moonbus69
I first found this film on YouTube, a few months ago, by chance... Glad I did!Have enjoyed many foreign films in past - mainly Japanese and Russian, and a few from other countries. This was the first film from Czechoslovakia I have ever watched (with English subtitles, of course). Except for the language, the people in this town could be from any small town... even from mid-1950's or early 1960's America. The everyday cares, joys & troubles, were much the same as most men, women and children have, the whole world over. But... When the Cat Comes... watch out! The cat has your (and mine) number.... A very beautiful and touching story - and the clever use of color, music, sound effects, was all quite well done. I just wished they could have screened this in school, when I was a 'wee lad'. Maybe it's high time they show good movies in the schools again! (In 1st grade, my teacher showed 'Journey to the Center of the Earth' with James Mason, in the class. I never forgot that!)This film is from 1963, but it is a story as timely as ever. If only this cat would visit the halls of all the political leaders (in Wash. D.C., and elsewhere), things might get 'back on track'?! To bring world peace & understanding, maybe we should start by watching each other's films.... each other's STORIES. Films such as this deserve a wider audience, and I hope Criterion will add this to their list of foreign titles on DVD and Blu-ray... I would buy it again from them, gladly!
Josannah Hasashimi
I'm impressed that 66 other IMDb users have seen this movie and felt strongly enough about it to vote here. I found this disk in the bottom of a jumbled bin of $1 disks in a mangled cardboard sleeve, with at least seven different price labels stuck and re-stuck, the highest only $5.99. In my opinion, these are the best films - the ones that are missed by the masses and leave you, the viewer, with a unique experience.This film is unique; in my experience, entirely unique. Several elements were entirely new to me, including an English-dubbed soundtrack that was not only bearable but hilarious. The story was also lighthearted and well paced without pandering to the 'kids in the audience.' While I agree that children probably will enjoy this film, I'm not sure I think it was entirely aimed at children. I think it was aimed more at adults who are struggling to identify their 'inner child' in the midst of the (perceived) weightiness of their lives.Nearly every character in this film had a perception of themselves undone by the Cat. As a viewer, we identify with the love and lies that color all these characters as readily as we identify with the lovers and liars in our own lives - including ourselves. The driving force of this film is the idea that love and honesty are values in life that make life fun and keep us young.Comments on the quality of the DVD disc, the digital transfer or other marginal inaccuracies only reveal that a viewer is "blue" - here's hoping this film left you "yellow."
Claudio Carvalho
In a small town in Czechoslovakia, the old story teller Oliva (Jan Werich) likes to plant fantasy in the brains of the children. Presently he tells the story of his former love and her magic cat, which wears glasses, to the class of the beloved and romantic teacher Robert (Vlastimil Brodský). When someone takes the glasses off, the cat shows the real feelings and personality of the person: red for those in love, purple for the hypocrites, yellow for the unfaithful and gray for the dishonest. Then, a coach arrives in town, bringing a magician (Jan Werich), the beautiful Diana (Emília Vásáryová) and the magic cat. The real feelings of the mostly selfish population are exposed, generating confusion, and the evil school director (Jirí Sovák) and the school janitor (Vladimir Mensik) decide to eliminate the cat. The students of Robert join forces to save the cat and the job of their teacher. This beautiful and fantastic fable about human behavior is timeless and very original. The story has a great moral lesson in the end without being corny, and is highly recommended for all audiences. In Brazil, it is only available in a rare VHS. My vote is eight. Title (Brazil): 'Um Dia, Um Gato' ('One Day, A Cat')Note: On 12 June 2010, I saw this magnificent film again on DVD.
eugenio.beltran
This is probably one of the best movies ever made. And it is not excellent because of the acting or the production, after all it is one example of the early czech cinema and the spring revolution. The film is important for story it tells. This is a exemplary evaluation of human behavior as observed by an estranged cat, who is only capable of watching human beings by what they really are. I have tried to get a copy of this film for decades (I watched first time as a 12-year-old kid and again in College in the early 1970s). A gem!!!
AD
