Cat Ballou

Director: Elliot Silverstein, Elliott Silverstein Elliot Silverstein

Overview

"The western comedy Cat Ballou gets a superb treatment on this DVD release from Columbia/Tri-Star. The disc contains two different pictures. The widescreen anamorphic transfer faithfully reproduces the original theatrical aspect ratio of 1.85:1 and is preferable to the standard full-frame 1.33:1 image. The closed-captioned English soundtrack is rendered in Dolby Digital Mono. English, Spanish, Portuguese, Chinese, Korean, and Thai subtitles are accessible. Supplemental features include a featurette with director Elliot Silverstein, audio commentary by two of the male leads (Michael Callan and Dwayne Hickman), original advertising, theatrical trailers, talent files, and production notes."

Product Details

Release Date:	08/08/2000
UPC:	0043396048645
Original Release:	1965
Rating:	NR
Source:	SONY PICTURES HOME ENTERTAINMT
Region Code:	1
Presentation:	[Wide Screen]
Sound:	[monaural]
Language:	English
Time:	1:36:00
Sales rank:	12,204

Special Features

Digitally mastered audio and anamorphic video; Widescreen and full-screen presentations; Audio: English [mono]; Subtitles: English, Spanish, Portuguese, Chinese, Korean, Thai; Featurette: "The Legend of Cat Ballou" with director Elliot Silverstein; Lead actors Michael Callan and Dwayne Hickman audio commentary; Vintage advertising; Theatrical trailers; Talent files; Interactive menus; Production notes; Scene selections

Cast & Crew

Performance Credits

Jane Fonda	Cat Ballou
Lee Marvin	Kid Shelleen/Tim Strawn
Michael Callan	Clay Boone
Dwayne Hickman	Jed
Tom Nardini	Jackson Two-Bears
John Marley	Frankie Ballou
Reginald Denny	Sir Harry Percival
Jay C. Flippen	Sheriff Cardigan
Arthur Hunnicutt	Butch Cassidy
Nat "King" Cole	Shouter,Actor
Stubby Kaye	Shouter
Bruce Cabot	Sheriff Maledon
Burt Mustin	Accuser
Paul Gilbert	Train messenger
Robert Phillips	Klem
Charles Wagenheim	James
Duke Hobbie	Homer
Ayllene Gibbons	Hedda
Everett L. Rohrer	Actor
Harry Harvey	Train Conductor
Hallene Hill	Honey Girl
Gail Bonney	Mabel Bentley
Joe Hamilton	Frenchie
Dorothy Claire	Singing Tart
Charles Horvath	Hardcase
Chuck Roberson	Armed Guard
Nick Cravat	Ad-Lib
Ted White	Gunslinger
Erik Sorenson	Actor
Ivan L. Middleton	Actor
Carol Veazie	Mrs. Parker
Frank De Vol	Composer
Jerry Livingston	Composer
Mack David	Composer

Technical Credits

Walter Newman

Frank Pierson

Roy Chanslor

Elliot Silverstein	Director,Director
Walter Newman	Screenwriter
Frank Pierson	Screenwriter
Harold Hecht	Producer
Roy Chanslor	Screenwriter

Editorial Reviews

Cat Ballou is a marvelous spoof of Westerns, a precursor to the likes of Blazing Saddles, Wild Wild West and other send-ups of the genre. Lee Marvin won an Academy Award -- a rare nod for a comedy performance -- for his roles as a drunken gunman and his evil twin. Jane Fonda plays the 1900s-era schoolmarm Catherine Ballou with sass and vinegar; it's among her best work. What really sets the film apart is the hilarious running ballad which ties together the narrative, using Nat King Cole and Stubby Kaye as a cowpoke Greek chorus. The film's score and the song "The Ballad of Cat Ballou" were both Oscar-nominated, as was the screenplay adaptation by Walter Newman and Frank R. Pierson. Though there are dull stretches, this is a one-of-a-kind comic classic, thanks to the sure hand of director Eliot Silverstein.