It is natural to assume that priests are always serious, strict, and dull. Many tend to believe that priests never learned how to have fun. However, Father Richards proves them wrong. Not only is he very humble and calm, but also very warmhearted and reserved. If one were to learn about his childhood, it would surely be hard to believe that its the same Richards.
Father Richards was born George Patrick Richards and raised in Cardiff, Wales. The middle of three sons, Richards was the only boy to cause his parents a great deal of worry. He was the class clown of his school. He goofed off, received poor marks, and even ditched class a few times to be with his friends. This continued into the early high school years as well. Richardss parents (who were devout Catholics and trusted citizens of the town) feared that his continuous bad habits would get him into serious trouble, so they did their best to set him straight. As strict as they were about getting him to focus on his studies, it didnt stop Richards from sneaking out a few times to be with his friends. But as his parents feared, Richards ended up in a very serious situation that would change his life forever.
One night, Richards and his friends encountered a hunting rifle lying on the ground. No one knew who it belonged to or why it was left there, but a mouse named Peter Ashton (Richards's closest friend) picked up the weapon and began to make believe he was a skilled hunter. However, Ashtons finger pulled the trigger and shot one of the mice in the circle (the mouses name was Craig Anderson). In fear and shame of what had happened Peter Ashton and the rest of the mice fled the scene. Richards however, stayed behind and searched for Andersons parents. When he found them, he made up a story that Anderson and he were walking when Richards suddenly heard the sound of a rifle shot and Anderson fell. Craig Anderson was then taken to the doctors. However, things went from bad to worse. Anderson only lasted a week and died shortly after from an infection and internal hemorrhage. Heartbroken by their sons death, the parents went to the police in hopes that they would find the murderer. Richards sought to find Ashton before the police could. When he did, Richards found an emotionally broken-up Ashton about to hang himself. Richards stopped Ashton by persuading him to go to Andersons parents and confess what he did. Richards also promised that he would go with Ashton if he did. In the end, Ashton agreed and went with Richards.
After Ashton confessed, he was sentenced to two years in prison. As for Richards, his parents and the Andersons were deeply upset that he lied about what happened with Craig Anderson. They lost their trust in him and things were never the same for Richards. Feeling like a complete fool who had greatly shamed his parents' reputation, Richards began to take every measure to earn his parents?and the Andersons?trust again. He attended school and forced himself to learn, received good grades, did extra chores, and performed simple good deeds for the neighborhood mice. It wasnt until after he graduated high school and went to college that he began to earn his familys trust again.
Richards spent four years studying at the Cardiff University and received a Bachelors Degree in Education in 1857. He then dedicated his life into working as a teacher at the Rodents Elementary School of Wales and as a childrens counselor. Not only did he serve well as a teacher, but made learning interesting for the children. On the side, he liked to tell stories.
After sixteen years, he began work as a teacher in Catholic school and went to school to become a priest. It wasnt too long before he earned the title Father. After five years, he was transferred to Westminster Abbey in the mousedom of London, England. During his years at St. Mousetons, he became acquainted with a constable named Chester A. Smith and counseled and helped many people in need. One of those he helped was the famous singer/actress Deniece la Chauve-souris (who later on became a partner to Basil of Baker Street). It was Richards who helped Ms. Chauve-souris find her voice, which was recognized by the manager of The Mousedemonium Theater and earned her fame as a singer/actress. In 1897, Richards became a mentor and teacher to another bat whose infamy was known among mice. This bat was none other than Finnius Fidget?Holloway (fiance to Ms. Chauve-souris). As the younger Richards did with his friend Peter Ashton, Father Richards persuaded the young Fidget to turn himself in. However, Richards (along with his assistant, Sister Ingrid) helped raised money to have Fidget released from prison in order for the ex-pirate to start a new life. Richards not only took the liberty of becoming Fidget's mentor and teacher, but he also found an elderly mouse couple by the last name of Collins (who happen to be good friends of Richards) to be Fidget's new parents. Father Richards turned out to be a good friend of both Fidget and Chauve-souris and was even present at the wedding of the two bats, which took place in 1900.
To this day, Father Richards still serves to help people in need.
None used
Father Richards wasn't based on anyone, nor did I use references to build his persona (except for pictures to study what Catholic priests wear). But it turned out (mainly by accident) that Father Richards looked like Noriyuki "Pat" Morita, only with an exaggerated mustache and a more wider face. As far as the voice, I originally thought of using Morita, but it was too jolly for the part and I wanted a more authentic British accent. That's when I considered the next model, David Odgen Stiers, known for the roles of Cogsworth from Disney's Beauty and the Beast and the archdeacon from Disney's The Hunchback of Notre Dame. However, not only was Stiers's voice too deep for the part, but most of the roles I've seen him in centered around serious, uptight characters and that's not what I wanted for Richards. That's when I finally turned to Richard Harris. I liked his role as the imprisoned priest, Abbe Faria, in the 2002 version of The Count of Monte Cristo. His lines were exactly what matched the persona of Richards and the reason why Harris was the final decision.
*All properties of The Great Mouse Detective are copyright 1986 by Walt Disney Productions. All other characters represented in The Fidget Connections are copyright 2002-2009 by Leila Acevedo (a.k.a. Reyelene).
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