The Aristocats [DVD]

Review

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

From Amazon

Duchess the cat and her three kittens live a luxurious life with a cherished lady. However, their cunning 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 secret romantic heart, and are saved. After a dangerous outing in the open, O'Malley escorts Duchess and her friends back to the Lady's house, where Edgar is kicked by the mansion's horse and receives the just punishment for his wicked schemes.

The essence of a Disney film's appeal is often expressed not only through the animation itself, but also through the voice acting. In this film, 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 most memorable, however, are Pat Buttram (as Napoleon) and George Lindsay (as Lafayette), who play a pair of sulking Southern country gents. The scenes featuring Edgar and the two old dogs, as well as the jazz cat and the cool jazz band, are both memorable.

What's most striking about watching The Aristocats today is how dramatically Disney animation changed from this film, which was cutting-edge in the 1970s. The film's nostalgic, dated feel is due in part 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 are rather sluggish (although sometimes that's a relief). (Richard Farr, Amazon.com)