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IMDbPro

Cats Don't Dance

  • 1997
  • G
  • 1h 15m
IMDb RATING
6.9/10
9.1K
YOUR RATING
Cats Don't Dance (1997)
Danny, an ambitious singing and dancing cat, goes to Hollywood and overcomes several obstacles to fulfill his dream of becoming a movie star.
Play trailer1:52
1 Video
99+ Photos
Animal AdventureFarceHand-Drawn AnimationParodySlapstickAnimationComedyFamilyFantasyMusical

Danny, an ambitious singing and dancing cat, goes to Hollywood and overcomes several obstacles to fulfill his dream of becoming a movie star.Danny, an ambitious singing and dancing cat, goes to Hollywood and overcomes several obstacles to fulfill his dream of becoming a movie star.Danny, an ambitious singing and dancing cat, goes to Hollywood and overcomes several obstacles to fulfill his dream of becoming a movie star.

  • Director
    • Mark Dindal
  • Writers
    • Bobs Gannaway
    • Cliff Ruby
    • Elana Lesser
  • Stars
    • Scott Bakula
    • Jasmine Guy
    • Natalie Cole
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    6.9/10
    9.1K
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Mark Dindal
    • Writers
      • Bobs Gannaway
      • Cliff Ruby
      • Elana Lesser
    • Stars
      • Scott Bakula
      • Jasmine Guy
      • Natalie Cole
    • 64User reviews
    • 16Critic reviews
    • 62Metascore
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 3 wins & 13 nominations total

    Videos1

    Trailer
    Trailer 1:52
    Trailer

    Photos102

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    + 96
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    Top Cast35

    Edit
    Scott Bakula
    Scott Bakula
    • Danny
    • (voice)
    Jasmine Guy
    Jasmine Guy
    • Sawyer
    • (voice)
    Natalie Cole
    Natalie Cole
    • Sawyer
    • (singing voice)
    Ashley Peldon
    Ashley Peldon
    • Darla Dimple
    • (voice)
    Lindsay Ridgeway
    Lindsay Ridgeway
    • Darla Dimple
    • (singing voice)
    Kathy Najimy
    Kathy Najimy
    • Tillie Hippo
    • (voice)
    John Rhys-Davies
    John Rhys-Davies
    • Woolie Mammoth
    • (voice)
    George Kennedy
    George Kennedy
    • L.B. Mammoth
    • (voice)
    Rene Auberjonois
    Rene Auberjonois
    • Flanigan
    • (voice)
    Betty Lou Gerson
    Betty Lou Gerson
    • Frances
    • (voice)
    Hal Holbrook
    Hal Holbrook
    • Cranston
    • (voice)
    Matthew Herried
    • Pudge the Penguin
    • (voice)
    Don Knotts
    Don Knotts
    • T.W. Turtle
    • (voice)
    Rick Logan
    • T. W. Turtle
    • (singing voice)
    Frank Welker
    Frank Welker
    • Farley Wink
    • (voice)
    David Johansen
    David Johansen
    • Bus Driver
    • (voice)
    Mark Dindal
    Mark Dindal
    • Max
    • (voice)
    Vanessa Theme Ament
    • Additional Voices
    • Director
      • Mark Dindal
    • Writers
      • Bobs Gannaway
      • Cliff Ruby
      • Elana Lesser
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews64

    6.99.1K
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    Featured reviews

    7EmperorNortonII

    A Cartoon Animal Tribute To Golden Age Hollywood

    "Cats Don't Dance" is a delightful animated feature in the style of a 1930's musical comedy. The main character, Danny (voiced by Scott Bakula), is a high-spirited cat from Kokomo, Indiana who goes to Hollywood with dreams of becoming a movie star. But there he finds limited roles available for animals. The story is a sly message about discrimination. The imagery is bright and the music is catchy. The villainess is a wonderful Darla Dimple, a Shirley Temple parody of a child star with a dark side. Together with her monstrous manservant Max, they provide many laughs. Other funny animals include Tilly the Hippo (voiced by Kathy Najimy) and T.W. the Turtle (voiced by Don Knotts). So "Cats Don't Dance" is an enjoyable movie for everyone!
    einsteins_stein

    Good fun if you give it a chance

    This is a great movie for both kids and adults! I have 3 boys, ages 4, 9 and 14, and they ALL like the film, especially the songs. The strange thing is that my boys generally think musical numbers are girl-stuff. Well, girl-stuff or not, they get into this flic, and I sometimes catch them singing along with the catchy tunes.

    Scott Bakula is a real surprise as Danny, the talented singing and dancing cat from Kokomo, Indiana, who comes to Hollywood with stars in his eyes, and ignites the fading dreams of the jaded animals who work as extras while humans get all the good scenes.

    The principal characters are well cast and easy to like, except for Darla and Max, whom you'll love to hate! BTW - I don't know the name of the young woman who did the singing voice for Darla, but she has a set of pipes that will absolutely knock you on your seat. Big And Loud!

    Take a look at this movie with an open mind and a young heart. You'll be glad you gave it a chance!
    9plummer-1

    My entire family loves this colorful, clever, comedic, cartoon!

    "Cats Don't Dance" is an excellent animated film, and if you asked my three kids, they'd tell you it's one of their favorite movies ever! "Cats Don't Dance" can be enjoyed whether you're age 4 (close to my youngest child) or age 40 (close to me). The movie uses bright and crisp colors which make you pay attention---and you'll have to! "Cats" moves at a rapid pace. I'm always apprehensive when I hear about animated musicals because the songs usually stink. However, I think the songs and musical sequences in "Cats" are better than those in most Disney hit movies. [Darla Dimples's performance singing "Big And Loud" is an animated classic.] My kids sing "Cats" songs just for fun. They've seen the movie (by their own request) almost 20 times. By the way, I knew Natalie Cole was a good singer, but who knew that Scott Bakula was too? "Cats Don't Dance" has great dialogue (Danny and Sawyer at her job, the same two cats arguing while a disaster ensues, and Danny meeting with Darla Dimple at her home are among my favorite scenes. If characters are going to achieve a good and noble goal in a movie, there MUST be worthy foils trying to stop them. "Cats Don't Dance" has two of the best villians ever in Darla Dimple and her behemoth of a butler Max. Darla takes being two-faced to a whole new level. (Notice at least twice in the movie when the red bow on her head looks more like two horns) Max is so huge that he actually blocks out light! His laugh is chillingly amazing and Max the the BEST line of dialogue in the movie: "How does the kitty cat gooooooooooooooo? [Danny: 'Meow?'] "Very goooooooooood." Every character in this movie (most of whom are animals) are drawn exaggeratedly and that fits perfectly for the theme and tone of this movie. "Cats" is a funny, wild ride for children and adults. If you like animation and/or musicals and/or clever comedy, you'll love "Cats Don't Dance". It's a shame this great movie isn't more popular. Hopefully good word-of-mouth (and word-of-internet) will change that.
    10louisa_animaniac

    The most hyperactive movie I've ever seen!

    Wow! What a fun movie! I love "Cats Don't Dance" with a passion. I found it so refreshing to see animation like this after such a long string of Disney films so bent on realism. Here, the animation is cartooney, way-overblown, and UNBELIEVABLY manic! The story is wonderfully carried out with anthropomorphic animal characters (something you don't often see in features), and the uplifting message is catching. It's very entertaining and very funny! I recommend you view "Cats Don't Dance" while feeling very energetic. Otherwise, it'll just make you tired. Probably not everybody's cup of tea, but it sure is MINE! An enthusiastic 10/10 stars!

    P.S. Did you know that Scott Bakula can sing? He sure can!
    Gab-1

    Proof that movies are made from dreams.

    I'll always be a hardcore Disney fan, but I can't help but have a real soft spot for movies which prove that dreams can come true. This movie about anthropomorphic characters (animals that are like people) is simply incredible- animation stylized, cute, and fun... with an incredible plot, great music (I bought the soundtrack), amazing voice talent (that includes singing!), and believable characters. This is a real keeper...and I'm surprised that it didn't get as much attention as it deserved. I'd reccomend it to anyone who's had a dream, or who has one... and those who just love cartoons.

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    Related interests

    Ben Whishaw in Paddington (2014)
    Animal Adventure
    Leslie Nielsen, Robert Hays, Julie Hagerty, and Lorna Patterson in Airplane! (1980)
    Farce
    Jodi Benson, Jason Marin, and Samuel E. Wright in The Little Mermaid (1989)
    Hand-Drawn Animation
    Bill Pullman, John Candy, Joan Rivers, Daphne Zuniga, and Lorene Yarnell Jansson in Spaceballs (1987)
    Parody
    Leslie Nielsen in The Naked Gun: From the Files of Police Squad! (1988)
    Slapstick
    Daveigh Chase, Rumi Hiiragi, and Mari Natsuki in Spirited Away (2001)
    Animation
    Will Ferrell in Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy (2004)
    Comedy
    Drew Barrymore and Pat Welsh in E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial (1982)
    Family
    Elijah Wood in The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (2001)
    Fantasy
    Julie Andrews in The Sound of Music (1965)
    Musical

    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      The poster parodies at the end are all of movies from Warner Bros., New Line Cinema or Turner Entertainment. The filmmakers originally conceived of parodies of other famous films, such as The Sound of Music (1965) and Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope (1977), but abandoned them because they would've had to pay licensing fees.
    • Goofs
      As Danny arrives in Hollywood at the beginning of the film, the Hollywood sign can be seen. The film is set in 1939 so the sign should still read Hollywoodland as it did until 1949.
    • Quotes

      Darla Dimple: I'm the star! You stupid, stupid cat! I should have drowned you all when I flooded the stage!

      [echoing over the PA says "Flooded the stage". The crowd, L.B. Mammoth and Flanigan were shocked and gasped]

      Crowd: Darla Dimple! I can't believe it.

      [Darla looks around, forces a smile, a weak giggle, grabs Danny, and tries to act all innocent. Pudge giggles and pushes the trap door lever]

      Darla Dimple: [as she falls down the trap door, screaming] Max!

      Max: [on the Darla balloon, floating over Paris] Oui, Miss Dimple?

    • Crazy credits
      There is a statement in the closing credits: "No animals were harmed during the making of this film. Although, some were erased and had to be redrawn."
    • Connections
      Featured in Siskel & Ebert: The Devil's Own/Cats Don't Dance/B*A*P*S/The Sixth Man/The Eighth Day/The Substance of Fire (1997)
    • Soundtracks
      Danny's Arrival Song
      Music and Lyrics by Randy Newman

      Performed by Scott Bakula

      Arranged by Steve Goldstein

      Produced by Randy Newman and Steve Goldstein

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    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • March 26, 1997 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Official site
      • Warner Brothers (Mirror Site)
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Los gatos no bailan
    • Production companies
      • David Kirschner Productions
      • Turner Feature Animation
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $32,000,000 (estimated)
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $3,566,637
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $939,781
      • Mar 30, 1997
    • Gross worldwide
      • $3,566,637
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      • 1h 15m(75 min)
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Dolby Digital

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