A Few Words About A few words about...™ Cat Ballou -- in Blu-ray (1 Viewer)

[Robert Harris]

Elliot Silverstein's Cat Ballou is one of those '60s films, that just plain fun, from beginning to end. Especially with the story set up by those wonderful wandering warblers, Nat King Cole and Stubby Kaye.

Jane Fonda, as the Queen of the Outlaws in 1892, and the great Lee Marvin in one of his quintessential roles, Kid Shelleen, make Cat Ballou one of the fastest 96 minutes you'll spend watching a Blu-ray.

As far as quality, it's a Columbia Picture, so not a great deal to be said.

Typically, it's a perfect representation of the original film, both visually and sonically.

Cat Ballou is a treat that belongs in every serious library, and Twilight Time has added some terrific extras.

If you've never seen this one, you're in for a treat!

Image - 5

Audio - 5

4k Up-rez - 5

Pass / Fail - Pass

Highly Recommended

RAH

 

[Angelo Colombus]

Rod Steiger talks about this film in his interviews because he thinks he should have won the Oscar for best actor in The Pawnbroker instead of Lee Marvin...and he's right about that.

 

[PMF]

Rod Steiger talks about this film in his interviews because he thinks he should have won the Oscar for best actor in The Pawnbroker instead of Lee Marvin...and he's right about that.

This goes back to George C. Scott's disdain for the Oscar; pitting two great and completely different performances against each other for the prize.
BOTH Steiger and Marvin were worthy that year; and neither work could be more completely different. I believe, though, that what Marvin did was tantamount to what Cagney did with "Yankee Doodle Dandy"; as both actors gave the audiences of their day a completely different and highly unexpected showcase of their talents, so opposite and far from their traditional personas.
BTW, I own "The Pawnbroker"; but wish for a better BD transfer to come forth with subtitles.
Thankfully, though, "Cat Ballou" is a Columbia Picture. And I am looking forward to this purchase.

 

[Alan Tully]

Good for Lee Marvin, usually melodrama wins out over comedy, but it's no harder (quite the opposite I'd think). I remember really enjoying this at the cinema in the sixties, it was a huge hit. This has been on TV in HD in England looking just okay, it sounds like this Blu-ray is the real thing.

 

[Raul Marquez]

I still get a smile on my face when I remember as a youngster the Columbia lady shedding her gown and shooting her guns in a cowboy outfit. This was the first time I had seen anything like this with a studio logo before the feature.

 

[moe green]

Rod Steiger talks about this film in his interviews because he thinks he should have won the Oscar for best actor in The Pawnbroker instead of Lee Marvin...and he's right about that.

I don't think he deserved it for "In The Heat of the Night", so it all evens out.

 

[Garysb]

I still get a smile on my face when I remember as a youngster the Columbia lady shedding her gown and shooting her guns in a cowboy outfit. This was the first time I had seen anything like this with a studio logo before the feature.

Columbia was good about things like that. For "Straitjacket" the Joan Crawford film about an ax murderer the Lady with a Torch was headless at the end of the film. For "The Mouse That Roared" a live action lady lifted her gown and ran from a mouse on her pedestal.

 

[Raul Marquez]

I'd forgotten about The Mouse That Roared! Thanks for reminding me! Love that movie! (should see it again soon)

 

[warnerbro]

Nice to see Nat King Cole in color just before he died. Very interesting bonus documentary on Lee Marvin and his wife. Print looks very good. Twilight Time does it again!

 

[haineshisway]

A wonderful movie and a wonderful transfer - funny no one says teal-leaning in their reviews anywhere - and yet this has a very similar look to Garden of Evil, albeit different film stocks entirely but the blues are omnipresent and VERY vivid. Yay on that. This thread should be much longer. And yet...

 

[Joseph Bolus]

I just received my copy and am looking forward to viewing it over the weekend.

This is going to be kind of weird for me since I just viewed "The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance" last weekend and Lee Marvin kind of reprises that character in this film ...

 

[Tony Bensley]

I just received my copy and am looking forward to viewing it over the weekend.

This is going to be kind of weird for me since I just viewed "The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance" last weekend and Lee Marvin kind of reprises that character in this film ...

Although it's been many years since I've viewed this dark gem, I do recall noticing similarities to Lee Marvin's Kid Shelleen/Strawn (Much more the latter, I believe!) in his portrayal of the title character!

CAT BALLOU (1965) is one that I may pick up if I see it in a Brick & Mortar. It brings back fond memories whenever I see it, but I have to be in right mood, and my wallet also has to agree with me!

CHEERS!

 

[Race Bannon]

I got in a viewing of this tonight, and thought it looked and sounded great. I recently watched his on TCM, and so the comparison was fresh in my mind. A worthwhile transfer of a unique film.

 

[Hollywoodaholic]

Still puts a smile on my face and Marvin totally deserved the Oscar for ruling every moment he was on screen.

 

[Jacksmyname]

I saw this at a theater in Connecticut in 1965. I was 16. Seems like only yesterday.
One of the funniest scenes for me was when Marvin's character fell off the wagon. Marvin was back in his
raggidy clothes, on his horse and slumped down in the saddle. Somehow they managed to get the horse to
slump down also and lean against the side of a building. I still laugh hard when I think of that scene.
Definate buy for me.
Thanks Robert.

 

[MovieFan85]

Was Twilight Time's Blu-ray of CAT BALLOU sourced from a 4K restoration by any chance? Sorry for asking, but I love 4K and 2K restorations on Blu-ray. Before I buy a certain title on Blu-ray, I like to know what kind of restoration it was, and if it's any good.

 

[Alan Tully]

I don't know about 4K, but it's one of the best looking catalogue releases I own, & my god does it look stunning. I was nearly put off buying it, as the HD transfer that was broadcast on TV was flat & dull looking. I decided to buy it just in time, as it sold out before it even arrived. The thing is, it's a great & famous sixties film, but not available now, I thought that it might turn up in another country after it had sold out, but no.

 

[battlebeast]

I got it long after it came out and I wasn’t disappointed!