he Rescue Aid Society, an international organization of mice with headquarters in the basement of the United Nations building, receives a plea for help from a little orphan girl named Penny. Penny has been kidnapped by an evil woman, Madame Medusa, who intends to use her to retrieve a fabulous diamond, the Devil's Eye, from a pirate cave. The case is taken by lovely Bianca and Rescue Aid Society custodian Bernard, who becomes her shy assistant. Together, after avoiding two brutish alligators, enlisting the help of the local swamp folk, and turning Medusa and her henchman Snoops against themselves, the mice rescue Penny and the diamond. The film was four years in the making, with the combined talents of 250 people, including 40 animators who produced approximately 330,000 drawings; there were 14 sequences with 1,039 separate scenes and 750 backgrounds. The film was rereleased in theaters in 1983 and 1989. Released on video in 1992. "The Rescuers Down Under" was the sequel, released in 1990. Directed by Wolfgang Reitherman, John Lounsbery, and Art Stevens. Starring: the voices of Eva Gabor (Bianca), Bob Newhart (Bernard), Geraldine Page (Madame Medusa), Jim Jordan (Orville), John McIntire (Rufus), James Macdonald (Evinrude), Michelle Stacy (Penny), Bernard Fox (Chairmouse), and Larry Clemmons (Gramps). 76 min. The animated film was based on two books by Margery Sharp: "The Rescuers" and "Miss Bianca." The film was nominated for an Academy Award® for "Someone's Waiting for You," as Best Song, written by Sammy Fain, Carol Connors, and Ayn Robbins. The other songs, by Connors and Robbins, were "The Journey," "Rescue Aid Society," and "Who Will Rescue Me."