The Fox and the Hound

Country: United States

Language: English

Release Date: July 10, 1981

Runtime 83 Minutes

Rating G

## Plot

After a young red fox is orphaned, Big Mama the owl and her friends, Dinky the finch and Boomer the woodpecker, arrange for him to be adopted by a kindly farmer named Widow Tweed, who names him Tod. Meanwhile, her neighbor, hunter Amos Slade, brings home a young hound puppy named Copper and introduces him to his hunting dog, Chief, who is at first annoyed by him, but then learns to love him. One day, Tod and Copper meet and become best friends, pledging eternal friendship. Amos grows frustrated at Copper for constantly wandering off to play, and places him on a leash. While playing with Copper outside his barrel, Tod accidentally awakens Chief. Amos and Chief chase him until they are stopped by Tweed. After an argument, Amos threatens to kill Tod if he trespasses on his property again. Hunting season comes and Amos takes Chief and Copper into the wilderness for the interim. Meanwhile, Big Mama, Dinky, and Boomer attempt to explain to Tod that Copper will soon become his enemy. However, he naively insists that they will remain friends forever.

The following spring, Tod and Copper reach adulthood. Copper returns as an expert hunting dog, who is expected to track down foxes. Late at night, Tod sneaks over to visit him. Their conversation awakens Chief, who alerts Amos. A chase ensues and Copper catches Tod, but lets him go while diverting Amos. Chief catches Tod as he attempts an escape on a railroad track, but an oncoming train strikes him, resulting in him falling into the river below and breaking his leg. Enraged by this, Copper and Amos blame Tod for the accident and vow vengeance. Realizing Tod is no longer safe with her, Tweed leaves him at a game reserve. After a disastrous night on his own in the woods, Big Mama introduces him to Vixey, a female fox who helps him adapt to life there, The Next Morning Farley Came and Meet Vixey and Decided to Have a Mate But Tod Defends Vixey from Farley.

Amos and Copper trespass into the reserve and hunt Tod and Vixey. The chase climaxes when they inadvertently provoke an attack from Farley. Amos trips and falls into one of his own traps, dropping his rifle slightly out of reach. Copper violently fights Farley, but is almost killed by it. Tod comes to his rescue and battles him until they both fall down a waterfall. As Copper approaches Tod as he lies wounded While Farley Lies Dead in the lake below, Amos appears, ready to shoot him. Copper positions himself in front of him to prevent Amos from doing so, refusing to move away. Amos, understanding Tod had saved their lives, lowers his rifle, Takes Farley's Dead Body and leaves with Copper. Tod and Copper reconcile their friendship and share one last smile before parting. At home, Tweed nurses Amos back to health, much to his humiliation. As he lies down to take a nap, Copper smiles as he remembers the day when he first met Tod. At the same moment, Vixey joins Tod on top of a hill as they both look down on Amos' and Tweed's homes.

## Cast

* Mickey Rooney as Tod
* Keith Mitchell as Young Tod
* Kurt Russell as Copper
* Corey Feldman as Young Copper
* Pearl Bailey as Big Mama
* Jack Albertson as Amos Slade
* Sandy Duncan as Vixey
* Jeanette Nolan as Widow Tweed
* Pat Buttram as Chief
* John Fiedler as The Porcupine
* John McIntire as The Badger
* Dick Bakalyan as Dinky
* Paul Winchell as Boomer
* Rob Paulsen as Farley