Cat Ballou

Cat Ballou (The tigress of the west in Latin America, The explosive ingenue in Spain) is a 1965 American film directed by Elliot Silverstein. Starring Jane Fonda, Lee Marvin, Michael Callan, Dwayne Hickman, Nat King Cole, Stubby Kaye. Based on the novel The Ballad of Cat Ballou by Roy Chanslor. It is part of the AFI's 10 Top 10 in the "Western" category.

Plot

It tells the story of a woman, Catherine Ballou (Jane Fonda), who hires a notorious gunslinger, Kid Shelleen (Lee Marvin), to protect the ranch from her father and then avenge his murder, but to her shock, she discovers that the gunman is not what she expected. The company seeking to take over the ranch had in turn hired another notorious gunman, Tim Strawn, aka Silver Nose, who had murdered Catherine's father, to confront Kid Shelleen. She sues him for murder, but the company's owner, Harry Percival (Reginald Denny), manages to keep the trial from going ahead. Catherine, nicknamed Cat Ballou, then decides to form a gang to steal the company's payroll. She later confronts the owner of the company and he is killed. She is tried and sentenced to hang. The last few minutes of the film will be crucial.

Comments

The novel on which the film is based is a tragedy, but it was adapted for the cinema, as a musical and comedy.

Cast

• Jane Fonda - Cat Ballou
• Lee Marvin - Kid Shelleen - Tim Strawn
• Michael Callan - Clay Boone
• Dwayne Hickman - Jed
• Nat King Cole - Sunrise Kid
• Stubby Kaye - Professor Sam the Shade

Awards

• Winner of the 1966 Oscar Award to the Best actor (Lee Marvin).
• Winner of the BAFTA Award 1966, to the Best Foreign actor (Lee Marvin).
• Winner of the Golden Globe Award 1966, to the Best Film actor, Musical/Comedia (Lee Marvin).
• Silver Bear Award winner 1965, to the Best actor (Lee Marvin); the Best Screen (Walter Newman and Frank Pierson), and Mention of Honor (Elliot Silverstein).
• Winner of the Golden Laurel Award 1966 - Comedia, the Best Actress (Jane Fonda), and the Best actor (Lee Marvin).
• Winner of the Prize National Board of Review (NBR) 1966, the Best actor, (shared), (Lee Marvin).