Gone to Earth (1950)

by Ted Davis

Alternative Version: The Wild Heart is a drastically different and inferior movie, with some scenes excised, and new ones concocted by David O’Selznick and Rouben Mamoulian, neither man at his best on this project.

Directed by: Michael Powell

Cat Out of the Bag Alert! This review contains some spoilers for this film!

Synopsis: The affecting and tragic tale of untamed pagan spirit Hazel (Jennifer Jones), ravishing daughter of careless and neglectful Abel Woodus (Esmond Knight), who has an affinity for all wild creatures, as exemplified by her beautiful pet fox, the prosaically named Foxy, and the numerous animals which cohabit with her. Hazel is torn between sacred and profane love in the respective forms of the gentle and considerate Edward Marston (Cyril Cusack), local minister, and predatory rake Jack Reddin (David Farrar), the masterful squire of Undern, but there’s really no contest, because Hazel’s nature responds more to the virile and violent Reddin, and she is complicit in her own doom.

Kitty Cameos: Early in the movie, in the cottage haven owned by Hazel’s father, her brown tabby cat is sitting on a chair. The father unceremoniously pushes the poor cat from his seat.

Gone to Earth - brown tabby cat on chair with Abel Woodus Edmond Knight

Later the kitty is cleaning itself before the fireplace.

Gone to Earth - brown tabby cat preening in front of fireplace

Prior to Reddin’s direct and unsubtle attempt at seduction, Hazel coddles a different brown tabby cat in the estate kitchen. Reddin’s manservant Vessons (Hugh Griffith), who strongly disapproves of his master’s lecherous advances toward Hazel, is surprised to see her.

Gone to Earth - Hazel Jennifer Jones holding brown tabby cat in kitchen

Reddin enters the kitchen and eyes Hazel and the cat.

Gone to Earth - Hazel Jennifer Jones holding brown tabby cat in kitchen with Vessons Hugh Griffith and Reddin David Farrar

Gone to Earth - Hazel Jennifer Jones holding brown tabby cat

Gone to Earth - Hazel Jennifer Jones holding brown tabby cat in kitchen with Vessons Hugh Griffith and Reddin David Farrar animated gif

After a couple of moments, the cat drops from Hazel’s arms to the flagstone floor.

On Hazel’s wedding night, her tabby cat, having been moved to the minister’s home along with her other animals, is rigged out special with a ribbon tied in a bow.