Cat Ballou (1965)
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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 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, charming crooks, Clay Boone (Michael Callan) and his uncle, Jed (Dwayne Hickman), the former becoming hopelessly smitten with the naive but tough Cat. Upon arriving home, Cat discovers that her eccentric father, Frankie (John Marley), is being threatened with bodily harm by a development company that desperately wants his land. When Frankie is murdered by ruthless, noseless killer Tim Strawn (Marvin), Cat straps on a pair of six-shooters and persuades Clay, Jed, and her father's loyal Native American hand Jackson Two-Bears (Tom Nardini) to sign on as her posse. In her quest for revenge, Cat also recruits Kid Shelleen (also played by Marvin), a one-time fearsome gunslinger who's now a hopeless alcoholic. Cat Ballou (1965) is interspersed throughout the narrative with appearances by Stubby Kaye and Nat King Cole as a pair of balladeers who comment on the action musically in Greek chorus style. ~ Karl Williams, Rovi
- Directed By
- Elliot Silverstein
- Written By
- Walter Newman, Roy Chanslor, Frank Pierson
- Genres
- Western, Musical & Performing Arts, Classics, Comedy
- In Theaters
- Jun 24, 1965 Wide
- Studio
- Columbia Pictures
Critic Reviews
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Nell Minow, Common Sense Media
Super Jane Fonda in Wild West. Ride 'em cowgirls!
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Steve Crum, Video-Reviewmaster.com
A drunk Lee Marvin on a horse to match makes this comedy western classic.
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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.
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Dennis Schwartz, Ozus' World Movie Reviews
Lee Marvin clearly steals the film in his double role as the good guy/bad guy hired gunman.
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James Sanford, Kalamazoo Gazette
Clever spoof with great roles for Fonda and Marvin
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)
Cast
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Jane Fonda
as Cat Ballou
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Lee Marvin
as Kid Shelleen/Tim Strawn
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Michael Callan
as Clay Boone
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Dwayne Hickman
as Jed
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Nat 'King' Cole
as Shouter
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Stubby Kaye
as Shouter
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Tom Nardini
as Jackson Two-Bears
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John Marley
as Frankie Ballou
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Reginald Denny
as Sir Harry Percival
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Jay C. Flippen
as Sheriff Cardigan
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Arthur Hunnicutt
as Butch Cassidy
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Bruce Cabot
as Sheriff Maledon
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Burt Mustin
as Accuser
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Paul Gilbert
as Train messenger
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Dorothy Claire
as Singing Tart
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Nick Cravat
as Ad-Lib
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Harry Harvey
as Train Conductor
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Hallene Hill
as Honey Girl
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Duke Hobbie
as Homer
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Charles Horvath
as Hardcase
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Robert Phillips
as Klem
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Chuck Roberson
as Armed Guard
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Carol Veazie
as Mrs. Parker
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Charles Wagenheim
as James
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Ted White
as Gunslinger
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Gail Bonney
as Mabel Bentley
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Ayllene Gibbons
as Hedda
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Joe Hamilton
as Frenchie
