Wuchak RELEASED IN 1965 and directed by Elliot Silverstein, "Cat Ballou" stars Jane Fonda as Cat(herine) Ballou who's family ranch near Wolf City, Colorado, is being threatened by a railroad mogul and his cronies in town. She sends for gunfighter Kid Shelleen (Lee Marvin), but unfortunately discovers he's a drunkard. Tom Nardini, Michael Callan & Dwayne Hickman round off Cat's gang of corruption-fighters. Meanwhile, two minstrels comically sing The Ballad of Cat Ballou in between scenes (Nat King Cole & Stubby Kaye).This is a likable Western comedy with several highlights in the mold of "The Duchess and the Dirtwater Fox" (1976), "Texas Across the River" (1966), "Support Your Local Sheriff" (1969) and "Maverick" (1994), but it's the least of these IMHO. While the cast is formidable and appealing, the story never really grabbed me. However, if you're a Fonda devotee this is a must because she never looked better, being young and adorable. It's also mandatory for Marvin fans as he hams it up in two roles. The somewhat quirky score is notable and the locations are superb. THE FILM RUNS 95 minutes and was shot in Canon City, Colorado, as well as Burbank (Wolf City exteriors) and Hollywood (interiors), California. WRITERS: Walter Newman & Frank Pierson wrote the script based on Roy Chanslor's novel. GRADE: C+ (5.5/10)

Spikeopath Cat Ballou is directed by Elliot Silverstein and adapted to screenplay by Walter Newman and Frank Pierson from the novel The Ballad of Cat Ballou written by Roy Chanslor. It stars Jane Fonda, Lee Marvin, Michael Callan, Dwayne Hickman, Tom Nardini, John Marley, Nat King Cole and Stubby Kaye. Catherine Ballou (Fonda), a prim and proper school teacher wannabe, returns home to Wolf City to find her father at loggerheads with the local development corporation. When things get dreadfully serious, she decides to do something about it, putting herself at the head of a nutty gang, which brings her into contact with famed boozy gunfighter Kid Shelleen (Marvin).It's a quirky comedy Western, spoofing the Wild West while still containing some respect of the era. The tonal flows are patchy, as are the gags - both visually and orally, but it always entertains with honesty and ebullience. Fonda is simply beautiful and adorable, making Cat vulnerable but stoic as well, her waspish tongue delivering some great dialogue. Nardini as Indian Jackson Two-Bears also shines bright with some great comedy moments.Marvin owns the film though, in what was an Oscar winning performance, he plays a dual role, where the prominent character is a riotous booze hound, so something about life imitating art there! The locations are gorgeous and beautifully photographed, and the musical links to the story segments provided by Cole (sadly to pass away before the pic was released) and Kaye as wandering minstrels, prove to be jolly and nifty in equal measure.Throw in some gun play, a fun horse and a rollicking train robbery and you are good to go. Not all of it works, but the pluses far outnumber the minuses and fans of the leads get treasures unbound. 7/10

SnoopyStyle The movie starts with Catherine 'Cat' Ballou (Jane Fonda) about to be hanged. Then it flashes back to when she boards a train to Wolf City, Wyoming and her father Frankie Ballou (John Marley). She's a prim schoolteacher. For a reason that she doesn't even know, she helps Uncle Jed (Dwayne Hickman) free his nephew Clay Boone (Michael Callan) from the sheriff. The Wolf City Development Corporation is scheming to take over her father's water rights. He only has one ranch hand Jackson Two-Bears (Tom Nardini). They are threatened by metal-nosed gunfighter Tim Strawn (Lee Marvin). Clay and Jed show up at a town dance and join Cat. She hires legendary Kid Shelleen (Lee Marvin again) but he's a hopeless drunk. When Strawn kills Cat's father, the town protects him. Cat takes matters into her own hands.This tries to reinvent the western genre. It does a terrific job at that. Fonda continues with her sexy naive kitten bit and move right into gun toting wildcat. She has shown her comic timing. The standout is Lee Marvin. He doesn't just do double duty but he has some of the best lines and does great comic drunk acting. This is fun action western.

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.