An American Tail (1986)

Erica Yohn: Mama 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 : 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 : [whispering]  In America... there are no... cats.

  Mama Mousekewitz : Shhh! They'll hear you.

  Papa Mousekewitz : How can they hear us?

• 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] 

• Mama Mousekewitz : [Fievel has come out of his hiding place, a teapot; after the Cossack Cat raid; and is sitting in the snow, dazed yet relieved. Mama and the others arrive] 

  [greatly concerned] 

  Mama Mousekewitz : Oh, Fievel! Fievel, are you all right?

  Fievel Mousekewitz : [blissfully]  Yes, Mama.

  Mama Mousekewitz : [strict]  Never do that again!

  [Fievel snickers; embarrassed, yet still dazed]