Pocahontas (1995 film)
Pocahontas (1995) | |
---|---|
Directed by | Mike Gabriel Eric Goldberg |
Produced by | Jim Pentecost |
Written by | Carl Binder Susannah Grant Philip LaZebnik |
Starring | Irene Bedard Mel Gibson David Ogden Stiers Russell Means Christian Bale |
Music by | Alan Menken Stephen Schwartz |
Editing by | H. Lee Peterson |
Distributed by | Buena Vistas Pictures Distribution |
Release date(s) | June 16, 1995 |
Running time | 81 min |
Country | USA |
Language | English |
Budget | $55 million |
Gross revenue | $346.1 million |
Followed by | Pocahontas II: Journey to a New World |
Pocahontas is an animated Disney film from 1995 which is based on the true story of Pocahontas. It’s recognized as the fifth film in Disney’s “Renaissance era” and unlike the previous four films, it got mixed reviews from audiences and critics, and despite making almost $300m, it was considered a disappointment considering the expectations of then Disney Studio Chairman Jeffrey Katzenberg who was no longer apart of the company by the time it came out.
Plot
The British led by Governor John Ratcliffe go to Virginia to look for gold much like how the Spanish did when they came to the New World. They bring along Captain John Smith who went to the New World before, and killed some Indians. On the ship, he saves the life of a young man named Thomas who greatly appreciates the help.
In Virginia, Pocahontas is shown to be adventurous, and not a fan of her father and Chief of the Powhatan Tribe telling her to marry Kocoum who’s shown to be the strongest member of the tribe.
The British arrive, and Ratcliffe names the settlement Jamestown, and tells his crew to start building a settlement, and start digging for gold. While Smith goes adventuring, and looking for Indians.
Smith meets Pocahontas, and by the time he returns to Jamestown, he missed an Indian attack on the settlement, but the British fight them off. The next day, Smith and Pocahontas start bonding, while Ratcliffe is worried that his men are starting to disrespect him as he’s not working hard like them, and they haven’t found any gold.
The Chief brings over more Indians to fight the British, and Kocoum meets Smith, the two fight, and Thomas goes into Pocahontas’ hollow, and remembers a lesson Smith gave him about firing a rifle, and he shoots Kocoum, killing him. Thomas sees Smith get captured by Indians, and runs back to Jamestown and tells the others. Ratcliffe uses this opportunity to declare war on the Indians, and take their gold.
The two armies are about to clash, but Pocahontas stops Smith’s execution, and the Chief declares that the war is over. Ratcliffe tells his men to fire, but they don’t due to the Indians doing nothing. Ratcliffe tries to shoot the Chief, but Smith takes the bullet for him, and Ratcliffe is apprehended by his men.
Pocahontas is given the choice to go to London or stay with her tribe, and she chooses the tribe, and the British go back to London.
Cast
Irene Bedard as Pocahontas
Mel Gibson as Captain John Smith
David Ogden Stiers as Governor John Ratcliffe and Wiggins
Russell Means as Chief Powhatan
Christian Bale as Thomas