The Cat in the Hat: Deluxe Edition

Animation icon Chuck Jones and Theodor “Dr. Seuss” Geisel produced this 1971 TV adaptation of the latter's beloved 1957 children's book, featuring song parodist Allan Sherman as the voice of the titular feline. A brother and sister stuck inside on a dreary, rainy day are pulled out of the doldrums by the exuberant arrival of a rhyming, skateboarding, striped-hatted cat. Ignoring anthropomorphic family fish pet Karlos K. Krinkelbein—who tries to stop all the rambunctiousness—the Cat worms his way into the home with a tall tale about searching for his stolen “moss-covered three-handled family gradunza.” Getting the children to join in the search, the Cat and the siblings make a mess writing on household items, and the arrival of Cat's blue-haired creature pals Thing One and Thing Two only add to the chaos. Can the motley crew clean things up in time for Mother's return? This silly, song-filled short doesn't boast the greatest message (let a stranger in the house?), but still remains a classic some 40 years on, making a welcome debut on Blu-ray. Bonus features include a sing-along mode, and the additional Seuss stories “Daisy-Head Mayzie” and “The Hoober-Bloob Highway.” Recommended. Aud: P. (J. Williams-Wood)