Starring: Charlie

Directed by: Carol Reed

Synopsis: An unlikely, complicated romance blooms between working class Diana (Jessie Matthews) and the wealthy Nicky (Michael Redgrave) whom she thinks is a poor schlob named John Smith. Further complications include employment in a kooky advertising agency, a singing madman (Francis L. Sullivan) and a communistic, work-aversive roommate (Alastair Sim).

Purr Blur: The opening scene finds Diana’s lumberjack brother Jim (Torin Thatcher) planning a trip from Canada to London to surprise his sister. He pulls a photo of her out to show his foreman and Diana is holding a tuxedo kitten.

Diana teaches dancing to children on the roof of the apartment. The tuxedo kitten is present in two brief scenes, walking along the rooftops.

Behind the Scenes:

A brief story appeared regarding the cat in this film, although some of the information does not match what is in the final movie.

    Charlie, the Pinewood Studio cat, got his “break” this week in the Gaumont British picture, “Climbing High,” starring Jessie Matthews and Michael Redgrave.
    Charlie is the protege of diminutive Frank Hodges (nicknamed “Shorty”), who regards him as a mascot and always tries to get him on the screen somehow or other.
    It was on the set representing the backyard of a Chelsea studio and director Carol Reed suggested that a cat should unconcernedly walk past Jessie and Michael quarreling. Carol accepted Charlie for the part on condition that “Shorty” got him to do what he wanted. Shorty hid in a barrel turned away from the camera and coaxed his pet across the scene. Twice Charlie decided to stop in the middle of the set and stare at the camera. But at the third “take,” due mainly to “Shorty’s” frenzied gesticulations in the barrel, he was perfect. The only trouble now is that Charlie feels he should be in every scene! — The Kensington News and West London Times, September 2, 1938

This moment may have been filmed as described but no such scene appears in the movie. The cat is only seen in the photo with Jessie Matthews (herself a cat fancier in real life) and on the rooftops of the building set and does not appear anywhere near the principals. We also could not identify “Shorty,” as he has no credit on the movie on screen or off. Was he possibly the snarky kid taking dance lessons? We may never know!

Final Mewsings: Cat actors appreciate publicity but would prefer more screen time!

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