The Aristocats
A tune-filled animated extravaganza.
Overview
When Madame Adelaide Bonfamille leaves her fortune to Duchess and her children—Bonfamille’s beloved family of cats—the butler plots to steal the money and kidnaps the legatees, leaving them out on a country road. All seems lost until the wily Thomas O’Malley Cat and his jazz-playing alley cats come to the aristocats’ rescue.
Backdrop
What makes this movie Worth Watching
Released in 1970 during a time when animated films were transitioning towards more sophisticated storytelling, The Aristocats can be seen as a transitional piece between the simpler, lighter fare of earlier Disney films and the darker, more complex narratives that would emerge in later decades.
- The Aristocats offers a delightful blend of humor, music, and adventure that appeals to both children and adults.
- The film's charming characters, such as the Aristocat family and the bumbling but lovable alley cats, are memorable and endearing.
- The Aristocats features catchy songs by legendary composer, Alan Menken, making it a musical treat for movie lovers.
Fun Facts
- The voice of Duchess, the main character, was provided by Eva Gabor who also played Lisa on the popular TV show Green Acres.
- In the opening sequence, the silhouette of a tiger can be seen in the background. This is a reference to the Disney film The Jungle Book which had been released just two years prior.
- The Aristocats was originally intended as a companion piece to 101 Dalmatians, but due to production delays it was released separately.
Available Languages
English
US
Title:
"A tune-filled animated extravaganza."
Deutsch
DE
Title: Aristocats
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svenska
SE
Title: Aristocats
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Italiano
IT
Title: Gli Aristogatti
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Nederlands
NL
Title: De Aristokatten
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Türkçe
TR
Title: Aristokediler
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Where to Watch
Cast
Crew
Reviews
When a wealthy Parisian lady summons her lawyer to amend her will, her faithful butler "Edgar" assumes it will all be his. Well, he discovers: maybe it will, but only after her cats have had their day first! Infuriated, he concocts a plan to be rid of the pesky felines once and for all. An overdose of a sleeping draught, a nice long drive and a nice big sack. A bridge over a fast moving river and the job ought to be done? That was the plan, but of course there'd be no film so something had to go wrong and soon "Duchess" is trying to get her youngsters back to their mansion. Luckily, along the way, they encounter the street-smart "Thomas O'Malley" who promises to help them get home. Some fun escapades ensue, the slightest hint of a love story develops and we meet some of the best scat cats this side of the Mississippi. The style of the animation used for this story reminded me a lot of "101 Dalmatians" (1961) with some similarly engaging characterisations. It's at it's best in ensemble mode - the "Ev'rybody Wants to be a Cat" number getting the toes tapping and the denouement with the cats, an horse, a large trunk and a trip to Timbuktu for the loser a fine finale for all (except, perhaps, their next door neighbours). It's good fun, moves along nicely and is perhaps the last of the original style of hand-animated Disney films that I can say I truly enjoyed.
Oscar Awards
Wins
Haven't Won A Oscar
Nominations
Haven't Nominated for Oscar
Media
Trailer
The Aristocats - Trailer #6 - 1987 Reissue Trailer (35mm 4K)
Trailer
The Aristocats - 1970 Theatrical Trailer (35mm 4K)
Trailer
The Aristocats - 1980 Reissue Trailer