Old Deuteronomy Old Deuteronomy Old Deuteronomy is a character in T. S. Eliot's "Old Possum's Book of Practical Cats" and its musical adaptation, "Cats". In Eliot's original poem, Old Deuteronomy is described as an ancient, wise cat who has "lived many lives in succession" and is respected by the other cats and humans (and perhaps even dogs) in his environment. His name derives from Deuteronomy, the fifth book of the Old Testament of the Bible, which shares the central element of law with the character (who is a magistrate). "Cats" expands on the theme of wisdom by depicting Deuteronomy as the leader
Joel Chandler Harris Uncle Remus-inspired dialect, referring to themselves as "Brer Rabbit" and "Old Possum," respectively. Eventually the dialect and the personae became a sign of their collaboration against the London literary establishment. Eliot titled one of his books "Old Possum's Book of Practical Cats". Ralph Bakshi wrote and directed a 1975 American live action/animated crime film titled "Coonskin" based on Harris' Brothers rabbit, fox, and bear who rise to the top of the organized crime racket in Harlem, encountering corrupt law enforcement, con artists, and the Mafia. In 1946, the Walt Disney Company produced a film based on the Uncle Remus tales