thevoiceactorswhoraisedyou:

The Moriarty pic I re-blogged earlier reminded me of one of the unsung classic villains in Disney’s repertoire: “the nefarious Professor Ratigan.” (cue thunder and lightning)

Voiced by none other than evil-incarnate himself, Vincent Price, Professor Ratigan serves as the Moriarty figure in Disney’s literally mousy adaptation of Sherlock Holmes: “The Great Mouse Detective.”  Another one of my childhood favorites, I feel this movie still holds up extraordinarily well.  This is partly due to the brilliant pairing of Barrie Ingham as the Holmes figure, Basil of Baker Street, and Price’s Moriarty-esque Ratigan.  While the original story in which Moriarty makes his first, and only appearance, in Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s Holmes Series (“The Final Problem”) pretty much invented the evil genius archetype, Moriarty doesn’t have Ratigan’s dramatic, narcissistically-driven flamboyance.  Ratigan retains Moriarty’s supremely sinister nature, but he is also a fun villain to behold.  Price is simply remembered as “the villain guy.”  While I would consider that a compliment, Vincent Price was an extraordinary actor with YEARS of experience and technique at his disposal.  Such masterful dramatics enabled Price to allow Ratigan to blossom into one of the film’s crowning achievements (though Basil himself is also excellent character).  

If you haven’t checked out The Great Mouse Detective, you should.  It is a very fun movie that is surprisingly well-constructed and almost always entertaining.  

Fun Fact:  Peter Lorre and Vincent Price were friends, and they were also friends with Bela Lugosi (Dracula).  Well, they attended Lugosi’s funeral, and as the pair of Lorre and Price made their way up to the coffin to pay their respects, Lorre quipped: ““Do you think we should drive a stake through his heart just in case?”  Lugosi was buried with his famous cape from Dracula.  

Also, take a second to imagine Peter Lorre and Vincent Price, villain actors extraordinaire, walking side-by-side at a funeral.  Let’s just appreciate that phenomenal image for a moment.  

Also, check out The Nostalgia Critic’s “Top Ten Disney Villains list,” where he gives a very nice analysis of Ratigan’s character and what made said character work so well.  I’ll leave you with some of the lyrics from Price’s villain song in The Great Mouse Detective.  Look up the song on youtube; you won’t regret it.  

[Ratigan:]	From the brain that brought you the Big Ben Caper.
		The head that made headlines in every newspaper
		And wondrous things like the Tower Bridge Job.
		That cunning display that made Londoner's sob.

		Now comes the real tour de force.
		Tricky and wicked, of course.
		My earlier crimes were fine for their times
		But now that I'm at it again,
		An even grimmer plot has been simmering
		In my great criminal brain!

What a great post!