The Soul of Youth (1920)

by Linda Kay

Directed by: William Desmond Taylor

This review contains a Mild Kitty Carnage Warning (for scruffing)!

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

Synopsis: Ed Simpson (Lewis Sargent) was born with every disadvantage and ends up the target of constant scorn in an orphanage. Preferring life on the street, Ed tries to make an honest living but a slip in conscience leads him into juvenile court. However Ed may get a chance at redemption when a judge agrees to place him in the home where he was caught stealing.

Cat Burglar (Scene Stealer): The film contains a much too complicated subplot about a crooked man running for mayor whom Ed’s foster family is trying to expose. This part of the story includes two older next door neighbors, Mr. and Mrs. Hodge (Fred Huntley and Sylvia Ashton) who are also against this potential politician. As Mr. Hodge is worrying about the man gaining power, Mrs. Hodge asks him to go check on “Babe,” saying, “I’m afraid she’s uncovered — and she’s been so restless all day.” Mr. Hodge walks into the next room where there is a bassinet. Pulling back the cover he reveals a longhair gray cat.

The Soul of Youth - longhair gray cat Babe lying in bassinet

The Soul of Youth - Mr. Hodge Fred Huntley uncovering longhair gray cat Babe lying in bassinet animated gif

Mild Kitty Carnage Warning! Mr. Hodge picks up poor Babe by the scruff and hauls him out to Mrs. Hodge, holding the cat over her head. Mrs. Hodge is understandably upset, but Mr. Hodge reprimands her, stating, “If you must have something to fuss over, why don’t you adopt a child and put that cat outdoors where it belongs?”

The Soul of Youth - Mr. Hodge Fred Huntley picking up longhair gray cat Babe by scruff

The Soul of Youth - Mr. Hodge Fred Huntley picking up longhair gray cat Babe by scruff over Mrs. Hodge Sylvia Ashton

The Soul of Youth - Mrs. Hodge Sylvia Ashton cradling longhair gray cat Babe by scruff with Mr. Hodge Fred Huntley

When the scene ends a title card appears which reads, “On the day that Mr. Hodge finally relegates “Babe” to the back yard, Mrs. Hodge sets forth with Vera to find a substitute.” Cleverly, a small scene plays in the corner of Mr. Hodge tossing poor babe outdoors. Mrs. Hodge and Vera do not find a substitute cat, as the title is talking about their impending visit to the orphanage where Ed lives.

The Soul of Youth - Mr. Hodge Fred Huntley throwing longhair gray cat Babe out door on title card

The Soul of Youth - Mr. Hodge Fred Huntley throwing longhair gray cat Babe out door on title card animated gif

Kitty Cameo: Later in the film Ed has met and befriended a boy named Mike (Ernest Butterworth Jr.) and together they decide to sneak into a home at night to swipe some cakes and jars of jam. In the middle of the theft, a calico cat walks along a high shelf and knocks one of the jam jars to the ground where it shatters, waking up the woman of the house. The cat jumps down from the shelf and Ed is caught in the act.