The Treasure of Lost Canyon (1952)

by Ted Davis

Directed by: Ted Tetzlaff

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

Synopsis: Affable old timer Homer ‘Doc’ Brown (William Powell) professes to hate kids and dogs, but we know that’s not true when he takes in wayward orphan David (Tommy Ivo) and his sprightly fox terrier Toby in this agreeable family-oriented western which demonstrates that mutual love and trust have more value than treasures of gold and silver.

Cat Burglar (Scene Stealer): Doc arrives at breakfast and greets Miss Lucy, his brown tabby cat who is already seated at the table and who meows in acknowledgement. The cat has the prettiest little purring mews, although they are only dubbed in.

The Treasure of Lost Canyon - Doc Brown Willam Powell petting brown tabby cat Miss Lucy at breakfast table with Samuella Rosemary DeCamp

The Treasure of Lost Canyon - Doc Brown Willam Powell petting brown tabby cat Miss Lucy at breakfast table with Samuella Rosemary DeCamp animated gif

Doc’s wife Samuella (Rosemary DeCamp) explains that Miss Lucy has already breakfasted on a big fat gopher, but she (the cat, not the gopher) remains politely at table throughout the meal, even when Doc jumps up and runs off mid-meal, returns, then runs off again.

The Treasure of Lost Canyon - Doc Brown Willam Powell getting up from table with brown tabby cat Miss Lucy

The Treasure of Lost Canyon - Doc Brown Willam Powell at table with brown tabby cat Miss Lucy

The Treasure of Lost Canyon - Doc Brown Willam Powell in hall with brown tabby cat Miss Lucy and Samuella Rosemary DeCamp in kitchen

Later, Miss Lucy is in the background when Doc conducts a doomed chemical experiment then runs screeching but unhurt out of the house directly after the predictable explosion. Miss Lucy never returns and is not mentioned again, not even when the house catches fire later in the film and everyone is scrambling to save their possessions.