Jerry Goldsmith has composed and conducted the songs and score, and Paul Williams has written the special lyrics for "The Secret of NIMH," an animated action fantasy set to be released in July by MGM/UA Entertainment Co.

The film, the first from Don Bluth Productions, marks a return to the classical style ofanimation. The story of a widowed mouse who seeks the help of a mysterious, advanced civilization of rats to save her family, features vocal characterizations by Elizabeth Hartman, Dom DeLuise, Peter Strauss, Derek Jacobi, John Carradine, Hermione Baddeley, Arthur Malet and Paul Shenar.

Goldsmith, Academy Award-winner for his score for "The Omen" and three-time Emmy winner for TV productions of "Babe," "QB VII" and "The Red Pony," has been nominated for 11 other Academy Awards. Other popular movie scores include "Star Trek--The Motion Picture," "Outland," "Alien," "Chinatown," "Papillon," "Patton," "Planet of the Apes," "The Wind and the Lion," "Sand Pebbles," "A Patch of Blue" and "The Boys From Brazil."

For "The Secret of NIMH," he conducted 70 members of London's National Philharmonic Orchestra and the 16-member Ambrosian Singers.

Williams, most noted as songwriter/singer, won an Academy Award for his song "Evergreen" from "A Star Is Born," and co-wrote eight of the movie's 11 songs. He was also nominated for the song, "The Rainbow Connection" and the score, both from "The Muppet Movie." Though he is well-known for standard tunes like "An Old Fashioned Love Song" and "Out in the Country," his career as a motion picture composer began in 1973 when his song, "Nice To Be Around," was featured in "Cinderella Liberty" and received an Academy Award nomination. Other movie credits include "Phantom of the Paradise," "Bugsy Malone," "The End," "Agatha" and "One on One."

"The Secret of NIMH," an Aurora presentation of a Don Bluth production, was produced by Don Bluth, Gary Goldman and John Pomeroy. The story was adapted by Bluth, Pomeroy, Will Finn and Goldman from the Newbery Award-winning book, "Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH" by Robert C. O'Brien. Rich Irvine and James L. Stewart are executive producers.