Cat from Outer Space

 

 

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***SPOILERS ALERT!!!***

This was, by far, one of the goofiest books I've ever read. Back when I was reading the books I got my nephew for Christmas, I had started to read Roald Dahl's 'Charlie and the Great Glass Elevator.' After reading about 5 chapters I realized I couldn't read anymore ' not because Christmas was creeping up quickly and I had to wrap the darn thing, but because it was so goofy, almost in a stupid way that I just couldn't commit anymore time to it.

The Cat From Outer Space was a film written by Ted Key for Disney. I'm pretty sure the book came after the movie, and it turned out to be a very quick read. The film is from 1978, which is before my time, and stars (from what I can see) prominent actors and actresses from that time.

The book ' probably equal in the movie's silliness, though I haven't seen the movie ' starts out with the military finding something hurdling through space towards Earth ' something unknown. We're then brought to a farmer's field where the unknown object has landed. Next to the strange contraption is a cat ' the flyer of the machine.

Throughout the novel we witness 'the military and the most brilliant scientists in the land' attempt to unearth the identity of the object and to track down its owner. While these people do their work (and they really don't seem all that bright, from my perspective) the cat, Jack, is more compelled to befriend a lone scientist, Wilson, to help him get back up into space.

Jack shows Wilson that he can talk and that he can do special things with his collar (which glows when he's working his magic) ' stop people in their tracks, fly airplanes, open doors and windows. Unfortunate for the both of them, the military has a spy out after Wilson after seeing Wilson's fingerprints all over the spacecraft.

The spy finds out the special powers of Jack and the race is on to get Jack's supplies ($120,000 worth of gold and tuna) so he can be on his way back home.

But wait! After befriending Wilson ' and ultimately his friends Link and Liz ' Jack decides to stay on Earth. Well it helps that Wilson is in love with Liz, and Jack is in love with Liz's cat, and the military wants Jack's collar or they'll kill Liz. I mean, what would you do in that situation.

Now that Jack is stranded on Earth, he decides he has to become an American citizen and pledges his allegiance before a Judge who ends the book by floating high up in the courtroom with the help of Jack and his magic collar.

I won't lie ' there are a few laughs throughout the book, but it is definitely a book that will go back up on my shelf for the next 30 years, rather than be lent out to friends on the premise that it's a life-changing read. But, if it only took a day, that's good enough for me.

I used to watch this movie when I was little and I was so happy to find it on DVD. I would recommend it to everyone of all ages if you love old movies that make you laugh!!!

A genuinely smart and entertaining comedy sci-fi film from Disney that is low-key, to the point, and delivers on a modest scale. An alien cat's (named Jake) spaceship crashlands on earth and the ship is retrieved by the military. Jake eludes the military and seeks out help by revealing himself to an astro-physicist (Ken Berry as Frank) who happens to work at the military base where the spaceship is incarcerated. Seems that a modest amount of gold is just the thing needed to repair the lame spaceship. So, Jake uses his alien telekinesis (powered from a collar around his neck) to manipulate the outcomes of a few sporting events to place bets on. Then, win enough cash to buy the right amount of gold and repair the spacecraft. In the meantime, the military, gangsters, and gamblers are on the chase of the elusive alien cat. Ken Berry is excellent as Frank the astro-physicist playing a variation of another Disney character, Prof. Ned Brainard (played by Fred MacMurray) from THE ABSENT-MINDED PROFESSOR. Good support work from Sandy Duncan, McLean Stevenson, Harry Morgan (the two Colonels from tv's MASH!! in the same film) & Roddy McDowell as they round out this inventive Disney family fare that has the right amount of decent special effects and comic situations. Comic actor Ronnie Schell ("Duke" of tv's GOMER PYLE) provides the voice for Jake the Cat and also plays a supporting role as one of the military personnel (Sgt Duffy) after Jake the Cat. One funny note is that when Schell as Sgt. Duffy has any lines, his voice is dubbed over by another actor. His voice was so distinct and the producers found it fit to overdub his lines as to not confuse moviegoers. Note: Look for character actor James Hampton ("Caretaker" in THE LONGEST YARD)in a support role. He co-starred with Ken Berry in the classic tv series/western spoof F-TROOP.

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5.0 out of 5 stars Light and Cheerful
I remember this movie fondly as a kid. Still love it, good story, GREAT cast, had a M*A*S*H - like feel to it. Read more

Published 22 months ago by David J. Campbell

5.0 out of 5 stars A cute little move
When I was a little girl this movie was played every Thanksgiving on local TV. The movie really caught my eyes because the lead character was an orange cat from outer space. Read more

Published on Jun 18 2004 by Heather Hilburn

5.0 out of 5 stars A great movie for cat lovers
I loved this movie when I was a kid. I have it on VHS currently and cant wait to get a copy on DVD.

Published on Mar 6 2004

1.0 out of 5 stars 2nd Release - Anamorphic Format
Why would Disney do this second release of The Cat From Outer Space (first DVD release was in 1999) without going to "Family Friendly" anamorphic format? Read more

Published on Jan 21 2004

5.0 out of 5 stars What happened to jake & Co?
Hey what's the deal !? I can't believe this dvd is out of print are they out of their minds? i mean first they release this title on vhs then on dvd & then something was wrong... Read more

Published on Nov 12 2003 by Brent Hilton

4.0 out of 5 stars Still good..
Still good after all these years. Nice family film.

Published on May 18 2003 by 456456456

4.0 out of 5 stars The cat from outer space
Its been a long time coming. GREAT FAMILY FILM!!!!!! Buy it. You'll be glad you did. See vhs for film details.

Published on Oct 27 2002 by C. McCrudden

5.0 out of 5 stars Childhood Favourite
What more can i say? my title kind of says it all! Loved this film from the beginning, and for the past years have been desperatly trying to find a copy... Read more

Published on Aug 17 2002 by pezza82

4.0 out of 5 stars Good Movie
Its funny & you just don't know how exactly it will end but all & all its an older movie.A cat named Jake has to land on earth when his space ship breaks down. Read more

Published on Aug 1 2002 by shortygryffindor@hotmail.com

5.0 out of 5 stars A great film. Well worth finding.
A bright light in the sky and the appearance of an unearthly space vehicle heralds the arrival on this blue-green world of....a cat. Read more

Published on July 17 2001 by G.Spider

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