Amazon.co.uk Review
Often forgotten about in the Disney back catalogue,
The Aristocats is actually a fun, lively feline adventure, with plenty of zest and some terrific tunes too. Arriving in the wake of
The Jungle Book, its not vintage Disney, but it still sets itself a high standard.
The Aristocats is set in France in 1910, and tells the tale of a high society cat and her trio of kittens who are dumped into the backstreets of Paris by an angry Butler when they inherit a fortune from their owner. Here, theyre soon befriended by Thomas OMalley (voiced by the unforgettable Phil Harris, who also lent his tones to Baloo in The Jungle Book) and a wild cast of characters, and its as much a cue as is needed for some jazzy tunes, fast-paced animation and a fun family adventure.
As the last film to have been supervised by Walt Disney before his death, The Aristocats inevitably has a significant place in the back catalogue at Disney HQ. Yet many still overlook it, and thats a real shame. There are well-realised Parisian locations, a good few chuckles, and a genuinely strong soundtrack thatll stick in your head long after the credits have rolled. Its good, too, to see Disney finally give the film the special edition it richly deserves. --Simon Brew
Synopsis
Set in 1910, this Disney animated classic offers plenty of adventure, humor and music (especially performances by Chevalier). After high-society cat Duchess (Gabor) and her three kittens inherit a fortune from their mistress, a greedy butler plots to get rid of them--and collect the cash himself. The villainous servant kidnaps the entire feline family and takes them far away from their comfortable Paris home. A bunch of animal pals come to the rescue however, and help restore the cats to their proper place. The heroic rescuers include the friendly alley cat Thomas O'Malley, the gallant mouse Roquefort, and the hilarious hounds Lafayette and Napoleon. The last film personally supervised by Walt Disney himself.