The Three Lives of Thomasina (1964)

Director:

Don Chaffey

Writers:

Robert Westerby (screenplay)
Paul Gallico (book)

Release Date:

4 June 1964 (USA)

Genre:

Family | Drama

Tagline:

I Am Thomasina -A Most Unusual Cat...They Say I'm Enchanted, and I Am!

Plot:

Thomasina the cat brings a family together, through her mysterious death and reappearance.

Plot Keywords:

Village Life | Scotland | Circus Animal | Household Pets | Dream Sequence

Cast

Patrick McGoohan	...	Andrew McDhui
Susan Hampshire	...	Lori MacGregor
Laurence Naismith	...	Reverend Angus Peddie
Jean Anderson	...	Mrs. MacKenzie
Wilfrid Brambell	...	Willie Bannock
Finlay Currie	...	Grandpa Stirling
Alex Mackenzie
Vincent Winter	...	Hughie Stirling
Denis Gilmore	...	Jamie McNab
Charles Carson	...	Doctor
Ruth Dunning
Ewan Roberts	...	Constable McQuarrie
Oliver Johnston	...	Mr. Dobbie
Francis De Wolff	...	Targu (as Francis de Wolff)
Nora Nicholson	...	Old Lady

MPAA:

Rated PG for thematic elements. (1992 re-issue)

Runtime:

97 min

Country:

UK | USA

Language:

English | Scottish Gaelic

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.66 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA Sound Recording)

Certification:

Australia:G | USA:PG (re-rating) (1992) | Canada:G (video rating) | USA:Approved (certificate #20535) (original rating) | UK:U

Filming Locations:

Inveraray, Argyll, Scotland, UK

Company:

Walt Disney Productions

Trivia:

As with most animals in films, several cats were used. Unfortunately, the cats used were not a good match for each other: while both are red tabby cats, one of those used is a "classic" tabby with markings that show a "bullseye" on its side, and another used is a "mackerel" tabby with stripes on the side.

Goofs:

Continuity: In the scene at the circus where Lori goes to check on the abused animals, there is a man riding a horse in a ring. At first the horse is white. Later the same horse is gray spotted.

Quotes:

Thomasina: They started out by calling me Thomas, but when they, um, got to know me better, they changed it to Thomasina.

Movie Connections:

Edited into "Disneyland: The Three Lives of Thomasina: Part 3 (#12.10)" (1965)

Soundtrack:

Thomasina

Benji for cat lovers

Thomasina is the cat with her own agenda. She is given a good home with the mother-less McDhui family in Scotland. Little Mary takes care of her. One day, while hunting for fish in the town market, she falls in a stack of crates and is hurt badly. When Mary and her friends bring her to her father, the town veterinarian, he does nothing for her. The children throw their own funeral, in which Thomasina is taken by Lori who is thought to be a witch. Lori nurses her back to health and then, they begin to feel compelled to help the McDhui family.

This one definitely gnaws at you. Full of real heart and soul. The most emotional parts are aided by lovely songs, especially the opening. A little hard to explain from someone with a lifelong love of animals. It just calls you front and center to the characters. And no matter what they're going through, you remain intrigued. Actress Karen Dotrice who plays Mary is also Jane from Mary Poppins. Adult actor Patrick McGoohan sure was a handsome devil, famous for turning down the part of James Bond and considered to replace Columbo. 7/10