by Ted Davis

Directed by: Blake Edwards

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

Synopsis: Director Blake Edwards’ heavily contrived yet sincere elegy for the old American West, its passing symbolized in the characters of weathered and amiable Ross Bodine (William Holden) and young and eager Frank Post (Ryan O’Neal), two simple-minded cowpunchers on the run and out of their depth after committing an ill advised small time bank robbery. This early 1970s western includes all the expected bad language, vomit jokes, multiple whorehouses, long-winded philosophizing, and slow-motion shootings and deaths before reaching its inevitable self-conscious conclusion.

Cat Burglars (Scene Stealers): Frank’s stolen puppy needs milk, and rugged old-timer Ben (Moses Gunn) introduces it to his long haired gray and white tabby ranch cat which is nursing her litter of kittens on a bedding of burlap sacks.

Frank is a bit nervous that the cat will tear his pup’s head off, but the lucky little dog is accepted just fine as another hungry member of her brood.

Reluctant to trade the puppy for a mule, Frank offers to buy the cat from Ben but eventually sees the sense in allowing the pup and cats to stay where they are.

Final Mewsings: The mama cat was happy to avoid a tedious trek with two hapless cowboys.

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