Along with Destry Rides Again (1939), Cat Ballou is probably the best western comedy. Blazing Saddles (1974) may be more popular today, but it lacks the story and consistency of its predecessors.
Cat Ballou takes place during the 1890s. Catherine Ballou (Jane Fonda) is a pretty young schoolteacher paying a visit to her stubborn, cantankerous father Frankie (John Marley). Frankie is a rancher, and his hired hand is an Indian, Jackson Two-Bears (Tom Nardini). Bad guys led by English financier Sir Harry Percival (Reginald Denny) want Frankie's ranch. They've even hired a noseless gunslinger, Strawn (Lee Marvin), to intimidate him.
Catherine gets a gunman of her own, the legendary Kid Shelleen (also Lee Marvin). But Shelleen is a broken-down alcoholic. Two charming, comic relief outlaws (Michael Callan and Dwayne Hickman) aren't of much help either. To get even with Percival, Catherine and her unlikely gang plot a robbery of the train carrying his payroll.
Nat 'King' Cole and Stubby Kaye play genial minstrels, appearing now and then to further lighten the mood. This was the final film for Cole, who had died during its post-production.
Cat Ballou is a visual feast for the eyes. The costumes and sets are colorful and appropriate. The score is upbeat and entertaining. The story is full of action and humor. The Callan-Fonda romance is fortunately played strictly for laughs. The characters are cartoonish, but you can't have everything.
Cat Ballou was the first big commercial hit for Jane Fonda. She had recently married young French director Roger Vadim, under whom she was starring in some scandalous (for their day) films in France.
Cat Ballou was the career highlight of its director, Elliot Silverstein. Silverstein's later films were not as successful, although A Man Called Horse (1970) made good money, while The Car (1977) became a cult horror film.
Lee Marvin won the Best Actor Oscar for his dual comic role. Stumbling, outrageous Kid Shelleen was almost a stereotype for Marvin, who had played similar wild men in The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance (1962) and Ship of Fools (1965).
Cat Ballou was also nominated for four other Academy Awards: Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Film Editing, Best Adapted Score, and Best Song. The screenplay was adapted by Walter Newman and Frank Pierson from Roy Chanslor's novel. (72/100)
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