Alphabetical Movie Listings: The Three Lives of Thomasina (US/UK, 1963)


Figure 1.--Two or three of the boys dress up in their Highland kilts for Thomsina's funeral. The film suggests that the boys wore their kilts only for formal occassions. The question of the social class of the boys swearing kilts is not addressed. Notice this boy wears his kilt with an Eton collar.

We always thought that cats had nine lives, but apparently Thomasina only gets three. The Disney film, The Three Lives of Thomascina reminds one of Pollyana. The little girl in Thomasina is not as engaging as Haley Mills, but it nonetheless a wonderfull film. It is a sentimental, early 20th century story which provides an interesting view of what Scottish children were wearing. The actual date is 1912 I am not sure, however, how accurate the fashion depiction is. The film is based on Paul Gallico’s book Thomasina. It is a lovely little Disney movie set in Scotland. A bit soppy, especially the ending, but worth seeing. The story line follows the tribulation of a little girl's tabby cat. The main character is a little girl. Three boys play prominent roles. The older boy appears to be 13 or 14 and still wears a short pants suit, although the shorts are very long. Some boys wear knickers. Two of the boys also appear in dressy kilt outfits. They all dress up smartly for Thomasina's funeral. One of the boys is the younger boy in Bed Knobs and Broomsticks.

Filmology

The film is based on Paul Gallico’s book Thomasina: The Cat Who Thought She Was God". Directed by Don Chaffey who did a lot of children's movies.

Cast

Thomasina, the title character is a cat and narriates the film. Thomasina belongs to young Mary MacDhui. She is perghaps not as engaging as Haley Mills, but it nonetheless a wonderfull film. The girl who plays Mary was Karen Dotrice. Walt Disney was apparently impressed with Karen and cast her in his next film, Mary Poppins, She was one of the children Mary cared for--Jane Banks. Matthew Garber, one of Mary’s playmates in this film, was also played one pf the Banks children, Michael. One of the boys is the younger boy in Bed Knobs and Broomsticks. The cast included: Andrew McDhui (Patrick McGoohan), Lori MacGregor (Susan Hampshire ), Mary MacDhui (Karen Dotrice), Reverend Angus Peddie (Laurence Naismith), Mrs. MacKenzie (Jean Anderson), Willie Bannock (Wilfrid Brambell), Grandpa Stirling (Finlay Currie), Unknown (Alex Mackenzie ), Hughie Stirling (Vincent Winter), Jamie McNab (Denis Gilmore), Doctor (Charles Carson), Unknown (Ruth Dunning), Constable McQuarrie (Ewan Roberts ), Mr. Dobbie (Oliver Johnston), Targu (Francis De Wolff), Old Lady (Nora Nicholson), and Geordie (Matthew Garber).

Setting

The film is set in the beautiful Scottish Highlands. I'm not sure just where it was set.

Chronology

The film is a sentimental movie set in the early 20th century. The actual date is 1912.


Figure 2.--Several of the boys, but not the main caracters, wear knicker or even long pants suits to the funeral and not Highland kilt outfits.

Plot

We always thought that cats had nine lives, but apparently Thomasina only gets three. The Disney film, The Three Lives of Thomasina reminds one of Pollyana. Mary MacDhui’s father Andrew is the local veterinarian, but not like James Heriot in Yorkshire. Dr. MacDhui is competent, but after the loss of his wife emotionally cold. When Mary's beloved cat Thomasina contracts tetanus, her father insists the cat be put to sleep, despite his daughter's anguished pleas. The little girl’s sympathetic friends arrange a funeral for the deceased cat. Before the cat can be buried, however, Lori MacGregor, who the child believe is a witch, appears and takes the cat away--not understanding what the children are doing. Lori loves animals. She lives in a secluded forest cottage where she cares for sick pets as well as wild animals. Lori of course is not a witch and merely kind and sensitive to animals. Her old-fashioned folk medicine succeeds in bringing animals. The story takes a turn for the worst when Mary gets sick herself. Of course this is a Disney film and everything comes right in the end.

Assessment

The Three Lives of Thomasina is a lovely little Disney movie set in Scotland. A bit soppy, especially the ending, but worth seeing. The story line follows the tribulation of a little girl's tabby cat.

Clothing

The film provides an interesting view of what Scottish children were wearing. I am not sure, however, how accurate the fashion depiction is.

The main character is a little girl.

Three boys in the film have prominent roles. The older boy appears to be 13 or 14 and still wears a short pants suit, although the shorts are very long. Some boys wear knickers. Two of the boys also appear in dressy kilt outfits. They all dress up smartly for Thomasina's funeral.










Christopher Wagner







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Created: January 23, 2002
Last updated: January 23, 2002