by Ted Davis and Linda Kay
Original Air Date: April 15, 1965
Directed by: Joseph Sargent
Cat Out of the Bag Alert! This review contains spoilers for this episode!
Synopsis: It’s a tense time in spooky fogbound Boonesborough when a series of deadly black panther attacks coincides with the arrival of Marcel Bouvier (Frank Silvera) and his sleek and supple daughter Marie (Pilar Seurat), who certainly raises the temperatures of the settlement’s menfolk. As the big cat assaults continue unabated, the frightened and superstitious settlers blame Marie for the violence, accusing her of being a voodoo practitioner. The most vocal accuser is bitter suitor Russ Kresson (Mario Alcalde), who was deeply stung by her rejection. Clearheaded Daniel Boone (Fess Parker), woodsman-superhero, dismisses the worthless accusations and, with the help of steadfast friend Mingo (Ed Ames), determines to end the plague of the rampaging panther.
Cat Burglar (Scene Stealer): Throughout the episode we hear cat cries coming from outside which more closely resemble the noise made by an angry housecat rather than the growl of a panther. As Marcel carries a load of wood into the cabin where he and Marie live, the camera pans to focus on a nearby longhair black cat.
Moments later, the same cat tries to enter the cabin via an open window, pulling and clawing at the curtain, and a horrified Marcel hurls a lit candle at the animal.
The impact of the candle is not shown, but it’s quickly evident in the very next scene that the cat is unhurt as Kresson picks up the approachable kitty and pets him.
In an effort to insinuate himself with Marie, Kresson offers the cat to her, asking whether she wants to stroke him, but she balks and pulls back, clearly terrified of the animal.
Realizing the uselessness of this approach, Kresson lightly tosses the cat to the ground, and again approaches Marie, sans cat, but with no more success than before.
Kresson tries to have his way with Marie who fights back but she isn’t truly safe from the assault until Daniel Boone steps in. An indignant Kresson gets up off the ground as we see the black cat stalk away. What exactly the black cat has to do with anything about the story is never really made clear.
Final Mewsings: Cats resent being used as barter to further romantic assignations.
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