Cats
Director: David Mallet
Cast: Elaine Paige, Ken Page, Michael Gruber, John Partridge, Jacob Brent, Susie McKenna, Susan Jane Tanner, Rosemarie Ford, James Barron, Aeva May, Sir John Mills, Jo Gibb, Veerle Casteleyn, Leah Sue Morland, Phyllida Crowley Smith, Bryn Walters, Drew Varley, Jason Gardiner, Femi Taylor, Geoffrey Garratt, Fergus Logan, Tommi Sliiden, Karl Morgan, Frank Thompson, Jo Bingham, Kaye Brown,
Inspired by a collection of poems by T.S. Elliot’s titled “Old Possum’s Book of Practical Cats” Cats tells the musical journey of a group of cats known as “Jellicle Cats” as they join together to celebrate their Jellicle Ball where their leader, Old Deuteronomy (played by Ken Page), will make what is known as the “Jellicle Choice” and select one worthy cat to be reborn into a new life.
Salvation is a powerful theme in this film and nowhere is it seen more perfectly than in the characters of Grizabella, the Glamour Cat and Old Deuteronomy, the wise and gentle leader of the Jellicle Cats.
For Old Deuteronomy, he is, in essence, the perfect embodiment of the Christ-figure for the Jellicle cats. His role in this family is two-fold. He is, first and foremost their wise and gentle leader…their protector…their father, in every meaning of the word (both physically and spiritually). The Jellicle cats both respect and revere Old Deuteronomy, but they also love him unconditionally and protect him from the dangerous villain, Macavity. His second role – that of the Jellicle Leader – is that once a year, he must choose one cat who he deems worthy enough to enter the Heaviside Layer and be reborn into a new life.
For Grizabella, the Glamour Cat, her role in the story is that of the lost soul; the soul that is desperately yearning for salvation. She was once a Jellicle Cat, and the beautiful star of the stage. Alas, her circumstances changed, and she is now banished from the Jellicle clan; a lonely soul, who is unwanted and unloved by her former family, (which is illustrated by her desire for them to touch her hand and her being constantly rejected by them). You see soft flickers of her formerly glamorous life in her polished nails and the sequined costume that is hidden beneath her tattered coat, but her eyes reflect the pain and loneliness she feels in her heart; a pain that is soon healed by Old Deuteronomy when he makes Grizabella his choice to be reborn into a new life.
There is an intimate and powerful theme in the story that illustrates the touching of hands to symbolize identity and affection among the Jellicles…and this intimate act is expressed in two very different ways in the film.
For most of the Jellicles, touching is a way from them to express affection and acceptance in their clan. This is illustrated most clearly when their leader, Old Deuteronomy, arrives, and all the cats are touching him and bowing to him. They respect him and love him as their father and their affection is clearly shown through their physical connection with him.
Another way this connection is illustrated is in Grizabella’s character. There are many times throughout the story where we see the younger Jellicles reach out to touch Grizabella, but they are quickly stopped by the older Cats and shooed away from her. This clearly indicates that she is not welcome in their group, because for Grizabella, being touched would signify that she has been accepted back into her family, and clearly, the other Jellicles are not wishing that to happen. I love how she comes on stage, and if you look closely, she is limping and favoring her right foot. Her expression is painfully sad, and her clothes are tattered and filthy, giving only soft clues to her glamorous past, with her beautiful, ruby-painted nails and spangled black dress reflecting a shadow of her former beauty, lost beneath her tattered fur. You see in her expression her desire to rejoin her family, as she watches them from afar, but she is resigned to her fate. The other cats both approach her in curiosity and reject her outright, but if you look, when Munkustrap confronts her, we see Old Deuteronomy extend his hand, as if he is protecting Grizabella and telling Munk to leave her alone... if you notice, he obeys this command and leaves her alone after this. Alone on the stage, before the throne, she tries to dance as she once did, but there is pain and sadness, rather than sheer joy, in Grizabella’s eyes, as if she can no longer perform this dance the way she did before, when she was dancing in the theater. Then, with only Deuteronomy there to witness her performance, Grizabella sings the first verse of Memory, and we see a soft glimmer of the beauty still shining within her, as she recalls a happier time in her life, when she was beautiful and happy and free. As she hobbles off, we see Old Deuteronomy reaches his hand out to her, and she pauses for a moment, her own hand reaching back…but not quite connecting with anyone just yet… and we see Old Deut. Looking after her, with an expression of compassion and concern on his wizened face, that makes me believe he wants to see his daughter restored to the family. I DO love how EVEN NOW, when she is singing Memory again, surrounded by the other Jellicle, this time, putting everything on the line, Old Deuteronomy is STILL reaching for her. And I love how THIS TIME, when Victoria goes to touch Grizabella, she looks back to Dad for his blessing, and rather than stopping her, Old Deuteronomy tells her to go. And there's this expression of pure joy on Grizabella's face when she feels Victoria's hand touching hers. And initially, most of the other cats have their backs to her... but by the end, she has gained ALL of their respect.
I love that moment when poor old Gus is walking away, perhaps feeling scared or thinking that he is too old and not worthy of performing, and Deuteronomy gently takes his trembling hands and comforts him and encourages dear Gus to stay and sing for him, and Jellylorum holds his hand and gently guides him back to his place. They are telling him, without saying a single word, that they want him to stay there with him and perform his beautiful song, and in the end, even the Fiend of the Fell bowed to Gus and honored him and deemed him worthy. I love the reflection of Jellylorum helping Gus to his seat, as behind them, Munkustrap is also helping his father back up to his throne, after he comforts old Gus… a true show of respect and honor for these two most wizened of Jellicles. I am weeping for him. I just want to wrap him up in the warmest of Sherpa blankets and hold him close and take all his pain away. Give him the very best salmon and spoil him with love and affection. And you see, once again, the beautiful symbolism of how the Jellicle Cats show affection and love and the bonds shared between them as Jellylorum comforts Gus throughout this song. She's not forcing herself on him… she's just gently there, as a warm and caring friend, to show her love and support for this wizened old cat. You see his eyes shine with joy as he recalls his wonderful life in the theater, and the honors he was given, but the light starts to dim as he tells how it is all different now, with these younger cats. He’s trying to relive his glory days, but... he’s just too old. Things are different in his life and in theatre. You can see him literally reaching out to touch his old nemesis, but those days are gone. Still, the Fiend of the Fell still honors his old friend with a respectful bow. And then, at the end, when he was overcome with his emotions, Jellylorum was the one to hold him and guide him offstage. It was beautiful. And I love how Jemima, Old Deuteronomy, Munkustrap and Jenny were there with Jellylorum, to support Gus, in this moment when he so desperately needed his family’s love.
I remember watching this movie when I was a child. I was 15 or 16 at the time, and apart from musicals like the Wizard of Oz and Newsies, I had very little appreciation for musicals. I did not understand them yet. My friend insisted that I watch this movie with her when we were having a slumber party. I found this film to be very creepy and very boring all at once and it gave me nightmares... especially the scenes with the villainous Macavity. Watching Cats again, years later, as an adult, I will say that I have a whole new respect and love for this musical now. The makeup and costumes are gorgeous, the singing and choreography are very impressive and the silent emotional story that is being expressed through Grizabella’s and Gus's character is both heartfelt and beautiful. I would highly recommend this film.
© 2024 Keriane Kellogg. All rights reserved.
Director: David Mallet
Cast: Elaine Paige, Ken Page, Michael Gruber, John Partridge, Jacob Brent, Susie McKenna, Susan Jane Tanner, Rosemarie Ford, James Barron, Aeva May, Sir John Mills, Jo Gibb, Veerle Casteleyn, Leah Sue Morland, Phyllida Crowley Smith, Bryn Walters, Drew Varley, Jason Gardiner, Femi Taylor, Geoffrey Garratt, Fergus Logan, Tommi Sliiden, Karl Morgan, Frank Thompson, Jo Bingham, Kaye Brown,
Inspired by a collection of poems by T.S. Elliot’s titled “Old Possum’s Book of Practical Cats” Cats tells the musical journey of a group of cats known as “Jellicle Cats” as they join together to celebrate their Jellicle Ball where their leader, Old Deuteronomy (played by Ken Page), will make what is known as the “Jellicle Choice” and select one worthy cat to be reborn into a new life.
Salvation is a powerful theme in this film and nowhere is it seen more perfectly than in the characters of Grizabella, the Glamour Cat and Old Deuteronomy, the wise and gentle leader of the Jellicle Cats.
For Old Deuteronomy, he is, in essence, the perfect embodiment of the Christ-figure for the Jellicle cats. His role in this family is two-fold. He is, first and foremost their wise and gentle leader…their protector…their father, in every meaning of the word (both physically and spiritually). The Jellicle cats both respect and revere Old Deuteronomy, but they also love him unconditionally and protect him from the dangerous villain, Macavity. His second role – that of the Jellicle Leader – is that once a year, he must choose one cat who he deems worthy enough to enter the Heaviside Layer and be reborn into a new life.
For Grizabella, the Glamour Cat, her role in the story is that of the lost soul; the soul that is desperately yearning for salvation. She was once a Jellicle Cat, and the beautiful star of the stage. Alas, her circumstances changed, and she is now banished from the Jellicle clan; a lonely soul, who is unwanted and unloved by her former family, (which is illustrated by her desire for them to touch her hand and her being constantly rejected by them). You see soft flickers of her formerly glamorous life in her polished nails and the sequined costume that is hidden beneath her tattered coat, but her eyes reflect the pain and loneliness she feels in her heart; a pain that is soon healed by Old Deuteronomy when he makes Grizabella his choice to be reborn into a new life.
There is an intimate and powerful theme in the story that illustrates the touching of hands to symbolize identity and affection among the Jellicles…and this intimate act is expressed in two very different ways in the film.
For most of the Jellicles, touching is a way from them to express affection and acceptance in their clan. This is illustrated most clearly when their leader, Old Deuteronomy, arrives, and all the cats are touching him and bowing to him. They respect him and love him as their father and their affection is clearly shown through their physical connection with him.
Another way this connection is illustrated is in Grizabella’s character. There are many times throughout the story where we see the younger Jellicles reach out to touch Grizabella, but they are quickly stopped by the older Cats and shooed away from her. This clearly indicates that she is not welcome in their group, because for Grizabella, being touched would signify that she has been accepted back into her family, and clearly, the other Jellicles are not wishing that to happen. I love how she comes on stage, and if you look closely, she is limping and favoring her right foot. Her expression is painfully sad, and her clothes are tattered and filthy, giving only soft clues to her glamorous past, with her beautiful, ruby-painted nails and spangled black dress reflecting a shadow of her former beauty, lost beneath her tattered fur. You see in her expression her desire to rejoin her family, as she watches them from afar, but she is resigned to her fate. The other cats both approach her in curiosity and reject her outright, but if you look, when Munkustrap confronts her, we see Old Deuteronomy extend his hand, as if he is protecting Grizabella and telling Munk to leave her alone... if you notice, he obeys this command and leaves her alone after this. Alone on the stage, before the throne, she tries to dance as she once did, but there is pain and sadness, rather than sheer joy, in Grizabella’s eyes, as if she can no longer perform this dance the way she did before, when she was dancing in the theater. Then, with only Deuteronomy there to witness her performance, Grizabella sings the first verse of Memory, and we see a soft glimmer of the beauty still shining within her, as she recalls a happier time in her life, when she was beautiful and happy and free. As she hobbles off, we see Old Deuteronomy reaches his hand out to her, and she pauses for a moment, her own hand reaching back…but not quite connecting with anyone just yet… and we see Old Deut. Looking after her, with an expression of compassion and concern on his wizened face, that makes me believe he wants to see his daughter restored to the family. I DO love how EVEN NOW, when she is singing Memory again, surrounded by the other Jellicle, this time, putting everything on the line, Old Deuteronomy is STILL reaching for her. And I love how THIS TIME, when Victoria goes to touch Grizabella, she looks back to Dad for his blessing, and rather than stopping her, Old Deuteronomy tells her to go. And there's this expression of pure joy on Grizabella's face when she feels Victoria's hand touching hers. And initially, most of the other cats have their backs to her... but by the end, she has gained ALL of their respect.
I love that moment when poor old Gus is walking away, perhaps feeling scared or thinking that he is too old and not worthy of performing, and Deuteronomy gently takes his trembling hands and comforts him and encourages dear Gus to stay and sing for him, and Jellylorum holds his hand and gently guides him back to his place. They are telling him, without saying a single word, that they want him to stay there with him and perform his beautiful song, and in the end, even the Fiend of the Fell bowed to Gus and honored him and deemed him worthy. I love the reflection of Jellylorum helping Gus to his seat, as behind them, Munkustrap is also helping his father back up to his throne, after he comforts old Gus… a true show of respect and honor for these two most wizened of Jellicles. I am weeping for him. I just want to wrap him up in the warmest of Sherpa blankets and hold him close and take all his pain away. Give him the very best salmon and spoil him with love and affection. And you see, once again, the beautiful symbolism of how the Jellicle Cats show affection and love and the bonds shared between them as Jellylorum comforts Gus throughout this song. She's not forcing herself on him… she's just gently there, as a warm and caring friend, to show her love and support for this wizened old cat. You see his eyes shine with joy as he recalls his wonderful life in the theater, and the honors he was given, but the light starts to dim as he tells how it is all different now, with these younger cats. He’s trying to relive his glory days, but... he’s just too old. Things are different in his life and in theatre. You can see him literally reaching out to touch his old nemesis, but those days are gone. Still, the Fiend of the Fell still honors his old friend with a respectful bow. And then, at the end, when he was overcome with his emotions, Jellylorum was the one to hold him and guide him offstage. It was beautiful. And I love how Jemima, Old Deuteronomy, Munkustrap and Jenny were there with Jellylorum, to support Gus, in this moment when he so desperately needed his family’s love.
I remember watching this movie when I was a child. I was 15 or 16 at the time, and apart from musicals like the Wizard of Oz and Newsies, I had very little appreciation for musicals. I did not understand them yet. My friend insisted that I watch this movie with her when we were having a slumber party. I found this film to be very creepy and very boring all at once and it gave me nightmares... especially the scenes with the villainous Macavity. Watching Cats again, years later, as an adult, I will say that I have a whole new respect and love for this musical now. The makeup and costumes are gorgeous, the singing and choreography are very impressive and the silent emotional story that is being expressed through Grizabella’s and Gus's character is both heartfelt and beautiful. I would highly recommend this film.
© 2024 Keriane Kellogg. All rights reserved.