Price was a noted gourmet cook and art collector. From 1962 to 1971, Sears, Roebuck offered the Vincent Price Collection of Fine Art, selling about 50,000 pieces of fine art to the general public. Price selected and commissioned works for the collection, including works by Rembrandt, Pablo Picasso, and Salvador Dalí. He also authored several cookbooks and hosted a cookery TV show, Cooking Pricewise.
The World's Greatest Criminal Mind
Vincent Price Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
My friends, we are about to embark
On the most odious, the most evil, the most diabolical scheme
Of my illustrious career. A crime to top all crimes,
A crime that will live in infamy!
Tommorrow evening, our beloved monarch celebrates
Her diamond jubilee. And, with the enthusiastic help of
our good friend Mr. Flaversham, it promises to be a
as Supreme Ruler of all Mousedom!
From the brain that brought you the Big Ben Caper
The head that made headlines in every newspaper
And wonderous things like the Tower Bridge Job
That cunning display that made London a 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
Chorus
Even meaner? You mean it?
Worse than the widows and orphans you drowned?
You're the best of the worst around
Oh, Ratigan
Oh, Ratigan
The rest fall behind
To Ratigan
To Ratigan
The world's greatest criminal mind!
Ratigan
Thank you. But it hasn't all been
champagne and caviar. I've had my share of
adversity, thanks to that miserable, second rate
detective, Basil of Baker Street. For years that
insufferable pipsqeek has interfered with my plans.
I haven't had a moments peice of mind. But, all
that's in the past! This time, nothing, not even
Basil, can stand in my way! All will bow before
me!
Chorus
Oh, Ratigan
Oh, Ratigan
You're tops and that's that
To Ratigan
To Ratigan
Mouse 1
To Ratigan the world's greates rat!
Ratigan
What was that?? What did you call me?
Mouse 2
Oh, oh, he didn't mean it, Professor
Mouse 3
I-it was just a slip of the tongue.
Ratigan
I AM NOT A RAT!!!
Mouse4: 'Course you're not. You're a mouse!
Mouse5: Yeah, that's right. Right! A mouse...
Mouse6: Yeah, a big mouse!
Ratigan
SILENCE! Oh, my dear Bartholomew. I'm afraid that
you've gone and upset me. You know what happens
when someone upsets me.
Mouse 1
Oh, Ratigan
Oh, Ratigan
You're tops and that's that
(oh, dear)
To Ratigan
To Ratigan
To Ratigan the world's greatest -
Felicia'
Meow.
Ratigan
Oh, Felicia, my precious, my baby. Did Daddy's
little honey bun enjoy her tasty treat?
Felicia'
Urp.
Ratigan
I trust there will be no further interruptions?
And now, as you were singing?
Chorus
Even louder
We'll shout it!
No one can doubt what we know you can do
You're more evil that even you
Oh, Ratigan
Oh, Ratigan
You're one of a kind
To Ratigan
To Ratigan
The world's greates criminal mind!!!
The lyrics to Vincent Price's "The World's Greatest Criminal Mind" are the opening number to the animated Disney film, The Great Mouse Detective. In the song, the main antagonist of the film, Professor Ratigan, announces his plan to commit the "most odious, the most evil, the most diabolical scheme" of his career- to overthrow the current monarch during the Diamond Jubilee and take over as the supreme ruler of all Mousedom. He boasts about his previous crimes, which include the "Big Ben Caper" and the "Tower Bridge Job," but admits that this new plot is his "real Tour de Force" and an even grimmer scheme.
Ratigan's monologue is interrupted by his henchmen, who declare him the world's greatest criminal mind and continue to praise him despite his outburst of anger when they mistakenly call him a rat. The song showcases Ratigan's narcissism and superiority complex, as he boasts about his own abilities and belittles his enemies. The grand, theatrical music and Vincent Price's haunting vocals add to the villain's sinister demeanor and set the tone for the rest of the film.
Line by Line Meaning
My friends, we are about to embark
Ratigan is gathering his cohorts for a devious plan
On the most odious, the most evil, the most diabolical scheme
The forthcoming crime will be a malevolent masterpiece
Of my illustrious career. A crime to top all crimes,
This upcoming crime will be the pinnacle of Ratigan's criminal endeavors
A crime that will live in infamy!
The evil deed will be remembered forever
Tommorrow evening, our beloved monarch celebrates
The crime is scheduled for the night of the Queen's jubilee celebration
Her diamond jubilee. And, with the enthusiastic help of our good friend Mr. Flaversham, it promises to be a night she will never forget.
The Queen's celebration will be unforgettable due to the help of Ratigan's accomplice, Flaversham.
Her last ight, and my first as Supreme Ruler of all Mousedom!
Ratigan plans to be the new leader of Mousedom after the Queen is assassinated.
From the brain that brought you the Big Ben Caper
Ratigan is introducing himself and his string of past, successful crimes
The head that made headlines in every newspaper
Ratigan's previous criminal exploits has made front page news
And wonderous things like the Tower Bridge Job
Ratigan's past scheme involved Tower Bridge
That cunning display that made London a sob
London was brought to tears after Ratigan's dubious actions.
Now comes the real Tour de Force
Ratigan claims that this upcoming crime will top his previous crimes.
Tricky and wicked of course
The upcoming crime will be deceitful and nefarious.
My earlier crimes were fine for their times
Ratigan believes his past crimes were great for their era.
But now that I'm at it again
But Ratigan is confident that this next crime will be greater.
An even grimmer plot has been simmering
An even more nefarious plot is in store.
In my great criminal brain
Ratigan's malevolent brain is always scheming.
Even meaner? You mean it?
Ratigan's cohorts are surprised to hear that the new plan is even more treacherous.
Worse than the widows and orphans you drowned?
They ask if it's worse than a crime that involved drowning widows and orphans.
You're the best of the worst around
They acknowledge that Ratigan is supreme among criminals.
Thank you. But it hasn't all been champagne and caviar. I've had my share of adversity, thanks to that miserable, second rate detective, Basil of Baker Street. For years that insufferable pipsqeek has interfered with my plans.
Ratigan recounts his personal experience of being impeded by his adversary, Basil of Baker Street.
I haven't had a moments peice of mind. But, all that's in the past! This time, nothing, not even Basil, can stand in my way! All will bow before me!
But Ratigan is confident that his new plan will succeed, and nothing will stop him from becoming the ruler of Mousedom.
You're tops and that's that
Ratigan's cohorts praise him.
To Ratigan the world's greates rat!
One mouse accidentally calls him a rat.
What was that?? What did you call me?
Ratigan is outraged at the suggestion that he is a rat.
Oh, oh, he didn't mean it, Professor
His cohorts placate him, explaining the mistake.
I-it was just a slip of the tongue.
The mistaken mouse apologizes profusely.
I AM NOT A RAT!!!
Ratigan reminds his cohorts again that he is not a rat.
Course you're not. You're a mouse!
The other mice reassure him that he is, in fact, a mouse.
Yeah, that's right. Right! A mouse...
The other mice repeat the reassurance.
SILENCE! Oh, my dear Bartholomew. I'm afraid that you've gone and upset me. You know what happens when someone upsets me.
Ratigan threatens one of his cohorts for upsetting him.
Meow.
Ratigan's pet cat Felicia makes an appearance.
Oh, Felicia, my precious, my baby. Did Daddy's little honey bun enjoy her tasty treat?
He addresses and speaks affectionately to his pet cat.
Urp.
His pet cat relinquishes a loud burp.
I trust there will be no further interruptions? And now, as you were singing?
Ratigan dismisses the disturbance and asks his cohorts to continue praising him.
Even louder We'll shout it! No one can doubt what we know you can do You're more evil that even you
They oblige and continue their praises of Ratigan's evil deeds.
You're one of a kind
They acknowledge that Ratigan is unique among criminals.
To Ratigan The world's greates criminal mind!!!
They sing his praises one last time, heralding him as the world's greatest criminal mind.
Contributed by Max R. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@nicholasclarke171
You know, I always found Rattigan curious amongst Disney villains.
For one thing, he has no problem whatsoever being seen as evil, or despicable.
But he abhors being seen as a Rat, despite his own name being "Rat-tigan.".
I can't help but wonder...why?
So many people call him a "Rat" as an insult...even Basil.
Was he bullied for being a Rat? Was he, once a clever and kind person with potential, rejected because he was a Rat?
Does he secretly want to punish the mouse-dom which made him suffer?
@mcmptn
I never thought about it, but it's actually interesting comparing this song to Gaston's.
In Gaston's song, Lefou starts singing about him, and then the crowd joins in, and then Gaston finally gets into the spirit and starts singing about himself. Then they alternate: Sometimes Gaston sings about himself; sometimes the villagers sing about him.
In Ratigan's song, Ratigan starts singing about himself, and then the crowd sings afterwards....but after his verse, Ratigan doesn't sing anymore. He just expects everyone to keep praising him...although you could compare his "I hate Basil, but he's not going to thwart me this time" speech to Gaston's "I eat dozens of eggs, so I'm a big, strong dude" verse. (I'm obviously paraphrasing here.)
Both songs involve characters who have consumed alcohol.
Both songs involve repeating someone's name quite a few times.
Both songs are about "Oh, you're so amazing!" but the difference is Gaston's is about "You have so many virtues and talents that make you a great guy!" and Ratigan's is about "You're the most cunning and cruel of all criminals!"
Both songs are interrupted. Maurice unwittingly interrupts Gaston's song to ask for help, and is promptly thrown out of the tavern. Ratigan interrupts his own song twice: once to complain about Basil and once to execute Bartholomew.
In Ratigan's song, the henchmen come together to try to save Bartholomew's life. In Gaston's, the villagers are willing to go along with Gaston's plan to ruin Maurice's life (at least as far as they know; most of his plan was whispered to Lefou instead of spoken aloud).
Ratigan and Gaston both get two songs. For the former, "The World's Greatest Criminal Mind" and "Goodbye So Soon." For the latter, "Gaston" and "The Mob Song."
I would argue that there's one crucial difference. The villagers seem to be singing because they genuinely admire Gaston, and some of them would love to be just like him; they willingly praise him. Ratigan's men seem to be singing because they're absolutely terrified. When Ratigan shows them the bell after Bartholomew's death, the henchmen immediately bring him accessories befitting royalty and perform acrobatics. Some of them even juggle. Clearly, they want him to think they're too loyal to harbor any bad feelings and that they admire him way too much to double cross him. Even before Bartholomew's death, Ratigan pulls his cape over his face and walks toward a group of his men, and until they see that he was just joking around, the looks on their faces are of sheer terror.
This was very interesting to consider. Thanks for getting my mind turning.
@glowworm2
I love how Ratigan is basically one of the only Disney villains to actually pause his musical number to murder one of his hapless henchmen and then forces the others to resume the musical number by threatening them with murder as well if they don't commence singing their praises of him. It's downright brutal--and wonderfully memorable.
@thesmilingknight4982
Dark Disney was peek and its a shame we dont get more of that today...
@cynthiashore3692
This was stuck in my head all day
@powerist209
@@thesmilingknight4982 Ironically, it also happened to be during its weakest performing era sadly enough. Not Great Mouse Detective, which was seen as "pull Disney out of Dark Age", but mostly Black Cauldron and Black Hole. They were good, but also considered least profitable by contrast.
@Duothimir
@@powerist209 Maybe they shouldn't have adapted the Prydain Chronicles starting at the second book, then. :/
@caseyhandy3755
Rip Vincent price the voice of professor Ratigan from the great mouse detective 1986.
@DabbyLarson
"Worse than the widows and orphans you drowned"
I made my wife sit down with me and think of every Disney villain; Ratigan was the most evil of all and had the best songs. Highly under appreciated movie.
@TimberlakeTigerGirl
If that did really happen then no wonder why Basil was obsessed with grabbing him. He probably personally knew one of the widows or orphans that died and felt like he needed to get justice for them.
@nairda55555
He might not have had the songs to match, but I dare say, the most evil villain of an animated movie (whose feats show in the movie and not a comic or DVD sequel) is probably the The Horned King
An actual, literal necromantic lich raising an undead army.
@DabbyLarson
@@nairda55555 I completely blanked on him. He’s definitely more evil. Still Ratigan is fantastic and I’d rather watch him than the Horned King.