The Cat From Outer Space (1978)

Starring: Rumple, Amber and Spot

Directed by: Norman Tokar

Cat Out of the Bag Alert! This review contains spoilers for this film!

Synopsis: A cat alien makes an emergency landing on Earth then seeks the help of a scientist to repair his ship which is being held by the military.

Featured Felines: After the small spaceship lands the alien cat exits. He is wearing a collar which sometimes glows.

The Cat From Outer Space - alien cat Jake Abyssinian Rumple exiting spaceship

The Cat From Outer Space - alien cat Jake Abyssinian Rumple with glowing collar

The Cat From Outer Space - alien cat Jake Abyssinian Rumple with glowing collar animated gif

The alien feline watches as the military arrives to take his spaceship away. He stows aboard one of their vehicles. Having the power to move objects, the cat easily gains access to the military meeting room where General Stilton (Harry Morgan) shows everyone a hovering object taken from the spacecraft. He asks his scientific researchers, including Frank (Ken Berry), Link (McLean Stevenson) and Liz (Sandy Duncan) for their theories on this mysterious propulsion system. When Frank gives his theory on The Primal Mainstream, the cat sits up and takes interest.

The Cat From Outer Space - alien cat Jake Abyssinian Rumple lying on chair

The Cat From Outer Space - alien cat Jake Abyssinian Rumple sitting up and taking interest in Frank Ken Berry animated gif

The alien follows Frank to his office. Frank is amused by the cat and calls him Jake. But he’s shocked when Jake (voiced by Ronnie Schell) starts communicating with him via thought transference and introduces himself as Zunar J5/90 Doric Fourseven but suggests they continue to just use Jake. He explains that on his planet cats were the highest life form his society needed to evolve to since they focused on developing their mental acuity while humans on Earth developed tools, machinery, agriculture “and a chronic pain in his lower back.”

The Cat From Outer Space - alien cat Jake Abyssinian Rumple making Frank Ken Berry sit down in chair animated gif

Back at Frank’s apartment, Jake displays the powers of his collar by letting Frank hold on and levitate.

The Cat From Outer Space - alien cat Jake Abyssinian Rumple with Frank Ken Berry levitating while holding collar

The Cat From Outer Space - alien cat Jake Abyssinian Rumple letting Frank Ken Berry hold his collar to levitate animated gif

Link drops by to watch the end of a basketball game (which Jake controls using his mind) and then Liz arrives with her cat Lucy Belle.

The Cat From Outer Space - alien cat Jake Abyssinian Rumple controlling basketball with collar animated gif

The Cat From Outer Space - alien cat Jake Abyssinian Rumple meeting white Persian cat Lucy Belle Spot

Frank had forgotten he had asked Liz out earlier and tries to think of an excuse to break the date. Jake provides one by sneezing, allowing Frank to say the cat is sick.

The Cat From Outer Space - alien cat Jake Abyssinian Rumple sneezing while being held by Frank Ken Berry animated gif

Frank and Jake sneak onto the military base and examine Jake’s spaceship, watched closely by Mr. Stallwood (Roddy McDowall), a man who works at the base but is actually spying for a master criminal named Mr. Olympus (William Prince). When they are almost caught, Jake shows off his power to make people freeze in place.

The Cat From Outer Space - alien cat Jake Abyssinian Rumple being held by Frank Ken Berry

Jake explains he has to rendevous with the mothership within thirty-four hours. After checking the ship, Jake realizes he needs a mineral replacement for one component, which turns out to be gold.

The Cat From Outer Space - alien cat Jake Abyssinian Rumple inside spaceship

They are nearly caught and have to make a daring escape from the base using a motorcycle which Jake levitates over the gate.

The Cat From Outer Space - alien cat Jake Abyssinian Rumple and Frank Ken Berry on motorcycle

The Cat From Outer Space - alien cat Jake Abyssinian Rumple and Frank Ken Berry flying over gate on motorcycle animated gif

Needing $120,000 to buy enough gold for Jake’s needs, they realize that with Link’s help they can place sports bets and Jake can control the outcome of the games. They confide in Link with Jake using his powers to convince him. Little do they know that Stallwood is filming them from outside the apartment.

The Cat From Outer Space - alien cat Jake Abyssinian Rumple being held by Link McLean Stevenson with Frank Ken Berry

The Cat From Outer Space - alien cat Jake Abyssinian Rumple making beer in Link's McLean Stevenson glass fly back into can animated gif

Liz comes over with Lucy Belle and Frank tells her Jake is still sick. She calls Dr. Wenger (Alan Young), a veterinarian from upstairs, and he gives Jake a tranquilizer before Frank and Link know what has happened. This threatens their plan since Jake can’t control the outcome of the games.

The Cat From Outer Space - alien cat Jake Abyssinian Rumple asleep on back of couch with Frank Ken Berry, Link McLean Stevenson, Liz Sandy Duncan and Dr. Wenger Alan Young

Not able to reach Link’s bookie by phone to cancel the bets, they explain to Liz what is going on and head down to the pool hall.

The Cat From Outer Space - alien cat Jake Abyssinian Rumple sleeping in Link McLean Stevenson's arms with Honest Harry Tom Pedi

Ernie the bookie (Jesse White) points out the games have started and won’t cancel. They decide to bet on a pool game to break even but Ernie will only give them good odds if Liz plays. Frank tries to use Jake’s collar to control the game but the ball flies out of control. Fortunately Jake awakens in time to control another game and win them the money they need.

The Cat From Outer Space - alien cat Jake Abyssinian Rumple controlling pool game with collar animated gif

Both the military and Stallwood are after Jake and his collar. Jake is happy to finally have the means to go home but admits he wishes he could stay, having grown fond of Lucy Belle.

The Cat From Outer Space - alien cat Jake Abyssinian Rumple with white Persian cat Lucy Belle Spot

General Stilton and his man barge in right when Jake is preparing to shrink the gold to his needs. They freeze the men and after Jake shrinks the gold Frank takes the General’s uniform to get them back onto the base.

The Cat From Outer Space - alien cat Jake Abyssinian Rumple looking at bar of gold

After they leave, Liz and Link are kidnapped by Olympus’ men.

The Cat From Outer Space - Link McLean Stevenson, Liz Sandy Duncan and white Persian cat Lucy Belle Spot being kidnapped

Jake prepares his ship for departure, making contact with the mothership. Meanwhile Link is dropped off at the base to relay a message from Olympus that he wants the collar in exchange for Liz.

The Cat From Outer Space - alien cat Jake Abyssinian Rumple with Frank Ken Berry dressed as General

The Cat From Outer Space - alien cat Jake Abyssinian Rumple with Frank Ken Berry in spaceship

Hearing that Liz and Lucy Belle are in trouble, Jake lets the ship take off without him and joins Frank and Link to save them.

The Cat From Outer Space - alien cat Jake Abyssinian Rumple in jeep with Frank Ken Berry and Link McLean Stevenson

At the airport, Olympus and Stallwood try to escape in a helicopter with Liz and Lucy Belle.

The Cat From Outer Space - Stallwood Roddy McDowell, Olympus William Prince, Liz Sandy Duncan and white Persian cat Lucy Belle Spot in helicopter

Jake commandeers a beat up old plane to take chase with Frank riding along.

The Cat From Outer Space - alien cat Jake Abyssinian Rumple standing on old plane

Realizing that Olympus means to kill Liz, Stallwood actually sabotages the helicopter. Everyone bails out, leaving Liz and Lucy Belle to be rescued by Frank and Jake.