The original: 

The Cat From Outer Space (1978)

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Directed by: 

Norman Tokar (Leave it to Beaver, The Ugly Dachshund, The Horse in the Grey Flannel Suit, Snowball Express)

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Starring: 

Ken Berry, Sandy Duncan, McLean Stevenson, Harry Morgan, James Hampton, Roddy McDowall, William Prince

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What’s it about? 

An alien cat comes to earth, befriends a scientist, cheats at pool, steals back his ship, tangles with an inept military and thwarts the schemes of an evil megalomaniac. 

 

This film has it all. 

 

Charmingly played by its likeable leads, with a strong central feline performance, this is Disney doing cheap and cheerful, with an uneven plot, wonky pacing and dubious lessons on morality and gambling addiction. 

 

Not exactly a forgotten classic, mainly just forgotten; however, The Cat from Outer Space has more going for it than may be immediately apparent, and may be worth giving paws to reconsider. 

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“On my planet we have an expression- you rub my fur, I’ll rub yours.” 

 

Jake- “Are you coming or staying?” 

Frank- “I’m coming!” 

Link- “I’m staying!” 

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Liz- “But I don’t have a parachute!” 

Mr Olympus - “Then you have a problem.” 

Mr Stallwood- “But I don’t have a parachute either!” 

Mr Olympus- “Then you have the same problem.”