The Last Unicorn (1982)

Directed by: Jules Bass, Arthur Rankin Jr.

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

Synopsis: A unicorn (voiced by Mia Farrow) is shocked to learn she is the last and goes on a quest to rescue her fellow unicorns from the hands of King Haggard (voiced by Christopher Lee).

Cartoon Cat: Eventually the unicorn, now in human form, arrives at the castle of King Haggard with the magician Schmendrick (voiced by Alan Arkin) and a woman named Molly (voiced by Tammy Grimes). As they try to unravel the secret of the passage leading to the Red Bull’s lair (where they believe the unicorns are being held), they bide their time in Haggard’s castle. Living there is a large tuxedo cat (voiced by Don Messick) who is seen a couple of times in various scenes. The cat has a wooden front right leg, an eyepatch over his right eye and an earring in the left ear, giving him the appearance of having been a cat on a pirate ship. We first see Pirate Cat lying on the floor of the kitchen while Molly is doing dishes.

The Last Unicorn - pirate cat lying on floor behind Molly in kitchen

The Last Unicorn - pirate cat standing on floor in kitchen

Pirate Cat is next seen jumping up after one of the floating balls which Schmendrick is juggling to amuse King Haggard.

The Last Unicorn - pirate cat jumping after glowing ball in front of King Haggard

In another scene, Molly is talking to Haggard’s son, Prince Lir (voiced by Jeff Bridges) about how he can win the fair maiden Amalthea (not knowing she is a transformed unicorn). Pirate Cat is on a chair nearby then jumps into Molly’s lap to sleep during the conversation.

The Last Unicorn - pirate cat lying on stool beside Molly in kitchen with Prince Lir

The Last Unicorn - pirate cat sitting on stool beside Molly in kitchen with Prince Lir

It isn’t until Molly is startled by the shaking of the castle when the Red Bull heads out for the night that we learn Pirate Cat can speak (albeit in a arrrghy pirate way). The cat explains to Molly what is happening, then adds, “You know that purr-fectly well. So don’t be stupid.”

The Last Unicorn - pirate cat on stairway beside Molly

The Last Unicorn - pirate cat on stairway

Pirate Cat comments on the unicorn and Molly is surprised the cat has seen through the magic. “No cat out of its first fur can ever be deceived by appearances, unlike human beings who seem to enjoy it.”

The Last Unicorn - pirate cat being held by Molly on staircase

Molly carries Pirate Cat to the kitchen and gives him some pets, which he enjoys very much.

The Last Unicorn - pirate cat being petted by Molly on kitchen table

The Last Unicorn - pirate cat on kitchen table

The Last Unicorn - pirate cat being petted by Molly on kitchen table animated gif

Molly then tries to get the cat to tell her the way into the Red Bull’s lair. At one point she rolls Pirate Cat over, which he dislikes. She then picks him up and insists he tells her the secret.

The Last Unicorn - pirate cat being rolled over by Molly on kitchen table

Pirate Cat gives Molly a riddle, which frustrates her. She asks why he can’t just give her a straight answer.

The Last Unicorn - pirate cat being held up by Molly

The Last Unicorn - pirate cat breaking away from Molly's grip

“Because I be what I be,” Pirate Cat explains, “I would tell you what you want to know if I could, ma’am, but I be a cat. And no cat anywhere ever gave anyone a straight answer.”

The Last Unicorn - pirate cat on floor at Molly's feet

At this last line the cat pulls his eyepatch off the one eye, revealing it is perfectly fine.

The Last Unicorn - pirate cat revealing good eye beneath patch

The Last Unicorn - pirate cat revealing good eye beneath patch animated gif

According to one trivia page, the cat’s voice was derived by Don Messick, who went with a Long John Silver impersonation. The animators liked it so much, they gave the cat his pirate appearance. It would seem the cat in the original book was just an ordinary cat, although it must also have been able to speak.