Cats (1997 film)

***Cats*** is a 1997 American animated musical fantasy film produced by Amblimation and The Kennedy/Marshall Company, and released by Universal Pictures. Based on the 1981 stage musical of the same name by Andrew Lloyd Webber, which in turn was based on the poetry collection *Old Possum's Book of Practical Cats* (1939) by T. S. Eliot. The film is directed by Phil Nibbelink and written by Joel Cohen and Alec Sokolow. The film follows a tribe of cats named Jellicles make what is known as "the Jellicle choice" and decide which cat will ascend to the Heaviside Layer and come back to a new life.

The musical score was written by James Horner, with songs written by Andrew Lloyd Webber. The film was released on June 6, 1997 and was met with positive reviews from critics, many of whom pointed to the art direction, script, and James Horner's score, to generally positive reviews and was a commercial success, grossing over $280 million worldwide. The film received Academy Award and Golden Globe Award nominations for Horner's musical score.

## Plot

Somewhere in the world, a young boy is getting ready for bed. However, his train of thought is derailed by his curious kitten, Victoria, an all-white cat, freshly new and learning to experience the world. Victoria is a playful young kitten, and the boy is devoted to her. The two have a good time playing a bit before the boy's mother tucks him in. It is a peaceful night. The moon is shining bright, full and round in the sky. But just as the boy's eyes begin to droop...

...Victoria jumps out of the window and rushes out into the street! The boy rushes out of his house and follows her through the streets of his town and into an old junkyard. Here, various cats have congregated, as if for a meeting of some sort. Much to the boy's surprise and confusion, these cats can talk and sing. Apparently, these cats call themselves Jellicles, and they explain to the newcomer, Victoria, what it means to be a Jellicle cat. However, the revelry is interrupted when a cat notices the boy watching. A silver tabby named Munkustrap approaches the boy, and asks if he's never heard of a Jellicle cat. When the boy asks "What's a Jellicle cat?", the cats react in shock and indignation. But nonetheless, the cats explain that being a Jellicle is being among the highest order of cat in the world. It means living up to your three names. When the boy expresses confusion of that notion, the cats explain to him that a cat has three names: one that their human owners call them, a more dignified name, and a name that only the cat knows.

Weirded out by this explanation, the boy asks if he can take Victoria back home. But much to his surprise, Victoria speaks to him and tells him "I want to stay. Do you know what tonight is? Tonight is the night of the Jellicle Ball!" Confused by such a process, Munkustrap, being something of a storyteller for the Jellicles, explains to the boy that the Jellicle Ball is a special event that happens only once a year, and it has a special purpose. On this night, a wise leader named Old Deuteronomy will choose one of the Jellicles to go up to the "Heaviside Layer" so that they can be reborn. Munkustrap goes on to explain that every Jellicle considers it a high honor to go up to the Heaviside Layer, and pretty much every cat gathered here has hopes of going up themselves.

To demonstrate his point, Munkustrap suggests to the boy that he should meet some of the cats who will hope to be reborn, first introducing Jennyanydots, an old "gumbie cat" who seemingly does nothing but sit around the house all day. But when her human owners go to sleep, she sheds this lazy facade and sets off to deal with any vermin in her own unique way. She has the mice tutored in "music, crocheting and tatting" and makes sure they have a proper diet, and has the cockroaches enlisted in a scout troop in order to "prevent them from idle and wanted destroyment." The boy is tickled by Jennyanydots's story, and suggests that she is far too important to be reborn. She should stay and make sure the mice and cockroaches don't break their habits. Just then, by sheer coincidence, who should arrive but the Rum Tum Tugger, a wild and rambunctious cat who is notable for his picky and contrarian lifestyle. As the cats explain, "he will do what he will do, and there's no doing anything about it!"

However, the Tugger's revelry is interrupted by the arrival of Grizabella, a "glamour cat" who has since been shunned by the Jellicles. Victoria, being the youngest cat present, attempts to reach out and touch her, but the adults pull her back. Two of the women of the tribe, Demeter and Bombalurina, explain to the boy that Grizabella left and shunned the tribe in her youth. Now with her beauty long since gone, Grizabella haunts the landscape. She has tried many times to regain the favor of the Jellicles, but they have always shunned her. After all, she turned her back on the tribe, and the Jellicles are a very proud tribe. But before the boy can ask any more questions, Bustopher Jones appears on the scene! Bustopher Jones is an obese cat, but nonetheless is the toast of society, and very well respected by the Jellicles. However, the mood is broken by a loud crash! Fearing it to be the work of a being known as "Macavity", the cats scatter! The boy is left all alone in the junkyard and is unnerved by giggling. Suddenly, two cats spring up from the piles of junk and introduce themselves. Their names are Mungojerrie and Rumpleteazer, and they tell the boy of their lives spreading mischief and causing destruction. Their song is catchy and jazzy, and the boy finds himself dancing along! However, the other cats, seeing that the noise was created by these two thiefs, fight them off and soon chase them away.

After the fight, one of the cats, Mr. Mistoffelees, senses something in the wind. Old Deuteronomy is coming! As the cats prepare themselves, Munkustrap and the Tugger tell the boy all about the beloved leader of the Jellicles. At last, Deuteronomy arrives and the cats greet him with respect. Deuteronomy is kind towards the boy and to Victoria, and encourages the boy to stay. With Deuteronomy here, the jellicle ball can begin! It's a spectacular sight as the cats dance under the light of the full moon. However, at the conclusion of the dance, Grizabella appears again. Victoria tries to reach out to her again, but is prevented. The Jellicles slink away, leaving only Deuteronomy and the boy watching her. Alone, Grizabella tries to recapture some of the magic she had inside of her at the ball, but she's too old, meaning that trying to dance is very painful to her. She leaves, recalling "a time I knew what happiness was."

Alone, the boy asks Deuteronomy "Was it actually a good idea to cast out Grizabella entirely?" Deuteronomy responds "Looking back, I fear it was a horrible decision." Deuteronomy goes on to say "I was just thinking about what she said about knowing what happiness was. I feel that we've all forgotten what happiness truly is." Victoria, having returned to her owner, expresses her opinions. "It must be a remarkable experience to go up to the Heaviside Layer. Maybe the cat chosen will be a cat who knows what happiness is."

The cats, having returned, bring in Gus, an old "theatre cat" who was a prominent actor in his prime. He reminisces about his time on stage, having received great acclaim and success. The boy asks Gus about his favorite role in the theater. Gus tells him that although Firefroefiddle was his greatest role, his personal favorite was the Great Rumpus Cat in a play called "The Awful Battle of the Pekes and the Pollicles". The boy asks if he could still play the part, and -- with the encouragement of the rest of the tribe -- Gus agrees, and enlists the tribe to help him perform. Munkustrap serves as narrator, Tugger plays bagpipes and the rest of the tribe -- save for Deuteronomy and the boy -- play the dogs. The story of the Awful Battle is about two rival dog clans -- the Pekes and the Pollicles -- who have an altercation in the middle of the street, which is soon joined by two other clans, the Pugs and the Poms. Such a fight is broken up by the arrival of the Great Rumpus Cat, who is able to scare all the dogs away. The boy applauds the number, saying that Gus has still got a few good years left in him. Charmed by the boy's words, Gus considers giving theater another try, much to the joy of the Jellicles.

The merry mood is heightened by the arrival of Skimbleshanks, the railway cat, a cat who makes sure the train that carries the mail is able to get to it's destination on time. But the mood is destroyed once again by another crash. This time, it truly is Macavity! He sweeps into the junkyard and kidnaps not only Old Deuteronomy but also the boy, too! As the adults give chase, Victoria is left alone with Demeter and Bombalurina, who explain exactly who Macavity is and why he is so feared among the Jellicles. At the conclusion of the song, Old Deuteronomy...or at least what looks like Old Deuteronomy...comes back. But, Victoria is smart enough to claw at the "fur", revealing it to be an old robe. It's Macavity in disguise! And he's got the boy, too! As Macavity gloats about how he'll never reveal where Deuteronomy went off to, an enraged Munkustrap leaps upon Macavity and the two fight. Despite being able to save the boy from a nasty fall at the last minute, Macavity is able to knock Munkustrap out, thus prompting all the Jellicles to take a swipe at Macavity. In a last-ditch effort to escape, Macavity cuts all the power to the junkyard, killing the lights...but electrifying himself in the process.

Macavity is no more. But, an even bigger problem rises. How will the Jellicles get Old Deuteronomy back? The Tugger suggests they call upon Mr. Mistoffelees, a cat magician who is a master with disappearance and re-appearance. With his assistant, Cassandra, at his side, Mr. Mistoffelees is indeed able to bring Old Deuteronomy back!

The applause is slowly cut short as Victoria and the boy notice that the sun will soon rise. The night is almost over! The Jellicle Ball will soon come to an end! And that means it's time for Old Deuteronomy to make that fateful choice. However, Grizabella returns for a third time. The cats again shun her, but the boy and Victoria persuade them to listen to her, an offer to which Deuteronomy agrees. Grizabella sings about her shame of how she turned on the Jellicles, and how she's lost hope for a new life. With Victoria giving aid, Grizabella is able to finish her song, and the choice is clear -- she shall go up to the Heaviside Layer to be reborn! As the cats see her off, a tire in the junkyard stretches skyward and takes Grizabella and Deuteronomy high above the ground. A magical staircase appears in the clouds. Deuteronomy encourages Grizabella to take that fateful step and she disappears.

The sun is just starting to rise as the boy and Victoria thank Old Deuteronomy for a splendid evening and prepare to head home. But Deuteronomy stops them for a brief moment, and encourages the boy to come by for next year's Jellicle Ball. Tonight, he has become a good friend to the Jellicles and as such, Deuteronomy offers him the secrets to how he can make more Jellicle friends. As the song finishes, the boy wakes up. The whole experience with the Jellicles must have been a dream. He asks Victoria, who is once again mute, if what happened the night before truly did happen. As the Boy prepares to head downstairs for breakfast, a meow catches his attention. He looks out his window to see Old Deuteronomy sitting outside his house, who gives him a wink.

## Cast

* Jake Lloyd as The Boy
* Mae Whitman as Victoria
* David Hyde Pierce as Munkustrap
* Michael York as Old Deuteronomy
* Bette Midler as Jennyanydots
* Alfonso Ribeiro as Rum Tum Tugger
* Eartha Kitt as Grizabella
* Paige O'Hara as Bombalurina
* Jodi Benson as Demeter
* Kelsey Grammer as Bustopher Jones
* Whoopi Goldberg as Rumpleteazer
* Nathan Lane as Mungojerrie
* Alan Cumming as Mr. Mistoffelees
* Robert Guillaume as Gus the Theatre Cat
* Roger Bart as Skimbleshanks
* Tim Curry as Macavity

## Production

### Development

In 1994, it was announced that Steven Spielberg's Amblimation was set to begin production on a full-length animated feature version of *Cats*, to be released by Universal Pictures in 1997.

*More coming soon!*

### Music

*Main article: Cats (1997 film)/Soundtrack*
## Marketing

The film was accompanied with a promotional campaign with licensees including Mattel, Pizza Hut, Oreo, Motel 6, Kellogg's, GlobeBox, NBC, and Random House.

## Release

*Cats* was originally scheduled for a March 1997 release, but it was moved to June 1997 to avoid competition with other films released during the spring season.

### Home media

*Cats* was released on VHS and LaserDisc on October 23, 1997. On April 10, 2001, the film was released on DVD for the first time as a two-disc collector's edition in widescreen and fullscreen formats. It also includes an audio commentary by the filmmakers, behind-the-scenes footage, and supplements detailing the film's development.

On June 5, 2007, a two-disc DVD was released for the film's tenth anniversary, featuring much of the bonus material from the 2000 DVD as well as newer features. *Cats* was first made available on Blu-ray on June 5, 2012, as a part of Universal's *Universal 100th Anniversary* releases.

On June 6, 2017, it was released on 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray for its 20th anniversary. *Cats* was included on NBCUniversal's streaming service Peacock on July 15, 2020.

## Transcripts

### Main

To see the main transcript of the film, click here.

### Trailers

To see the transcript for the trailers of the film, click here.