Alley Cat Thrills is a 1969 American animated musical fantasy comedy-drama art film directed by Abe Levitow, produced by United Productions Of America and released by Columbia Pictures. Set in the same universe as their previous 1962 film Gay Purr-ee, the film's storyline utilises more fantasy themed elements compared to the former. A typical melodramatic brother and sister "villain" duo of felines from an Edwardian storybook find themselves being transported from the story after defeat to 1968 California and having to grow accustomed to their new and unfamiliar lifestyle. The film was a box-office bomb and did not gain much of an audience despite it's favourable reviews. In recent years, it would soon become a cult animated film for it's portrayal of late 1960s counterculture and aesthetic, deconstructions and development of it's main characters and themes, music and it's cameos of notable performers of the era including The Youngbloods, Joan Baez, Scott McKenzie and Janis Joplin featuring the Kozmic Blues Band. The movie is the third and final film by the UPA and is regarded as the most mature of them.
SYNOPSIS[]
Zebulon and Amber Purrcival are a duo of feline siblings portrayed as the main villains in "The Heart Of Meowchester", a melodramatic storybook set in the Edwardian period. Their main purpose in the story is not unusual for a melodrama; to enact revenge on the heroes for their "Treachery". When they are defeated at the end of the story, they are exiled from the city for their crimes. Nowhere to turn, they attempt to begin the search for their new town, only to find a blank white void as they have reached the edge of the book. In their desperation, they manage to break free from the book, opening a portal to the outside world. The siblings are transported to the book's current residing home; the San Fransisco Public Library. Not only that, but a whole new time period. The current year is 1968, the height of new trends that the Edwardian felines have never known. This includes the age of Psychedelica, Hippies, and underground counterculture. Despite their unfamiliarity, the pair decides there is no other choice of the matter and try to grow accustomed to what would soon be their new home in a modern life. What would follow as the movie progresses are the siblings eventually becoming very fond of their lifestyle, albeit with new revelations regarding the true story of their life in the book and how it grew their greatest fears and insecurities. This vulnerability is what would lead to many consequences and realisations in their current setting; Mostly regarding the line between freedom and recklessness after breaking from societal standards and the emotional downward spiral that stems from a struggle to appeal to others in many ways to feel satisfied.
CAST AND CHARACTERS[]
Zebulon Purrcival (Voiced By: Richard O'Brien): The older brother of Amber Purrcival and one of the two main villains in The Heart Of Meowchester. Initially Zebulon's personality is titular to the Dastardly Villain tropes of Melodrama. A cunning and calculating feline whose overly-ambitious, arrogant, stubborn and short-tempered, but deep down is a very insecure person who hides behind a vain persona and still deeply cares for his sister. When he and Amber first break free from the storybook, he is more confused and suspicious of the modern world, knowing nothing about the trends of the time. But as time goes on, he grows fond and starts to fit in with everyone to the point where he transforms from a dastardly Edwardian aristocrat to a rebellious and free-spirited Summer Of Love trendsetter for better and for worse.
Amber Purrcival (Voiced By: Marilyn Sokol): The younger sister of Zebulon Purrcival and one of the two main villains in The Heart Of Meowchester. Compared to her brother, Amber is more open-minded, cheerful and fun-loving with a taste for rule-breaking, mischief and breaking free from her society's norms. The moment she broke free from the storybook, she was immediately fascinated and overly-eager to explore and befriend the animals that wander the San Fransisco high life as well as show off her true rebellious spirit, joining an underground activist art group called "Paws-On". Whilst she has no regrets doing what she loves, she starts to find out that the dream of her new life isn't what it is and that there's more than meets the eye, which causes her to open the eyes not only for herself, but for her brother as well.
Kim Tabby (Voiced By: Judy Davis): A San Fransisco countercultural hippie activist and Zebulon's girlfriend. Kim is a Tabby cat with a strong sense of justice and wisdom, but also a Tabby cat that likes to go with the flow and is very laidback. She loves the free-spirited city life and is actively determined to make a difference and continue that trend in her home. She has a very charismatic, considerate and easy-going attitude that makes her likeable among those who hang around her. However, she knows when she needs to be wary and concerned when something gets to that point.
Jeff Curls (Voiced By: Caroll Spinney): A longtime member of the "Paws-On" activist art group and Amber's future roommate. Jeff is an American Curl cat that usually likes to keep to himself. An idealist with a quiet, focused and sometimes snarky attitude, Jeff is someone that's less fond of a loud crowd and more fond of a one on one conversation with someone who he can relate to. However, he is also considered a great contributor to the activist group because of his artistic skills and ideas. Currently, he's having trouble deciding if he wants to stay in San Fransisco or move to New York City to expand his work portfolio.