Bernard is the male protagonist of Disney's 1977 animated feature film The Rescuers and its 1990 sequel.
He's a pudgy young mouse who initially works as a janitor for the Rescue Aid Society, the mouse version of the United Nations. After aiding Miss Bianca on their first mission, the Society rewards him by commissioning him as their American ambassador.
Background[]
Personality[]
Bernard has always had a friendly and unassuming personality. Even before becoming an RAS delegate, he was apparently well-liked by the other society members, who always exchanged friendly greetings with him and called him by name. When Miss Bianca chooses him as her co-agent, the other delegates respond with cheers and encouragement for him.
Bernard is somewhat cautious and superstitious. He also suffers from triskaidekaphobia or fear of the number 13. He is also somewhat nervous, as he often stutters (mostly in the presence of his love interest, Bianca). However, he has also proved to be very brave and courageous, as well as being incredibly strong for a mouse. His most notable feats of strength are grabbing a razor back by the tusks and toppling it over, pushing McLeach (with Joanna in tow) off a cliff and holding onto Cody by a rope to prevent him from falling off killer rapids. His partner also makes jokes about him suffering from acrophobia, as she calls him a "fraidy cat" before they board Orville for flight.
Animation[]
The animation of Bernard is directed by Ollie Johnston, Frank Thomas, and Don Bluth. It is also hosted by Gary Goldman, Andy Gaskill, Chuck Harvey, and Ron Clements who are making their film debuts.
In the scene where Bianca reads Penny's message, a scene where Bianca takes off her jacket and when she takes her hand for another mission, he has five fingers instead of four.
In the sequel The Rescuers Down Under, he is animated by Mark Henn.
Physical appearance[]
Bernard is a gray male mouse. He wears a red cap (brown in the sequel) and a red sweater (similar to the color scheme to Mickey Mouse).
Throughout the film, Bernard wears various outfits depending on the occasion:
In the first sequence, he wore a blue overalls at the Rescue Aid Society meeting.
When he goes to Morningside Orphanage and then to Madame Medusa's pawn shop alongside Miss Bianca, he wears a yellow rain hat and coat.
He wears a brown jacket when he goes to Albatross Airlines with Bianca and at the Rescue Aid Society meeting watching the TV news at the end of the film.
Appearances[]
The Rescuers[]
Bernard works as a janitor for the Rescue Aid Society within the United Nations Headquarters in New York City, first seen respectfully greeting the RAS mouse delegates as they enter the RAS Headquarters, with some of them returning the greeting in their native languages, such as the French, Russian, and German delegates.
- “French RAS ambassador: Bonjour, Bernard.
Bernard: Good day, sir. Good day, Mr. Ambassador.
Russian RAS ambassador: (replies in Russian)
Bernard: How do you do, madam?
German RAS ambassador: Danke good, Bernhardt.” - ―Bernard showing respect to the RAS ambassadors
During as the delegation is singing their pledge song, Bernard joins in outside with his hat over his own heart in respect, pausing momentarily when Miss Bianca, who arrived late to the meeting, sprays herself with her perfume before heading inside, while he quickly resumes singing without missing a beat before she joins in as she enters the HQ. When a message in a bottle arrives, Bernard is tasked with retrieving the note from inside. He climbs up a comb-ladder, during which he reveals his triskaidekaphobia, much to the annoyance of the Chairmouse, who brushes it off as superstitious nonsense. He is able to get the note out but falls in the bottle when he loses his grip. Upon learning that a girl named Penny is in trouble, the Hungarian agent, Miss Bianca, asks for the assignment. The Chairmouse agrees, but Bernard points out that it is too dangerous for her to go alone. The Chairmouse agrees and suggests that she take along a co-agent. After some thought, Bianca chooses Bernard as her co-agent (much to the surprise of the Chairmouse), despite him being a janitor.
Bernard and Bianca's first stop is Morningside Orphanage - the place to which Penny's note was addressed. There, they learn from Rufus the cat that Penny had been depressed from being passed over for adoption, and had disappeared a short time afterward. Rufus then recalls that right before she had disappeared, a strange woman had offered Penny a ride and suspects she might be responsible for Penny's disappearance. Rufus tells Bernard and Bianca that the woman runs a nearby pawnshop with her partner.
Bernard and Bianca then travel to the pawnshop. They find Penny's schoolbooks, signaling that Penny had been there. They then overhear Medusa talking to her partner, Mr. Snoops. Bernard and Bianca learn that that Penny had been taken to Devil's Bayou, apparently to look for a diamond. After learning that Penny had been sending messages in bottles, Medusa declares that she will be flying out there herself to teach Penny a lesson and take command to find the Devil's Eye personally.
The two mice decide that they must go along with Medusa, so they stow away in Medusa's suitcase as she carelessly packs. However, due to Medusa's reckless driving, the car (a convertible) makes a sharp turn on the street and the suitcase falls out, leaving Bianca and Bernard stranded.
The next day, Bernard and Bianca prepare to fly to Devil's Bayou on Albatross Airlines. They arrive late, causing Bernard to believe that they missed the flight. However, the pilot soon radios in asking for permission to land, revealing that he had been running late. Bernard gives him permission and soon sees a large Albatross making a crash landing onto the runway. After the albatross, named Orville, calls the landing one of his better ones, Bernard tries to convince Bianca to take the train. However, Orville quickly offers to take them to the bayou. While boarding, Bernard realizes that the ramp has thirteen steps; Bianca encourages him to jump the last step. Bernard then reads the pre-flight checklist (which leaves Bernard concerned for both his and Bianca's safety) and the group is soon flying to Devil's Bayou. Not surprisingly, Orville's take-off is extremely harrowing and leaves Bernard anxious. However, when he points out that they have run a red light, Bianca playfully quips that she does that all the time and to stop worrying. She makes her point by kissing him on the nose, much to his surprise.
During the flight, he starts to get the picture of how Bianca feels about him. As night falls, Bianca is about to nod off while Bernard fills an awkward silence by reading to her what he has found out about Devil's Bayou. Bianca grins and leans over, pretending to pay attention, but closes her eyes and dreamily snuggles into his shoulder. Bernard is caught off-guard, tripping over his words, but Bianca bids him good night, extremely comfortable in Bernard's arms. After a few moments, Bernard realizes Bianca used the moment as an excuse to get closer to him, and tentatively puts his arm around her, pulling her closer and wishing her good night as well.
Right before landing, the two slowly wake up, still in each others arms, as Orville announces they've arrived. Then, from out of nowhere, Orville is shot at by Mr. Snoops' fireworks, one of which hits him in the tail feathers, setting them on fire. Bernard rushes to put it out, but Orville gives the call to bail out and rolls inverted, dropping both Bernard and Bianca towards the ground. Bernard grabs hold of Bianca during their fall and opens her parasol, using it as a parachute. Unfortunately, it folds up a few feet from the ground and the two end up in the water. They are helped by two swamp mice, Luke and Ellie Mae. Bianca and Bernard soon spot two crocodiles with Penny. Ellie Mae recruits Evinrude, who is said to have the fastest boat around, and Bernard and Bianca follow the crocodiles to an abandoned riverboat, which serves as Medusa's hideout. Once aboard, Bernard and Bianca learn that Penny was kidnapped to find the Devil's Eye, the world's largest diamond. Penny is the only one small enough to fit down the entrance to the cavern where it is hidden. When Medusa's crocodiles discover the mice (Bernard realizes that they smelled Bianca's perfume) and a large skirmish breaks out, Bernard and Bianca are forced to flee after Medusa tries to blast them with her shotgun. They survive and escape with Evinrude's help. After witnessing a truly near-death experience, Bernard truly begins to doubt whether he and Bianca were the right creatures for such a mission as rescuing Penny. After a pep talk from Bianca and the notion of the possible shame of not being able to rescue Penny, both spirits are truly lifted and they vow to complete their task. They sneak aboard again and are able to find Penny in her room. After Bernard and Bianca introduce themselves, the three form a plan to escape. Medusa's crocodiles would be locked up in the elevator, while Medusa and Mr. Snoops are distracted by fireworks. Meanwhile, Penny, Bernard, and Bianca would escape on Medusa's Swamp Mobile. To this effect, Bernard sends Evinrude to get the Swamp Folks to assist.
When Penny is forced back down the hole for the diamond, Bernard and Bianca stow away in Penny's pocket. With the help of Bernard and Bianca, Penny is able to find and retrieve the diamond from a pirate's skull. Back above ground, Medusa takes the diamond and chooses to hide it in Penny's teddy bear. Penny is carried away by Medusa's crocodiles, but Bernard and Bianca are able to find some rope and follow Medusa to the riverboat. At the riverboat, Bernard and Bianca trip Medusa with the rope, allowing Penny to grab her teddy bear. The Swamp Folks quickly arrive and the plan is put into motion. Bernard, Bianca, and Penny are able to escape when Medusa's crocodiles turn on her.
Back in New York at the U.N., Bernard and Bianca watch a television program, which is telling Penny's story. The reporter reveals that Penny was adopted and the excited Penny thanks Bernard and Bianca on camera, much to the reporter's confusion. The end of the film reveals that another call for help has come in. Bernard and Bianca accept it after Bianca volunteers them both (ironically, on Friday 13).
The Rescuers Down Under[]
Bernard in The Rescuers Down Under.
Bernard returns in the sequel, where he is first seen at a restaurant in New York City with Bianca, now under his new position as the Rescue Aid Society's U.S.A. representative. He tries to propose to her, but loses the ring and goes away from the table to get it. When Bernard returns, Bianca tells him she knows what he's going to tell her and that they must act quickly and return to the Rescue Aid Society. At first, Bernard thinks that it's about marriage, but learns that it's another rescue mission to save a boy named Cody, who was kidnapped by a poacher named McLeach in Australia.
When Bernard and Bianca go to Albatross Airlines to get a flight to Australia, they learn that Orville's brother, Wilbur, has taken over the business and beg him to take them but, at first, Wilbur rejects until Bernard and Bianca tell him about the kidnapping and he gives them the flight, but tells them "they're gonna have to make connections with a bigger bird". They sleep in a plane's cargo bay, and the next day they arrive in Australia, where Wilbur flies out to Bernard's nervousness when the plane deploys its landing gear to land itself, and Bernard asks Bianca if they can take the train from now on. When Wilbur asks a kangaroo mouse named Jake's permission to land at Mugwomp Flats, Jake (over the radio) says no because the runway isn't big enough for a bird of Wilbur's size, and Bernard tries to get Wilbur to listen to Jake, but Wilbur doesn't and lands on the runway. While Jake helps Bianca off, Wilbur offers to take Bernard's bags, but then has a problem with his back and gives Bernard his bags back.
After Bernard and Bianca take Wilbur to the hospital, Bernard tries to read the map in order to find McLeach's hideout, but Jake tells him that a map isn't good in the outback and offers to guide Bernard and Bianca to McLeach's Lair. While riding a wombat, Bernard gets accidentally thrown off into a briar patch. While Jake is gone, Bianca helps Bernard get the briars out of his back and Bernard tries to propose to her again, but then Jake shows up with a snake named Twister that he had tamed, and Bianca hops up on top of Twister's head with Jake while Bernard sits sadly on the back of Twister's back.
That night, the mice continue their travel on fireflies, during which Bernard has more trouble controlling the firefly he's riding on, bumping into a dandelion in the process.
The next day, Bernard, Bianca, and Jake arrive at McLeach's hideout but, when they try to get in, the door opens, and the mice watch on top as McLeach throws Cody out and tells him that his bird friend named Marahute has been shot and that her eggs are alone. When Cody leaves, McLeach secretly follows in his truck, but Bernard, Bianca, and Jake manage to climb aboard and follow, too. When Bernard, Bianca, and Jake arrive at the cliff, they go down to the nest and try to warn Cody about McLeach, but then Marahute shows up and McLeach captures her, Cody, Bianca, and Jake. Bernard manages to stay hidden and hides Marahute's eggs from McLeach's pet lizard, Joanna, and puts egg-shaped rocks in the their place, fooling Joanna when she comes to eat the eggs. After Joanna leaves, Wilbur shows up and Bernard forces him to watch the eggs while he goes and rescues Cody, Marahute, Jake, and Bianca from McLeach. Along the way, Bernard gets a ride from an old razorback after taming it with the same method Jake used on Twister.
When Bernard finally reaches McLeach's truck at Crocodile Falls, he manages to steal the keys from the truck and hands them to Jake and Bianca, who are trapped inside the cage with Marahute. Joanna spots Bernard and gives chase, but Bernard (who had spotted McLeach trying to shoot at the rope that had Cody tied to it) jumps into McLeach's pocket, causing Joanna to jump on McLeach and Bernard jumps out of the pocket and manages to push the two villains into the water, sending McLeach over the waterfall to his death. Then the rope holding Cody breaks, sending him falling into the river. Bernard swan-dives into the water and pulls him to the surface, tying the rope to a branch. Just as he and Cody go over the waterfall, Jake and Bianca swoop down on Marahute and rescue them. After Cody thanks Bernard for saving him, Bernard proposes to Bianca and she agrees to marry him, and Jake gives Bernard the thumbs up. The film ends with the whole company flying to Cody's house on Marahute.
House of Mouse[]
Bernard, along with Bianca, make appearances in the TV series House of Mouse. Bernard also appears in Mickey's Magical Christmas: Snowed in at the House of Mouse and Mickey's House of Villains. Bernard's most notable appearances are his background cameos in various episodes.
Once Upon a Studio[]
Bernard, along with Bianca and Orville appear, popping out from their frame with Orville crashing after being told by Thumper to wake up for the group photo. They then join all of the Disney characters as they take a group photo to celebrate the 100th anniversary of Walt Disney Animation Studios while being held by Penny.
Disney Parks[]
Bianca and Bernard at Disneyland.
Bernard, along with Bianca, made appearances at Walt Disney World and Disneyland in the years following the original film's release. While they currently don't make regular appearances at the American parks, he and Bianca continue to appear regularly at Tokyo Disney Resort. They both make meet-and-greet appearances in New Orleans Square at Disneyland’s Sweetheart’s Nite in both 2020 and 2022.
Gallery[]
Trivia[]
- Walter Matthau, Yul Brynner, and Steve McQueen were all considered to voice Bernard.
- Bernard was going to appear in Frank Angones' unproduced pitch for a Chip 'n Dale Rescue Rangers reboot as a former member of the Rescue Aid Society who went solo after it disbanded, before being tracked down by Chip and Dale, who ask him if they could form a new Rescue Aid Society. However, Bernard, arguing that no chipmunk ever joined the RAS, instead authorizes them to create the Rescue Rangers as an offshoot and successor to the RAS alongside other operatives connected to the RAS (whether they would have been Gadget Hackwrench, Monterey Jack, and Zipper, or other characters is unknown).
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