The Aristocats [DVD]

Review

Produced and Directed by: Wolfgang Reitherman, Producer: Winston Hibler, Screenwriter: Ken Anderson, Frank Thomas, Music: George Bruns, Voice Cast: Hermione Badgley, Eva Gabor, Scatman Crothers -- Synopsis (from the "CD Journal" database)

Product Description

In Paris, France, in the good old days, a beautiful female cat named Duchess lived with her three kittens. Her owner was a wealthy elderly woman who cared for her cats with kindness and who planned to leave her vast inheritance to them. Overhearing their conversation, the mansion's butler, Edgar, drugged the cats and abandoned them in the suburbs in an attempt to get his hands on their inheritance. Duchess and her friends woke up, at a loss, when a brave and kind stray cat named O'Malley appeared before them. With O'Malley's help, the group set off for Paris. Will they be able to return safely to their kind lady? Enjoy this classic Disney musical with the whole family, full of fun and humor.

From Amazon

Duchess the cat and her three kittens live a luxurious life with their beloved lady, but their crafty butler, Edgar, has his eye on the mistress's vast fortune and plots to put the cats to sleep and drive them out of the mansion. How will the four frail cats overcome the challenges of the unfamiliar countryside and the dingy streets of Paris? The answer is simple: they meet O'Malley, a brave stray cat with a hidden romantic heart, who rescues them. After enduring perils in the world, O'Malley escorts Duchess and her three kittens back to the lady's home, while Edgar is kicked by the mansion's horse and receives the just reward for his wicked schemes. The appeal of a Disney film is often expressed not only through the animation itself, but also through the voice acting. Here, Phil Harris is superb as O'Malley, and Eva Gaber is so dazzling as Duchess that it's hard to imagine anyone else playing her. Perhaps the most memorable performances are those of Pat Buttram (as Napoleon) and George Lindsay (as Lafayette), who play a pair of sulking Southern country hunks. The scenes featuring Edgar and the two old dogs, and the jazz cat and the cool jazz band, are both classics. What's most striking about watching The Aristocats today is how dramatically Disney animation has changed since this film, which was cutting-edge in the 1970s. Its nostalgic, outdated feel is likely due to its setting in Belle Époque Paris. Compared to more recent films like "Aladdin," the background illustrations are disappointingly overly elaborate, and the animation and overall tone of the film are rather sluggish (although sometimes that's a relief). (Richard Farr, Amazon.com)