Cat Ballou
Seen it?1965 | 97 min | Western, Comedy
Sunday Safe BetWhy it’s a Sunday Safe Bet
It won an Oscar and it earned strong reviews (90% on Rotten Tomatoes), though it had a lukewarm 6.4 out of 10 from audiences and soft box office. A safe bet when you want something reliable.
Based on critics, audiences, awards, box office and buzz. Details below.Is it for you?
- Who'll love it
- Made for anyone who wants a laugh. If you loved Open Range or Stagecoach, start here. Critics rate it higher than audiences do, so it rewards patience more than it chases thrills.
- The mood
- Light and funny.
- The pace
- Breezy, at 1 hr 37 min.
- What might put you off
- Made in 1965: an older pace and style.
- Audiences were cooler on it than critics.
A woman seeking revenge for her murdered father hires a famous gunman, but he's very different from what she expects.
How it earned its rating
- CriticsStrong
90% on Rotten Tomatoes, 60 on Metacritic
- AudiencesBelow par
6.4 out of 10
- AwardsVery strong
Won 1 Oscar: Academy Awards: Best Actor. Won 1 Golden Globe: Golden Globe Awards: Best Actor in a Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy. Won 1 BAFTA: British Academy Film Awards: Best Foreign Actor. Won 1 Berlin award: Berlin International Film Festival: Best Actor. Also nominated for 4 more Oscars, 3 more Golden Globes and 1 more BAFTA. Plus 4 other awards.
- Box office & staying powerBelow par
$21 million worldwide; still draws a steady audience long after release
- Buzz & cultural impactStrong
About 112K people sought it out in the past year
Trailer
More like this
Open Range
Saturday SpecialAnother Wild West ern, and a Saturday Special.
Stagecoach
Friday Night FlickAnother critically acclaimed Wild West ern.
Man of the West Sunday Safe BetAnother heist western, and a safe bet for a quiet night.
Young Guns II
Weeknight WatchAnother Wild West ern, though it's more of a weeknight watch.
Bandidas Weeknight WatchAnother heist comedy, though it's more of a weeknight watch.
Want more like this, picked just for you? Get my picks
Cast & crew
Directed by Elliot Silverstein
- Jane FondaCatherine 'Cat' Ballou
- Michael CallanClay Boone
- Lee MarvinKid Shelleen / Tim Strawn
- Dwayne HickmanJed
- Tom NardiniJackson Two-Bears
- John MarleyFrankie Ballou
- Nat King ColeShouter - Sunrise Kid
- Stubby KayeShouter - Sam the Shade
- Reginald DennySir Harry Percival
- Jay C. FlippenSheriff Cardigan