Review of Cat Ballou (1965) by Steve G — 04 Oct 2009

Too silly. It could qualify as an example of the tired anti-hero thing of the 60s. Cute, cheeky, criminals, thieves & outlaws were romanticized during this period to the point of idiocy.

Meanwhile, the authorities (legal or otherwise) were demonized. Somehow crime is justified if we like the criminals. Robbing working people is so cute. Especially when you're not one. That's the general reaction when it happens in real life.

I know, I know. Just a movie. People don't ACTUALLY take in anything they watch.

I also love the dramatic moment where Cat feels let down by the former criminals who "got old" & grew out of it. Not really. I thought it was stupid. Too bad the 60 year olds aren't still robbing banks. Great pathos.

The showstopper is easily Lee Marvin. I though, "Man, that is a great performance!". But I didn't realize he'd won an Oscar for it. It's rare to see someone so into a performance. Very funny. (The look on his face when he shoots open the barrels is priceless).

Always great to see Nat King Cole. Liked the interstitial musical accompaniment.

The narrative ends up losing its way though. Especially in terms of Cat's vengeance. It just pops back up at the very end. I'm not sure the movie ever really knows what it wants to be, or in which direction it wants to go. The love triangle idea is too little too late to be introduced at the 1:25 mark. And the uncle character kind of goes away after a while. (It would've been better to end it with the Englishman signed the paper & to tie it up from there).

It had its moments of fun. And it was well conceived. Has some great one-liners & dialogue. But again, overall, I'm just turned off by the whole anti-hero thing & the TBD story thing.