth and radical advancements in personality development, an arena in which Walt's genius was unbeatable. Mickey's feisty, naughty behavior had captured millions of fans, but he was soon to be joined by other animated companions: temperamental Donald Duck, intellectually-challenged Goofy and energetic Pluto. All this was in preparation for Walt's grandest dream - feature length animated films. Against a storm of naysayers, Walt persevered and over the next decades delighted children of all ages with the adventures of Snow White, Pinocchio, Dumbo, Bambi & Peter Pan. Walt never forgot that his fortunes were all started by a mouse, or that childlike simplicity of message and lots of hard work always pay off.
Amos the Philadelphia church mouse greatly influences Ben Franklin and the founding of the American Republic.
Robert Lawson's classic 1939 story BEN AND ME comes to life in this delightful short film. Celebrated children's author Bill Peet penned the script and left in the original's sense of whimsy and good fun, featuring a slightly bumbling Ben and a remarkably astute Amos - whose ideas become some of Franklin's most famous inventions. The voice cast is perfect, with Sterling Holloway as Amos, Charles Ruggles as Ben & Hans Conried as Tom Jefferson.
Walt Disney (1901-1966) was always intrigued by pictures & drawings. As a lad in Marceline, Missouri, he sketched farm animals on scraps of paper; later, as an ambulance driver in France during the First World War, he drew comic figures on the sides of his vehicle. Back in Kansas City, along with artist Ub Iwerks, Walt developed a primitive animation studio that provided animated commercials and tiny cartoons for the local movie theaters. Always the innovator, his ALICE IN CARTOONLAND series broke ground in placing a live figure in a cartoon universe. Business reversals sent Disney & Iwerks to Hollywood in 1923, where Walt's older brother Roy became his lifelong business manager & counselor. When a mildly successful series with Oswald The Lucky Rabbit was snatched away by the distributor, the character of Mickey Mouse sprung into Walt's imagination, ensuring Disney's immortality. The happy arrival of sound technology made Mickey's screen debut, STEAMBOAT WILLIE (1928), a tremendous audience success with its use of synchronized music. The SILLY SYMPHONIES soon appeared, and Walt's growing crew of marvelously talented animators were quickly conquering new territory with full color, illusions of depth and radical advancements in personality development, an arena in which Walt's genius was unbeatable. Mickey's feisty, naughty behavior had captured millions of fans, but he was soon to be joined by other animated companions: temperamental Donald Duck, intellectually-challenged Goofy and energetic Pluto. All this was in preparation for Walt's grandest dream - feature length animated films. Against a storm of naysayers, Walt persevered and over the next decades delighted children of all ages with the adventures of Snow White, Pinocchio, Dumbo, Bambi & Peter Pan. Walt never forgot that his fortunes were all started by a mouse, or that childlike simplicity of message and lots of hard work always pay off.
Story of Ben Franklin through eyes of a mouse.
cmyklefty26 December 2001
I remember see this cute movie long time ago at the Underground Museum in Franklin Court in Philadelphia. It took a light heart look at Ben Franklin's life told by Amos the Mouse. The film is enjoyable to watch with the whole family. I wish they will release this on video and DVD.
History With "Spoonful Of Sugar"
redryan6415 July 2014
AMAZING ACCOMLIISHMENTS IN many fields are the legacy of our own "Renaissance Man" of the Colonial & Revolutionary Period, Mr. Benjamin Franklin. Some have said that he did enough in so many divergent fields in such excellence that he must have had help from others. This kids story adapted by Walt Disney & Co., suggests that he also had counsel of a rodentian nature. That would be one Amos Mouse (Sterling Holloway-voice).
AS WITH ALL and everything that is Disney, the best is expected and delivered. This includes the animation, character design, the music, the Technicolor and the cast of voice actors. He cast consisting of names like: Sterling Holloway (Mouse), Hans Conreid (Thomas Jefferson), Charlie Ruggles (Ben) and Bill Thompson (Governor).
AND WE WELL remember this two reel cartoon opening up with a modern day tour-guide lecturing a group of interested history Buffs before a statue of the Great Philadelphian, himself. While the guy continued spouting his well rehearsed spiel, the camera's eye panned up, bringing our view to the sculpture's three corner hat. There we're privy to a much smaller tour. Being conducted by a mouse tour guide for other interested mice, this scene mirrored the human's; but the emphasis was on the little one's accomplishments and how he was the power behind Ben's throne.
DONE MAINLY IN flashback, this story unfolds with the two meeting and befriending each other. One by one, each invention, discovery or accomplishment or idea is revealed as being largely the work of the mouse.
THAT WOULD INCLUDE inventing the potbelly stove, flying that kite in the lightning storm and the development of the bifocal lens. A particularly amusing gag unfolds in the scene where the now broken lenses are cut by Amos and joined together using his teeth.
THE MOUSE WOULD ride around town in Franklin's hat and remind him of the names of the fine ladies and gentlemen that he met; as poor been apparently had a poor memory.
WE DO SEEM to remember some reference to the Contoinental Congress and the Declaration of Independence, but all of that is very shady; this original screening having taken place nearly 60 years ago. This is a good reason for us to either buy a DVD or rent one (you know, for the grandkids)!
NOW THEN SCHULTZ, why don't you do the same!
AS WITH ALL and everything that is Disney, the best is expected and delivered. This includes the animation, character design, the music, the Technicolor and the cast of voice actors. He cast consisting of names like: Sterling Holloway (Mouse), Hans Conreid (Thomas Jefferson), Charlie Ruggles (Ben) and Bill Thompson (Governor).
AND WE WELL remember this two reel cartoon opening up with a modern day tour-guide lecturing a group of interested history Buffs before a statue of the Great Philadelphian, himself. While the guy continued spouting his well rehearsed spiel, the camera's eye panned up, bringing our view to the sculpture's three corner hat. There we're privy to a much smaller tour. Being conducted by a mouse tour guide for other interested mice, this scene mirrored the human's; but the emphasis was on the little one's accomplishments and how he was the power behind Ben's throne.
DONE MAINLY IN flashback, this story unfolds with the two meeting and befriending each other. One by one, each invention, discovery or accomplishment or idea is revealed as being largely the work of the mouse.
THAT WOULD INCLUDE inventing the potbelly stove, flying that kite in the lightning storm and the development of the bifocal lens. A particularly amusing gag unfolds in the scene where the now broken lenses are cut by Amos and joined together using his teeth.
THE MOUSE WOULD ride around town in Franklin's hat and remind him of the names of the fine ladies and gentlemen that he met; as poor been apparently had a poor memory.
WE DO SEEM to remember some reference to the Contoinental Congress and the Declaration of Independence, but all of that is very shady; this original screening having taken place nearly 60 years ago. This is a good reason for us to either buy a DVD or rent one (you know, for the grandkids)!
NOW THEN SCHULTZ, why don't you do the same!
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