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[Катя Морковкина.]

Cats (film)


Cats is a 1998 direct-to-video film of the long-running West End production of Cats, Andrew Lloyd Webber's musical based on Old Possum's Book of Practical Cats by T. S. Eliot. Lloyd Webber himself personally oversaw orchestration for the film and called on Gillian Lynne, the original show's choreographer, to personally train the cast for the film. Trevor Nunn, the original director, did not serve as the director of this production.[1] Initially released to VHS and subsequently DVD, the film has since been shown on television channels including PBS and the BBC.

Plot
The musical centers around the "Jellicle" cats, a tribe of cats who meet once a year at the Jellicle Ball, where they rejoice with their leader, Old Deuteronomy. During the Ball, one of the cats will be selected to go to the Heaviside Layer and be reborn. The cats who may be considered for this honour, introduce themselves.

Act 1 The musical starts out with an overture. The lights then comes on an empty junkyard. The cats then start to gather on stage and explain the Jellicle tribe and their purpose (Jellicle Songs for Jellicle Cats). The cats then give details on how the different cats of the tribe are named (The Naming of Cats).

Munkustrap appears and introduces the first cat: Jennyanydots (The Old Gumbie Cat). She "sits and sits and sits" all day and rules over the mice and teaches various activities to them. Jennyanydots finishes, greets the other cats, but is interrupted.

The music instantly changes and The Rum Tum Tugger makes an extravagant entrance (The Rum Tum Tugger). The Rum Tum Tugger is a tom with a wild mane and leopard spots on his chest. He is very fickle and unappeasable, "for he will do as he do do and there's no doing anything about it". He flirts with various queens in the tribe until his music is cut short at the end of his song.

An old grey cat stumbles out and looks around. It is Grizabella. All the cats back away and glare at her with resentment. The cats sing of her saddened, unfortunate state (Grizabella: The Glamour Cat), with Demeter elaborating.

Grizabella leaves and the music becomes upbeat. Bustopher Jones, a fat cat in "a coat of fastidious black", appears (Bustopher Jones: The Cat About Town). Bustopher Jones is among the elite of the cats, owning many clubs and making many speeches at various events.

There is a loud crash, and Macavity, the most wanted criminal cat, is thought to have appeared. However, two black and orange calico cats sneak out. They are Mungojerrie and Rumpleteazer, two petty thieves, who are very mischievous, and enjoy causing trouble for their human family (Mungojerrie and Rumpleteazer).

Soon, the Jellicle Patriarch, Old Deuteronomy, appears (Old Deuteronomy). He is a large old cat that “has lived many lives” and “buried nine wives”. He is the one who will choose which Jellicle cat will go to the Heaviside Layer.

Munkustrap and the cats proceed to entertain Old Deuteronomy with the story of two dog tribes clashing in the streets, but were scared away by a superhero-like cat called the Great Rumpus Cat. ("The Awful Battle of the Pekes and the Pollicles").

Another loud crash is heard, and the cats again suspect Macavity is around. He appears lurking in the shadows, but withdraws. And the cats come out again ("The Song of the Jellicles"). Munkustrap once again states why the cats are there and the celebration begins (The Jellicle Ball).

Grizabella shows up once again refusing to be left out of the festivities. Once again, she is shunned by the other cats, but that does not stop her from singing (Memory).

Grizabella leaves and the cats sing of “what happiness is” (The Moments of Happiness).

Gus shuffles forward (Gus: The Theatre Cat). He is the cat that once was a famous actor but now he is old and “suffers from palsy that makes his paws shake”. He is accompanied by Jellylorum, who sings of his exploits in the theatre.

Skimbleshanks is sleeping in the corner (Skimbleshanks: The Railway Cat). He is unofficially in charge of the railway train. He is very clever and very important because if he is gone “the train can’t start”.

Another crash and an evil laugh is heard. It is indeed Macavity. He kidnapps Old Deuteronomy with his henchcats, and Demeter and Bombalurina sing of his crimes (Macavity: The Mystery Cat). Suddenly, Old Deuteronomy comes back again, led by a few henchcats, but Demeter realizes "Old Deuteronomy" is an imposter and exposes him to the rest of the tribe. It is Macavity in disguise. Macavity battles against Munkustrap and Alonzo after trying to kidnap Demeter, eventually escaping.

The Rum Tum Tugger suggests they find Mr. Mistoffelees to help them look for Old Deuteronomy (Mr. Mistoffelees: The Conjuring Cat). Mr. Mistoffelees is black and small and can perform many feats of magic that no other cat can do (including producing "Seven Kittens, right out of a hat" whilst being supposedly male), and succeeds in bringing back Old Deuteronomy. He is praised by all the cats.

The Jellicle choice can now be made. Old Deuteronomy sits down and Grizabella appears for the final time. Old Deuteronomy allows her to have a chance to address the cats. Her faded appearance and lonely disposition have little effect on her song ("Memory").

The appeal succeeds and she is chosen to be the one (Journey to the Heaviside Layer). A large tire rises up with Old Deuteronomy and Grizabella. Once at the top Grizabella finishes the journey herself. Old Deuteronomy gives his last speech to the cats (The Ad-dressing of Cats) and the show ends
.

Characters and cast

* Admetus - A cat who is rarely caught by the camera, and not named in the credits. He is tan, black, and yellowish.

* Alonzo - An elegant black and white tom often considered the 'second-hand-man' to Munkustrap. Portrayed by Jason Gardiner.

* Asparagus - A general chorus cat. Not to be confused with Gus the Theatre Cat - in a stage production Asparagus is the chorus role of the actor who plays Gus, however Sir John Mills was obviously not capable of performing the dance role. Portrayed by Tony Timberlake. Tony Timberlake was due to perform Growltiger in the film, but Sir John Mills' filming over-ran and the section had to be cut.

* Bombalurina - A saucy red female, confident and outgoing as suits her bright red colouring. She is close friends, or possibly sisters, with Demeter. She tries to share the spotlight with Rum Tum Tugger during his song, but he drops her and knocks her to the side. Portrayed by Rosemarie Ford.

* Bustopher Jones - A fat cat, a '25 pounder', Bustopher "dresses" in a smart suit and spats. As the upper class "St James' Street Cat", Bustopher spends his time at Gentlemen's clubs, socialising with London's high society. Portrayed by James Barron.

* Cassandra - A sleek brown and cream female Abyssinian, with a braided tail and rolled wig, and no leg warmers. Cassandra stands out among the fluffy tribe and is somewhat mysterious. Portrayed by Rebecca Parker.

* Coricopat - Male twin to Tantomile. Both of them are intuitive or even psychic, perfectly synchronised in their movements and near identical in appearance. Portrayed by Tommi Sliiden.

* Demeter - She is very skittish, and reacts violently to the thought of Macavity. He tries to kidnap her after she exposes him disguising at Old Deuteronomy, but Munkustrap and Alonzo rescue her. She is close friends, or possibly sisters, with Bombalurina. After Macavity disappears, she and Munkustrap share a feline kiss in front of a bright light. Portrayed by Aeva May.

* Electra - An orange and black tabby kitten who is close to Etcetera as well as a fan of Rum Tum Tugger. Portrayed by Leah Sue Morland.

* Etcetera - A happy, energetic kitten who is a big Rum Tum Tugger fan. She begins squealing and jumping up and down near the end of his song. Portrayed by Jo Bingham.

* Exotica - A female character created for the video specially for Femi Taylor who had been part of the original London cast as Tantomile. Exotica is a dark, sleek shadow, rarely prominent in the film.

* Grizabella - The former Glamour Cat who has lost her sparkle and now only wants to be accepted. Portrayed by Elaine Paige.

* Gus: The Theatre Cat - The Theatre Cat who is now very old and can no longer perform. Portrayed by the late Sir John Mills.

* Jellylorum - Named after T.S. Eliot's cat. A mature female who watches out for the kittens, and cares for Gus. Portrayed by Susan Jane Tanner.

* Jemima - The youngest kitten instrumental in the acceptance of Grizabella. Portrayed by Veerle Casteleyn.

* Jennyanydots - The old Gumbie cat. She sits all day and rules the mice and cockroaches at night. Portrayed by Susie McKenna.

* Macavity the Mystery Cat - The character is the show's only real villain and is a literary allusion to the Sherlock Holmes character Professor Moriarty. Portrayed by Bryn Walters.

* Mr. Mistoffelees - A young tom who has magical powers including the ability to create flash explosions. His signature dance move is "The Conjuring Turn", which is approximately twenty-five spins on one foot. Has an alter-ego named Quaxo, who appears as a general chorus cat throughout the show, and is dressed slightly differently. Both are portrayed by Jacob Brent.

* Mungojerrie - Half of a pair of notorious "cat-burglars", Mungojerrie and Rumpleteazer. Portrayed by Drew Varley.

* Munkustrap - A black and silver tom who is leader and protector of the Jellicle tribe. He also narrates "The Pekes and the Pollicles." Considered the storyteller of the tribe. Portrayed by Michael Gruber.

* Old Deuteronomy - The lovable patriarch of the Jellicle Tribe. He is very old and usually slow-moving. Portrayed by Ken Page.

* Plato - A dancing role in the video, he is often in the background, performs the Mating Dance with Victoria. Portrayed by Bryn Walters, who also plays Macavity.

* Pouncival - A playful tom kitten. He loves to annoy the older cats and play with the other kittens. Portrayed by Karl Morgan.

* Quaxo - Alter ego of Mr. Mistoffelees. Portrayed by Jacob Brent.

* Rumpleteazer - Female half of a pair of notorious "cat-burglars", Mungojerrie and Rumpleteazer. T. S. Eliot spelled the name 'Rumpelteazer'. Portrayed by Jo Gibb.

* The Rum Tum Tugger - The ladies' tom. His temperament ranges from clownish to serious, and always flirtatious. He is portrayed as a feline equivalent of Mick Jagger or Elvis Presley, and noticeable by his wild mane. Portrayed by John Partridge.

* Rumpus Cat - The great spiky haired brave cat with glowing red eyes, as mentioned in 'The Awefull Battle of the Pekes and the Pollicles', seen as a super hero figure amongst the Jellicles. Portrayed by Frank Thompson.

* Skimbleshanks - The railway cat. An active orange tabby cat who lives on the trains and acts as an unofficial chaperone. Portrayed by Geoffrey Garratt.

* Tantomile - Female twin of Coricopat. Both of them are perceived as intuitive or even psychic. Portrayed by Kaye Brown.

* Tumblebrutus - US counterpart for Bill Bailey, he is a bouncy, troublesome young cat. Portrayed by Fergus Logan.

* Victoria - A white kitten extremely gifted in dancing. The "official" Jellicle Ball begins with her solo dance. Portrayed by Phyllida Crowley Smith.

[edit] Differences

The video is slightly different from the stage production of Cats. Primarily it is shorter, the dances having been cut down during the Gumbie Cat, Magical Mr. Mistoffelees, Macavity: The Mystery Cat, and in Mungojerrie and Rumpleteazer. The entirety of "Growltiger's Last Stand" was cut because filming over-ran.[1] The production is primarily based on the London production, but includes some non-London character names such as Tumblebrutus and Pouncival for the London characters Bill Bailey and Carbucketty.

@темы: то что нравится., всякое разное.