I can't claim that Disney's 1978 kiddie comedy, The Cat From Outer Space, is one of my favorite 70s sci-fi flicks, because it isn't. In fact, the last time I watched it, a few years ago, I fell asleep. But, it is a nostalgic favorite of my wife's and it is clearly the studio's reaction to the popularity of Star Wars and Close Encounters of the Third Kind - two more-or-less adult films that, nonetheless, were hugely popular with kids and sold lots of merchandise - from the previous year, so it does fit in here at Space: 1970.
I bought the DVD a few months back and really enjoyed it again. My 4 year-old enjoyed it as well.
ReplyDeleteThere aren't so many science-fiction movies (or Disney movies for that matter) for little ones.
"(the film) ...is clearly the studio's reaction to the popularity of Star Wars and Close Encounters of the Third Kind".
ReplyDeleteI believe the Disney's reaction to Star Wars was The Black Hole, a great film which this blog has covered before, and also starred Roddy McDowell as the voice of one of the robots.
As for The Cat from Outer Space, if Roddy's in it, that makes it worth watching
Luis - there's no reason that they both can't be reactions to the sudden popularity of sci-fi films. The Black Hole took years to produce (and was actually conceived of before Star Wars), while Cat was something the studio could make quick and relatively cheap, and get into theaters while the trend was still hot.
ReplyDeleteSay what you will about 70's Disney films but this one delivers what was expected...clean family fun. Watched this recently with my 6yo who loved it...he even got most of the humor. The older kids even found it interesting. This is no Star Wars but a solid family film nonetheless!
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