Elizabeth Hartman knows something about courage. As the voice of timid Mrs. Brisby, widowed mother of four who is the lead character in "The Secret of NIMH," an animated action fantasy done in the classical style, she must make her own decisions and fight for the lives of her family.
And, as an actress who left Hollywood several years ago and is now back, ready for more career struggles, she has learned that timidity, finally, just gets in the way.
The film, the first feature from Don Bluth Productions, is an Aurora presentation set for release in July by MGM/UA Entertainment Co.
Hartman, at home in her snug Beverly Hills apartment, speaks of herself and the animated character who seeks the help of a mysterious, advanced civilization of rats.
"There are things that happen to us that we're not prepared to face. When the problems happen, life goes one step at a time, from moment to moment until we get used to handling them, being responsible for our own decisions."
Hartman's personal life began going awry several years ago after an incredible rise to fame in the 1960's, including an Academy Award nomination for "A Patch of Blue," her first film. Her career swerved into doldrums, her marriage ended and she found herself back in the Midwest. After several years, she has returned to Los Angeles to resume a career.
"Film production is not at an all-time high, so roles are few," she says, "but I'm trying to hang on and stay here. Acting is what I do best; I'm not trained for anything else, and I enjoy it."
Hartman was born and raised in Youngstown, Ohio, the middle of three children. Her father was a building contractor. At the age of 15 she began accompanying her Latin teacher to the Youngstown Playhouse to help paint scenery and work backstage during performances.
In a short time, the inevitable happened and she appeared in a play, "A Clearing in the Woods." At that point, she says, "I just knew I would be an actress."
After high school graduation, she was accepted at Carnegie Tech in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and spent a year there before leaving for New York.
"What incredible luck I had," she says pleasantly. "I wasn't even 21 years old then, and I got parts in not one, but two Broadway shows, and an offer for a television series here. I came to Los Angeles to try for the series, which never materialized. Instead, though, I was cast in 'A Patch of Blue.'"
A week after she finished that film, she began six momths on location in New York in "The Group." Other movies followed: Francis Ford Coppola's first film, "You're a Big Boy Now," "The Fixer," "The Beguiled," "Intermission" and "Walking Tall."
She recently appeared in a television pilot of "Cages" and has done numerous television appearances. Her theatrical background includes "Our Town," "The Glass Menagerie," "The Madwoman of Chaillot," "Bus Stop" and "Beckett," among others.
She also recently completed a road tour of the play "Morning's at Seven."
In "The Secret of NIMH," Hartman lends her vocal talents with Dom DeLuise, Peter Strauss, Derek Jacobi, John Carradine, Hermione Baddeley, Arthur Malet and Paul Shenar. The film was produced by Don Bluth, Gary Goldman and John Pomeroy and directed by Bluth. Jerry Goldsmith composed and conducted the songs and score and Paul Williams wrote the lyrics. 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. MGM/UA Entertainment Co. will release the film throughout the U.S. and Canada.