This was the first film I saw at the cinema too,the film came out in 1965 ,but I saw it in about 1973. It was in South Africa and back then our parents never came in with us they just dropped us off I was about 10 and my brother was about 7. We really loved it it was so hilarious ,I never thought of trying to rent it now ,but I would love to show it to my daughter and niece's. The cinema was a riot of unruly kids chucking sweets popcorn etc..what fun !! I remember coming home with a half chewed up toffee stuck in the back of my hair.. ahhh those were the days . Rent it for the kids they will love it ,I may watch it again too ..
23 Reviews
It doesn't take stripes or spots in front of your eyes to see what this film is trying to say.
mark.waltz22 November 2018
Warning: Spoilers
If you must keep animals in zoos, make sure that they have an environment that they are accustomed to, that they can comfortably live in and will not feel entrapped. Animal activists of today may not see what this 1960s family comedy was trying to push for, but even though there is still much controversy over zoos being in existence at all, it is the only way many people, including children who need education on the love of wildlife from a distance to see how they live. Certainly, wild animals were never meant to be pets, but for Jay north, the love of a friendly mountain lion opens his eyes and his heart to the need for animals to be free, certainly not to be penned up like they are in these teeny tiny cages, with only the kind-hearted zookeeper Andy Devine to look after them. When he is basically forced to turn over Sunshine, the sweet corn loving mountain lion, North is given the privilege of working alongside Devine on his afternoons free, and ultimately decides after witnessing their entrapment that they need to be free. The opportunity to take Devine's keys and free all of the animals leads to a frenzy in the small town he lives in, but with any luck it will open the eyes to the citizens of the town to see that something needs to be done about the archaic way the zoo animals are being kept in.
There is only actually one scene of a zebra in a kitchen, but it does make for a cute opening song that has the lyrics bouncing along in case the audience wanted to sing with it. The zebra actually isn't even the non-human star; that privilege belongs to Sunshine, the mountain lion, and it is clear that the trained wildcat truly enjoyed being petted and played with, and learning to live side-by-side among humans. Other wild cats including lions and tigers get into the action, with three teenage hoodlums harassing a tiger and later throwing cigars into the mouth of a hungry hippopotamus. The cruelty of these teenagers points out that animals in zoos do need to be watched constantly so that flawed human beings like these kids do not harass them in ways that can aggravate them and shorten their lifespan. Cute monkeys, a radio eating ostrich, a few elephants, some cuddly bears and other assorted mammals make appearances. Of the non mammal animals, there is one snake seen. The adorable bear riding a bicycle has to deal with a flat tire, and he looks like he's about to stomp on it like anybody else might if they were put in that predicament. It shows how much like human beings many different mammals are in temperament and emotions, but as long as we view them from a distance, we can share this world together in harmony.
Among the adult actors appearing are Jim Davis, Martin Milner and Dorothy Green, but it is Jay North, the Andy Hardy of his time, who is the whole show outside all the gorgeous other species shown. Children in general are going to be curious about wild animals that they could only see in books or in movies, so to have zoos where the animals are proven to be well taken care of is an important part of our society. However, this film also gives them the moral lesson that animals deserve the chance to be in their habitat, and if by chance they do associate with humans outside of looking at them as being preyed upon or as prey, they are to be treated with respect and reverence. For that reason, I consider this important film that may not be flawless, but is enjoyable for its comic moments as well as being thought-provoking for its promotion of animal rights, even in a 1960s style.
There is only actually one scene of a zebra in a kitchen, but it does make for a cute opening song that has the lyrics bouncing along in case the audience wanted to sing with it. The zebra actually isn't even the non-human star; that privilege belongs to Sunshine, the mountain lion, and it is clear that the trained wildcat truly enjoyed being petted and played with, and learning to live side-by-side among humans. Other wild cats including lions and tigers get into the action, with three teenage hoodlums harassing a tiger and later throwing cigars into the mouth of a hungry hippopotamus. The cruelty of these teenagers points out that animals in zoos do need to be watched constantly so that flawed human beings like these kids do not harass them in ways that can aggravate them and shorten their lifespan. Cute monkeys, a radio eating ostrich, a few elephants, some cuddly bears and other assorted mammals make appearances. Of the non mammal animals, there is one snake seen. The adorable bear riding a bicycle has to deal with a flat tire, and he looks like he's about to stomp on it like anybody else might if they were put in that predicament. It shows how much like human beings many different mammals are in temperament and emotions, but as long as we view them from a distance, we can share this world together in harmony.
Among the adult actors appearing are Jim Davis, Martin Milner and Dorothy Green, but it is Jay North, the Andy Hardy of his time, who is the whole show outside all the gorgeous other species shown. Children in general are going to be curious about wild animals that they could only see in books or in movies, so to have zoos where the animals are proven to be well taken care of is an important part of our society. However, this film also gives them the moral lesson that animals deserve the chance to be in their habitat, and if by chance they do associate with humans outside of looking at them as being preyed upon or as prey, they are to be treated with respect and reverence. For that reason, I consider this important film that may not be flawless, but is enjoyable for its comic moments as well as being thought-provoking for its promotion of animal rights, even in a 1960s style.
Mixture of animal horseplay and financial seriousness is uneven, at best
moonspinner551 December 2014
Ivan Tors, who brought "Flipper" to movie (and later television) screens, tried his luck again with this animal-based comedy-drama starring Jay North, from TV's "Dennis the Menace". Framed in flashback for no apparent reason (other than to pad the reedy-thin narrative with exposition), story concerns a domesticated Puma mountain lion and his unhappy preteen owner, who is forced to give his pet to the local zoo after his parents relocate them from the sticks to the city. Nothing in this movie feels accurate: the boy's father lost the family homestead because he was apparently hurt, but there seems nothing wrong with sturdy Jim Davis in the part; the zoo appears to be in mountain terrain (away from the town) and is described for us as "shabby" and "pitiful" when, actually, it seems well-staffed and very clean; also, the youngster is taken in quite readily by the friendly zookeepers as an assistant, yet he treats this job indifferently (while scheming to betray everybody and free the Puma). North, a competent child actor, isn't allowed much mischief beyond stealing Andy Devine's cage-keys, and is kept petulant and scowling. The extraneous shots of animals eating or pacing their cages are dropped in sloppily (much of the time, they're not even reacting to anything, so there's no humor in their presence), while the quasi-slapstick finale--with zoo animals finding their way into homes, as well as the local ice cream shop--lays a big egg. *1/2 from ****
Too tedious even for tiny tots
AlsExGal25 November 2021
It seems like this film was trying to duplicate Walt Disney's success and magic with animal and wildlife based films in which there is some interaction with humans. The problem is Walt Disney had Winston Hibler and MGM did not.
The tedium begins with the opening credits and opening song. In spite of that British invasion mid 60s rocking sound, it is repetitious and tiresome. So the story is about a kid (Jay North, whose acting career is on its last prepubescent legs) who is friends with a mountain lion, Sunshine, that lives near his ranch. But his dad's illness requires that he do less strenuous work and move to the city, so the family leaves the ranch and thus the mountain lion behind. Except they don't, because the kid hides the lion away in the back of their truck. What happens to Sunshine once the family gets to the destination comprises the rest of the film.
So it's no secret that at one point, the animals in the local zoo get loose. In fact that happens at the film's midpoint and is stretched out so long it is boring, and yet it is a great example of bad filmmaking. This movie was obviously made on a budget, and though the scenes of the mountain lion are well shot, there didn't appear to be enough money to shoot the other animals properly. So you have shots of animals in extreme close-up, other animals that are obviously stock footage, and a few animals that are humans in animal suits. You can practically see the zippers. The crowds of people fleeing the zoo animals are shown in sped up action. That hasn't been funny since the silent era and the Keystone Cops.
Then there is director Ivan Tors doing some shameless plugging for his other movie - "Clarence The Cross-Eyed Lion" by having Andy Devine say "I'll be a cross-eyed lion" without any context and also having actor Marshall Thompson make a cameo appearance. For legal procedure it is odd too. It is the first time I ever saw a defendant plead from the witness chair, and have a judge basically just go "Aw shucks!" when confronted by obvious perjury. Too boring for kids and too inane for adults, I'd simply avoid this one.
The tedium begins with the opening credits and opening song. In spite of that British invasion mid 60s rocking sound, it is repetitious and tiresome. So the story is about a kid (Jay North, whose acting career is on its last prepubescent legs) who is friends with a mountain lion, Sunshine, that lives near his ranch. But his dad's illness requires that he do less strenuous work and move to the city, so the family leaves the ranch and thus the mountain lion behind. Except they don't, because the kid hides the lion away in the back of their truck. What happens to Sunshine once the family gets to the destination comprises the rest of the film.
So it's no secret that at one point, the animals in the local zoo get loose. In fact that happens at the film's midpoint and is stretched out so long it is boring, and yet it is a great example of bad filmmaking. This movie was obviously made on a budget, and though the scenes of the mountain lion are well shot, there didn't appear to be enough money to shoot the other animals properly. So you have shots of animals in extreme close-up, other animals that are obviously stock footage, and a few animals that are humans in animal suits. You can practically see the zippers. The crowds of people fleeing the zoo animals are shown in sped up action. That hasn't been funny since the silent era and the Keystone Cops.
Then there is director Ivan Tors doing some shameless plugging for his other movie - "Clarence The Cross-Eyed Lion" by having Andy Devine say "I'll be a cross-eyed lion" without any context and also having actor Marshall Thompson make a cameo appearance. For legal procedure it is odd too. It is the first time I ever saw a defendant plead from the witness chair, and have a judge basically just go "Aw shucks!" when confronted by obvious perjury. Too boring for kids and too inane for adults, I'd simply avoid this one.
The first movie I ever saw
Sardony19 June 1999
This is the first movie I ever saw in a theatre (with my brother and cousins). I was about five or six years old, and I remember laughing 'til I cried. I went home and told Mom all about the funniest moments. Also, that huge screen up there, glowing bright and the people so big: it was all magical! Nowadays, I see this movie on the video store shelf and I refuse to rent it: apparently this movie is not very good, and I don't want the realization of its mediocrity to obliterate my magical childhood memory. We need to keep those memories intact: we retain them as little nuggets of magic, optimism and fun in our jaded adult hearts. If this wasn't YOUR first movie, rent it for your kids today (though I'd rather they see it on the big screen, of course!).
At least Laurel and Hardy are funny!
JohnHowardReid9 December 2006
Has some fleeting interest for cast trivia buffs: Robert Lowery looking rather handsome and Clark Gable-ish in his one scene as a big game hunter; Jon Lormer in his customary role as the judge; Percy Helton, Tris Coffin, Vince Barnett
Of course the film is actually designed to appeal mainly to those juveniles who love animal antics. Alas, for all its wealth of animalia, it's shot in an extremely pedestrian style. Not only is every jest and gag situation milked thoroughly dry, but the obvious plot is unraveled at the pace of a tortoise. In addition, Tors employs a relentlessly close-up after close-up, television method of shooting and even falls back on such jaded devices as speeded-up action. There's even a long storyboard introduction with the words of the hokey title song displayed for our edification.
Unflatteringly photographed Martin Miller makes a rather wet hero. The girls don't impress either, while Andy Devine looks far too old even for a sinecure job as head keeper at the zoo. His fans, however, will be glad to find he has a major role, not a fleeting part or a cameo. Young Jay North registers mildly and occasionally even manages to surmount the impossible script.
Production values are firmly on the el cheapo side. As well as a bit of stock footage, Tors even treats us to a generous excerpt of Oliver Hardy and Stan Laurel in their famous encounter with Lupe Velez in "Hollywood Party". This turns out to be the funniest scene in the whole movie!
Of course the film is actually designed to appeal mainly to those juveniles who love animal antics. Alas, for all its wealth of animalia, it's shot in an extremely pedestrian style. Not only is every jest and gag situation milked thoroughly dry, but the obvious plot is unraveled at the pace of a tortoise. In addition, Tors employs a relentlessly close-up after close-up, television method of shooting and even falls back on such jaded devices as speeded-up action. There's even a long storyboard introduction with the words of the hokey title song displayed for our edification.
Unflatteringly photographed Martin Miller makes a rather wet hero. The girls don't impress either, while Andy Devine looks far too old even for a sinecure job as head keeper at the zoo. His fans, however, will be glad to find he has a major role, not a fleeting part or a cameo. Young Jay North registers mildly and occasionally even manages to surmount the impossible script.
Production values are firmly on the el cheapo side. As well as a bit of stock footage, Tors even treats us to a generous excerpt of Oliver Hardy and Stan Laurel in their famous encounter with Lupe Velez in "Hollywood Party". This turns out to be the funniest scene in the whole movie!
Ok but out of date & silly
joclmct29 January 2021
This is not a good movie but the central idea of treating animals humanely is ok for a movie from the 60s. It wasn't then & still isn't a common subject for a movie. I do not know how well the caged animals were treated during filming. I hope it was w/ great care & they were confined for a very limited time. But it's important to know awful zoos, like the once shown in the movie, we're common & sadly still exist in the world today. I have mixed feelings about zoos. No wild animal should be confined to a zoo but then again, zoos have also saved some animals from extinction, caused by man. If you can look beyond the silliness and see the beauty of these animals, I sort of recommend it. Children would be the best audience but a parent or guardian should be there to point out what's not acceptable in human behavior, how all animals must be treated humanely & wild animals should never be pets. They are not to be poached or hunted for any reason, especially for trophies. So it's a so-so recommendation w/ reservations.
Really bizarre
pazuzu-121 November 2009
Was really taken aback by the number of people who recall it as their first movie.However weird and made up it may sound,it was one of my first movies as well.My friends had it on home video and I remember laughing hard and having a really good "childhood" time with my buddies.The memories are very faint,but there was some sequence where they show a big key or something.And its a miracle that I recall the name!Seeing the rating I guess the movie must be pretty crappy,but I would still buy the movie,even though my friends back then are only memories now.I have to see the movie now to make a more critical comment,but for now I just want to reminisce the memories...
Pretty bad, but....
Panamint18 December 2010
Warning: Spoilers
This very lousy movie does have two redeeming features: Martin Milner gives a sincere performance and anchors the whole thing. Without him, the film wouldn't even hold together. Also, any film from those days with the wonderful Andy Devine should be watched by kids and adults alike because he is an adorable delight.
However, the ridiculous totally overwhelms the redeeming qualities for me. For example, right at the start you have a mountain lion supposedly liking corn on the cob. It is never shown actually eating any, only playing with it. This is because it cannot and would not eat that, as its body requires red meat to survive.
Highly dangerous animals are shown on the streets being treated in a cavalier manner by the public. These animals are frightening and some would kill the public if disturbed or provoked. Only the bad old police seem to take them seriously. Of course, the fact that each policeman has sworn an oath to protect the public never gets any consideration.
Jay North's character appears at times just plain crazy. Watch carefully, you will see that this character is as one-dimensional as any ever written for the screen. Just the look on North's face is at times wacko as he commits numerous irrational acts. Its almost as if his character, rather than being the star, is solely there to do certain specific things over and over throughout the movie. He's not allowed to be a kid, never playing or going to school. Just a relentless tool of the script. Certainly children viewing this might bond with the animals, but I don't see how they could possibly bond at all with the non-kid character portrayed by North. Too bad for Jay North, its not his fault.
Despite the nice filming in the beautiful California sunshine, this is very badly written and conceived. If you were expecting something like "Flipper" forget it- that kind of entertainment is not what this relentless movie is about.
However, the ridiculous totally overwhelms the redeeming qualities for me. For example, right at the start you have a mountain lion supposedly liking corn on the cob. It is never shown actually eating any, only playing with it. This is because it cannot and would not eat that, as its body requires red meat to survive.
Highly dangerous animals are shown on the streets being treated in a cavalier manner by the public. These animals are frightening and some would kill the public if disturbed or provoked. Only the bad old police seem to take them seriously. Of course, the fact that each policeman has sworn an oath to protect the public never gets any consideration.
Jay North's character appears at times just plain crazy. Watch carefully, you will see that this character is as one-dimensional as any ever written for the screen. Just the look on North's face is at times wacko as he commits numerous irrational acts. Its almost as if his character, rather than being the star, is solely there to do certain specific things over and over throughout the movie. He's not allowed to be a kid, never playing or going to school. Just a relentless tool of the script. Certainly children viewing this might bond with the animals, but I don't see how they could possibly bond at all with the non-kid character portrayed by North. Too bad for Jay North, its not his fault.
Despite the nice filming in the beautiful California sunshine, this is very badly written and conceived. If you were expecting something like "Flipper" forget it- that kind of entertainment is not what this relentless movie is about.
Wacky Disney nature film nonsense (no mauling)
a_chinn27 January 2018
Enjoyably silly Disney nature film has a boy forced to put his pet puma in the zoo, who then steals the zoo keeper's key to free all of the animals. So, no, Disney did not exactly make "Day of the Animals" or a nature-gone-wild horror film, but my kids found the silly animal antics pretty hilarious, even if in real-life there would would have been a lot more mauling. My kids also did not notice that a teenage Jay North is still as bad of an actor as he was on TV as Dennis the Menace. In the plus column for the film, the above mentioned zookeeper is played by the great Andy Devine. Nothing classic here, but it mostly held my interest and you could probably do worse.
Jay North, after Dennis, makes a nice family film, for animal lovers, with a few minor issues
inkblot118 February 2012
Chris (Jay North) lives on a California ranch with his parents and two pets, a German Shepherd dog and a tamed mountain lion, Sunshine. However, one morning, his parents tell him that they are moving to the city, they can't turn a profit on the ranch. Talk about disappointment! Mostly, Chris is worried about Sunshine, who, unlike other big cats, doesn't know survival techniques. So, Chris sneaks him onto the trailer and takes him to their new home in Southern California. Almost immediately, Sunshine is discovered and taken to the local zoo, over Chris' zealous objections. When the young boy goes to visit, he sees the zoo is horridly small and the animals' cages are too confining. One of the nice zookeepers (Andy Devine) lets Chris work at the zoo, part time. Another zookeeper (Martin Milner) also has a caring heart and knows the zoo needs improvements but he can't convince the owners to put forth the dollars. Therefore, one day, Chris lets the animals loose, after a feeding, to make a point. Soon, zebras, chimps, a tiger, a lion, an ostrich and other animals are walking around town. Only the head zookeeper keeps the police from terminating the animals, asking for time to tranquilize the creatures and take them back. But, as the hours go by, will the zoo animals be saved and will Chris' misguided effort to improve the zoo bring results? This is a very nice family film, nearly unknown, but with a great cast of character actros and, naturally, a slightly older version of Dennis the Menace. North is enjoyable, as is the entire cast. Also wonderful are the animals, who put on a show to set everyone to knee-slapping fun. Just watch a chimp imitate a man watching Laurel and Hardy on television and you will be laughing, too. But, alas, there are a couple of problems. First, some evil boys throw lit cigars to the hippos, causing one to die. Nasty and unnecessary. Also, no one, no matter what the goal, should release wild and dangerous animals on the public. Its not a prank, so you and yours should discuss this during and after a watch. But, all in all, most folks of all ages will like this one and happily sing the catchy title song, too.
They're Still Wild Animals
Grendel195029 January 2021
Warning: Spoilers
Must have been made by people who are all heart and no mind. Martin Milner actually tries to make the case that a recently fed carnivore is no danger to the public until he gets hungry again, then says he has trained riflemen with tranquilizer guns who can render all the escaped animals harmless. Milner and Andy Devine give it a good try, and the underlying idea is heartwarming, but escaped wild animals are still highly dangerous, making the events ridiculous. Skip this and go hug your puppy.
Funny family fare
SanDiego13 August 2000
Ivan Tors (creator of TV's "Seahunt," "Flipper," Gentle Ben," and "Daktari") produced and directed this effective family comedy. With a low budget, creative editing, a cast that included "Dennis the Menace's" Jay North and "Adam 12's" Martin Milner, and a Hollywood Animal Farm assortment of animals, Ivan Tors is able to create slap stick and a message out of a story about a boy (Jay North) and his pet cougar. When the boy's family must move to the city, his pet cougar is placed in the city zoo, a run-down out-dated collection of cages maintained by zookeeper Chill Wills and Zoo Vet Martin Milner. Soon North ends up working for the zoo, but unhappy with the way the animals are caged up, releases the animals onto the city. The animals really aren't very dangerous and cause a lot of mischief in people's backyards, houses, and shops. Watch for Marshall Thompson ("Daktari," "Clarence the Cross-Eyed Lion") in a cameo.
Ivan the Lion Tamer
wes-connors2 December 2014
Gravel-voiced zoo-keeper Andy Devine (as Branch Hawksbill) tells the heart-warming tale of young Jay North (as Christopher "Chris" Carlyle) and his mountain lion. "Sunshine" is an outside pet, which works out well because young North lives with his mom and dad on a farm. But that's about to change. After his father suffers an unseen mishap, the family must move to the city. North secretly brings the lion along. Sunshine startles the neighbors and must be sent to live at the local zoo. North is devastated. He is allowed in Sunshine's cage and gets the distressed feline to eat. A natural with animals, North gets a summer job as junior zoo keeper. He feels his pet and the other animals are in something like a "jail" and longs to set them free...
"Zebra in the Kitchen" is confusingly titled. You're expecting it to be about a pet zebra. That animal is barely seen. The title is just the first line of song played over the opening credits, written by Hal Hopper (North's uncle and a show business veteran) and sung by The Standells...
North is freshly free of his series "Dennis the Menace". He's got a different shade of hair color and successful sheds many of the TV character's quirky mannerisms. Producer-director Ivan Tors did much better with this fare on TV, with animal and kid adventure shows. So did earnest zoo manager Martin Milner (as Del Hartwood), herein between "Route 66" and "Adam-12". Best of the cameos is seeing Eddie Quillan enjoy watching Laurel and Hardy on TV, in the old film "Hollywood Party" (1934). Mr. Quillan was in that original movie, and his "I've Had My Moments" song and dance upstaged most, if not all, of his co-stars.
***** Zebra in the Kitchen (6/65) Ivan Tors ~ Jay North, Andy Devine, Martin Milner, Jim Davis
"Zebra in the Kitchen" is confusingly titled. You're expecting it to be about a pet zebra. That animal is barely seen. The title is just the first line of song played over the opening credits, written by Hal Hopper (North's uncle and a show business veteran) and sung by The Standells...
North is freshly free of his series "Dennis the Menace". He's got a different shade of hair color and successful sheds many of the TV character's quirky mannerisms. Producer-director Ivan Tors did much better with this fare on TV, with animal and kid adventure shows. So did earnest zoo manager Martin Milner (as Del Hartwood), herein between "Route 66" and "Adam-12". Best of the cameos is seeing Eddie Quillan enjoy watching Laurel and Hardy on TV, in the old film "Hollywood Party" (1934). Mr. Quillan was in that original movie, and his "I've Had My Moments" song and dance upstaged most, if not all, of his co-stars.
***** Zebra in the Kitchen (6/65) Ivan Tors ~ Jay North, Andy Devine, Martin Milner, Jim Davis
Dated and dull
pmtelefon30 January 2021
I enjoy a good old fashioned corny movies. They can be a lot of fun. Unfortunately, "Zebra in the Kitchen" is just too dull to be fun. It also lays it on a little thick with the speechifying. The animal stuff isn't that good. It wasn't cute or funny. It just kind of lays there. I can't see myself paying "Zebra in the Kitchen" another visit.
Dennis Is Quite The Menace
bkoganbing18 December 2010
Zebra In The Kitchen combines the talents of two icons of children's television, Ivan Tors who produced Flipper and Jay North who had finally grown out of playing Dennis The Menace. What they came up with is a film that only kids could possibly appreciate despite a wonderful group of comic character actors in small roles.
Young Jay North is not happy over his parents decision to sell the family farm and move to the city. Father Jim Davis was injured and can't work the farm as he used to. But this means that North will have to give up a mountain lion that he has had as a pet since it was a cub.
That's the dangers of taking a pet from the wild. One of two things will happen, either it will revert to its natural ways and turn on the owner or if you leave the animal it won't function in the wild. That problem was best dealt with in a far better film, The Yearling. The mountain lion stows away in the family truck. And then breaks loose and while it hurts no one, the city folks are real scared as well they should be.
Enter the management at the city zoo which is Martin Milner, Joyce Meadows and Andy Devine. They offer to take the mountain lion and keep him at the zoo. But neither North or the mountain lion are real happy with that. What to do, but North decides no animals should be kept and he gets Devine's keys and opens all the cages. Chaos descends on the city as the animals are running wild.
Instead of what does happen in real life North would have gotten a juvenile record and Devine would have been canned if not more. I think even the kids watching above a certain age would know that.
Oddly enough almost 30 years before Zebra In The Kitchen, Devine also played a zoo-keeper in the Bing Crosby classic Dr. Rhythm and one of high points of that film is an inebriated Devine letting loose the animals in his charge. Fortunately Bing saved him in the nick of time from letting loose the big cats which do get out here.
A really horrible premise and bad choices ruin from the start what Ivan Tors thought was a good idea for a family film.
Young Jay North is not happy over his parents decision to sell the family farm and move to the city. Father Jim Davis was injured and can't work the farm as he used to. But this means that North will have to give up a mountain lion that he has had as a pet since it was a cub.
That's the dangers of taking a pet from the wild. One of two things will happen, either it will revert to its natural ways and turn on the owner or if you leave the animal it won't function in the wild. That problem was best dealt with in a far better film, The Yearling. The mountain lion stows away in the family truck. And then breaks loose and while it hurts no one, the city folks are real scared as well they should be.
Enter the management at the city zoo which is Martin Milner, Joyce Meadows and Andy Devine. They offer to take the mountain lion and keep him at the zoo. But neither North or the mountain lion are real happy with that. What to do, but North decides no animals should be kept and he gets Devine's keys and opens all the cages. Chaos descends on the city as the animals are running wild.
Instead of what does happen in real life North would have gotten a juvenile record and Devine would have been canned if not more. I think even the kids watching above a certain age would know that.
Oddly enough almost 30 years before Zebra In The Kitchen, Devine also played a zoo-keeper in the Bing Crosby classic Dr. Rhythm and one of high points of that film is an inebriated Devine letting loose the animals in his charge. Fortunately Bing saved him in the nick of time from letting loose the big cats which do get out here.
A really horrible premise and bad choices ruin from the start what Ivan Tors thought was a good idea for a family film.
Liked it as a kid, found it dumb as an adult
actjoe-8010713 November 2023
Warning: Spoilers
I first saw this movie as part of the TV show "Off to See the Wizard" (1967), a competitor to "The Wonderful World of Color" (early title for "The Wonderful World of Disney"). Like the Disney show, "Wizard" had family films and specials every week, "hosted" by animated characters from Oz. This particular two-parter entertained me as a kid, but when I saw it again as an adult (when it was broadcast on The Disney Channel), I realized how lame it was (although kids may still enjoy it).
Too many elements of the show defy logic. The family drives an entire day with their son Chris (Jay North) in the back of the pickup, apparently not stopping once because if they did they would surely discover the pet cougar that Chris hid in the truck bed. And despite that distance, when the father surmises that Chris will take Sunshine (the cougar) back to their previous home, he immediately calls a former neighbor to watch for the boy.
At least twice the movie reuses footage of elephants chasing townsfolk down the street -- the film speeded up, of course! The camera lingers far too long on monkeys and chimps playing in a toy store, and on another chimp that watches a Laurel and Hardy scene with an overacting man sitting next to it, 'til the man finally spots the chimp and we're treated to the weak payoff of the man simply running away. And the scenes at the zoo -- frequently as voiceover to a glut of irrelevant animal closeups -- are accompanied by a soundtrack of background animal calls, looped so often that I was able to predict each sound just before it announced itself!
We're also led to believe that a man sitting in a bathtub reading a magazine will fail to notice the large elephant trunk noisily sucking the tub dry, that an obvious man-in-a-bear-costume riding a bike is supposed to be the same genuine bear we see in closeups, that a boa constrictor can make its way into a news studio and wrap around a chandelier, and that a ceramic panther and a snapshot of a tiger are supposed to be in-the-moment threats.
And as mentioned by others in these reviews, what judge would release a zookeeper who perjures on the witness stand, or would impose a family-friendly "sentence" on a boy who freed all the zoo animals and terrorized the whole town?
Even the dramatic climax rings false, when the same boy -- who argued earlier that Sunshine wouldn't hurt anyone -- now warns off Dr. Hartwood (Martin Milner) because "Sunshine might kill you". (I will admit that I do believe the fanciful plot device in which a snarling cat and dog could actually be calmed by spraying whipped cream in their faces, though why Hartwood would hide the spray can from the animals using brown paper is a mystery.)
If you have kids who never tire of seeing animal footage and laughing at silliness, show them this film. Just be prepared to roll your eyes if you watch with them.
Too many elements of the show defy logic. The family drives an entire day with their son Chris (Jay North) in the back of the pickup, apparently not stopping once because if they did they would surely discover the pet cougar that Chris hid in the truck bed. And despite that distance, when the father surmises that Chris will take Sunshine (the cougar) back to their previous home, he immediately calls a former neighbor to watch for the boy.
At least twice the movie reuses footage of elephants chasing townsfolk down the street -- the film speeded up, of course! The camera lingers far too long on monkeys and chimps playing in a toy store, and on another chimp that watches a Laurel and Hardy scene with an overacting man sitting next to it, 'til the man finally spots the chimp and we're treated to the weak payoff of the man simply running away. And the scenes at the zoo -- frequently as voiceover to a glut of irrelevant animal closeups -- are accompanied by a soundtrack of background animal calls, looped so often that I was able to predict each sound just before it announced itself!
We're also led to believe that a man sitting in a bathtub reading a magazine will fail to notice the large elephant trunk noisily sucking the tub dry, that an obvious man-in-a-bear-costume riding a bike is supposed to be the same genuine bear we see in closeups, that a boa constrictor can make its way into a news studio and wrap around a chandelier, and that a ceramic panther and a snapshot of a tiger are supposed to be in-the-moment threats.
And as mentioned by others in these reviews, what judge would release a zookeeper who perjures on the witness stand, or would impose a family-friendly "sentence" on a boy who freed all the zoo animals and terrorized the whole town?
Even the dramatic climax rings false, when the same boy -- who argued earlier that Sunshine wouldn't hurt anyone -- now warns off Dr. Hartwood (Martin Milner) because "Sunshine might kill you". (I will admit that I do believe the fanciful plot device in which a snarling cat and dog could actually be calmed by spraying whipped cream in their faces, though why Hartwood would hide the spray can from the animals using brown paper is a mystery.)
If you have kids who never tire of seeing animal footage and laughing at silliness, show them this film. Just be prepared to roll your eyes if you watch with them.
issues with animals
SnoopyStyle28 November 2021
A boy is struggling to give his bear cub to the city zoo. Zoo manager Branch Hawksbill tells him about another boy who had to donate his mountain lion. Chris Carlyle had raised the lion named Sunshine from a cub. When his family moves to the city, he has to find a new place for his lion to live.
The problem with this is making people think that wild animals can be domesticated. The doctor is too preachy. While some of the animals are fun, predators are not supposed to be family friendly. Widespread panic is a very reasonable response. Having a lion onto of the cop car is supposed to be funny. It's funny until one truly thinks about it. Then there is the last section. It seems unnecessary. There are some nagging issues which this family film shouldn't have.
The problem with this is making people think that wild animals can be domesticated. The doctor is too preachy. While some of the animals are fun, predators are not supposed to be family friendly. Widespread panic is a very reasonable response. Having a lion onto of the cop car is supposed to be funny. It's funny until one truly thinks about it. Then there is the last section. It seems unnecessary. There are some nagging issues which this family film shouldn't have.
Well Acted Film With A Heart
Kind6712 January 2018
I enjoyed this film very much. Jay North does a fine job as a child who has raised a mountain lion from birth but because he has to move with this family to the city, the mountain lion has to be put in a zoo that is poorly funded and with tiny cages. As a result, Jay North's character frees all the animals there 45 minutes into the film. The middle part then is more comedic as the animals enjoy their time away from the cages. Longtime character actor Andy Levine and Martin Milner are wonderful in their roles as the zoo caretaker and zoo director, respectively. Now zoos are more animal-friendly but when this film was made, many zoos were like jails with cramped cages and the rights of animals was an afterthought in zoos. This film enlightens the public in that regard and does so in an entertaining and heartfelt way.
One of my first films, too
silverrain-425 October 2006
How bizarre!
This was one of the first films I recall seeing as well.
And I do remember how much I laughed. Like another commenter here, I do not wish to see it again as I just know it will spoil the memory for me. And like the same commenter, I too was in South Africa at the time and was only about 6 or 7 years old. However, as I now have a six-month old daughter of my own, I will try to get it for her to see, and perhaps she too will laugh as much as I did all those years ago.
Funny how we remember such simple things. I'm sure there are many, many movies that are far better, but I just remember this one in particular. Perhaps it was because my mother was in the hospital at the time giving birth to my baby (35 now) brother and I watched this to keep me occupied.
If you have youngsters yourself, rent it for them if you can. They'll love it!
This was one of the first films I recall seeing as well.
And I do remember how much I laughed. Like another commenter here, I do not wish to see it again as I just know it will spoil the memory for me. And like the same commenter, I too was in South Africa at the time and was only about 6 or 7 years old. However, as I now have a six-month old daughter of my own, I will try to get it for her to see, and perhaps she too will laugh as much as I did all those years ago.
Funny how we remember such simple things. I'm sure there are many, many movies that are far better, but I just remember this one in particular. Perhaps it was because my mother was in the hospital at the time giving birth to my baby (35 now) brother and I watched this to keep me occupied.
If you have youngsters yourself, rent it for them if you can. They'll love it!
Very enjoyable
Moax42927 July 2020
Warning: Spoilers
I saw this movie for the very first time on Vudu last night. In 1965, I was only 3 years old, and my folks didn't think my younger sister and I were ready to go to any movies yet.
I thought "Zebra in the Kitchen" was very enjoyable. Sure, the plot was rather simple, but there were some funny moments, such as when the ostrich swallowed the transistor radio and changed stations every time he hiccuped, the citizens of the city ran from the animals in fast motion, and when a young boy thanks his parents for the pony they bought him, which turns out to be the zebra in the kitchen (hence the film's title).
I also enjoyed this film because it took me back to a simpler time in my life, when all I had to worry about was missing cartoons on Saturday mornings, going to bed early, or punishment. And it seemed life in the mid-60's was also simpler (before all the riots that were to come, etc.). Sometimes I think my folks (may they rest in peace) had it good back then also. (I *do* remember when MGM rereleased "Zebra in the Kitchen" in 1971 as part of their "Children's Matinees" series. I had begged and pleaded with my mom to have her take me and my younger sister to see the film, but she couldn't, especially since we only had one car then and my dad was very skittish about my mom wanting to borrow the car for unimportant reasons.)
Also being an avid oldies buff, I sometimes see the 45 of the theme song by the Standells on Ebay or other record-related sites (I believe it *didn't* chart on Billboard's Hot 100). Sundazed Music rereleased the 45 of "Zebra in the Kitchen" as an item for Record Store Day in the mid-2010's. Now that I own a fully-restored Seeburg Sunstar jukebox, I'll eventually seek a copy of that 45. I think that would sound rather cool on the jukebox.
They certainly *don't* make films like this anymore. "Zebra in the Kitchen" is pure family escapism at its best. I'll give it an 8.
(And for the record, the very first movie I ever remember seeing in a theater was Walt Disney's "The Jungle Book." That was in late 1967 and I was only 5 then.)
I thought "Zebra in the Kitchen" was very enjoyable. Sure, the plot was rather simple, but there were some funny moments, such as when the ostrich swallowed the transistor radio and changed stations every time he hiccuped, the citizens of the city ran from the animals in fast motion, and when a young boy thanks his parents for the pony they bought him, which turns out to be the zebra in the kitchen (hence the film's title).
I also enjoyed this film because it took me back to a simpler time in my life, when all I had to worry about was missing cartoons on Saturday mornings, going to bed early, or punishment. And it seemed life in the mid-60's was also simpler (before all the riots that were to come, etc.). Sometimes I think my folks (may they rest in peace) had it good back then also. (I *do* remember when MGM rereleased "Zebra in the Kitchen" in 1971 as part of their "Children's Matinees" series. I had begged and pleaded with my mom to have her take me and my younger sister to see the film, but she couldn't, especially since we only had one car then and my dad was very skittish about my mom wanting to borrow the car for unimportant reasons.)
Also being an avid oldies buff, I sometimes see the 45 of the theme song by the Standells on Ebay or other record-related sites (I believe it *didn't* chart on Billboard's Hot 100). Sundazed Music rereleased the 45 of "Zebra in the Kitchen" as an item for Record Store Day in the mid-2010's. Now that I own a fully-restored Seeburg Sunstar jukebox, I'll eventually seek a copy of that 45. I think that would sound rather cool on the jukebox.
They certainly *don't* make films like this anymore. "Zebra in the Kitchen" is pure family escapism at its best. I'll give it an 8.
(And for the record, the very first movie I ever remember seeing in a theater was Walt Disney's "The Jungle Book." That was in late 1967 and I was only 5 then.)
My first movie ever (at a drive in)
kevinomreb19 July 2008
This was my first movie EVER. I was 6 and saw it at the Starlite Drive-In in Bantam, OH. I remember falling asleep halfway through and my parents drove home before the movie ended. I too have absolutely no idea if it was a good movie or what it was about as I was too young and obviously too sleepy! To show you what little I remembered about it, I thought it was another of the 1960's Dean Jones movies (of course I saw all of them as well, especially The Love Bug). I see that it's in DVD form now and I too am a bit scared to buy it, fearing that my first movie experience was watching a dud! But for the right price, I might just take the risk!
A family movie inappropriate for kids, for several reasons
Wizard-83 January 2011
Warning: Spoilers
"Zebra In The Kitchen" may look at first glance to be a wholesome family movie, seeing that it was made by Ivan Tors of "Flipper" fame, and that it was made in the innocent '60s, long before humor like breaking wind becoming popular. Yet when you examine it closely, it has some disturbing messages that may give kids the wrong ideas. It has the idea that it's okay that truly wild animals like cougars should be domesticated and kept around the house. The movie also feels that it's okay for the child protagonist to free all the animals kept in a zoo and let them run riot in the adjoining town. And get this - the kid doesn't really get punished for this in the end! Besides disturbing messages like this, we get stupid characters and situations, like a family driving 800 miles between sunup and sunset. And I think even kids will find the child protagonist very annoying with his constant whining about his cougar named "Sunshine" (!) Only for viewers who want to see animals sprayed with whipped cream.
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