An American Tail (1986)

Nehemiah Persoff: Papa Mousekewitz

Photos 

Quotes 

• Mama Mousekewitz : It's the end of the world.

  Papa Mousekewitz : No, it's worse.

• Papa Mousekewitz : And for you, Fievel, a new hat. And not just any new hat. A new hat that has been in the family for three generations. It belonged to me, my father, and my father's father, and now it belongs to you. Happy Hannukah.

  Fievel Mousekewitz : It's too big.

  Mama Mousekewitz : You'll grow.

• Papa Mousekewitz : Ah, so, Mr Curious, you've discovered the herring.

  Fievel Mousekewitz : Herring? I thought they were fish.

  Papa Mousekewitz : But Fievel, herring are fish.

  Fievel Mousekewitz : Really, Papa?

  Papa Mousekewitz : Oh, yes. In the ocean, there are many kinds of fish, and herring is one of them.

  Fievel Mousekewitz : All kinds?

  Papa Mousekewitz : Yes. Tiny fishes, not so tiny fishes, fishes as big as this boat.

  Fievel Mousekewitz : Wow! Let's go up and see the fish.

• Papa Mousekewitz : For Tanya, a new babushka. Happy Hanukkah.

  Tanya Mousekewitz : Oh, Papa, thank you.

  Mama Mousekewitz : You have only one parent?

  Tanya Mousekewitz : Thank you, Mama.

• Mama Mousekewitz : Oh, my little boy, back from the dead. America, what a place.

  Papa Mousekewitz : My Fievel. I thought I would never see you again.

  Fievel Mousekewitz : Never say never, Papa.

• [after the cats have just raided the marketplace] 

  Mama Mousekewitz : Well Mister there are no whats in America, hmm?

  Papa Mousekewitz : [laughs nervosuly]  Cats.

• Papa Mousekewitz : Oh, I nearly forgot. Here, Fievel, your hat.

  [the hat drops as before; Fievel adjusts the hat with his ears] 

  Mama Mousekewitz : The hat, it fits!

  Papa Mousekewitz : My son! Now, you are a mouse.

• [first lines] 

  Mama Mousekewitz : Tanya, Fievel! Will you stop that twirling, twirling! Uh, no. No more, that's it. Time for bed, come.

  Papa Mousekewitz : But Mama, it's Hanukkah.

  Mama Mousekewitz : For you, every night is Hanukkah. Papa? Enough already. They'll never get to sleep.

  Papa Mousekewitz : All right, all right.

• Papa Mousekewitz : Mama, look! Don't be afraid to open your eyes! Look what you're missing! You're missing everything!

  Mama Mousekewitz : Papa, when we land, I'll look.

• Papa Mousekewitz : In America, there are mouse holes in every wall.

  Mama Mousekewitz : Who says?

  Papa Mousekewitz : Everyone. In America, there are bread crumbs on every floor.

  Mama Mousekewitz : You're talking nonsense!

  Papa Mousekewitz : In America, you can say anything you want, but most important - and this I know for a fact - in America, there are no cats.

• Papa Mousekewitz : Won't it be great when we finally get to America, where we don't have to worry about cats? There are no cats in America. But back home in Mother Russia... Ahh.

  [singing] 

  Papa Mousekewitz : Our family was traveling through the snow to Minsk / Suddenly Papa saw those huge paw prints / When I heard him screaming I fainted dead away / And I woke up an orphan... Oy vey!

• Papa Mousekewitz : [whispering]  In America... there are no... cats.

  Mama Mousekewitz : Shhh! They'll hear you.

  Papa Mousekewitz : How can they hear us?

• Fievel Mousekewitz : [stops while boarding a boat]  Look, Papa, water. Is it the ocean?

  Papa Mousekewitz : Yes. Keep walking.

  [everyone continues walking onto the boat, but Fievel stops again] 

  Fievel Mousekewitz : Look, Papa, smoke! Is the boat on fire?

  Papa Mousekewitz : No, no! Keep walking!

  [everyone continues walking, but Fievel once again stops] 

  Fievel Mousekewitz : Look, Papa, birds! Are they seagulls?

  Seagulls : Keep walking!

  Papa Mousekewitz : Keep walking!

  Mice Passengers : KEEP WALKING!

• Papa Mousekewitz : Fievel, this is the last time I take you to America.

• Papa Mousekewitz : You are calling for a Fillie Mousekewitz, right? Tell my daugther his name is Fillie and not Fievel.

  Tony Toponi : His name's Fillie.

  Papa Mousekewitz : You see?

  Tony Toponi : ...and Fievel.

  Papa Mousekewitz : And Fievel... and Fievel?

  Tanya Mousekewitz : Papa.

  Papa Mousekewitz : No, there are many Fievel Mouskewitzes in New York, maybe thousands! It could still be another Fievel Mousekewitz.

  Mama Mousekewitz : No, Papa. Look.

  [Holds up Fievel's hat] 

• Papa Mousekewitz : [the cossack cat raid has left the Mousekawitz's house destroyed and burning to the ground; leaving the Mousekawitz family to look on in sorrow; mournfully]  And that's why in America... There are No cats.