THE ARISTOCATS

1970, Walt Disney Productions

Animated

Rating: G

Approx. 78 mins

The Story:

Pampered cat Duchess (Eva Gabor) and her 3 kittens are kidnapped from their loving mistress’ home by her devious butler when he discovers that they stand in the way of him inheriting his employer’s fortune. The trio runs in to Tom O’Malley (Phil Harris), a cocky alley cat who helps them make their way back to Paris. Along the way the pet cats are exposed to the adventure and excitement available beyond their mistress’ home. Ultimately order is restored: the butler gets his due, the cats return home and Duchess and Tom develop a lasting fondness for each other.

Language:

• stupid

Violence:

• N/A

Teaching Points:

• Be open to new experiences and people
• Opposites attract?

The Upshot:

My 4 year-old laughed repeatedly at the slapstick hijinks, and identified with the clear good-guy/ bad-guy aspect of the story. Interest was lost, however, in the last third of the movie when the cats visit O’Malley’s friend Scat Cat. Here they take in some jazz with language and visual references far too dated for most kids to understand.

The datedness is definitely the aspect of the film I had trouble with. I have no problem with the relative simplicity of the animation and characterizations. What rankles is the—pretty ubiquitous in Disney, I know—savvy male rescues flirty damsel in distress motif. And I shuddered every time O’Malley called Duchess “baby” or some other diminutive. I know that might sound nit-picky, but he is supposed to have just met her.

My reservations aside, my 4 year-old enjoyed The Aristocats. 

3/5