The Rescuers
When a bottle containing a plea for help from a little girl named Penny makes its way to the Rescue Aid Society, a mouse organization in the basement of the United Nations building dedicated to the rescue and well-being of anyone in need, it is up to the brave mouse Miss Bianca and her chosen partner, the shy janitor Bernard, to rescue the girl. Searching for clues at Penny's home at Morningside Orphanage in New York City, the two mice discover that the girl has been kidnapped by the evil pawn shop owner Madame Medusa and her companion Mr. Snoops. On the back of Orville the albatross, Miss Bianca and Bernard travel to the terrifyingly gloomy Devil's Bayou where they learn the shocking truth: the innocent young girl is being forced down into a dangerous, dark underground pirate's cave where she must find the Devil's Eye, the world's largest diamond and Madame Medusa's greatest obsession. Before returning safely home, Miss Bianca, Bernard, and Penny will have to combat Madame Medusa's two ferocious pet alligators Brutus and Nero with the help of Ellie Mae and Evinrude the dragonfly, as well as survive the raging tides inside the horrible pirate's cave.
Despite its modest budget of $7.5M, The Rescuers became a commercial juggernaut, earning $169.0M worldwide—a remarkable 2154% return. The film's fresh perspective engaged audiences, proving that strong storytelling can transcend budget limitations.
Nominated for 1 Oscar. 2 wins & 1 nomination
Plot Structure
Story beats plotted across runtime
Narrative Arc
Emotional journey through the story's key moments
Story Circle
Blueprint 15-beat structure
Arcplot Score Breakdown
Weighted: Precision (70%) + Arc (15%) + Theme (15%)
The Rescuers (1977) demonstrates strategically placed plot construction, characteristic of Wolfgang Reitherman's storytelling approach. This structural analysis examines how the film's 15-point plot structure maps to proven narrative frameworks across 1 hour and 18 minutes. With an Arcplot score of 6.8, the film balances conventional beats with creative variation.
Structural Analysis
The Status Quo at 1 minutes (1% through the runtime) establishes A young orphan girl, Penny, tosses a message in a bottle into the water from a riverboat, desperately pleading for help. The haunting image establishes a child in danger, isolated and alone.. Structural examination shows that this early placement immediately immerses viewers in the story world.
The inciting incident occurs at 9 minutes when Penny's message in a bottle is presented to the Rescue Aid Society, revealing a child's desperate plea for help. Miss Bianca volunteers for the dangerous mission and chooses the reluctant Bernard as her partner.. At 12% through the film, this Disruption aligns precisely with traditional story structure. This beat shifts the emotional landscape, launching the protagonist into the central conflict.
The First Threshold at 20 minutes marks the transition into Act II, occurring at 25% of the runtime. This indicates the protagonist's commitment to Bernard and Bianca make the active choice to travel to Devil's Bayou despite knowing the danger. They board Orville the albatross, leaving the safety of New York behind to rescue Penny., moving from reaction to action.
At 39 minutes, the Midpoint arrives at 50% of the runtime—precisely centered, creating perfect narrative symmetry. Structural examination shows that this crucial beat Medusa forces Penny down into the dangerous pirate cave to retrieve the diamond as the tide begins to rise. The stakes become life-or-death as Bernard and Bianca realize they cannot simply sneak Penny away - they must help her survive the cave first., fundamentally raising what's at risk. The emotional intensity shifts, dividing the narrative into clear before-and-after phases.
The Collapse moment at 59 minutes (75% through) represents the emotional nadir. Here, The cave floods completely, trapping Penny and the mice underwater. They barely escape with their lives, gasping for air, only for Medusa to immediately betray Penny and seize the diamond. Medusa threatens Penny with a gun, revealing she never intended to let her go., indicates the protagonist at their lowest point. This beat's placement in the final quarter sets up the climactic reversal.
The Second Threshold at 62 minutes initiates the final act resolution at 80% of the runtime. Bernard overcomes his fear and rallies the swamp animals for a coordinated assault. He realizes that their small size is an advantage - they can attack from everywhere at once. The timid janitor transforms into a leader., demonstrating the transformation achieved throughout the journey.
Emotional Journey
The Rescuers's emotional architecture traces a deliberate progression across 15 carefully calibrated beats.
Narrative Framework
This structural analysis employs systematic plot point analysis that identifies crucial turning points. By mapping The Rescuers against these established plot points, we can identify how Wolfgang Reitherman utilizes or subverts traditional narrative conventions. The plot point approach reveals not only adherence to structural principles but also creative choices that distinguish The Rescuers within the animation genre.
Wolfgang Reitherman's Structural Approach
Among the 5 Wolfgang Reitherman films analyzed on Arcplot, the average structural score is 6.8, demonstrating varied approaches to story architecture. The Rescuers takes a more unconventional approach compared to the director's typical style. For comparative analysis, explore the complete Wolfgang Reitherman filmography.
Comparative Analysis
Additional animation films include The Bad Guys, Puss in Boots and Violet Evergarden: Eternity and the Auto Memory Doll. For more Wolfgang Reitherman analyses, see Robin Hood, The Aristocats and The Jungle Book.
Plot Points by Act
Act I
SetupStatus Quo
A young orphan girl, Penny, tosses a message in a bottle into the water from a riverboat, desperately pleading for help. The haunting image establishes a child in danger, isolated and alone.
Theme
At the Rescue Aid Society meeting, the Chairman declares that even the smallest creatures can make a difference when they work together. This establishes that courage and compassion matter more than size or status.
Worldbuilding
We are introduced to the Rescue Aid Society headquarters in the United Nations building basement, where mouse delegates from around the world gather. Bernard is established as a superstitious, nervous janitor while Miss Bianca is a glamorous, adventurous delegate from Hungary.
Disruption
Penny's message in a bottle is presented to the Rescue Aid Society, revealing a child's desperate plea for help. Miss Bianca volunteers for the dangerous mission and chooses the reluctant Bernard as her partner.
Resistance
Bernard and Bianca investigate Penny's disappearance at Morningside Orphanage, learning from the cat Rufus that Penny was last seen with a scary woman named Medusa. They trace Medusa to her pawnshop and discover she has taken Penny to Devil's Bayou.
Act II
ConfrontationFirst Threshold
Bernard and Bianca make the active choice to travel to Devil's Bayou despite knowing the danger. They board Orville the albatross, leaving the safety of New York behind to rescue Penny.
Mirror World
Bernard and Bianca meet Penny face to face in Medusa's hideout. Penny embodies the theme - a small, powerless child who refuses to give up hope. Her faith that someone will help her mirrors Bianca's belief that even mice can be heroes.
Premise
The mice navigate the treacherous bayou, meet swamp allies including Evinrude the dragonfly and the local creatures. They learn Medusa's scheme to use Penny to retrieve the Devil's Eye diamond from a cave too small for adults. Bernard and Bianca build trust with Penny and plan her escape.
Midpoint
Medusa forces Penny down into the dangerous pirate cave to retrieve the diamond as the tide begins to rise. The stakes become life-or-death as Bernard and Bianca realize they cannot simply sneak Penny away - they must help her survive the cave first.
Opposition
Penny, with Bernard and Bianca hidden in her pocket, descends into the flooding cave. They face rising water, collapsing passages, and must find the diamond hidden in a skull. Meanwhile, Medusa's henchman Snoops and the crocodiles Brutus and Nero guard above, making escape seem impossible.
Collapse
The cave floods completely, trapping Penny and the mice underwater. They barely escape with their lives, gasping for air, only for Medusa to immediately betray Penny and seize the diamond. Medusa threatens Penny with a gun, revealing she never intended to let her go.
Crisis
Penny is held at gunpoint by Medusa who has the diamond. Bernard feels helpless against such overwhelming odds. The swamp creatures and mice must find the courage to act despite being small and seemingly powerless against armed humans.
Act III
ResolutionSecond Threshold
Bernard overcomes his fear and rallies the swamp animals for a coordinated assault. He realizes that their small size is an advantage - they can attack from everywhere at once. The timid janitor transforms into a leader.
Synthesis
The swamp creatures launch a chaotic rescue operation. Fireworks explode, the crocodiles turn on Medusa, and the riverboat is destroyed. Bernard drives Medusa's swampmobile to help Penny escape. Medusa is left stranded as her greed literally sinks her. Penny is returned to the orphanage and adopted by a loving family.
Transformation
At the United Nations, Bernard and Bianca watch a news report showing Penny with her new adoptive parents, happily donating the Devil's Eye to the Smithsonian. Bernard, once terrified and hesitant, confidently accepts their next mission with Bianca - transformed by courage born from love.