The Aristocats
| The Aristocats | |
|---|---|
Original theatrical release poster | |
| Directed by | Wolfgang Reitherman |
| Story by |
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| Produced by | Winston Hibler Wolfgang Reitherman |
| Starring |
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| Edited by | Tom Acosta |
| Music by | George Bruns |
Production company | |
| Distributed by | Buena Vista Distribution |
Release dates |
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Running time | 79 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Budget | $4 million[1] |
| Box office | $191 million[2] |
The Aristocats is a 1970 American animated musical comedy film produced by Walt Disney Productions and distributed by Buena Vista Distribution. Directed by Wolfgang Reitherman, and based on a story by Tom McGowan and Tom Rowe, it was the final Disney animated film released during studio co-founder Roy O. Disney's tenure before his death on December 20, 1971. Set in Paris, the plot follows a family of aristocratic cats who are set to gain their mistress's fortune, much to the dismay of her butler. Thrown into the countryside, the family is helped by a feral cat as they attempt to return to their mistress's home. The film stars the voices of Phil Harris, Eva Gabor, Hermione Baddeley, Dean Clark, Sterling Holloway, Scatman Crothers, and Roddy Maude-Roxby.
The Aristocats project began as an original script for a two-part live-action episode for Walt Disney's Wonderful World of Color, developed by McGowan, Rowe, and producer Harry Tytle starting in 1962. Following two years of rewrites, Tytle suggested the project would be more suitable for an animated film, which Disney temporarily shelved while The Jungle Book (1967) advanced into production. When The Jungle Book was nearly complete, Walt Disney appointed Ken Anderson to develop preliminary work on The Aristocats, making it the last film project to be personally approved by Walt before his death.[3][4][5] Longtime Disney collaborators Robert and Richard Sherman composed multiple songs for the film, though only two made it in the finished product.
The Aristocats was released on December 24, 1970, to generally positive reviews from film critics. It was also a commercial success.
- ^ Scott, Vernon (February 17, 1971). "News from Hollywood". The Logansport Press. p. 6. Archived from the original on February 18, 2023. Retrieved January 21, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ D'Alessandro, Anthony (October 27, 2003). "Cartoon Coffers – Top-Grossing Disney Animated Features at the Worldwide B.O." Variety. p. 6. Archived from the original on November 4, 2020. Retrieved November 5, 2021 – via TheFreeLibrary.com.
- ^ Trimborn, Harry (December 16, 1966). "Wizard of Fantasy Walt Disney Dies". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved November 3, 2024.
- ^ Cooke, Alistair (December 16, 2011). "The death of Walt Disney — folk hero". The Guardian. Retrieved November 3, 2024.
- ^ "Walt Disney, 65, Dies on Coast". The New York Times. December 16, 1966.