The Aristocats [DVD]

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Bill Thompson as Uncle Waldo – the drunken gander uncle of Abigail and Amelia. This was Thompson's final film role.

The Aristocats is a 1970 American animated romantic musical comedy film produced by Walt Disney Productions and directed by Wolfgang Reitherman. It is the final Disney animated film made with the involvement of Walt Disney Productions's co-founder Roy O. Disney before his death on December 20, 1971. The film is based on a story by Tom McGowan and Tom Rowe, and revolves around a family of aristocratic cats, and how an alley cat acquaintance helps them after a butler has kidnapped them to gain his mistress's fortune which was intended to go to them. The film features the voices of Phil Harris, Eva Gabor, Hermione Baddeley, Dean Clark, Sterling Holloway, Scatman Crothers, and Roddy Maude-Roxby. Noyer, Jérémie (February 4, 2008). "Scales and Arpeggios: Richard M. Sherman and the "mewsic" of The AristoCats!". Animated Views (Interview) . Retrieved June 13, 2016. Ebert, Roger (January 1, 1971). "The Aristocats Movie Review". Chicago Sun-Times . Retrieved June 13, 2016– via RogerEbert.com. The Aristocats return to Madame Adelaide, who, ignorant of the real reason for Edgar's departure, rewrites her will to exclude him. After adopting O'Malley into the family, Madame establishes a charity foundation, housing Paris' stray cats in the mansion. Scat Cat and his gang are the first to move in, and reprise their song so loudly that the two hound dogs can hear it out in the countryside.The Sherman Brothers composed multiple songs, but only the title song and "Scales and Arpeggios" were included in the film. [4] Desiring to capture the essence of France, the Sherman Brothers composed the song "The Aristocats". Disney film producer Bill Anderson would ask Maurice Chevalier to participate in the film. [18] Following the suggestion, Richard Sherman imitated Chevalier's voice as he performed a demo for the song. Chevalier received the demo and was brought out of retirement to sing the song. Deleted songs that were intended for the film included "Pourquoi?" sung by Hermione Baddeley as Madame Bonfamille, its reprise, and "She Never Felt Alone" sung by Robie Lester as Duchess. [19] [20] For the show-stopping number, the Sherman Brothers composed "Le Jazz Hot", but "Ev'rybody Wants to Be a Cat", composed by Floyd Huddleston and Al Rinker, was used instead. [21] Lastly, a villainous song was envisioned to be sung by Edgar and his assistant Elvira as a romantic duet, but the song was dropped when Elvira was removed from the story. [22] a b c Hill, Jim (August 21, 2012). "Would Walt's version of "The Aristocats" have been a bigger hit for Disney Studios?". Jim Hill Media . Retrieved June 13, 2016.

Siskel, Gene (January 1, 1971). "Movie Review: 'The Aristocats' ". Chicago Tribune. Section 2, p. 21 . Retrieved August 24, 2022– via Newspapers.com. Armstrong, Josh (April 22, 2013). "From Snow Queen to Pinocchio II: Robert Reece's animated adventures in screenwriting". Animated Views . Retrieved June 14, 2016. The Happiest Holiday Show in Town opens today—Christmas Day!". Chicago Tribune. December 25, 1970. Section 2, p. 4 . Retrieved August 24, 2022– via Newspapers.com. In 1910, mother cat Duchess and her three kittens (Berlioz, Marie, and Toulouse) live in Paris with retired opera diva Madame Adelaide Bonfamille, and her English butler, Edgar. The cats are pampered pets that live a luxurious lifestyle, and are very cultured in art and music like their owner.The Aristocats" Movie History". Disney.go.com. Archived from the original on January 11, 2008 . Retrieved June 13, 2016. Phil Harris as J. Thomas O'Malley (full name: Abraham de Lacy Giuseppe Casey Thomas O'Malley) – a feral cat who befriends Duchess and her kittens, becoming a father figure and a step-father to the kittens and falling in love with Duchess. For cultural reasons, the Italian dubbing of the film changes him to “Romeo, er mejo der Colosseo” ("The best [cat] of the Colosseum" in Romanesco dialect), an Italian cat from Rome speaking with a strong Roman accent; the reason for this change is that alley cats were well-known for frequenting the Colosseum at the time. Seigel, Robert (August 25, 2012). "The Making of Walt Disney's The Aristocats". blu-ray.com . Retrieved June 13, 2016. Sterling Holloway as Roquefort – a house mouse and a friend of the cats who assists in the expulsion of Edgar. Hill, Jim (April 3, 2001). "The Greatest Performances You Never Got to Hear". The Laughing Place . Retrieved June 13, 2016.