Wordiezett So much average

Verity Robins Great movie. Not sure what people expected but I found it highly entertaining.

Arianna Moses Let me be very fair here, this is not the best movie in my opinion. But, this movie is fun, it has purpose and is very enjoyable to watch.

Zlatica One of the worst ways to make a cult movie is to set out to make a cult movie.

thejcowboy22 What a weird title for a film. Cat Ballou what does that mean? Jane Fonda plays an attractive young woman Catherine Ballou on her way home from finishing school to become a local Schoolmarm and live with her father Frank (John Marley) on his ranch. When boarding a train the young verdant lass is introduced to a man of the cloth Dwayne Hickman AKA Jed,who is inebriated and says, "I'm as drunk as a skunk." He really isn't a drunken Priest but a diversion to get his nephew cattle rustler Clay Boone(Michael Callan) free from the Lawman (Bruce Cabot). Jed and Cat free his nephew and escort Cat to her Father's ranch. When Cat shows up at her Father's ranch escorted by Jed and Clay they learn that the Wolf City Development company is scheming to take over Frank Ballou's ranch. First by throwing manure down his well and being threatened by gold Nose-less marauder Tim Strawn. Hired hand Native American with no knowledge of the Hebrew language Jackson Two-Bears (Tom Nardini)plus her two criminal escorts are reluctant to protect Frank and his ranch. Cat hires a Gunslinger. Over-the-hill or under the bottle Kid Sheleen played to perfection by Lee Marvin. Sheleen stumbles to the ranch a drunken bum. His pants fall down every time he draws his gun. He can't even hit the barn at close range. The aforementioned Tim Strawn is Sheleen's evil twin brother also played by Marvin. Frank gets killed by Strawn as the townspeople sit back and let it happen. The memorial service was provided spontaneously by Sheleen as he blows out the candles next to the coffin after he sings Happy Birthday. Cat and her new gang go into action despite their weak link Sheleen. All he wants is a drink. They start by robbing a train. The bath scene on the train as Shellen removes the towel to expose the dissatisfied rider was amusing. This leads the gang to a neighboring town where Cat poses as a prostitute to con the head developer of Wolf City the dishonorable Sir Harry Percival (Reginald Denny). Meanwhile Sheleen sobers up, Baths and shaves darns his new white uniform making the Lone Ranger look like a cub scout. Will the gang succeed? Will Sheleen finish off his dastardly twin? On a technical note I like the way the story is intertwined by two minstrel singers Stubby Kaye and Nat King Cole singing the legend of Cat Ballou between scenes. Stubby Kaye who is notably remembered in Guys And Dolls as Nicely Nicely and a Game show host at the time makes a nice book end to the sickly Nat King Cole Battling Lung Cancer in the prime of his life age 45. Although Jane Fonda is the star out of convenience to match the title, Lee Marvin give an Oscar winning performance. Let's not forget his Horse who's memorable leg crossed rivals Sharon Stone's for originality. The screen writing is farcical yet Marvin gets philosophical when he explains getting beat up. "At first you don't think you can stand to get hit,then you realize you can take it 'cause the blood don't matter, and you know your gonna live. It's a great gift I'm going to give you- to know it don't hurt to fight!" Moreover Sheleen explains how the west has changed with commercialization and amusement attractions springing up. Sheleen mentions to paraphrase "That in Tombstone there building a roller rink they laid out over the OK Corral. I use to work for the Buffalo Bill rodeo show and save stagecoach riders from bad guys and Drunkin Injuns in the nick of time twice a day, Three times on Saturday." Great writing throughout and the unconventional horse riding brought the audience to a howling crescendo as Marvin brings his humor to the forefront. It was also great to see Dwayne Hickman co-starring in this movie. Conjured up fond memories of the Many Loves of Dobie Gillis from the earlier part of that decade. Also sadly, honorable mention to our singers Stubby and Nat King Cole as Nat looked weathered and way ahead of his years coughing between scenes batteling lung cancer which took his life a few month after filming. After watching Mel Brooks Version of the old West "Blazing Saddles" this movie in my opinion is much funnier with political correctness I think? Time for my Bath where's my towel?

gavin6942 A woman (Jane Fonda) seeking revenge for her murdered father hires a famous gunman, but he is very different from what she expects.I think most people would say the essential comedy western (or western comedy?) is "Blazing Saddles". But with all due respect to Mel Brooks, that was never one of my favorite films of his. And I think the humor in "Cat Ballou", while not as biting, is just right to be enjoyed by a wide range of audiences. Both adults and kids can find amusement.This may also be the best role that Jane Fonda ever had. I would be hard-pressed to think of one that even comes close. Although, today (2016), she is better remembered for her political actions than for her film roles. Maybe it is time to re-evaluate that? "Cat Ballou" is the favorite film of comedy directors Bobby and Peter Farrelly, as stated in The AFI 100 Years, 100 Laughs television special. The Balladeers from their film, "There's Something About Mary", are inspired by similar characters in "Cat Ballou". That's an interesting fact to know.

BA_Harrison A pair of banjo plucking street singers (Nat 'King' Cole and Stubby Kaye) recount the ballad of Cat Ballou (Jane Fonda), a sweet young school ma'am who becomes a vengeful outlaw after her father is killed on the orders of greedy city developer Sir Harry Percival (Reginald Denny). Riding into history with Cat are legendary drunken gunslinger Kid Shelleen (Lee Marvin), loyal injun ranch-hand Jackson Two-Bears (Tom Nardini), and a pair of wanted cattle rustlers, Clay Boone (Michael Callan) and his Uncle Jed (Dwayne Hickman).Cat Ballou trades heavily on Fonda's sex kitten appeal, but there's much more to the film than its coquettish star and her heavenly cleavage: the film also benefits from a wonderfully witty screenplay, superb direction from Elliot Silverstein, the amazing vocal talents of Cole and Kaye, and lively performances from all involved, most notably Marvin, who not only plays Kid Shelleen with impeccable comic timing, but also his wicked brother Strawn, a hired killer with a silver nose.There are plenty of memorable moments throughout this enjoyable comedy/western romp, but for my money the standout scenes are a lively barn-dance scene (executed with a single shot!), Kid Shelleen's training montage and his transformation from drunken bum to slick gunslinger, and Cat posing as a Mae West style vamp named Trixie, star Fonda simply oozing va-va-voom in a sexy, spangled dress designed to thrill.

billk51 I'm surprised that this film didn't receive a higher rating. It was one of the ten most popular films of 1965. It is a funny and witty western satire featuring a young and adorable Jane Fonda and a hilarious Lee Marvin as a one time legendary gun fighter who is now a filthy drunk who can't hit the proverbial broad side of a barn. The evil businessmen want the water rights under Fonda's father's ranch and they will stop at nothing to get them. Fonda hires Marvin to face off with the gunslinger hired by the villains and at first it does not go well.A really nice touch is the addition of Nat King Cole and Stubby Kay as the "Greek chorus" who sing directly to the audience at intervals to comment on the story. (Think of the singers who open and close "There's Something About Mary.") Unfortunately Nat Cole was already fighting lung cancer while the film was being made and he died before it opened.Leaves you wondering why Hollywood just doesn't make films like this anymore. No special effects, no obscenity and no gratuitous sex. Humor arises from the characters and from the screenplay.