Shinbone Alley
“It's sophisticated enough for kids, simple enough for adults”
Synopsis
Suicidal poet Archy tries to end his life by jumping off a bridge, but awakens to find he has assumed the life of a cockroach and has become a part of a community of creatures living in a newspaper office. He also discovers that he can still write poetry, using a typewriter, and begins to enjoy his new life. Archy develops deep feelings for the lovely but self-destructive cat Mehitabel, but will have to fight to win her from bad-boy tomcat Bill.
Top Cast
Explore Star Directory →
Carol Channing
Mehitabel (voice)
Eddie Bracken
Archy (voice)
Alan Reed
Big Bill (voice)
John Carradine
Tyrone T. Tattersall (voice)
Hal Smith
Freddie the Rat / Prissy Cat (voice)
Joan Gerber
Penelope the Fat Cat / Ladybugs of the Evening (voice)
Sal Delano
Beatnik Spider (voice)
Ken Sansom
Rosie the Cat (voice)
Byron Kane
Newspaperman (voice)
Release History & Theatrical Window
June 26, 1970
Wide Cinema Exhibition
Key Information & Fast Facts
- Director
- John Wilson
- Screenplay & Story
- Joe Darion
- Original Score
- George Kleinsinger
- Original Title
- Shinbone Alley
- Country of Origin
- United States of America
- Spoken Languages
- English
- Runtime
- 1h 25m
- Production Studios
- Fine Arts Films, Allied Artists
Creative Leadership & Key Crew
John Wilson
Joe Darion, Mel Brooks, Don Marquis
George Kleinsinger
Warner E. Leighton
Preston M. Fleet, John Wilson
Department Leadership Roster
Warner E. Leighton
Editor
Preston M. Fleet
Producer
Joe Darion
Screenplay
John Wilson
Producer
Mel Brooks
Writer
Don Marquis
Writer
Joe Darion
Writer
George Kleinsinger
Original Music Composer
John Wilson
Director
James Bernardi
Production Design
Corny Cole
Production Design
David Detiege
Production Design
Jules Engel
Production Design
Gary Lund
Production Design
John Wilson
Production Design
Age Classification & Content Advisories
Official viewer rating standards and content warnings across international classification boards.
G: General Audiences — All ages admitted. Nothing offensive for children.
International Certification Matrix
General Audiences — All ages admitted. Nothing offensive for children.
Production Stills & Gallery
Official cinematic photography and background stills for Shinbone Alley.
Featured In Curated Collections
Editorial lists, community rankings, and cinematic collections featuring Shinbone Alley.
Abstrusest 2
Musicals
Every film Wikidata tags as a musical film.
list_Music
Movies categorized under Music
Missing Mine
MovieLens[20K:30K]
Cats
Similar Titles to Shinbone Alley
Movies sharing stylistic DNA, tone, and thematic storytelling
6.5
6.2
6.5
5.9
8.0
6.2
6.6
6.8
6.4
Anime
10.0
Anime
More Like Shinbone Alley
Recommended titles matching themes, cast, and genres.
Frequently Asked Questions About Shinbone Alley
Quick factual answers about cast, synopsis, director, box office, and release information.
What is Shinbone Alley about?
Suicidal poet Archy tries to end his life by jumping off a bridge, but awakens to find he has assumed the life of a cockroach and has become a part of a community of creatures living in a newspaper office. He also discovers that he can still write poetry, using a typewriter, and begins to enjoy his new life. Archy develops deep feelings for the lovely but self-destructive cat Mehitabel, but will have to fight to win her from bad-boy tomcat Bill.
Who directed Shinbone Alley?
Shinbone Alley was directed by John Wilson.
Who stars in Shinbone Alley?
The principal cast of Shinbone Alley includes Carol Channing, Eddie Bracken, Alan Reed, John Carradine, Hal Smith.
When was Shinbone Alley released and how long is it?
Shinbone Alley was released in 1970 with a total runtime of 1h 25m.
Who composed the musical score for Shinbone Alley?
The original motion picture soundtrack for Shinbone Alley was composed by George Kleinsinger.
What is the age rating and content advisory for Shinbone Alley?
Shinbone Alley holds official age classifications: US: G (General Audiences — All ages admitted. Nothing offensive for children.).