The Aristocats

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Guess what I'm writing about this week? Guess! It's The Aristocats! What a play on words! (Also I like to pronounce this title in a really bad French accent. Something like: Ze Aree-stoh-cahtz). If you're new to the blog, take note that there are spoilers....like all the spoilers....every single spoiler. That being said, let's get this baby rolling.

After a very long opening credits sequence, the movie opens in Paris 1910. I do, however, enjoy the opening credits on this film because the artistic quality, animation, and use of color tend to mimic Parisian romanticism in my mind.
Example:

       
I used this slide specifically because of the name Lord Tim Hudson....playing the English Cat. Actually I can't tell if they are attempting to be accepting of all races or if they are being racist...For the sake of optimism let's say that they are being inclusive of world culture. 

       Anyway, back to Paris 1910. We see the ever-sophisticated Adelaide in a carriage ride with her cat, Duchess, and Duchess' three adorable kittens. The whole thing is being driven by Edgar: butler, assistant, cat sitter, and chauffeur extraordinaire. Right from the beginning, we see the misfortune in Edgar's existence. The guy is trying to drive this carriage with kittens on his face.  I mean, I love kittens but I also love road safety. And does Adelaide do anything? Nope. Because she loves the kittens more than road safety....and probably more than Edgar. 

      Change of subject: are we going to discuss the fact that these kittens are fatherless? There is zero mention of Adelaide having a male cat, and a woman who is so enthralled with cats would be upset if she had one who died so recently. The kittens aren't too old. I hate to take the film out of G rating land, but the only theory I can think of is that Duchess got out one night and had a fling. That is the only possible way. There is no mourning. Cat gestation is only like a month. Adelaide has had Duchess for more than a month, meaning she couldn't have bought the cat already pregnant. I'll discuss my certainty in Adelaide and Duchess' relationship later, so sit tight. The other aspect of assuming Duchess had a fling in an alleyway is the appearance of her kittens. A woman of Adelaide's status in early 20th century France would have only allowed a purebred mating. These kittens are three different colors, meaning they are probably not purebred (probably...I don't know anything about cat mating to be honest). Meaning the father is probably not of status like Duchess. I'm just tossing out some ideas. 

      Back at the house, an interesting gentleman, who happens to be Adelaide's lawyer, arrives. He, too, is a handful that Edgar must deal with. 

   

Is anyone else impressed with the elevator? I think you've made it in life if you have an elevator in your personal residence. And that's a classy looking elevator too.

    After quite a bit of time, Edgar finally gets the incessant man upstairs for his meeting with Adelaide. The lawyer starts the conversation with the question, "Who do you want to sue?" Maybe that's just comedy or an attack on lawyers, but I would like to examine it as an attack on the wealthy. It's very plausible that this movie is an allegory for societal structure pre-French Revolution. It just needs to be seen as a loose allegory and not a direct replica, as it is not in correct period for one thing. But come on, the movie is called The Aristocats. Going off of that theory, however, the suing comment is an indicator of the selfishness of the rich. Adelaide has everything and no reason to sue, yet it would not be uncommon. I'll embellish later. 

     As Adelaide begins talking to her lawyer about her will, we see Edgar in his natural habitat so to speak:

    

Really? You live in a mansion alone and this is where you keep poor old Edgar?

Seriously though, the structure here implies that this is an attic bedroom. She's keeping the butler, the most loyal person in her life (supposedly) in an attic. It's quite sad. That's what makes Edgar complex as an antagonist: he draws sympathy. Also is that a guitar behind the bed? What if Edgar wanted to be a musician but couldn't make it and is now living as a servant, putting his dream aside? 

     During this scene, Edgar can hear Adelaide talking through that pipe thing. The lawyer assumes that she is leaving her fortune to Edgar. Makes sense right? The guy had devoted his life to her and even set aside a music career to do so, probably. Adelaide corrects him, though, saying that her fortune will be left to her cats, and then to Edgar when the cats die. May I just say: WHAT IN THE ACTUAL HECK??!! How much money can a cat use? And wouldn't someone have to be guardian of that money over the cat? I mean Duchess and the kittens can't just waltz into Petsmart and have a shopping spree. They don't have opposable thumbs for goodness sakes! Adelaide, my dear friends, is cray cray. So Edgar hears this and says something along the lines of what I just did but not quite, and is not pleased. 

       Transition to the cats. They are chilling in a luxurious manner, probably to signify the spoiled nature of the Revolution-era French aristocracy or something profound like that. Duchess tells Toulouse to paint and Marie and Berlioz to practice scales and arpeggios. First off, Toulouse chooses to paint an unflattering picture of Edgar....Edgar, the man who waits on them hand and foot. Edgar, who is inheriting behind them. Edgar, who gave up his lifelong dream of being a musician for them. So that's definitely not nice. Next, let me talk to you about the fundamentals of an arpeggio. An arpeggio, my friend, is a piece of musicianship that requires (on the piano) a wide finger span, also five fingers. There's virtually no way a cat could play an arpeggio. Also, the song they sing has a trill which requires rapid movement between two adjacent notes. Not possible. Maybe I'm just bitter because of Edgar's mistreatment but still. Also fun fact: Adelaide has a British accent, Duchess has a Hungarian accent, and the kids have American accents. Nobody has a French accent in this film, even though it takes place in France. So that's suspicious. 

       The problem I'm having, however, is that the combined spoiled nature of the kittens and Edgar's pathetic life questions my morals. Edgar's future actions are, without a doubt, wrong, but it is difficult to blame him. I mean, he seems to be the only sane character. And do the cats really need a large inheritance? Couldn't Adelaide just put it in the will that Edgar is the heir but is only eligible if he cares for the cats? That seems more intelligent to me, just sayin'. What I'm trying to get at is that this movie breaks the fairy-tale tradition of putting a stamp on the villain's forehead that says "I am inherently bad". Edgar is tormented throughout the beginning of this movie, giving a clear progression into his evil doings. It's clear to see his progression, and even to identify with him. 

       So Edgar starts cooking up something for the kittens (literally and metaphorically). He goes into the parlor with a tray of creme de la creme a la Edgar (active ingredient: sleep medication), and the cats indulge themselves. This is when we meet their friend, Roquefort the mouse! He will be important later, FYI. So Roquefort comes out and they let him eat cake, so to speak. Except for in this scenario cake is creme de la creme a la Edgar (active ingredient: sleep medication), and the stuff wipes all of them out. 

      Then Edgar takes all four cats, sticks them in the sidecar of his motorcycle (he has a motorcycle with a sidecar), and takes off. His trip to an unannounced location is cut short, however, when two car-chasing dogs initiate a good ol' fashioned chase scene. 

     If we are still going along with my Revolution allegory then the dogs and Edgar represent two different types of revolutionaries. Edgar wants to overthrow the aristocrats which are the cats in this scenario. He was justice and glory. Basically if this was Les Miserables, he'd be this guy: 

              

               

       You may take a break to swoon over Aaron Tviet if you need to. I did.

The dogs are chasing Edgar for the motorcycle and thrive on thievery. They are the type of revolutionaries who just want the money. They are poor and glued to the idea of wealth. Meaning if this were Les Miserables, they'd be these guys:

    

                                         I'm all about a good musical reference.

        The basket of kittens flies off the sidecar and under a bridge as Edgar is chased into the distance. The basket landing under the bridge signifies immediately that the cats are about to suffer a lifestyle change, as living under a bridge is usually used to display immense poverty. I have to hand it to Duchess though for being a complete boss during this scene. Obviously, the kittens are terrified after waking up somewhere unrecognizable and obviously dangerous, but Duchess keeps it cool. She stays calm and doesn't show an ounce of fear. That's what makes a good parent. Being strong so your kids don't have to but learn to be strong. If that makes any sense. 

           Back at the house, Adelaide is terrified by the disapearence of the cats. She calls out "Duchess, kittens" leading me to believe that Duchess is most important to her. And why wouldn't she be, since she's obviously had her the longest? If you look at Adelaide, she's living alone, with the exception of Edgar. That's a lonely lifestyle and Duchess was probably her closest friend, as sad as that is to say. Roquefort though, being the champ he is, throws on his plaid mouse coat and takes off to find them. 

What is it with Disney's obsession for sending mice on rescue missions?

                        Shout out to Miss Eva Gabor for being in both of these films BTW.
   Back to the unfortunate tale of Duchess, Marie, Toulouse, and Berlioz. They are making literally zero progress as they lay eyes on Thomas O' Malley: a suave, singing alley cat. He sees Duchess and practically starts drooling. Being the skilled playboy he is, he simply sings about how awesome he is while eyeing her like a piece of meat, totally casual. Duchess, playing hard to get starts grooming herself....also casual.

                                              Subtle...

Come on, Duchess. Your children are watching. Oddly enough, O'Malley IS attracted to the feline who is literally licking herself in front of him. Nobody saw that coming. Then he finds out she has three kids and backs out like a loser. I do love the authenticity in that though. This is real. It's difficult for single moms to date, and it's difficult to date single moms. There's no sugar coating in this story. Toulouse and Thomas have a bond, however. 

   

                                 I mean there's the fact that they're identical. 

   But we know that Toulouse is different than his siblings. The other two play piano, he paints. He fanticizes about being an alley cat while the other two enjoy their privileged lives. In the beginning, it's Toulouse who is bothering Edgar while the others behave during the carriage ride. O' Malley is finally someone he can bond with. This also accompanies my theory that the father was an alley cat. If he was an alley cat, that would explain Toulouse's color and mannerisms. In the end, it's Toulouse's instant bond with Thomas that convinces him to stay and help them.

      He puts them on a delivery truck to Paris, indulging them in the fantasy that it's a magic carpet. Then when little Marie falls from the truck, he saves her. We all love a hero. When he and Duchess start a conversation, she confirms my earlier theory by stating Adelaide's loneliness and herself being the remedy.  

       The next few minutes are strictly plot: they get thrown off the truck, almost run over by a train, and then Thomas gets swept up in a river current. This is perhaps insinuating the difficulty of life for the poor vs. the rich. It's displaying the harsh reality outside of the mansion to Duchess and her kittens. 

       So Thomas is trying to get to shore when these two delightful geese come wandering along.

     

       I love how every animal in his movie has exactly one article of clothing (O'Malley excluded).

    These geese, Amelia and Abigail Gabble, see Thomas' struggle as an attempt at swimming, so naturally they swoop in and try to teach him how to swim. The rich used to, and to some extent still do, have an obsession with educating vs. helping the poor. Education is amazing and I do feel that should be priority but when someone is drowning: rescue first, teach later. 

     Once O'Malley is safe and drying off, the Gabble sisters introduce themselves and offer to escort them back to Paris. They form a line and put O'Malley and Toulouse on the end.

  

                                I told you: Disney's doing something here.

  

  They come to a Parisian restaurant where the Gabble sisters' Uncle Waldo comes stumbling out after being basted in wine. He is undeniably inebriated. So far we've had an implied one night stand, a seductive grooming scene, and now an intoxicated goose. This movie has something for everybody. So after one of film's greatest drunk scenes, they walk into the distance and we check in with our good friend Edgar.

     Edgar finds out that he left too much evidence at the crime scene. Evidence being his hat and umbrella. Edgar then treks back to the two dogs who are sleeping soundly. He's a grown man right? It would then be reasonable to assume that he can just walk up to the two SLEEPING dogs, grab his things, and then take off. Right? Nope. Somewhere along the way, Edgar decides the best course of action is to hide in a haystack while lifting his personal items with a fishing pole. Legit. See, when I was little, I thought that this scene was probably the greatest piece of comedy I'd ever know. Now, as a technical adult, I think it's the most frustrating thing in the world. Come on, Edgar! What are you thinking? You're a musician, so you have swift hands! Just grab the dang hat!

       Anyway, despite my relentless shouting at the screen, Edgar continues with his pole trick until the dogs inevitably awaken. Cue chase scene. Once again...he's a grown man right? It would then be reasonable to assume that he could bike away from two dogs no problem right? Nope. 

     

      Somewhere along the line, Edgar decided that travel via haystack was more efficient. Oh, Edgar. You had so much promise. 

      Back on the other side of the world, Thomas takes Duchess and her children back to his "pad". You know where this is going....but you don't because his mood murdering friends apparently host band practice in his apartment. As most friends do. Thomas' BFF, Scat Cat, and his band start jamming out to "Everybody Wants to be a Cat". Best song of the movie, folks. Also what is Disney's obsession with trumpet playing animals?

                                    Anatomically impossible for both, FYI.

   Now we've come full circle. We've come from scales and arpeggios in the parlour to scat and jazz in the pad. Also let's take a look at these lyrics:

    

     I'm all for a little jazz, but should you be singing your turn-ons with your kids in the room? Come on, Duchess. This isn't the Kardashians. 

     Fast forward. Duchess and Thomas are on the roof overlooking the city. It's quite romantic actually. Thomas does the best possible thing and compliments her kids first. 

      Big speech time: Duchess is a much needed Disney heroine. Disney heroines are always young. Duchess is a mom. Her priority is her offspring. Duchess exemplifies that heroism and romance and ambition are not exclusive to youth. Duchess tells the moms and women of this world that they are so very important, and not taken over by the youth of society. We often reduce our parents to being parents when they are just like their children. They are individuals with dreams and lives and love. It's insulting to say that their one hobby is their child. They are so thriving and vital to our world, and this movie shows that.

      The next morning, Thomas drops Duchess and the kittens off at their mansion. Guys, it's like when Meg leaves Hercules at Mount Olympus...only maybe not as sad. Idk..it's harder to empathize with cats. Especially wealthy ones. 

       Edgar is not thrilled to see them, however. He does what any villain would do, and puts them in a bag in the oven. Roquefort. Dear Roaquefort the Mouse, goes to find Thomas' alley cat friends, knowing they might kill him. But he loves them so much that he's willing to do it. That is real bravery. Everyone should be more like Roquefort. Also, the cats don't kill him. They almost do but then they find out who sent him and take off to go help, so that's exciting.

      The cats move from the oven to the shed where Edgar intends to put them in a trunk and mail them to Timbuktu. Ok, so I know that's supposed to be evil but I can't help but think otherwise. How amazing would it be to be chilling in Timbuktu and then get a trunk full of kittens mailed to you! That would make my day, I tell you. Plus I'm still kind of rooting for the struggling musician.  

       After an intense battle with a pitchfork, the cats, with the help of their other animal friends, manage to put Edgar in the trunk, at which point he is put in a trunk and shipped to Timbuktu. Karma, am I right? Also that is a really dark ending if you think about it. Like seriously dark. Also very Animal Farm-esque. 

      On the bright side, Adelaide takes Thomas and his friends in. She finds a way to occupy her time and to cure her loneliness. Also this is sort of like the cat version of Lady and the Tramp right? Spoiled house pet meets rugged street animal and both end up living together in luxury. That's the dream. 

Don't get it twisted though. This movie is not sugar-coating things by giving them a happy ending. Disney has a reward system that educates children. The character did good things so they were given good things. Edgar did bad things and was forced to travel to Timbuktu via trunk. Good things don't necessarily go to good people, but it's nice to fantasize that way. Also the cats proved that they weren't dependant on money. They didn't need a luxurious life, but Adelaide did. And she needed them.

In conclusion: a list of things I learned watching this now vs. watching it as a kid:

-the movie isn't about the kittens, it's more about Duchess 

-Roquefort is the best 

-It's more about actions and consequence than romance

-Duchess knows how to get down

-Edgar might have been a struggling musician oppressed by society and forced to stifle his dreams     while living a life full of peasantry and servitude

With that I'll leave you with this gem:

                                                      You're welcome.