Main Cast: Ken Berry, Sandy Duncan, Harry Morgan, Roddy McDowall, McLean Stevenson
Release Year: 1978
Country: US
Run Time: 103 minutes
MPAA Rating: G
Plot
Zunar J5/90 Doric 4-7, also known as Jake, is an alien cat who crash-lands on earth. He heads off to the nearest scientist to find gold ($120,000 worth!) in order to repair his spaceship. Jake reveals that he can predict the winners in sporting events and soon the military is trying to track him down. The plot becomes more complicated when a wacky veterinarian inadvertently puts Jake into a deep sleep; now he must hide the alien cat from government authorities. The Cat from Outer Space was written by cartoonist Ted Key, who also wrote other Disney family fare, including Gus and The $1,000,000 Duck. ~ Paul Brenner, All Movie Guide
Jesse White - Earnest Ernie; Alan Young - Dr. Wenger; Hans Conried - Dr. Heffel; Ronnie Schell - Sgt. Duffy; James Hampton - Capt. Anderson; Howard Platt - Col. Woodruff; William Prince - Mr. Olympus; John Alderson - Mr. Smith; Alice Backes - Farmer's Wife; Mel Carter - 1st Soldier; Andrew Duncan; Jerry Fujikawa - 2nd E.R.L. Expert; Rick Hurst - Dydee Guard; Hank Jones - Officer; Ralph Manza - Weasel; Tiger Joe Marsh - Omar; Dal McKennon - Farmer; Tom Pedi - Honest Harry; Roger Price - 1st E.R.L. Expert; Pete Renaday - Bailiff; Henry Slate - Sandwick Man; Arnold Soboloff - NASA Executive; Gil Stratton - 1st NASA Scientist; Richard Warlock; Jim Begg - Dydee Driver; Tom Jackman; Roger Pancake - Red; Joe Medalis - Sucker
Credit
Preston Ames - Art Director, John Mansbridge - Art Director, Norman Tokar - Co-producer, Norman Tokar - Director, Cotton Warburton - Editor, Lalo Schifrin - Composer (Music Score), Charles Wheeler - Cinematographer, Ron Miller - Producer, Jan Williams - Producer, Art Cruickshank - Special Effects, Eustace Lycett - Special Effects, Danny Lee - Special Effects, Richard Warlock - Stunts, Richard Warlock - Stunts Coordinator, Ted Key - Screenwriter
An unidentified flying object makes an emergency landing on Earth and is taken into custody by the United States government. The occupant of the "flying saucer" turns out to be a cat-like alien named Zunar-J-5/Doric-4-7, or Jake as he is called by his human friends (a tawny Abyssinian cat; a role shared by two cats named Amber & Rumple). Using a special collar, he is able to communicate with humans. The cat tries to have American scientists help him find some Org 12 so that his ship may rendezvous with his fleet and eventually settles on Frank. After determining that "Org 12" is gold, Jake uses his collar's powers to affect the outcome of various sporting events, including horse races and pool games, to win money to buy the needed gold and repair his saucer.
At a crucial scene near the half-mark of the film, Jake levitates Frank and a motorcycle across an army barricade to escape pursuit. The scene strongly resembles a similar one in Steven Spielberg's E.T.. At a later point, Jake's collar takes a wrecked plane into the air to pursue a helicopter with kidnappers.
In the end, a ship returns to take Jake back, but he decides to stay with Frank.
