Cat Ballou

Cat Ballou (1965)

  • 100% of critics liked it
    (20 reviews)

  • 71% of users liked it
    (8,856 ratings)

This musical spoof of Westerns featured Lee Marvin in dual roles that won him a Best Actor Oscar. Jane Fonda stars as the title character, a prim schoolmarm returning to her hometown of Wolf City, Wyoming, after receiving an Eastern education. On the train ride, Cat meets up with a pair of friendly,… More

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In Theaters
Jun 24, 1965 Wide
Columbia Pictures

Critic Reviews

  • Nell Minow, Common Sense Media

    Super Jane Fonda in Wild West. Ride 'em cowgirls!

  • Steve Crum, Video-Reviewmaster.com

    A drunk Lee Marvin on a horse to match makes this comedy western classic.

  • Emanuel Levy, EmanuelLevy.Com

    Though designed as a star vehicle for Jane Fonda, this first "official" spoof of the Western genre, catapulted Lee Marvin to major stardom, offering him two divergent roles (one played with a silver nose) for which he was rewarded with the 1965 Oscar.

  • Dennis Schwartz, Ozus' World Movie Reviews

    Lee Marvin clearly steals the film in his double role as the good guy/bad guy hired gunman.

  • James Sanford, Kalamazoo Gazette

    Clever spoof with great roles for Fonda and Marvin

Read all 8 critic reviews

See more critic ratings and reviews on Rotten Tomatoes

Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)

Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)

Featured Audience Ratings

  • Michael G


    Somewhere inside of Cat Ballou is a great movie trying to get out. With a rarely more beautiful Jane Fonda (see the scene towards the end in the red dress) and a great comedic dual role from Lee Marvin this movie begs to be noticed. But all the other shit driving me away was the… More

  • AJ V


    I've seen better women westerns than this, so this movie felt very silly and average. It gets a laugh here and there, but overall it's just okay.

  • Ken S


    Jane Fonda and Lee Marvin are both great in this spoof of the western genre. Nat King Cole is also choice as the Greek choir singing the story of Cat Balou... Did I mention Jane Fonda?

  • Dean M


    Good comedy-western and Lee Marvin was hilarious as a drunken gunslinger better than as a black-hearted hired killer (he played a duel role in this movie).

  • xGary X


    This classic comic western sees sweet and innocent Jane Fonda turn desperado with the help of an inept outlaw and the town drunk. Great fun, especially Lee Marvin's turn as both the alcoholic ex-gunslinger and his tin-nosed nemesis.

Read all 13 featured audience ratings

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