Overview
See production notesIn 1897 London, a young mouse named Olivia Flaversham celebrates her birthday with her single father, Mr. Flaversham, who is a gifted toymaker. A bat with a crippled wing and a peg leg arrives and kidnaps Flaversham. Olivia leaves to find Basil of Baker Street, the famous Great Mouse Detective. David Q. Dawson, a retired army surgeon mouse newly returned from Afghanistan, meets Olivia and escorts her to Basil's residence. Basil initially dismisses them, but when Olivia mentions the bat that abducted her father, Basil realizes that Olivia saw Fidget, the assistant of Professor Ratigan, the criminal mastermind whom Basil was working to catch. It is then revealed that Ratigan kidnapped Flaversham to force him to create a clockwork robot replica of the Queen of the Mice, so that Ratigan can usurp her place as "Supreme Ruler of all Mousedom". Flaversham initially refuses to participate in the scheme, but capitulates when Ratigan threatens to harm Olivia. Fidget appears in Basil's window, then suddenly disappears. Basil, Dawson and Olivia take Toby, Sherlock Holmes' pet Basset Hound, to trail Fidget's scent. They trace the bat to a human-sized toyshop. While searching the area, Dawson finds Fidget's checklist, and Basil discovers Fidget has been stealing clockwork mechanisms and toy soldiers' uniforms. Fidget ambushes and kidnaps Olivia before Basil and Dawson can stop him. Basil conducts chemical tests to the checklist, discovering it came from the "Rat Trap", a tavern near the junction of the sewer and the Thames. Basil and Dawson disguise themselves as sailors and head to the tavern. They spot Fidget, and follow him to Ratigan's headquarters, only to be ambushed by Ratigan and his henchmen. Ratigan has the pair tied to a spring-loaded mousetrap connected to a Rube Goldberg machine of various killing devices. Ratigan then sets out for Buckingham Palace, where his henchmen hijack the royal guards' roles and kidnap the Mouse Queen. Inspired by a remark Dawson made, Basil deduces the trap's weakness, freeing himself, Dawson and Olivia. At Buckingham Palace, Ratigan forces Flaversham to operate the toy Queen, while the real one is taken to be fed to Felicia, Ratigan's pet cat. The toy Queen declares Ratigan the ruler of all Mousedom, and he announces his dictatorial plans for his new "subjects". After Basil, Dawson, and Olivia save Flaversham and the real Queen, they restrain Fidget and Ratigan's other henchmen, while Toby chases Felicia until she jumps over a wall, into a pack of Royal Guard Dogs. Basil seizes control of the mechanical queen, making it denounce Ratigan as a fraud while breaking it into pieces. Realizing Ratigan's treason, the enraged crowd attacks, but Ratigan escapes on his dirigible with Fidget, holding Olivia hostage. Basil, Dawson, and Flaversham create an airship from a matchbox, balloons, and a Union Jack, setting off in pursuit. Ratigan tosses Fidget overboard to lighten the load. Basil jumps onto the dirigible to confront Ratigan, causing it to crash straight into Big Ben's clockface. Inside the clocktower, Basil restrains Ratigan, rescues Olivia, and safely delivers her to Flaversham. Ratigan breaks free and attacks Basil, just before the clock strikes 10:00; the vibrations cause Ratigan to fall to his death. He attempts to take Basil with him, but Basil grabs a part of Ratigan's dirigible and saves himself. Back at Baker Street, the group recounts their adventures. The Flavershams bid a fond farewell and leave to catch their train. Dawson reluctantly resolves to leave as well, until a new distressed client arrives. Basil introduces Dawson to her as his friend and investigative partner, prompting Dawson to remain and assist in Basil's future cases.
Plot from The Great Mouse DetectiveCC BY-SA 4.0
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Quotes
See all quotesOlivia Flaversham: You know, Daddy, this is my very best birthday. Hiram Flaversham: Ahh…but I haven’t given you your present yet. Olivia Flaversham: [Excited] What is it? What is it? Hiram Flaversham: Now, now. Close your eyes. [He moves to a small cupboard as Olivia tries to sneak a peek between her fingers.] Uh-uh-uh-uh. Auch, no. No peeking now. Olivia Flaversham: [Gasps] Oh, Daddy! You made this just for me? Olivia Flaversham: You’re the most wonderful father in the… in the whole world! Olivia Flaversham: Who is that? Hiram Flaversham: I-I don’t know! Quickly, dear, stay in here and don’t come out! Fidget: Now I gotcha, toy maker! [Cackles] Hiram Flaversham: Oh, no! Olivia! Olivia Flaversham: Daddy, where are you? Daddy…where are you?! Daddy! [Echoing] DADDY!!
The Great Mouse Detective, CC BY-SA 4.0
Dawson’s voice: It was the Eve of our good Queen’s Diamond Jubilee, and the year Her Majesty’s government came… [More forebodingly] to the very brink of disaster. She… Oh… [chuckles] I’m… I’m getting ahead of myself. [The camera focuses briefly on the passenger inside the carriage before it pans down, revealing Dr. Dawson sitting on the foot pedestal reading his paper.] My name is Dr. David Q. Dawson, most recently of the Queen’s 66th Regiment. [The carriage stops, and after his human traveling companion departs, Dawson hops onto the sidewalk. He opens his paper again, and we see that he has marked several places available for rent.] I had just arrived in London after lengthy service in Afghanistan and was anxious to find a quiet place… [As thunder booms in the distance, a drop of rain falls onto the paper; chuckling, Dawson notices this, folds up the paper and opens his umbrella.] …preferably dry…where I could rest and find a bit of peace. Little did I know, but my life was about to c
The Great Mouse Detective, CC BY-SA 4.0
Dr. David Q. Dawson: Good evening, Madam. Is this the residence of Basil of Baker Street? Mrs. Judson: I’m afraid it is. He’s not here at the moment, but you’re welcome to come in and wait. Dr. David Q. Dawson: Oh, I-I don’t want to impose. It’s just…the girl. Mrs. Judson: [Concerned] Oh my! You poor dear! You must be chilled to the bone! [She takes off Olivia’s hat and wrings it dry, then removes the girl’s scarf.] Oh, but I know just the thing. Let me fetch you a pot of tea and some of my fresh cheese crumpets. [Mrs. Judson rushes to the kitchen and shuts the door.] Basil’s Voice: [Triumphantly] Ah-ha! The villain’s slipped this time! I shall have him! [The door bursts open to reveal a large mouse dressed in Chinese robes. He smiles triumphantly with a gun in his hand as lightning strikes. Dawson is petrified as the mouse bursts inside, rushing towards one of the many tables.] Out of my way! Out of my way! Dr. David Q. Dawson: I say, who - [His question is cut short as the mouse’s ha
The Great Mouse Detective, CC BY-SA 4.0
Professor Ratigan: [Chuckles evilly] Quite an ingenious scheme, eh, Flaversham? And aren’t you proud to be a part of it? Hiram Flaversham: This whole thing…i-i-it’s monstrous! Professor Ratigan: We will have our device ready by tomorrow evening, won’t we? You know what will happen if you…fail? Hiram Flaversham: I-I-I don’t care! Hiram Flaversham: You can do what you want with me. I won’t be a part of this… this…this evil any longer! Professor Ratigan: [Biting off rage] Mmm… [Normally] Very well. If that is your decision. Oh, uh, by the way, I’m taking the liberty of having your daughter brought here. [He picks up Olivia's ballerina doll and winds it up.] Hiram Flaversham: O-Olivia? Professor Ratigan: Yes. Hm-hm, yes. Professor Ratigan: [Mockingly] I would spend many a sleepless night if anything unfortunate were to befall her. Hiram Flaversham: You…you wouldn’t?! Professor Ratigan: [Yelling] FINISH IT, FLAVERSHAM!! Professor Ratigan: Oh, I love it when I’m nasty. Professor Ratigan: Fid
The Great Mouse Detective, CC BY-SA 4.0
Basil of Baker Street: And not a word out of you. Is that clear? Sherlock Holmes: I observe that there’s a good deal of German music on the program. It is introspective, and I want to introspect. Dr. Watson: But Holmes, that music is so frightfully dull. Sherlock Holmes: Come along. Basil of Baker Street: Toby? Toby? Olivia Flaversham: Who is Toby? Dr. David Q. Dawson: Well my dear, Toby is… well, he’s uh, uh… Dr. David Q. Dawson: I say, Basil, who is this Toby chap? Basil of Baker Street: Ahh! Here he is now! Basil of Baker Street: Dawson…Toby. Dr. David Q. Dawson: Charmed, I’m sure. Basil of Baker Street: Now Toby! Toby, stop that! Toby, cease! Desist! Ha! Basil of Baker Street: Tsk, tsk, tsk. Frightfully sorry, old man. Toby has the most splendid sense of smell of any hound I’ve trained. But he can be deucedly frisky. Olivia Flaversham: Hello, Toby! [She pats his nose and Toby sniffs her again.] Silly doggy! Would you like a crumpet? Basil of Baker Street: Here now, Toby? Toby! To t
The Great Mouse Detective, CC BY-SA 4.0
Professor Ratigan: Ah, Mr. Flaversham. Professor Ratigan: Allow me to present… [Ratigan moves his cape to reveal Olivia in Fidget's grasp.] …your charming daughter! Hiram Flaversham: Olivia! Olivia Flaversham: Father! Fidget: Owww! My foot, my only foot! Hiram Flaversham: Oh, there, there, there, there, my bairn. I’m all right. Oh, I was so worried about my little girl. Professor Ratigan: Oh, how sweet. [He pretends to wipe at his eyes with his handkerchief, crying.] Oh, I just love tearful reunions. [The rat then grabs the young girl back.] Now, come along, my dear. Olivia Flaversham: Oh please! Please! [She reaches out towards Flaversham as Fidget takes her away.] Father! Hiram Flaversham: Olivia! Oh, please, professor! Professor Ratigan: Now, now, Fidget will take good care of her. [Threateningly] That is, as long as we have no further delays! Hiram Flaversham: [fearfully returns to work on the robot.] Yes, yes, I-I’ll finish it. Oh, just don’t hurt my daughter. Professor Ratigan: R
The Great Mouse Detective, CC BY-SA 4.0
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