The Cat from Outer Space (1978)

Director:

Norman Tokar

Writer:

Ted Key (written by)

Release Date:

9 June 1978 (USA)

Genre:

Sci-Fi | Family | Comedy

Tagline:

Mysterious visitor with unknown powers on our planet for supplies.... A six-pack of tuna?

Plot:

A UFO is stranded on earth and impounded by the US government. Its pilot, a cat with a collar that has special powers...

Plot Keywords:

Cat | UFO | Cat Actor | Betting | Spacecraft

Awards:

1 nomination

Cast

  (Cast overview, first billed only)

Ken Berry	...	Dr. Franklin 'Frank' Wilson
Sandy Duncan	...	Dr. Elizabeth 'Liz' Bartlett
Harry Morgan	...	General Stilton
Roddy McDowall	...	Mr. Stallwood
McLean Stevenson	...	Dr. Norman Link
Jesse White	...	Earnest Ernie (the Gambling Dealer)
Alan Young	...	Dr. Wenger
Hans Conried	...	Dr. Heffel
Ronnie Schell	...	Sgt. Duffy / Voice of Jake the cat
James Hampton	...	Capt. Anderson
Howard Platt	...	Col. Woodruff (as Howard T. Platt)
William Prince	...	Mr. Olympus
Ralph Manza	...	Weasel
Tom Pedi	...	Honest Harry
Hank Jones	...	Officer

Runtime:

104 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA Photophone Sound Recording)

Certification:

Iceland:L | Argentina:Atp | Australia:G | Chile:TE | Finland:S | Sweden:Btl | UK:U | USA:G | Singapore:PG

Filming Locations:

Golden Oak Ranch - 19802 Placerita Canyon Road, Newhall, California, USA

Company:

Walt Disney Productions

Trivia:

Ronnie Schell, who provided the voice of the title feline, was also given the small part of an army sergeant. In post-production, it was decided that his voice was too easily recognizable, so the on-screen role was re-dubbed by another, unidentified actor.

Goofs:

Revealing mistakes: As the biplane first lifts off you can see the cable used to lift it.

Quotes:

Dr. Elizabeth 'Liz' Bartlett: But I don't have a parachute!
Mr. Charlie Olympus: Then you have a problem.
Mr. Stallwood: But I don't have a parachute either!
Mr. Charlie Olympus: Then you have the same problem.

Movie Connections:

Featured in Making a 'Splash' (2004) (V)

They don't to make movies like this any more!

I've watched this movie when I was a kid and loved it, now I'm 25 and I watched it again yesterday and loved it even more! OK, so it might be simplistic and naive, but it's good old-style Disney. OK, so the cat who comes from a Galaxy far far away looks exactly like an Earth cat, and speaks perfect English. So what? You can't spend 1 hour in a 1 and a half hour film showing the cat and the human trying to "understand each other" and a "universal translator" would be just as stupid. So forget that, accept it, and enjoy the story! Some of the funny stuff probably works better for kids then for adults, but it still makes you smile. The cat talks, but no stupid and ugly 3D/puppet moving mouth, just good old fashioned training and snacks behind camera to make him "act" perfectly! And he does: a close-up on his face and his stare makes you BELIEVE that he is talking. There are some goofs and some mistakes, sometimes you see a puppet-cat (for stunts!)which is obviously a puppet, but it's still a very enjoyable movie for all ages! I just wish they made more of these films now!