The Cat from Outer Space (1978)

Walt Disney Studios produced a number of live-action feature films in the 1970s, most of which were comedies. One of the less memorable of these comedies was The Cat from Outer Space, released in 1978.

Ken Barry, in his pre-Mama's Family days, stars as Frank Wilson, a young scientist who is befriended by ZunarJ5/9Doric47, otherwise known as "Jake", a cat from outer space. Jake crash-landed his spacecraft on planet Earth and now needs a substance called "Org 12" to repair it. Frank discovers that Org 12 is none other than gold and that Jake needs $120,000 worth of it in less than 24 hours so that he can fix his spacecraft and reunite with his mothership in time. Quite a tall order for an underpaid scientist!

The Cat from Outer Space was written by Ted Key (Hazel) and it has a wonderful premise of a cat coming from outer space....after all, cats can seem aloof and unworldly at times. Jake comes from a planet where its inhabitants spent years developing tools to increase the mental powers of its species. His race discovered they need not progress beyond the form of a cat. Indeed, Jake can do anything a human can and beyond. 

The brilliant scientists at ERL - the lab where Frank works - are only beginning to touch on theories that Jake's civilization has known for years. It's no wonder Jake sits by with that typically feline air of superiority while he watches mortal Frank at his work. 

"We developed our brain to a fine point. Now man, on the other hand, rose off his four legs and developed tools, machinery, agriculture, and a chronic pain in his lower back. We developed tools for the mind."

That magic color around his neck is what amplifies Jake's brain power and later aids them in procuring $120,000 to buy the gold he needs. It also allows him to "speak" telepathically with Frank, with whom he has a rapport. How can anyone resist such a cute and clever cat as a companion? Incidentally, Jake is voiced by Ronnie Schell who also has a small part.

While the story of The Cat from Outer Space is clever, the film itself never gets into a proper orbit. It seems overly simple in its structure and rather uneventful, even though there is quite a bit going on....especially during the helicopter chase at the finale. Casting may be the issue here. The film is filled with characters that could be exciting but fall flat. 

Frank Wilson is an engaging character and Ken Barry has a winning personality but, in spite of that combination, this movie really needed Dean Jones (or Fred MacMurray had it been made a decade earlier). Sandy Duncan was marvelous in Disney's The Million Dollar Duck (also penned by Ted Key) but she is given very little to do here. McLean Stevenson portrays Frank's colleague Link, but he isn't humorous in the role. This would have been a great part for Tim Conway. 

Much of the film rests on the supporting players and character actors.... which there are a surprising number of! Harry Morgan, a regular in Disney comedies of the 1970s, plays an irate general, Hans Conreid has a marvelous bit as Frank's boss, Jesse White plays the pool hall owner, and Alan Young is a distracted veterinarian. And let's not forget the requisite villains. It is not A.J. Arno or Alonso Hawk who discover and are plotting to steal Jake's magic collar, instead, it is Mr. Olympus (William Prince) aided by his snooping stooge Mr. Stallwood (Roddy McDowall).

Norman Tokar directed this light-hearted comedy and there are some good special effects to thrill the little ones, but this particular viewer found the film to be only average entertainment. If I had a taste to watch a Disney comedy from the 1970s, I'd pick Disney's Dexter Riley comedies and the marvelous comedy talents of Jim Backus and Joe Flynn instead.