Looking at the publicity you might think this was a film about a cat. Don't be misled. Thomasina is a foundling cat, so named because the family that took her in mistook her for a male cat at first and naturally called him Tom, changing it later to the feminised form. This error is a bit of a worry given that the father of the family is a veterinarian, Andrew MacDhui (pronounced Macdooee), played by Patrick McGoohan.
MacDhui is a young man of science. His 'book-learning' skills are being sponsored in the local community by his patron, the local vicar. Gradually his scientific methods are becoming accepted by the traditionally superstitious farming community. However MacDhui has emotional scar tissue. His wife died five years before, leaving him with a young girl-child to raise. Furthermore it is revealed that Macdhui really wanted to be a doctor but was repressed into animal doctoring by his own father. Whilst efficient with the farm beasts MacDhui's lack of sensitivity leads to social disaster when he shows too much willingness to declare old, spoiled pets beyond useful life and offer only one option to the pet-lovers: "Put 'em doon. 'tis the best thing for the poor creature." Once he applies his strictly rational approach to his own daughter's cat the village society ostracise him. Tragically so does his daughter, declaring him as having died when her cat did. Strong stuff.
Fortunately for the children in the audience,much of the film is made up of the schoolboy adventures of three young lads. They break open the isolation of an eccentric young woman, Lori MacGregor (Susan Hampshire) by taking their various injured animal friends for her to look after, she having an instinctive way of healing that has led to her being labelled a witch.
Gradually the forces of Rationality and Empathy are brought together as MacDhui and MacGregor seek help, one from the other. She needs his surgical skills to repair her patient's broken limbs that cannot be fixed by nursing alone. He eventually calls on her assistance to reach out to his daughter who becomes so emotionally withdrawn that she then physically sickens, nearing death.
The cat, who has been a peripheral character makes a symbolic choice at the climax of the film. Her sub-plot has been negotiating the mythic nine lives of a cat. After being "poot doon" by MacDhui she had found her next life in the care of MacGregor. In the final scene MacDhui has to persuade the cat to enter the window of the dying daughters bedroom. His love for his daughter is enough to convince the cat he has learned his lesson and she trusts him enough to jump into his arms. The daughter is resurrected , MacDhui marries MacGregor and the world is all made better.
McGoohan is excellent in the keynote role. He expresses both the sensible scientific man and the father bewildered by his daughter's baffling behaviour in a superbly believable manner. He even gets to do some fisticuffs in an ebullient fight-scene with the brutal staff of a travelling circus. His Scots accent seems spot-on too. Like his other 1960's Disney epic, Dr. Syn, there is a solid moral plot as well as plenty of interest and excitement. A super film.
MacDhui is a young man of science. His 'book-learning' skills are being sponsored in the local community by his patron, the local vicar. Gradually his scientific methods are becoming accepted by the traditionally superstitious farming community. However MacDhui has emotional scar tissue. His wife died five years before, leaving him with a young girl-child to raise. Furthermore it is revealed that Macdhui really wanted to be a doctor but was repressed into animal doctoring by his own father. Whilst efficient with the farm beasts MacDhui's lack of sensitivity leads to social disaster when he shows too much willingness to declare old, spoiled pets beyond useful life and offer only one option to the pet-lovers: "Put 'em doon. 'tis the best thing for the poor creature." Once he applies his strictly rational approach to his own daughter's cat the village society ostracise him. Tragically so does his daughter, declaring him as having died when her cat did. Strong stuff.
Fortunately for the children in the audience,much of the film is made up of the schoolboy adventures of three young lads. They break open the isolation of an eccentric young woman, Lori MacGregor (Susan Hampshire) by taking their various injured animal friends for her to look after, she having an instinctive way of healing that has led to her being labelled a witch.
Gradually the forces of Rationality and Empathy are brought together as MacDhui and MacGregor seek help, one from the other. She needs his surgical skills to repair her patient's broken limbs that cannot be fixed by nursing alone. He eventually calls on her assistance to reach out to his daughter who becomes so emotionally withdrawn that she then physically sickens, nearing death.
The cat, who has been a peripheral character makes a symbolic choice at the climax of the film. Her sub-plot has been negotiating the mythic nine lives of a cat. After being "poot doon" by MacDhui she had found her next life in the care of MacGregor. In the final scene MacDhui has to persuade the cat to enter the window of the dying daughters bedroom. His love for his daughter is enough to convince the cat he has learned his lesson and she trusts him enough to jump into his arms. The daughter is resurrected , MacDhui marries MacGregor and the world is all made better.
McGoohan is excellent in the keynote role. He expresses both the sensible scientific man and the father bewildered by his daughter's baffling behaviour in a superbly believable manner. He even gets to do some fisticuffs in an ebullient fight-scene with the brutal staff of a travelling circus. His Scots accent seems spot-on too. Like his other 1960's Disney epic, Dr. Syn, there is a solid moral plot as well as plenty of interest and excitement. A super film.