That Darn Cat (1997)

A maid is kidnapped and scratches a message onto D.C. the cat's collar and when his owner Patti discovers this, she plays amateur detective with the help of D.C. to try to find the culprits.

Director:

Bob Spiers

Writers:

Gordon Gordon (novel) (as The Gordons), Mildred Gordon (novel) (as The Gordons)

Stars:

Christina Ricci, Doug E. Doug, Dean Jones

2 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Christina Ricci	...	Patti
Doug E. Doug	...	Agent Zeke Kelso
Dean Jones	...	Mr. Flint
George Dzundza	...	Boetticher
Peter Boyle	...	Pa
Michael McKean	...	Peter Randall
Bess Armstrong	...	Judy Randall
Dyan Cannon	...	Mrs. Flint
John Ratzenberger	...	Dusty
Megan Cavanagh	...	Lu
Estelle Parsons	...	Old Lady McCracken
Rebecca Schull	...	Ma
Thomas F. Wilson	...	Melvin (as Tom Wilson)
Brian Haley	...	Marvin
Mark Christopher Lawrence	...	Rollo

Storyline

In a small Massachusetts town, two bumbling criminals mistakenly kidnap a maid, thinking her to be the wife of a prominent businessman. D.C., short for Darn Cat, is an alley cat who, while looking for his nightly snack, stumbles upon the kidnap victim, bound and gagged in a shed. The kidnap victim scratches a plea for help on the back of her wristwatch and puts it around the cat's neck. Patti finds the watch and links it to the missing maid. Playing amateur detective, she enlists the aid of an FBI agent, Zeke, who has been assigned to the case. Patti and Zeke follow D.C. through tight openings to track down the captive.

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Plot Keywords:

cigar smoking | revenge | tire iron | knocked out | exploding gasoline station | 

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Taglines:

He's the one who's got the Clue

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Genres:

Action | Comedy | Crime | Family | Mystery

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG for mild thematic elements

Did You Know?

Trivia

This film was Christina Ricci's only appearance in any Disney cinematic production. The original 1960s film was the final appearance in Disney films for actress Hayley Mills.

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Goofs

The headlights during the chase.

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Quotes

Agent Zeke Kelso: Wherever the informant leads, it is our responsibility to follow him in a fluid moving perimeter.

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Connections

Featured in Nostalgia Critic: That Darn Cat (1997) (2019)

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Soundtracks

Respect
Written by Otis Redding
Performed by Aretha Franklin
Courtesy of Atlantic Recording Corp.
By Arrangement with Warner Special Products

User Reviews

This is far from Spielberg's class

I guess there are two ways to make a movie with kids as the intended audience. You can either say to yourself a) "Let's make a movie that kids today will love!" or b) "Let's make a movie that I would have loved when I was a kid!" The second approach explains why Steven Spielberg often make movies that appeal to a younger audience. Prime examples are E.T., The Goonies or Indiana Jones. That Darn Cat is an example of the first approach. You see these flat, unbelievable characters saying things that is supposed to be funny but isn't. The plot itself is enough for a ten minute short, but instead it goes on and on. And although I'm not a kid, I don't quite understand what in this movie is supposed to be fun for kids? The clumsy cops chased by a dog, the old lady with a tweety bird or Christina Ricci's sarcastic oneliners? One actor showed a spark of talent with his very acrobatic humour: Doug E. Doug playing the FBI agent.

Details

Official Sites:

Official site

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

14 February 1997 (USA)

Also Known As:

That Darn Cat

Filming Locations:

Mc Cormick, South Carolina, USA

Box Office

Opening Weekend USA:

$6,424,617, 17 February 1997

Gross USA:

$18,301,610

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$18,301,610

Company Credits

Production Co:

Walt Disney Pictures, Robert Simonds Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

89 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1