It’s not every so often that you do a blog about a film that has the same final two numbers as it’s original release year. But, that is exactly what is happening here with the 1962 film, “Gay Purr-ee” which is an animated film that can be best described as a cautionary tale for children and even adults, too. I grew up with this movie on the Disney Channel and Cartoon Network and just recently, I had upgraded my DVD copy of this film to the new Blu-Ray version by Warner Archive. With each viewing, I look at this film and I wonder to myself the same thoughts, it’s always a good idea to be careful what you wish for.
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The story of “Gay Purr-ee” is about Mewsette (voiced by Judy Garland in her only animated film role) who leaves her old home life on the farm for the big city of Paris, France at the turn of the century. Now, you might be thinking that this is a goal that can be easily obtained, yes? Well, not exactly. Mewsette is taken under the wing (or paw) of Meowrice (voiced by Paul Frees using his ghost host voice from the Haunted Mansion) and his so-called “sister” Madame Reubens Chatte (voice by Hermione Gingold) with the hopes of learning how to live the life of a Parisian cat. What Mewsette doesn’t realize is that she is in reality being groomed as a mail order bride to a rich American cat in Pittsburgh, PA.
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Now, you might be thinking why I bring this up? I mean, “Gay Purr-ee” was produced by a studio founded by former Disney animators after the 1941 animators strike there and was written by Chuck Jones, one of the fathers of Bugs Bunny. But when you get past the tidbids, you are looking at a story that involves being given a false promise and by the time you realize it, it’s already too late.
Many neurodivergents are too impatient to wait to achieve their ultimate goal in life and fail to understand the dangers that are looking to get in their paths. I mean, take it from me, I’ve been looking for a new day job for several years and I’ve been doing plenty of searches involving remote work from home jobs. However, just when you think that I might get a job, it turns out to be a hoax and providing the realization that it was too good to be true.
There are those out there that want your money or your dignity by any means and will try to fish you out for it. You might say that Mewsette can be put into the shoes of an impatient neurodivergent wanting to achieve an ultimate goal only to have it backfire in the worst possible way. Take a look at three of the songs from “Gay Purr-ee” (1962) and you can see the difference at what goes through Mewsette’s mind.
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Of course, one of the factors that Mewsette fails to understand is that her beau, Jaune Tom (voice by Robert Goulet) and his friend Robespierre (voiced by Red Buttons) aren’t exactly the types of cats she wants to be around, but they still care for her nonetheless and Jaune Tom stops at nothing to find Mewsette, even after she rebukes Jaune Tom for trying to give her a mouse.
This is very common amongst neurodivergents who are often bullheaded and set in their ways that don’t see the generosity of others. It doesn’t take until after Mewsette is rescued from Meowrice that she sees the error of her ways and embraces Jaune Tom for who he is.
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I recommend that “Gay Purr-ee” be shown in special education classes not just for any special education students who are studying French History and Language, but also for the message that it’s important to always be careful for what you wish for in life because it might just be coming back to bite you in the end.
And speaking of being careful what you wish for, Chuck Jones and his crew decided to branch out of doing short cartoons and work on this film only for Warner Bros. to fire Chuck and his team for breaking the terms of their contract.
Of course, the experience of working on “Gay Purr-ee” and being fired from Warner Bros. gave Chuck the chance to move over to Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer and create several projects including the famed adaptation of Dr. Seuss’ “How the Grinch Stole Christmas” (1966) and the film adaptation of Norton Juster’s “The Phantom Tollbooth” (1970). So, like Mewsette, Chuck found what he was looking for but not in the easy way, so to speak.
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So, if you are interested, feel free to pick up “Gay Purr-ee” on Blu Ray or DVD (or VHS) on Amazon. com today if you want to share this message to your students or children!!
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Catch you all later!!
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