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Cat Ballou
1965 97 min United States of America 12+
★7.5
Western, Comedy
Director: Elliot Silverstein
Trailers
Description
A woman seeking revenge for her murdered father hires a famous gunman, but he's very different from what she expects.
US Gross:
$20.67M
Worldwide:
$20.67M
Starring
Jane Fonda
Actor
Lee Marvin
Actor
Michael Callan
Actor
Awards
BAFTA 1966
— Best International Actor
Golden Globe 1966
— Best Actor (Comedy or Musical)
Academy Awards 1966
— Best Actor
Academy Awards 1966
— Best Musical Adaptation
Golden Globe 1966
— Best Original Song
Berlin International Film Festival 1965
— Golden Bear
Golden Globe 1966
— Best Debut
BAFTA 1966
— Most Promising Lead Debut
Golden Globe 1966
— Best Actor (Comedy or Musical)
Academy Awards 1966
— Best Actor
Academy Awards 1966
— Best Film Editing
Berlin International Film Festival 1965
— Youth Cinema Award – Special Mention for Best Feature Film
Berlin International Film Festival 1965
— Silver Bear – Best Actor
Berlin International Film Festival 1965
— Special Mention
Golden Globe 1966
— Best Actress (Comedy or Musical)
Golden Globe 1966
— Best Picture (Comedy or Musical)
Key opinion
Cat Ballou is a lighthearted Western-comedy that subverts traditional genre tropes through musical interludes and a meta-textual approach. While the film is generally regarded as an entertaining piece of 60s pop culture, consensus suggests it is a lightweight effort that relies almost entirely on the charismatic performances of its leads.
| Acting | Lee Marvin delivers a standout, career-defining performance by playing two diametrically opposed roles with expert range. | |
| Acting | Jane Fonda proves her versatility as a serious actress and comedic talent, marking a breakout moment in her career. | |
| Originality | The film succeeds as a refreshing, joyful subversion of traditional and often brutal Western clichés. | |
| Screenplay | The narrative blend of standard revenge tropes with comedy and musical segments is viewed as either a charming, lighthearted experiment or a lightweight production lacking lasting substance. |