Pocahontas (1995 film)

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Pocahontas
Directed by	Mike Gabriel Eric Goldberg
Produced by	James Pentecost
Written by	Carl Binder Susannah Grant Philip LaZebnik
Starring	Irene Bedard Mel Gibson David Ogden Stiers John Kassir Russell Means Frank Welker Christian Bale Linda Hunt
Music by	Alan Menken
Distributed by	Walt Disney Pictures
Release date(s)	June 16, 1995 (selected cities) June 23, 1995 (general) November 24, 1995 (re-release)
Running time	Theatrical: 81 Minutes Special Edition 84 Minutes
Language	English
Budget	$55,000,000 (estimated)
Gross revenue	$347,179,773
Followed by	Pocahontas II: Journey to a New World (1998)

Pocahontas is the thirty-third animated feature in the Disney animated features canon. It was produced by Walt Disney Feature Animation in April 15, 1994 and was originally released to selected theaters on June 16, 1995 by Walt Disney Pictures. The film is the first Disney film to be based on a real historic character, based on the known fact of the real historical story and also the folklore and legend that surround the Native American woman Pocahontas, and features a fictionalized account of her encounter with Englishman John Smith and the English settlers that arrived from the Virginia Company. It belongs to the era known as the Disney Renaissance that began in 1989 and ended in 1999.

A video game based on the film was released across various platforms shortly after the film's theatrical release, and the film itself was followed by a direct-to-video sequel, Pocahontas II: Journey to a New World in 1998.

Plot

In 1607, a ship carrying British settlers from the Virginia Company sails for North America in search of gold and other material riches. On board are Captain John Smith and Governor Ratcliffe. A storm erupts, and John saves the life of a young settler named Thomas when he falls overboard, befriending him in the process.

In the "New World", Pocahontas, Chief Powhatan's daughter, learns that her father wants her to marry Kocoum, one of his finest warriors. Pocahontas does not want this marriage, and asks the advice from a talking tree spirit named Grandmother Willow. Grandmother Willow tells Pocahontas to listen to her heart.

The British settlers land in Virginia and dig for gold under Ratcliffe's orders. John Smith explores the territory and encounters Pocahontas. The two spend time together, with Pocahontas teaching John to look at the world in a different way, and to not think of her people as "savages". Back at the settlement, the Powhatan warriors and Englishmen have a skirmirsh, and one of the warriors is injured. The warriors retreat, and Powhatan declares that the white men are dangerous and that no one should go near them.

A few days later, John and Pocahontas meet again, during which John learns that there is no gold in the land. They agree to meet at Grandmother Willow's glade again that night.

When Pocahontas returns to her village, she finds that warriors from neighboring tribes have arrived to help Powhatan fight the settlers. Back at the English fort, John tells Ratcliffe there is no gold in the land, which Ratcliffe does not believe, thinking that the natives have hidden the gold for themselves.

That night, Nakoma catches Pocahontas sneaking off and informs Kocoum that she has gone. Meanwhile, John sneaks out of the fort, and Ratcliffe orders Thomas to follow him. Pocahontas and John meet in the glade, where Grandmother Willow convinces John to try talking to Chief Powhatan. Both Kocoum and Thomas watch from the shadows as John and Pocahontas kiss. Kocoum, jealous, attacks John, and is fatally shot by Thomas, who saves his life. Hearing voices approaching, John tells Thomas to run. A group of natives take John prisoner thinking he is the murderer, and Powhatan announces that he will be executed at dawn.

Thomas returns to the fort and announces John's capture. Ratcliffe sees this as an opportunity to attack, and they arrive just as John is about to be executed. Before Powhatan can strike, Pocahontas throws herself over John, telling him to see where the path of hate has brought them, and asking him to choose. Powhatan lowers his club and orders John freed. Ratcliffe orders the settlers to fire anyway, but they refuse. Ratcliffe fires at Chief Powhatan himself, but John pushes the chief aside and is shot instead. The settlers turn on Ratcliffe, capturing him.

John is only wounded, but he must return to England for medical treatment if he is to survive. Pocahontas and her people arrive to see them off, and John and Pocahontas bid their goodbyes.

Cast

At least three actors in this film have been involved in other Pocahontas-related projects. Gordon Tootoosis, who voiced Kekata, acted as Chief Powhatan in Pocahontas: The Legend, which was released the same year as this film. Christian Bale, who voiced Thomas, would ten years later portray John Rolfe in The New World. Irene Bedard, who was the speaking voice of Pocahontas, portrayed Pocahontas' mother in a flashback sequence also in The New World.

Soundtrack

Main article: Pocahontas (soundtrack)

Release and response

The film was a box-office success, earning $141,579,773 in the United States and $347,179,773 worldwide, but did not meet the standard set by its predecessor, The Lion King.^[1]

The film's soundtrack was successful, reaching number-one on the Billboard 200 during the week of July 22, 1995.^[2] It ended up with a triple platinum certification.^[3]

The musical score written by Alan Menken received two Academy Awards, including one for the song "Colors of the Wind".^[4]

Home video release

Pocahontas was released on VHS in 1996 as part of the Walt Disney Masterpiece Collection. February 1996 prototype copies of the VHS release used the 1989 Walt Disney Classics logo, while copies produced from March onwards used the standard Masterpiece logo.

The film first appeared on DVD in 2000 as part of the Walt Disney Gold Classic Collection; Pocahontas II was released on DVD at the same time. In 2005, a 10th Anniversary 2-disc Special Edition DVD set was released, which featured a new extended cut of the film and numerous bonus features.

Awards

Video game

A video game based on the movie with the same title, Pocahontas, was released on the Sega Genesis/Megadrive on January 1, 1996. The Sega title was developed by Funcom on contract with Disney. It was followed by a later release for the Nintendo Game Boy and Playstation 1 on June 10, 1996, nearly a year after the film's premiere. A Super Nintendo version of the game was under development around the same time as the Genesis version, but was canceled due to development being too far behind to coincide with the Genesis release.^[6]

In the game, the player plays as Pocahontas and Meeko, switching between the two frequently to overcome various obstacles, with the help of NPC Flit. Along the way, as Pocahontas, the player gains various new abilities from various animal spirits by helping them. The game, like most film-based games, follows the plot of the movie, but with many variations in situations and events.

References

See also

• The New World
• List of Disney animated features

External links

• Pocahontas at the Internet Movie Database
• The Big Cartoon DataBase entry for Pocahontas
• Pocahontas: 10th Anniversary Edition DVD Review and Interview