That Darn Cat! (1965)

Disney is at it again, providing a cavalcade of laughs for the whole family.

Hayley Mills and Dean Jones head an all-star cast in this wacky, over-the-top, and unbelievable Disney film about the FBI tailing a cat, as it's a lead in a bank robbery/kidnapping case. When Neville Brand and Frank Gorshin rob a bank for $160,000.00 and take bank teller Grayson Hall with them, they hide out - only to be found by a hungry cat on its nightly rounds. She, Grayson, puts her wristwatch on the cat in place of its collar with a half-written HELP carved on the back of the watch, which of course sets off imaginative, highly intelligent and cute Hayley Mills on her quest to help the bank teller, of whom she's convinced has put the watch there. Dean Jones is an FBI agent picked by Hayley to help her and is given the odd assignment to follow that cat! Of course, he's allergic, too - of course, naturally. Tom Lowell is Canoe, a friend of Hayley's, who takes her out to surfer movies and eats her out of house and home, when he hangs out with her, stuffing his face with monster sandwiches. His jealousy of Dean and what's going in that house puts him in many situations and which provides much of the humor here. William Demarest and Elsa Lanchester are bickering neighbors who I'm convinced were inspired by the Kravitzes of "Bewitched." While mildly amusing, they were a little ingratiating to me, mostly her antics in being nosy. Dorothy Provine is Hayley's sister. Dean Jones makes it all look so easy as he underplays his unbelievable situation of tailing a cat, named DC for darn cat. But, perhaps the scene-stealer of the whole movie, besides the eerie cat is Roddy MacDowell, who drives sister Dorothy to work and has romantic designs on her. He is exactly perfect as the exasperated and outraged victim of DC's shenanigans. He doesn't underplay or overplay the role. His comic timing is on spot and this may be perhaps his best comic role in film. Disney must have had a sense of humor with "That Darn Cat." Anyone in a serious mood may find this awfully silly, but this is a wildly good and highly enjoyable time with a great cast and with a cool song sung Bobby Darin!

As I re-watched TDC, I was planning on giving it a recommendation for inclusion in a family library. That was because it has such a talented and wonderful cast and because this film is considered a Disney classic. They even made a remake for Pete's sake.I was only mildly amused in the beginning and somewhere part way through something clicked in the film for me. I noticed all the chases and characters running here and there and everywhere and then realized that 'Hey, this really is worth writing home about.I was busy reading a book on Bob Hope when I was watching it, so I didn't pay as much attention as I should have given the film. Gosh if I'm going to review films I should give them the attention they deserve gosh DARN it.But I have seen it before and should see it again. But despite the non-descriptive review, I can say it is another Disney film that is worth putting in your library because it is a fun harmless picture that little ones can watch without cause to worry.

I have fond memories of watching this as a child, but I thought my memories might be too rosy, so my expectations were not high as I got ready to re-watch this film. However, it was surprisingly entertaining throughout, except near the end, where I agree that the scene showing everybody trailing everybody else went on a little too long. You can tell the plot was taken from a novel - there are several funny lines, there is more telling detail, the bad guys are convincingly threatening (as others have said), and the characters are more three-dimensional than usual for a 1960s "family" movie. The teenage heroine (played by Hayley Mills) is resourceful and actually has a steady boyfriend(!), though of course she never kisses him, even at the drive-in! I also like the actress who plays the hostage - she *looks* like an older woman who might actually work at a bank - not like a Hollywood glamour girl! I haven't seen the 1997(?) remake, but I suspect it isn't as good as the original. All in all, an enjoyable movie for a Saturday night at home!