Cat Ballou - Trivia, Questions and Fun Facts

[lynn]

Kirk Douglas turned down the role of Shelleen. Jack Palance desperately wanted the role but was never offered it.

[kylie]

Modern-day audiences regard Lee Marvin's Oscar win for a raucous comedy with puzzlement, especially given the heavy-hitting dramas released the same year, such as Darling (1965), Doctor Zhivago (1965) and Ship of Fools (1965). At the time, however, Marvin's over-the-top portrayal of two total-opposite brothers was a revelation following a career playing one-note heavies. The actor had never had an opportunity to show his lighter side, and audiences loved what they saw -- to the point where Marvin's nomination that year was for Cat Ballou (1965) rather than the far more prestigious and dramatic Ship of Fools (1965).