- “Mysterious visitor with unknown powers on our planet for supplies...A six pack of tuna?”
- ―Tagline
The Cat from Outer Space is a 1978 Disney film starring Ronnie Schell, Ken Berry, Sandy Duncan, Harry Morgan, Roddy McDowall, and McLean Stevenson.
Plot[]
An unidentified flying object makes an emergency landing on Earth and is taken into custody by the United States government. The occupant of the "flying saucer" turns out to be a cat-like alien named Zunar-J-5/9 Doric-4-7, or Jake (voiced by Ronnie Schell) as he is called by his human friends (a tawny Abyssinian cat; a role shared by two cats named Amber and Rumple).
Using a special collar, he is able to communicate with humans (as well as perform feats of levitation and even take a wrecked plane into the air). The cat wants American scientists to help him find some "Org 12" so that his craft may rendezvous with his mother ship, and eventually settles on Dr. Frank Wilson (Ken Berry).
After Frank determines that "Org 12" is gold when Jake tells its atomic weight (196.967), Jake uses his collar's powers to affect the outcome of various sporting events, including horse races and pool games, to win money to buy the needed gold and repair his saucer. Unaware to Jake and Frank, Stallwood, a spy sent by Mr. Olympics plans to get Jake's collar and used it to the world. The Military believes Frank is a spy and helping Jake. The military attempts to arrest them but Jake frees them. However, Olympcs and his goons kidnap Liz and Lucybelle. Jake sends his flying saucer back to the mother ship and help Frank and Link save Liz and Lucybelle from Olympics. In the End, Jack decides to stay on Earth with Frank, Luz and her cat, Lucy.
Trivia[]
- NBA Hall of Famer "Pistol" Pete Maravich and Pat Riley are seen on a clip of a 1971 NBA Hawks-Lakers basketball game.
- At a crucial scene near the half-mark of the film, Jake levitates Frank and a motorcycle across an army barricade to escape pursuit. This type of visual gag had been used before in both Disney's Escape to Witch Mountain and Return from Witch Mountain and the sequence resembles a similar one later seen in Steven Spielberg's E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial.
- This movie was supposed to get sequel in form of a TV series but it was cancelled during production
- It's one of the movies to receive Unofficial Official Trailer when Disney+ was first released
Home Media[]
The Cat from Outer Space was originally released in 1983 on VHS by Walt Disney Home Video, as part of the Neon Mickey era. Then, in 1994, it was released again as part of the Sorcerer Mickey era. In 1999, the VHS was released in a widescreen format, not by Disney, but instead by Anchor Bay Entertainment. In 1999 and 2002, it was released on DVD also by Anchor Bay Entertainment. In 2004, Disney released it on DVD again.
Cast[]
- Ronnie Schell - Jake (voice) / Sergeant Duffy
- 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. Winger (veterinarian)
- Hans Conried - Dr. Heffel
- James Hampton - Captain Anderson
- Howard Platt - Colonel Woodruff
- William Prince - Charlie Olympus
- Ralph Manza - Weasel
- Tom Pedi - Honest Harry
- Hank Jones - Officer
- Sorrell Booke - Judge Alvin Horsham
- Fred Whalen - Sarasota Slim (Pool Hustler)
- John Alderson - Mr. Smith
- Tiger Joe Marsh - Omar
- Dallas McKennon - Charlie Cooney
- Alice Backes - Edna Cooney
- Rickie Sorensen as Technician
Production Credits[]
- Directed by Norman Tokar
- Produced by Ron W. Miller
- Written by Ted Key
- Music by Lalo Schifrin
- Cinematography Charles F. Wheeler
- Editing by Cotton Warburton
- Release Date June 9, 1978
- Running Time 104 minutes
Videos[]
Gallery[]
.jpg "The Cat From Outer Space (1978).jpg (36 KB)")
_Movie_Tie-In.jpg "The Cat from Outer Space by Ted Key (1978) Movie Tie-In.jpg (16 KB)")
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