The Aristocats


1h 18m 1970

Brief Synopsis

The beloved, pampered housecat of a retired opera star in 1910 Paris finds herself stranded in the countryside with her three children, the victims of a plot by their owner's butler to cheat them out of a huge inheritance. They must find their way back to their home and owner, with the help of an independent-minded tomcat and other animal accomplices, while evading the butler and foiling his plan.

Film Details

MPAA Rating
Genre
Comedy
Family
Release Date
Jan 1970
Premiere Information
Los Angeles opening: 11 Dec 1970
Production Company
Walt Disney Productions
Distribution Company
Buena Vista Film Distribution Co., Inc.
Country
United States

Technical Specs

Duration
1h 18m
Sound
Mono
Color
Color (Technicolor)
Theatrical Aspect Ratio
1.37 : 1, 1.75 : 1

Synopsis

In 1910 in Paris, a cat named Duchess and her three kittens are made beneficiaries in the will of the wealthy Madame Bonfamille. Edgar, the butler, learning that he will become the heir if misfortune should befall the cats, drugs their milk, takes them to the country, and abandons them. Upon regaining consciousness, they realize that they are lost, but soon they encounter J. Thomas O'Malley, an alley cat who promises to help them return to Paris. On the way, O'Malley dives into a stream to rescue one of the kittens but is himself swept downstream and saved from drowning by the Gabble Sisters, two English geese who are also traveling to Paris. When they arrive in Paris, O'Malley offers his lodgings to Duchess and the kittens in a bohemian quarter of the city; Duchess accepts and they are treated to a jazz concert by a band of O'Malley's alley cat friends. The next day Duchess and the kittens return to their home, but Edgar puts them in a trunk for final disposal. Roquefort, a friendly mouse, runs to inform O'Malley of Duchess' plight, and O'Malley and his gang arrive to release Duchess. In the course of the fighting, Edgar is locked in the trunk intended for Duchess. A truck arrives and the trunk is delivered, as planned, to Timbuktu.

Film Details

MPAA Rating
Genre
Comedy
Family
Release Date
Jan 1970
Premiere Information
Los Angeles opening: 11 Dec 1970
Production Company
Walt Disney Productions
Distribution Company
Buena Vista Film Distribution Co., Inc.
Country
United States

Technical Specs

Duration
1h 18m
Sound
Mono
Color
Color (Technicolor)
Theatrical Aspect Ratio
1.37 : 1, 1.75 : 1

Articles

Frank Thomas (1912-2004)


Legendary Disney animator Frank Thomas, whose work ranged from such '30s classics like Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs to equally acclaimed modern hits like The Rescuers, died on September 8 in his home in Flintridge, California. He had been in declining health since suffering a brain hemorrhage several months ago. He was 92.

He was born on September 5, 1912 in Santa Monica, California. He showed an interest in art and drawing at a very young age, so it came as no surprise when he graduated from Stanford University in 1934 with a degree in art. Soon after, he began work for Walt Disney Studios and did his first animation for the short Mickey's Elephant in 1936, and was one of the key animators for the studios' first, feature-length animated picture, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1937). His memorable creations of the seven dwarfs offered an emotional sweep and humorous detail to animated characters that audiences had never experienced before, and his career was set.

Thomas' work from this point on would be nothing short of the high watermarks in Disney animation that is justly cherished the world over: the title character in Pinocchio, (1940); Thumper teaching Bambi to skate in Bambi (1941); the wicked stepmother in Cinderella (1950), the Queen of Hearts in Alice in Wonderland (1951), the terrific fight sequence between Captain Hook and Peter Pan in Peter Pan (1953); the Lady and Rover falling in love over a dish of spaghetti and meatballs in Lady and the Tramp (1955); the three good fairies in Sleeping Beauty (1959); Baloo, Mowgli and Kaa in The Jungle Book (1967); and his final work of Bernard and Bianca in the underrated The Rescuers (1977).

Thomas retired from Disney in early 1978, ending a near 44-year relationship with the studio. With longtime friend, and fellow Disney collaborator Ollie Johnston, they went on to author many fine books about the art of animation, most notably Disney Animation: The Illusion of Life (Hyperian Press, 1978) and The Disney Villain (Hyperion Press, 1993). He is survived by his wife of 58 years, Jeanette; sons Thomas, Doug and Gregg; daughter Ann Ayers; and three grandchildren.

by Michael T. Toole
Frank Thomas (1912-2004)

Frank Thomas (1912-2004)

Legendary Disney animator Frank Thomas, whose work ranged from such '30s classics like Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs to equally acclaimed modern hits like The Rescuers, died on September 8 in his home in Flintridge, California. He had been in declining health since suffering a brain hemorrhage several months ago. He was 92. He was born on September 5, 1912 in Santa Monica, California. He showed an interest in art and drawing at a very young age, so it came as no surprise when he graduated from Stanford University in 1934 with a degree in art. Soon after, he began work for Walt Disney Studios and did his first animation for the short Mickey's Elephant in 1936, and was one of the key animators for the studios' first, feature-length animated picture, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1937). His memorable creations of the seven dwarfs offered an emotional sweep and humorous detail to animated characters that audiences had never experienced before, and his career was set. Thomas' work from this point on would be nothing short of the high watermarks in Disney animation that is justly cherished the world over: the title character in Pinocchio, (1940); Thumper teaching Bambi to skate in Bambi (1941); the wicked stepmother in Cinderella (1950), the Queen of Hearts in Alice in Wonderland (1951), the terrific fight sequence between Captain Hook and Peter Pan in Peter Pan (1953); the Lady and Rover falling in love over a dish of spaghetti and meatballs in Lady and the Tramp (1955); the three good fairies in Sleeping Beauty (1959); Baloo, Mowgli and Kaa in The Jungle Book (1967); and his final work of Bernard and Bianca in the underrated The Rescuers (1977). Thomas retired from Disney in early 1978, ending a near 44-year relationship with the studio. With longtime friend, and fellow Disney collaborator Ollie Johnston, they went on to author many fine books about the art of animation, most notably Disney Animation: The Illusion of Life (Hyperian Press, 1978) and The Disney Villain (Hyperion Press, 1993). He is survived by his wife of 58 years, Jeanette; sons Thomas, Doug and Gregg; daughter Ann Ayers; and three grandchildren. by Michael T. Toole

Quotes

Humans don't really worry too much about their pets.
- Thomas O'Malley
Wow! You really do have eyes like sapphires.
- O'Malley
Ladies don't start fights, but they can finish them!
- Marie
Berlioz, come back here. Haven't you forgotten something, darling?
- Duchess
Than you, Miss Frou-Frou, for letting me ride on your back.
- Berlioz the Kitten
You're quite welcome, young man.
- Frou-Frou the Carriage-Horse
How was that, Mama?
- Berlioz the Kitten
Very good, darling. That was very nice.
- Duchess
We were just practicing biting and clawing.
- Berlioz the Smokey Kitten
Aristocats do not practice biting and clawing, and things like that. It's just horrible.
- Duchess
But someday, we might meet a tough alley cat.
- Toulouse the Orange Kitten

Trivia

The character of Scat Cat was designed to be voiced by Louis Armstrong. The character's look was modeled after Armstrong - the way he played his trumpet, his roly-poly physique, right down to the prominent gap between his teeth. However, at the last moment, for unknown reasons, Armstong quit the film without recording a single line. His replacement, Scatman Crothers, was directed to "Pretend you're Satchmo."

The Sherman Brothers (whose father wrote the big Chevaliar hit "Living in the Sunlight, Loving in the Moonlight") talked Maurice Chevalier out of retirement to sing the title song.

The studio's first animated feature after Walt Disney's death.

Notes

Ruth Buzzi sings for the character of Frou Frou.

Miscellaneous Notes

Released in United States December 11, 1970

Released in United States on Video April 24, 1996

Released in United States Summer August 10, 1970

Re-released in United States 1980

Re-released in United States April 10, 1987

The last animated feature to be selected for production by Walt Disney himself.

Re-released in United States 1980

Re-released in United States April 10, 1987

Released in United States on Video April 24, 1996

Released in United States Summer August 10, 1970

Released in United States December 11, 1970