My friend Beniamino (Ben and Me) the animated short film from 1953

My friend Beniamino (Ben and Me), also known by the title My friend Ben is a 1953 American animated short film produced by Walt Disney Productions and released in theaters on November 10, 1953. It was adapted from the children's book written by author / illustrator Robert Lawson and first published in 1939. Although the book that the film deals with the friendship between a mouse and American founding father Benjamin Franklin, the book, with illustrations by Lawson, focused more on real historical events and characters and included episodes from Franklin's French career at Versailles.

The short received an Academy Award nomination for Best Short Subject, a two-reel.

History

In a statue of Benjamin Franklin, the leader of a group of touring mice reveals the contributions made by a mouse named Amos to Franklin's career by reading from Amos's diary, titled Ben and Me. After describing the exploits of some of his ancestors, Amos tells his own story: the eldest of twenty-six brothers who live in the Christ Church of Philadelphia, sets out on his own in 1745 to find work. Having no luck, he takes refuge in Ben's shop and befriends the besieged printer. Amos invents bifocal lenses for Ben and inspires him to create the Franklin stove. Amos also helps Ben turn his publication, Poor Richard's Almanack, into a successful newspaper, the Pennsylvania Journal; Amos acts as a reporter and helps Ben run the press machine. As the years go by, Amos helps Ben advance socially and build his reputation.

Ben makes Amos an unwitting test subject in his experiments with electricity, sending him into the air as part of his kite experiment. Amos is nearly killed when the kite is struck by lightning and crashes to the ground. Furious, he leaves Ben and returns to live with his family.

Years later, during the early stages of the American Revolution, Ben is sent to England to try to reason with the king, but the mission fails. In 1776, Ben asks Amos for help. Amos agrees on the condition that Ben signs a contract that accepts its terms. While Ben is reading the contract, Thomas Jefferson arrives, writing the introduction to the United States Declaration of Independence. The language in Amos' contract inspires Jefferson and becomes the introduction to the Declaration. Amos accompanies Ben to the signing of the Declaration.

Characters

Amos Mouse
Benjamin Franklin
various men
Governor Keith
Thomas Jefferson

Technical data

Original title Ben and Me
Original language English
Country of Production United States of America
Year 1953
Duration 21 min
Regia Hamilton Luske
Subject Bill Peet by Robert Lawson
Film script Winston Hibler, Dell Connell, Ted Sears
Producer Walt Disney
Production house Walt Disney Pictures
Music Oliver Wallace
Entertainers Wolfgang Reitherman, Ollie Johnston, John Lounsbery
Original voice actors
Sterling HollowayAmos
Charles Ruggles: Benjamin ("Ben") Franklin
Hans Conried: Thomas Jefferson
Bill Thompson: Governor Keith
Italian voice actors
Stefano SibaldiAmos
Giorgio Capecchi as Benjamin (“Ben”) Franklin
Renato TuriThomas Jefferson
Achille Majeroni: Governor Keith
Lauro Gazzolo: human tour guide