Cat Ballou

Cat Ballou is a movie spoof unlike any other, and a great parody of the Western film genre. Jane Fonda appears in one of her most playful film roles ("Barbarella" is another light and funny Fonda classic), and Lee Marvin gives one of his finest film performances (he won his Oscar for his dual roles). Add to this mix a wondrous soundtrack, with Nat King Cole and Stubby Kaye as minstrels of sorts who stroll and sing throughout, making the film almost seem like a musical; an outstanding supporting cast including Michael Callan (who later appeared on TV's "One Life to Live"), and Dwayne Hickman (TV's Dobie Gillis), and the result is this hilarious, thoroughly entertaining film that was nominated for five Academy Awards (Marvin was the sole winner).

Catherine Ballou (Fonda)is a recently graduated-from-school schoolteacher returning home to live with her father on his ranch, but he is gunned down upon her arrival. She enlists the help of a loyal ranch-hand, a couple of outlaws, and most notably, a has-been gunman by the name of Kid Sheleen (Marvin) to help her get revenge. The result is a thoroughly enjoyable film that still stands up today, and Lee Marvin stealing the entire film in his amazing dual role performance as both Tim Strong and Kid Sheleen. Lee Marvin alone makes the film well worth seeing.

The dialogue is great. Take this exchange as an example:

Jackson Two-Bears: "Kid, Kid, what a time to fall off the wagon. Look at your eyes." Kid Sheleen: "What's wrong with my eyes?" Jackson Two-Bears: "Well they're red; bloodshot." Kid Sheleen: "You ought to see 'em from my side."

I was thrilled when the widescreen special edition of this long-time favorite of mine came out in 2003, and on DVD. I have the soundtrack on vinyl, but I have always wished that it would come out on CD; Nat King Cole is one of my all-time favorite singers, and his rendition of "They'll Never Make Me Cry" always makes me...anyway. This film still hasn't lost any of its humor or fun with the passing of time, and stays on of my personal "top ten list" of comedy.

I have always enjoyed the tour-de-force effort of Lee Marvin in this movie. There are a series of scenes that make it an utter delight. When the rear of the stagecoach is opened and the crumpled up gunslinger rolls out on the ground, we know it's going to be a tough ride. When they get him sobered up enough to show his skill and in a demonstration of shooting, he misses the barn. He and his horse leaning against a building, both of them apparently drunk. Kid's rendition of Happy Birthday at the funeral of Cat's father. The ongoing chorus of "The Ballad of Cat Ballou" with Stubby Kaye and Nat "King" Cole. The scene where Kid Schelleen is bathed and preened in preparation for the big showdown is a classic. It's so much fun from beginning to end. This is a feel-good movie which never needs to be taken seriously.

Like beautiful women (as well as wine) CAT BALLOU has grown so much better with age.

Jane Fonda "glows" with not only sex appeal, but with acting genius. She plays it straight as her director instructed...while Callan and Hickman play it "over the top." What a point...and counterpoint.

What a movie.

Lee Marvin (AND HIS HORSE) may have stolen this film, but what remains is what real movies are really about. And what is missing today.

And the music? Well, Frank DeVol (as others back then) knew what importance music makes to EVERY great movie.

What's wrong with today's box office? Today's movies don't even have a clue as to why CAT BALLOU was a good film. It's the same as why today people don't know how the pyramids were really built.

I have heard that nobody wanted to make this movie, so it flew under the radar and got made just as the director and writers wanted. Hurray! The director knew how to get his movie right...and he did...and we are all so much better for it.

Find CAT BALLOU and show it to your children and grandkids every year.

They will love you for it!

Maybe the best compliment I'd give to "Cat Ballou" is that I enjoyed it better than Mel Brooks' "Blazing Saddles (both films made it in American Film Institute Top 100 Comedies) but unlike Mel Brooks, Elliott Silverstein (a forgotten name) never gets carried away to the point he forgets to tell a story.

The film has a straightforwardness in the narrative that retrospectively betrays a lack of inspiration but it provides a reasonable amount of laughs and some hilarious gags (the "Happy Birthday To You" one killed me), setting the tone quickly and by quickly, I mean immediately. When you have the Columbia Lady turning into a cartoon pin-up, tossing her robe to reveal a sexy cowgirl shooting all over the screen in pure 60s animation, you know this is a movie that is aiming rather high in terms of laughs.

Then our eyes are gratified with the irresistible sight of Stubby Kaye and Nat King Cole as official minstrels and officious Greek Chorus introducing us to the Ballad of Cat Ballou, played by a youthful Jane Fonda. Sadly, Cole would die a few months later of cancer and would never see the film be released, but he couldn't have a better ending role, he and Kaye form a wonderful matched couple.

So we discover the beautiful Cat Ballou waiting for the rope like Marie-Antoinette the guillotine and the film tells her story in flashback. We discover her as Catherine, a shy and prude soon-to-be teacher whose supporter leaves in a train next to the most respectable figure: a priest (Dwayne Hickman). 'Cat' had just caught the eye of a handsome escorted criminal Clay Boone (Michael Callan) and she's not indifferent to his charm.

There's something in Fonda's performance that is full of juvenile vulnerability and a repressed appetite for thrills of any sorts. In fact, no one is what he seems to be, the first time the priest opens his mouth, it sets the tone of unpredictability that drives every major supporting character, all deconstructing the myths of the Western in the funniest way. Even Frankie Ballou, the no-nonsense father played by John Marley mistakes his Native hand Jackson Two-Bears (Tom Nardini) from one of the "chosen people".

The Native mistaken for a Jew and played by an Italian is perhaps the sanest character of male persuasion in the whole film. The priest is a scam, Boone a coward and the father who should take the threats of Wolf Fort's people seriously (he refuses to sell his ranch for the railroad company) doesn't care. This is all played for laughs, and Cat Ballou is both the woman and straight man of the film.

But even the best oiled comedy machinery wouldn't have worked too long if it wasn't for the genius casting of Lee Marvin. It takes more than half-an-a hour but it's all worth it. I wouldn't call it a dual performance as we don't see much of Tim Strawn, the man who gives a reason to Cat to seek revenge, but as Kid Shellein, he's simply a constant delight.

It's one thing to play drunk, but Kid isn't any drunkard, he's a gunslinger who can't do with and without the liquor: if he's too drunk, he's ineffective, if he's sober, he's shaking and the way he expresses his need is borderline drama, he needs to have a few drops to get on his feet and not drop his pants, and for a brief amount of time, he's the best shot of the west, the rest of the time, he's hilarious as well and provides most the laugh.

Marvin was responsible for the good and jovial atmosphere during the shooting and Silverstein credited him for that. Interestingly, Fonda didn't get along with him, maybe she resented having the less juicy role despite being the titular, but it's true that those who're looking for the equivalent of our "girl power" movies will be disappointed, "Cat Ballou" is bad ass all right but her incredible good looks and soft sexiness are the best assets she exhibits... the script doesn't give her much to value, even the crime that brings her to jail is rather played in an anticlimactic way.

In fact, Lee Marvin is the star and that the film isn't titled "The Legend of Kid Shellen" is because he's a supporting role, which brings me to a point: he should have shared with the horse his Oscar for Bet Supporting Actor. The year after, Mathau would win in Supporting for "The Fortune Cookie" where he was clearly the co-lead, got to wonder how the Academy works sometimes. But that doesn't diminish the film's merit, it's a classic Western comedy, bu is it a classic Western?

To be honest, I've held an unfair grudge against "Cat Ballou" and I blame it on the AFI. When it unveiled its Top 10 Westerns, two titles rang like abnormalities to me: "McCabe & Mrs. Miller" and "Cat Ballou". Never heard of any, saw each, and I thought Altman's film wasn't just one of the best Western but one of the best movies, period. But "Cat Ballou" kept me more skeptical.

I just rewatched two films that could have made decent tenth entries: John Ford's classics "My Darling Clementine" or "The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance". "Rio Bravo" or "The Magnificent Seven" would have been relevant. Or "The Ox-Bow Incident", "True Grit", "Little Big Man". "Cat Ballou" is an entertaining Western, but Top 10? Not sure it's Top 50 material.

These considerations put a considerable weight on my initial judgment and made me look at the film as something that stole a lousy spot in a list, instead of a fun, daring, sometimes hilarious parody of the Western genre, and had it dared a little more, perhaps its reputation would have equaled "Blazing Saddles", a film I found a tad overrated.

But if a comedy had to make it in the Top 10, I'm glad it was "Cat Ballou".

In the most lighthearted roles of their careers, Academy Award-winner Jane Fonda (Klute, Coming Home) and Lee Marvin (winner of the Best Actor Oscar for this performance) shine as the title character, a virtuous young schoolmarm who sets out to avenge the death of her father Frankie (played by John Marley), and as drunken sharpshooter Kid Shelleen, who agrees to help the young woman go after the killer(s). Along for the ride are Clay Boone (Michael Callan), a handsome young felon who is sheltered by Cat and falls in love with her; Jed (Dwayne Hickman), Clay's Bible-thumping uncle, and Jackson Two-Bears (Tom Nardini, who is hilarious), the Ballou's hired hand who philosophically comments on the treatment of Native Americans. Nat King Cole and Stubby Kaye are enjoyable as troubadours who sing the plot of the movie as it moves along. Fonda never looked more beautiful, Marvin is a hoot (as Shelleen and his twin brother, the silver-nosed Tim Strawn), and the screenplay (by Walter Newman, Frank R. Pierson and Roy Chanslor, from his novel) is remarkable. Memorable scenes include the opening train sequence, the brawl at the square dance, the showdown between Cat and Sir Percival (played by character actor Reginald Denny) and the conclusion at the gallows. Delightful from start to finish! ***1/2 out of ****