Product Details

• Actors: Ken Berry, Sandy Duncan, Harry Morgan, Roddy McDowall, McLean Stevenson
• Directors: Norman Tokar
• Format: Color, DVD, NTSC
• Language: English
• Region: Region 1 (U.S. and Canada only. Read more about DVD formats.)
  
• Aspect Ratio: 1.75:1
• Number of discs: 1
• Rating: G (General Audience)
• Studio: Walt Disney Video
• DVD Release Date: July 6, 2004
• Run Time: 104 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars See all reviews (40 customer reviews)
• ASIN: B0001I55OW
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #7,873 in Movies & TV (See Bestsellers in Movies & TV)

  Popular in these categories: (What's this?)

  #47 in	Movies & TV > Science Fiction & Fantasy > Science Fiction > Comedy
  #53 in	Movies & TV > Kids & Family > Animals
  #53 in	Movies & TV > Comedy > Slapstick

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com
Here's today's trivia question: What Disney movie costars both colonels from television's M*A*S*H--that is, Henry Blake (McLean Stevenson) and Sherman Potter (Harry Morgan)? Heck, that's easy: 1978's The Cat from Outer Space, a family comedy about a feline extraterrestrial named Jake (voiced by actor Ronnie Schell, who also plays Sergeant Duffy). Eerily similar to the plot of Steven Spielberg's E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial, released four years later, Cat finds Jake stuck on Earth and in danger of being trapped here forever if his fellow space kitties can't rendezvous with him soon.

While a gruff Army general (Morgan) tries to scare up some answers about the whereabouts and agenda of the purring alien, Jake allies himself with an unorthodox scientist (Ken Berry), plus the latter's friend (Stevenson)--a compulsive gambler--and mathematician girlfriend (Sandy Duncan). Together, they try to raise the scratch to purchase expensive materials to make Jake's ship run again, and in short order. Norman Tokar, an old Disney hand (The Happiest Millionaire) directing his final film before he died the following year, gets the comic machinery going with his slick cast of character actors (Roddy McDowall, Jesse White, Hans Conried), sly one-liners, and lots of enjoyable suspense. A kid-pleaser for sure. --Tom Keogh

Product Description
There's magic in the memories as great Disney moments are captured right here for you and your family to enjoy. Cosmic comedy is on the prowl when an extraterrestrial cat named Jake is forced to crash-land his spaceship on Earth. Jake then proceeds to lead a physicist, his girlfriend, the Army, and a team of baffled scientists on endless escapades during his unscheduled and hilarious visit!

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

31 of 33 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Purr-fectly delightful family entertainment. . . ., March 23, 2000

By	John A. Kuczma "RogueUlfric" (Marietta, GA USA) - See all my reviews (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

This review is from: The Cat From Outer Space (Widescreen Edition) [VHS] (VHS Tape)

His name is Zunar J5 Zoric 9/49, but everyone just calls him Jake. His home planet is never identified, but they must have some beautiful felines there if this talented extraterrestrial abyssinian is their ambassador.

Actually, Jake just comes to Earth because of maintenance problems on his space-going scout ship. After arriving, he teams up with a superb comic cast, including Ken Berry, Sandy Duncan, MacLean Stevenson, Harry Morgan and Roddy McDowell for some of the zaniest adventures you or your children will ever enjoy. Just for good measure, Jake brings along the most unique flea collar ever made, and therein lies most of the story.

Jake only needs a small amount of a fairly common substance (on his planet) to repair his ship. Unfortunately, that common substance turns out to be about $120,000 worth of gold. Needing that kind of material help in a short period of time provides the vehicle for a madcap comedy.

The Cat from Outer Space isn't a classic, but it's close, and it's wonderful entertainment that you can be comfortable letting your children watch without supervision. You won't even mind when they ask to see it again and again. You'll probably watch, too!

Highly recommended for Disney fans and Cat Lovers everywhere.

23 of 27 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars My favorite of all the Disney classics!, October 22, 2004

By	Detra Fitch (USA) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

Zunar J5 Zoric 9/49 "Jake" makes an emergency landing and must fix his ship before joining his Mother Ship. Time is limited. With the help of a few humans, after shocking them a few times, he must find the material to fix his ship (I won't tell what it is and ruin it for you), get his ship back from the military (which has quarantined it for study), as well as fix the ship and get off Earth. The result is funny and lovable all at once.

***** I grew up watching this movie any time I could. When it was finally released on VHS I purchased my copy quickly. I also wore it out...TWICE. I have purchased, over the years, most of the Disney animated movies, but few of the un-animated classics. And I have never worn out a video tape before, much less twice. So DVD is a must for me.

My son is in his middle teen years. As a mom, I was delighted to share this movie with him as a child. Now, it is one of his fond memories of spending time with me and a bowl of popcorn. Just us and Jake.

This movie is clean fun. It is perfect for any age, from 4 to 104. Know someone who loves classic movies? About about a Disney fan? Or how about a cat person who treats their cat(s) like part of the family? Well, then this DVD would make a perfect gift for any occassion.

Highly recommended to one and all. *****

Reviewed by Detra Fitch of Huntress Reviews.

11 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Family Film for All Ages!!, July 25, 2005

By	Wallis Davenport "joyous2" (Ithaca, NY) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I first saw "The Cat from Outer Space" while a little girl years ago and fell on the floor laughing. When I saw it was available on DVD, I quickly purchased it to have it for my family so my 3 year old daughter can have it for when she is old enough to enjoy the humor. That won't be long as the movie is simply infectious and has humor for all ages.

The plot is simple. An alien cat with a most unusal collar, named Zunar J5 Zoric 9/49, but whom everyone just calls "Jake" has made an emergency landing on Earth for repairs. He has only a limited amount of time to fix his spaceship before his rendevous with the mothership, that he calls "Mother", otherwise he will be stranded on Earth for years. I used to think he was from Mars, but actually his home planet is never identified.

Jake spends his time after arriving with a terrific comedic cast including two from M*A*S*H (Harry Morgan as a gruff General and MacLean Stevenson as a compusive gambler friend), as well as Ken Berry (you've got to see "The Ugly Daschund" if you love this movie!), Sandy Duncan, and Roddy McDowell in some of the craziest misadventures you'll ever witness. A timeless story that you won't be embarrassed to watch with your kids or grandparents.

In the film, it seems at first quite easy to repair his spaceship, until Jake realizes that he needs quite a lot of what is fairly common on his planet to fix it - gold! About $120,000 worth!! The rest of the film involves twists and turns about Harry Morgan as the general, trying to discover who the alien is, and the various ways Jake and his friends try to raise the capital in such a short time without raising suspitions. There is also a spy who is out to foil their plans as a subplot and that just goes to throw everything into a tizzy. There is even a quite suspenseful chase-scene!

Overall, this is film is great fun with really timeless humor. You can watch it again and again. There's no cursing or bathroom humor, so you don't have to be embarrassed to watch it with your kids or even your grandparents. Highly recommended.