![]() ![]() ![]() If you absorbed your mini-Japanese lesson from CAT OF THE DAY 041, you will remember that 猫 ( neko) is Japanese for cat. The Japanese title for this film is Koneko Monogatari: 子猫物語. (Once again, should I inadvertently make any howlers, I am relying on more experienced linguists to correct me.) Whether or not any cats were actually killed during production, this is a horrible, horrible film. I watched a few moments of the following clip of out-takes of the cat trying to scrabble back up the cliff (try starting at around 7:52 if you’re in a hurry), and that was more than enough for me. Humane film-makers simply would not place cats in these situations. For example, swept in a small crate over a waterfall, or threatened by a bear, or attacked by seagulls, or falling (being thrown?) off a high cliff into the sea. Although the American Humane Society gave its seal of approval, it has since been alleged that over 20 kittens died during production, and that a producer broke a cat’s paw to make it seem unsteady on its feet.Īlthough such claims have never been verified, it’s clear when watching the film (which I did for the first time only recently) that the cats played Milo are in acute distress at numerous points. The film was re-edited for the English-speaking market, and given a new title, a jaunty score, and a voice-over narration by Dudley Moore. ![]() The adventures of Milo, an adorable ginger and white kitty, and Otis, a pug, were originally edited together by director Masanori Hata and his associate director, Kon Ichikawa (yes, the celebrated director of The Burmese Harp and Tokyo Olympiad) from over 40 hours of footage, shot over a period of four years. CAT OF THE DAY 091: KONEKO MONOGATARI 子猫物語 (aka THE ADVENTURES OF MILO AND OTIS) (1986)Ĭute family film, not such a cute behind-the-scenes story. ![]()
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