CATS (film)

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CATS! is a 1998 direct-to-VHS film of the highly successful Cats broadway musical by Andrew Lloyd Webber based on Old Possum's Book of Practical Cats by T. S. Eliot. The film was made shortly following the closing of Cats on Broadway after a nearly 20 year run as a tribute to the show's success. Lloyd Webber himself personally oversaw orchestration for the film and called on Gillian Lynne, the original show's choreographer, to personally train the cast for the film. Trevor Nunn, the original director, did not serve as the director of this production. Initially released to VHS and subsequently DVD, the film has since been shown on PBS and the BBC.

[edit] Plot

Act 1 The musical starts out with an overture. The cats then start to gather on stage and explain the Jellicle tribe and their purpose (Jellicle Songs for Jellicle Cats). The cats then give details on how the different cats of the tribe are named (The Naming of Cats).

Afterwards, Munkstrap appears and introduces the first cat named Jennyanydots (The Old Gumbie Cat). She "sits and sits and sits" all day and rules over the mice and teaches various activities to them. Jennyanydots finishes, greets the other cats, but is interrupted.

The music instantly changes and The Rum Tum Tugger makes an extravagant entrance (The Rum Tum Tugger). The Rum Tum Tugger is a tom with a wild mane and leopard spots on his chest. He is very fickle and unappeasable, "for he will do as he do do and there's no doing anything about it".

The Rum Tum Tugger stops and backs off the stage. An old grey cat stumbles out and looks around. It is Grizabella. All the cats back away and glare at her with resentment. The cats sing of her saddened, unfortunate state (Grizabella: The Glamour Cat).

Grizabella leaves and the music becomes upbeat. Bustopher Jones, a fat cat in "a coat of fastidious black", appears (Bustopher Jones: The Cat About Town). Bustopher Jones is among the elite of the cats, owning many clubs and making many speeches at various events.

It is silent and two black and orange calico cats sneak out. They are petty thiefs, very mischievous, and enjoy causing trouble for human families (Mungojerrie and Rumpelteazer).

Finally, the Jellicle Patriarch, Old Deuteronomy, shows up (Old Deuteronomy). He is a large old cat that “has lived many lives” and “buried nine wives”. He is the one who will choose which Jellicle cat will go to the Heaviside Layer.

Munkstrap once again states why the cats are there and the celebration begins (The Jellicle Ball).

Grizabella shows up once again refusing to be left out of the festivities. Once again, she is shunned by the other cats, but that does not stop her from singing (Memory).

Act 2 Grizabella leaves and the cats sing of “what happiness is” (The Moments of Happiness).

Gus, or his full name, Asparagus, shuffles forward (Gus: The Theatre Cat). He is the cat that once was a famous actor but now he is old and “palsy makes his paw shake”. He is accompanied by Jellylorum.

We then see a sleeping cat in the corner (Skimbleshanks: The Railway Cat). Skimbleshanks is unofficially in charge of the railway train. He is very clever and very important because if he is gone “the train can’t start”.

Lights start to flash and we hear an evil laugh (Macavity: The Mystery Cat). It is the most wanted cat, Macavity. He is a “master criminal” and never is found at the scene of the crime. He is a horrifying looking cat and a “villain” of the Jellicle Tribe.

Macavity shows up and captures Old Deuteronomy, but not before he fights with Munkstrap. None of the cats know what to do. The Rum Tum Tugger suggests they find Mr. Mistofolees (Mr. Mistofolees: The Conjuring Cat). Mr. Mistofolees is black and small and can perform many feats of magic that no other cat can do. The magical cat succeeds in bringing back Old Deuteronomy. He is praised by all the cats. The Jellicle choice can now be made.

Old Deuteronomy sits down and Grizabella appears for the final time. Old Deuteronomy allows her to have a chance to address the cats. Her faded appearance and lonely disposition have little effect on her song (Memory).

The appeal succeeds and she is chosen to be the one (Journey to the Heaviside Layer). A large tire rises up with Old Deuteronomy and Grizabella. Once at the top Grizabella finishes the journey herself. Old Deuteronomy gives his last speech to the cats (The Ad-dressing of Cats) and the show ends.

[edit] Characters

• Alonzo (cat) - A black and white tom often considered the 'second-hand-man' to Munkustrap. Portrayed by Jason Gardiner.

• Asparagus - A general chorus cat. Not to be confused with Gus the Theatre Cat. Portrayed by Tony Timberlake.

• Bombalurina - A saucy red female, often believed to be the leader of the female "queen" cats. She is close friends with Demeter. Portrayed by Rosemarie Ford.

• Bustopher Jones - A fat cat, a '25 pounder.' Dresses in a snappy tuxedo and spats. Respected by all, as the upper class "St James' Street Cat". Portrayed by James Barron.

• Cassandra - A brown and cream Burmese female, with a braided tail and rolled wig. Unique and somewhat mysterious. Portrayed by Rebecca Parker.

• Coricopat - Male twin to Tantomile. Both of them are intuitive or even psychic. Portrayed by Tommi Sliiden.

• Demeter - She is very skittish; many of the CATS fan community believe this is due to a bad relationship in her past, perhaps a run-in with Macavity. She is close friends with Bombalurina. Portrayed by Aeva May.

• Electra - An orange and black tabby kitten who seems to be friends with Etcetera as well as a fan of Rum Tum Tugger. Portrayed by Leah Sue Morland.

• Etcetera - A happy, energetic kitten who is a big Rum Tum Tugger fan. Portrayed by Jo Bingham.

• Exotica - A female character who only appears in the filmed version, and was a role created specially for Femi Taylor.

• Grizabella - The former Glamour Cat who has lost her sparkle and now only wants to be accepted. Portrayed by Elaine Paige.

• Gus - The Theatre Cat who is now very old and can no longer perform. His close friend is Jellylorum. Portrayed by the late John Mills.

• Jellylorum - Named after T.S. Eliot's cat. A female who watches out for the kittens, along with Jennyanydots. She has a close relationship with Gus. Portrayed by Susan Jane Tanner.

• Jemima - A younger cat instrumental in the acceptance of Grizabella. Portrayed by Veerle Casteleyn.

• Jennyanydots - The old Gumbie cat. She sits all day and rules the mice and cockroaches at night. Portrayed by Susie McKenna.

• Macavity - He is the show's only real villain. The character is a literary allusion to the Sherlock Holmes character Professor Moriarty. Portrayed by Bryn Walters.

• Mr. Mistoffelees - A young tom who has magical powers including the ability to create flash explosions. His signature dance move is "The Conjuring Turn", which is approximately twenty-five spins on one foot. Has an alter-ego named Quaxo, who appears as a general chorus cat throughout the show, and is dressed slightly differently. Both are portrayed by Jacob Brent.

• Mungojerrie - Half of a pair of notorious "cat-burglars", Mungojerrie and Rumpelteazer. Portrayed by Drew Varley.

• Munkustrap - A black and silver tom who is leader and protector of the Jellicle tribe. He also narrates "The Pekes and the Pollicles." Considered the storyteller of the tribe. Portrayed by Michael Gruber.

• Old Deuteronomy - The lovable patriarch of the Jellicle Tribe. He is very old and usually slow-moving. Portrayed by Ken Page.

• Pouncival - A playful tom kitten. Portrayed by Karl Morgan.

• Rumpleteazer - Female half of a pair of notorious "cat-burglars", Mungojerrie and Rumpleteazer. Her name can also be spelled 'Rumpelteazer,' the spelling originally used by T.S. Eliot; this is the spelling used by most productions. Portrayed by Jo Gibb.

• The Rum Tum Tugger - The ladies' tom. His temperament ranges from clownish to serious, and often sexual depending on the production; however, he is always flirtatious, and usually portrayed as a feline equivalent of Mick Jagger or Elvis Presley, and noticeable by his wild mane. Portrayed by John Partridge.

• Rumpus Cat - The great spiky haired brave cat with glowing red eyes, as mentioned in 'The Awefull Battle of the Pekes and the Pollicles', seen as a super hero figure amongst the Jellicles. Portrayed by Frank Thompson.

• Skimbleshanks - The railway cat. An active orange tabby cat who lives on the trains and acts as an unofficial chaperone. Portrayed by Geoffery Garrat.

• Tantomile - Female twin of Coricopat. Both of them are perceived as intuitive or even psychic. Portrayed by Kaye Brown.

• Tumblebrutus - US counterpart for Bill Bailey. Portrayed by Fergus Logan.

• Victoria - A white kitten extremely gifted in dancing. The "official" Jellicle Ball begins with her solo dance. Portrayed by Phyllida Crowley Smith.

[edit] Differences

The video is very different from the stage production of CATS. For example, during the Gumbie Cat number, the dance was shortened, as well as during Magical Mr. Mistoffelees. There is no Growltiger's Last Stand due to the fact that Sir John Mills was too old to perform.