Cat Ballou (1965)

Synopsis of Cat Ballou

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

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Theatrical Feature Running Time:

96 mins

Director(s):

Elliot Silverstein

Writer(s):

Frank Pierson, Roy Chanslor, Walter Newman

Producer(s):

Harold Hecht

Theatrical MPAA Rating:

NR(Western Violence, Adult Situations, Mild Violence, Suitable for Children)

Categories:

Westerns, Music & Performing Arts

• 1965 - Berlin International Film Festival - Special Mention
• 1965 - Berlin International Film Festival - Special Mention
• 1965 - Berlin International Film Festival - Silver Bear for Best Actor
• 1965 - British Academy of Film and Television Arts - Best Foreign Actor
• 1965 - Hollywood Foreign Press Association - Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture - Musical or Comedy
• 1965 - National Board of Review - Best Actor

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