Oscar-winning legend Dame Judi Dench has provided a bit of insight about her involvement in the Cats debacle.
The movie version of the popular Andrew Lloyd Webber stage musical opened late last year to less-than-favorable reviews. Audiences avoided the film as though it was feral, and director Tom Hooper and parent company Universal actually had to pull it from theatres due to unfinished special effects. The movie has since picked up a cult following of viewers who love it for camp value, and demands for an anatomically correct “butthole cut” (which apparently does exist) have gained steam on social media.
Related: Angry fans demand the “butthole” cut of ‘Cats;’ Universal responds
Now Dench, who plays the sage-like character Old Deuteronomy in the film, admits she never saw the finished film in its entirety, nor does she have a desire to after an uncomfortable filming process. Dark Horizons reports that Dench hated her on-set costume, and felt disappointed by her character in general.
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“[I’m] a battered, mangy old cat. A great big orange bruiser. What’s that about?” Dench says, having hoped to appear more stylish and elegant. Of her costume, she doesn’t mince words. “The cloak I was made to wear! Like five foxes f*king on my back.”
The actress also adds that the film found an unlikely fan in actor Ben Whishaw, who sent Dench a message of encouragement.
“I had a very nice…text, from Ben Whishaw, who just doted on it,” she says. “So sweet. So lovely.”
Cats streams on various platforms for anyone bold enough to brave it.
jayceecook
Read the whole script and not just your part maybe? Talk to the director about your character and their backstory. Research the damn musical it’s based on. Or the book of poetry that that’s based on maybe? Or maybe they should have just stuck to the story and kept the dang character male instead of trying to be as subversive as vaporwave.
Bromancer7
Sit down jayceecook, you’re drunk again.
jayceecook
@Bromancer7 I don’t drink. Try again.
Woteva
In defence of the immensely talented and acclaimed actress, there’s a couple of other things that should be mentioned. She knows the whole show – she was an original cast member (as Grizabella – who sings Memory) but days before opening she snapped an Achilles’ tendon and Elaine Paige quickly stepped into the role. The movie? In another radio interview (for the BBC) she said she jumped at being in the movie to make up for missing out first time around. All the actors performed in body suits (that were ‘very uncomfortable’) and each cast member was shown ‘visual interpretations’ of how their feline character would appear. Turned out that several of the cast were surprised when they saw the finished product because they looked nothing like what they’d been shown before shooting commenced.
Throughout her career Judi has stated that she can’t bear to watch herself (an old cliche but one she’s always maintained) because she says she’d almost certainly have wanted to give a different performance. She prefers to do stage work – because each night she can ‘change it up’ to suit how she’s feeling and the audience reaction. Problem with film is it’s set and there’s no going back.
Have to also add that I am a càt lover and got very excited to see the show when it opened in London in 1981. I went with three other cat lovers and all four of us thought the show was bloody awful. Last November I grudgingly went to see the movie (because my sister wanted to see if it was as awful as the critics said) and the critics were correct. The movie is, right from the start, truly AWFUL. For any movie to become a cult classic there has to be something endearing about it. The Cats movie musical is just a multi-million dollar mess.
Right, I’m off to see if my litter tray has been cleaned yet…
MHaumesser
Sometimes terrible movies become amazing cult classics! Just look at the Rocky Horror Picture Show!
jayceecook
@Woteva Since this was partially aimed at me I’ll reply instead of making a whole new comment.
I’m not well versed in the BTS info on the original production so the fact that DJD was involved only makes her look more dense and my point more valid. I know by your comment that you think the musical is “bloody awful”. That’s fine. People like what they like and dislike what they dislike. However you should then know that Old Deuteronomy, unlike the other Jellicles, doesn’t wear a unitard but a mangy, loose, and shaggy coat.
But more importantly so should she! Especially if she is so much more in love with the THEE-EH-TOR. Considering that she is the “the immensely talented and acclaimed” DJD a simple “No darling. I shan’t be wearing that bloody awful thing that looks like 5 foxes phucking.” and TH would have bent over backwards to please her.
Not only that but as a veteran actress she should have known that she was going to be required to work in a green suit. Even regular folk know those things are not comfortable. So if she had a problem with it then maybe don’t jump at the chance to do something you know will require you to perform that way.
This is one reason why I have so much respect for people like Andy Serkis and Doug Jones who have shown how powerful a performance you can give while chroma-acting. They have mastered such a different style of acting that they have elevated the technology itself.
Actors do different takes all the time on film and television sets. Some directors are notorious for having actors perform the same scene but with a different tone or character motivation. That way they have multiple choices during the editing process to choose from. Some of the most iconic scenes from popular films and television were born from a random take. So I’m sure she had every opportunity to change things up. Obviously not like live theatre but at least it’s something.
DJD has had a phenomenal career. She’s hit it out of the park a few times. But she’s also been vastly overrated. Example, 1998’s Best Supporting Actress award. Totally undeserved. Lynn Redgrave out performed her (as did every other actress in that category that year) and was absolutely robbed! There was nothing spectacular or acclaimed about those 8 minutes DJD was on screen. Except maybe the costume and wig. Though that nothing to do with her. But that whole year was a shite show when it came to the winners.
So yeah, the film was a mess of a mess. The effects were terrible, rushed, and inconsistent at best. The stage show isn’t for everyone. I doubt it ever was supposed to be. Though it is one of the longest running productions of all time so something kept people in those seats. But I stand by my original comment about DJD. Maybe it’s just her time to retire from the business and enjoy her million dollar life where she doesn’t end up in films where she looks like a bunch of small, omnivorous mammals are having an orgy on her back.
CurtisIsTheOne
Oh, ME-OW