Wildcats: Crazy Cora & Quigley Down Under

Since cats are all the rage on the interwebs, I thought I would dedicate one blog post to my cats back home.

We have two cats that are both named after one of my favorite Australian flicks: Quigley Down Under.

Quigley and I get along swell.

The legend of our cats starts with a little black kitten who wandered into my dad's grain truck. A day after my dad hauled some cleaned barley back from the mill he was greeted by the site of this black speck darting across the floorboard. Upon further inspection he found that it was a black kitten who had either been left in the truck by its mother or dumped off by its former owner. Nevertheless, my dad took a shine to the new kitten and decided to bring him home.

After hearing the story of this tough cat surviving a ride under the seat of our grain trunk, the family decided to anoint him the title of Quigley Down Under. The cat is known simply as Quigley and he has certainly lived up to his name sake. Much like Tom Selleck's character he doesn't take gruff from anyone or anything. Quigley will jump you from the shadows just to get a rise out of you. He loves to fight our dogs even though they are five times his size.

Much like the story of his arrival on the Bechtel Ranch there was another time he stowed away on the back of our feed truck during pasture burning. Luckily we heard Quigley meowing under the cake feeder and got him thrown in the cab of the truck before he decided to jump off into the flames.

To say the least ole Quigley is quite the little scamp.

Cora wasn't too keen about having her photograph taken.

Then there is Quigley's partner in crime: Crazy Cora.

Cora showed up at our ranch during the height of hunting season. We would see her coming and going from our property for a year. Then Cora decided to take up with our family in the garage for a few months. Eventually, my mom was able to coax her into the house.

For the past year she has been a bit of a recluse. Cora will skirt by my family members in an effort not to get pet and at night she loves to run amuck, making as much clatter as possible.

Our Quigley and Cora can't stand each other this much.

She also lives up to her name by tormenting Quigley and by being a bit of loon. Recently, Cora decided to go on an Australian style "walkabout" when she fell out of my parent's bedroom window during a fight with Quigley. The next few days my mom worried if her dear, sweet Cora had been eaten by dingos (a.k.a. coyotes).

Well as the song says "the cat came back. She wouldn't stay away. She was sitting on the porch the very next day."

Both Quigley and Cora are safe and sound at my folks house, but it's a crying shame I can't take them on an outback adventure to Australia. I'm sure they could tell a whale of a tale if the made it to the Land Down Under.

Until we meet again, happy trails!

Down Under Cinema

Movies about the Australian Outback have drawn in audiences for the last few decades. Whether it's a modern day trilogy like Crocodile Dundee or a blast from the past like Quigley Down Under, moviegoers can't seem to get enough of this legendary land.

                                                                                 

For me it all started with The Rescuers Down Under, a plucky cartoon about two mice who are determined to save a young boy and rare golden eagle. What really sells this film for me is the voice talent. The maniacal McLeach, a poacher bent on trapping and killing every critter in sight, is voiced by brilliant George C. Scott who is best known for playing the role of Patton. Other cinema greats who were involved in this picture include John Candy, Eva Gabor, Bob Newhart and Peter Firth. The movie also has the distinction of being the first Disney sequel.

Disney hit more gold with the creation of the Pixar film, Finding Nemo. While it doesn't take place on land very often, it shows off the expansive ocean that lies to the east. In the movie Nemo's father, Marlin, is accompanied by the forgetful Dory on a journey that takes them from the Great Barrier Reef all the way to Sydney in hopes of finding Nemo.

The Man From Snowy River and its sequel, Return to Snow River, are two classics that take a look at Australia's gold rush days. Tom Burlinson plays mountain man Jim Craig who is legendary for his ride down the face of cliff in pursuit of a mob of horses. The movies are a good mix of history and fiction as it is based off the poem by Banjo Patterson.

Another favorite of mine is the Tom Selleck film Quigley Down Under. American sharpshooter Matthew Quigley has been brought to the Outback to hunt dingoes, but when he finds out he will be shooting at something much different he has a change of heart and rebels against his cruel employer. 

For all the great Australian movies there are a few that just don't sit well with me. Australia is one of those films. Just recently released in 2008, this tale of love, cattle, racial tension and war seems like a real winner. However, for me it is too reminiscent to other movies like Giant (which is one of my favorite flicks) and Pearl Harbor (which is one of my least favorite). Because of its similarities to the latter and not the former I've never been to fond of the Hugh Jackman and Nicole Kidman picture.

Mad Max you're on my watch list.

Crocodile Dundee in Los Angeles is another film that missed the mark. The first two Crocodile Dundee movies are funny throughout, but the third film seems to lack the pizzazz of its predecessors. 

Well now I'm on a mission to watch all these films and maybe a few others before I head to Australia. Mad Max and A Cry in the Dark sound like a good change of pace from the comedies, westerns and cartoons I mentioned.

Until next time, happy trails!