by Linda Kay

Directed by: Henry Cass

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

Synopsis: John Sewell (Dermot Walsh) along with his wife Mary (Jane Barrett), son Michael (Anthony Pavey) and daughter Ann (Marilyn Baker) set out from their home in England for a French motor holiday complete with camper. Little do they know they have a stowaway on board in the loathsome murderer Dewar (John Colicos) who forces the family to deliver him safely to the channel ferry.

Purr Blur: As Dewar is sneaking out of his boarding house in order to avoid police he is spotted and starts to run. Cutting through a back yard he startles a tiny Siamese kitten which turns and runs in the opposite direction.

Cat Burglar (Scene Stealer): During the trip the Sewell’s pick up an unwanted companion in a motorcycle police officer (John Horsley) who generously offers to escort them to a nearby hospital to aid their “sick” son (their excuse for keeping the officer out of the camper where Dewar is holding Michael hostage). They stop to fill up the car at a gas station and while there Ann finds a black cat which she has picked up.

The officer squats down to talk to her and points out that the black cat is lucky.

Ann says she is going to show the cat to Michael and the officer agrees that it will cheer the boy up and asks to come along. This, of course, threatens to reveal Dewar. Outside the camper, Ann calls inside telling Michael she has a kitty for him. Dewar motions for the boy not to answer.

Mary quickly intervenes, taking the cat from Ann and scolding her for playing with a stray. “It’s black! It’s lucky! He said so!” Ann insists, pointing to the officer. The cat is not seen again.

Final Mewsings: The officer may not have been too perceptive about people but he was spot on about black cats.

Many thanks to Mark Murton for letting me know about the cats in this film.

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