Cats (1998 Film)/Score

The 1998 Cats film was based on the contemporary London version of the show, but with many alterations (namely cuts) made. Almost all the numbers were shortened to varying extents; those with more significant cuts include "The Old Gumbie Cat", "Mungojerrie and Rumpleteazer", "Growltiger's Last Stand", and "Mr. Mistoffelees".

Because this is the most accessible production of Cats, many fans consider it to be their "definitive" version of the show.

Characters

• The Broadway names were used with the London designs and characterisations for "Plato" (Admetus), "Tumblebrutus" (Bill Bailey) and "Pouncival" (Carbucketty), but the London name and design was kept for "Jemima" (Sillabub).
• A new character Exotica was introduced
• The roles of Asparagus, Bustopher Jones and Gus (usually played by the same actor) were split

Staging

• Unlike the London and Broadway productions, this production was not staged in-the-round and was not filmed with an audience. Hence some elements of the choreography and staging were altered.
  • "The Naming of Cats" for example, was restaged to remove the audience interaction: Instead of the cast being spread out throughout the theatre (among the audience), all the cast remained on stage and recited the poem together.
  • Similarly, the section of "The Rum Tum Tugger" that involves Tugger going out into the audience was restaged with him interrupting and annoying the older cats instead.
  • Other numbers that usually involve audience interaction, such as "Magical Mister Mistoffelees", had those moments restaged as well

Jellicle Songs

• Babygriz is in the opening

Gumbie Cat

• Most of the tap sequence in "The Old Gumbie Cat" was cut

Mungojerrie and Rumpleteazer

• The modern upbeat version of "Mungojerrie and Rumpleteazer" was used, with the two characters singing their own song
• A large chunk of the song was cut

Pekes and the Pollicles

• One of the ensemble "barks" was cut (And they / Bark, bark, bark, bark / Bark, bark, bark, bark / Until you can hear them all over the Park)

Jellicle Ball

• Parts of "The Jellicle Ball" were cut such as the Girls Relevée/Ladies Latin section

Grizabella reprise

• Jellylorum and Jemima's lines in the Grizabella reprise were retained

Gus / Growltiger

• While the ending of "Gus: The Theatre Cat" is usually played for comedic effect, it is played completely straight and sentimental in the film.
• "Growltiger's Last Stand" was cut entirely, transitioning directly from "Gus: The Theatre Cat" to "Skimbleshanks: The Railway Cat"
• These changes, coupled with John Mills' Gus being a lot more frail and soft-spoken than the more animated stage versions, resulted in a seemingly more jarring transition from the serious and sentimental "Gus" to the upbeat and fun "Skimbleshanks".

Skimbleshanks

• The reprise at the end of "Skimbleshanks: The Railway Cat" was cut.

Macavity

• Parts of the Macavity sequence were cut
• Demeter is paired with Munkustrap after the Macavity fight

Mistoffelees

• Mistoffelees does not sing in his song
• Parts of "Magical Mister Mistoffelees" were cut, including The Conjuring Turn
• The transitional music (Jellicle theme) between "Mr Mistoffelees" and "Daylight" was cut

Heaviside Layer

• Grizabella ascends to the Heaviside Layer via a stairway that resembles a giant paw