Disney has charmed audiences for decades with heartwarming films, and while canine companions often take the spotlight, the studio has also delivered some memorable feline features. Among these, The Cat From Outer Space stands out, not necessarily for groundbreaking special effects or a complex plot, but for the captivating performance of its lead cat, Zunar J5/90 Doric Fourseven, endearingly known as Jake. This film isn’t just a quirky sci-fi comedy; it’s a testament to the charm and talent of its feline stars, making it a beloved classic for both movie buffs and cat lovers alike.
Meet Jake: The Abyssinian Actors Behind the Space Cat Sensation
The role of Jake, the remarkable cat from outer space, wasn’t played by just one feline actor. In fact, portraying this interstellar kitty required the talents of several cats, primarily female Abyssinian siblings Rumple and Amber. Adding to the feline cast was Spot, a white Persian cat who played Jake’s love interest, Lucy Belle. Interestingly, some reports suggest that the production even utilized up to eight feline performers to capture all the necessary scenes and actions.
As reported by the Laurel Outlook in 1978, the search for the perfect Jake involved auditioning cats from across California. Trainers dedicated three months to preparing these feline actors, employing a reward-based system to teach them to respond to cues. Ultimately, Rumple, a 15-month-old Abyssinian, and her twin sister, Amber, shared the role of Jake, taking turns in different scenes throughout the comedy. Spot, a three-year-old snow-white Persian, was chosen to play Lucy Belle, Jake’s charming love interest in this cosmic cat caper.
Critical Acclaim for the Cats, Despite Mixed Movie Reviews
While The Cat From Outer Space itself received varied reviews, ranging from enthusiastic praise to dismissal as lighthearted fluff, the performances of the feline actors were almost universally lauded. Bill Diehl, in his review for The Sunday Dispatch in 1978, even suggested that “Rumple in a stronger movie could become another animal favorite, a la Benji,” highlighting the captivating screen presence of the Abyssinian cat.
Joe Baltake’s positive review in the Philadelphia Daily News aptly captures the movie’s charm, emphasizing, “With or without the benefit of a dubbed voice, the cats playing Jake are marvelous, nearly conveying expression and bringing admirable pride and, well, humanity to the role. The sureness of Tokar’s direction is evident from his handling of the cats, as well as from Berry’s smooth, nice-guy performing.” This praise underscores the remarkable ability of the trainers and the natural charisma of the cats in bringing Jake to life.
Credit for these stellar feline performances undoubtedly goes to animal trainers Rudy Cowl and Don Spinney. Their expertise in capturing the desired expressions from their feline performers was crucial to the film’s success. This team also worked on The Shaggy D.A., and Spinney had a long and successful career as an animal trainer in Hollywood.
Ken Berry’s Unique Co-Star Experience: Acting with a Cat
Ken Berry, one of the human stars of The Cat From Outer Space, shared his amusing experiences of acting alongside a feline co-star in a 1977 interview with the Fort Worth Star-Telegram. He humorously described the unique challenges of filming with animal actors, particularly cats.
Hollywood filming often involves shooting the same scene from multiple angles to capture close-ups of each actor. Normally, actors patiently repeat their lines off-camera to help their co-stars. However, as Berry wryly noted, acting with a cat presented a whole new level of experience. “You haven’t experienced ANYTHING,” Berry joked, “until you have to feed your lines to a cat, with a trainer standing behind you sprinkling cat food down your back to get the correct reactions from the cat.”
Ken Berry described acting with a cat as a truly unique Hollywood experience.
One of the film’s clever techniques was Jake’s telepathic communication. By eliminating the need for lip-syncing, the filmmakers avoided the often distracting animated mouths or “Mr. Ed” style chewing seen in other animal films. This allowed audiences to fully appreciate the cat’s natural performance and Ronnie Schell’s excellent voice acting as Jake (ironically, Schell himself had his voice dubbed in the film for another role!).
While the movie doesn’t explicitly show how Jake was tranquilized, a sneezing scene is reminiscent of another Disney film, My Dog the Thief. It’s speculated that a sneezing agent like pepper might have been used in both films, but the exact methods remain unconfirmed.
Stuffed Stand-Ins: When Faux Felines Took Flight
During the movie’s more dynamic flying sequences, both Jake and Lucy Belle were sometimes replaced with stuffed cat stand-ins. These substitutions are noticeable in certain shots, particularly during aerial scenes.
A scene utilizing a stuffed stand-in for Jake during a flying sequence.
In a 1977 Kenosha News article, UPI reporter Vernon Scott interviewed Sandy Duncan about her experiences on set. Duncan humorously recounted director Norman Tokar’s struggles with the feline cast. Despite Tokar’s experience directing various animals in past Disney films, the cats in The Cat From Outer Space proved to be particularly independent. To overcome this, dummy cats were created for stand-in work and long-distance shots. Duncan laughed, “The problem is that these stuffed cats really don’t look like cats at all. This infuriates Norman who sometimes swings them by their tails and throws them against the wall — breaking them in pieces.”
Sandy Duncan might have secretly preferred working with the stuffed Lucy Belle stand-in!
A Cast Allergic to Cats: Irony on Set
In a surprising twist, many of the human actors in this cat-centric film were allergic to cats! Sandy Duncan revealed in the Vernon Scott interview the ironic situation on set:
“I’m allergic to all cats, not just Lucy Belle,” Duncan explained. “And I must say that cats don’t seem to like me for some reason. I can go into someone’s house without knowing they own a cat. And in a few minutes I break out in hives, my eyes get itchy and my throat closes and I get a runny nose. MacLean [Stevenson], Jim [James Hampton] and Ken [Berry] sneeze and their eyes water when the cats are brought on stage. It’s a wonderful set!” It seemed Disney inadvertently assembled a cast united by their allergy to cats, especially fluffy Persian cats like Spot.
“Everybody say sneeze!” – The cast humorously dealt with their cat allergies on set.
Duncan’s allergy was particularly severe. An Associated Press article in the Argus-Leader in 1978 detailed her aversion to her feline co-stars. “I hated that cat and it hated me,” Sandy confessed, explaining her allergy. She recounted childhood experiences with her sister’s cat and the onset of her allergic reactions: watery eyes, hives, and a husky voice. To manage her symptoms during filming, Duncan relied on Benadryl, which caused drowsiness. She even recalled a particularly challenging scene in a hot Volkswagen, holding a cat for hours while battling her allergies.
Spot the “Terror”: Lucy Belle’s On-Set Antics
Interestingly, one account shifted focus from Jake to Spot, the Persian cat playing Lucy Belle. Sandy Duncan’s earlier comment about “hating that cat” likely referred to Spot, not Rumple or Amber. The Vernon Scott interview painted a less-than-flattering picture of the white Persian thespian.
Duncan described Lucy Belle as “arrogant and disdainful of human beings,” and characterized her behavior as “surly, mean, vengeful and given to biting, kicking and scratching her costars.” While the rest of the cast enjoyed a lighthearted atmosphere on set, Lucy Belle apparently cast a “pall” over the production. Sandy Duncan bore the brunt of Lucy Belle’s less-than-cooperative behavior, suffering scratches that required medical attention.
Sandy Duncan bravely persevered despite her cat allergy and Lucy Belle’s challenging temperament.
Duncan recounted instances of Lucy Belle becoming agitated mid-take, hissing, unsheathing claws, and causing Duncan to drop her in surprise. Trainers were always on standby to quickly remove the temperamental feline from Duncan’s arms after each scene. Despite her negative experiences, Duncan hesitated to complain publicly, fearing the “wrath of cat fanciers.” She humorously confessed her “dislike” for Lucy Belle stemmed from the cat seemingly having the “best part” and getting all the close-ups.
Despite the behind-the-scenes challenges, both the feline and human actors ultimately delivered an entertaining film that continues to be enjoyed by audiences today.
Beyond the Film: Novels, Comics, and Purr-suasive Posters
The Cat From Outer Space‘s popularity extended beyond the silver screen, with both a novelization and a comic book adaptation released, further expanding the adventures of Jake and Lucy Belle.
The promotional materials for the film were also noteworthy, featuring fun and eye-catching posters and newspaper ads that captured the whimsical spirit of this feline sci-fi comedy.
Share this delightful tale with your fellow cat and movie enthusiasts!
