by Mark Murton

Directed by: David Paltenghi

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

Synopsis: In this boisterous British comedy elevated by an excellent cast, football-mad train driver Bill Brown (Arthur Askey) gets into trouble after racing his engine home to get to a match on time.

Cat Burglar (Scene Stealer): As if he doesn’t have enough problems with his family, his boss, and trying to follow his favourite football team, Bill also seems to be at war with his neighbour’s cat who we first see sitting on a cold frame on Bill’s side of the fence minding its own business as Bill comes in through the back gate and immediately shoos it back over the fence before indulging in a slanging match with its owner, Mrs. Entwhistle (Iris Vandeleur). When Bill’s wife (Thora Hird) comes out to see what the commotion is about Bill informs her “It’s that bloomin’ old cat next door,” Quickly adding, when he sees Mrs. Entwhistle glaring at him, “I didn’t mean you, I meant the ginger one!”

Later, Bill is talking to his daughter Rose (Shirley Eaton) in her bedroom when he glances out the window and spots the cat on the cold frame again. He opens the window and grabbing a hairbrush from the bed shies it at the quickly departing cat. The cat makes it to safety just before the brush smashes the glass of the cold frame. For good measure, Bill follows up with “Get out of it you scraggy, mangy old she-cat.” Naturally Mrs. Entwhistle is within earshot and complains “I heard you say that,” before Bill clarifies, “I wasn’t talking to you.”

The cat’s third and final appearance comes when Bill is outside the front of his house with his friend Wally (Glenn Melvyn) examining the vehicle Rose’s new boyfriend Alf brought her home in and spotting the cat nearby they decide it would be funny to send it on a trip to Wallasey (the vehicle is actually the company van from the Wallasey branch where Alf works) several miles away. Their initial attempt to catch the cat is thwarted by the arrival of Glenn’s wife Emma (Patricia Hayes) who questions what they are doing causing Glenn to launch into an extended explanation until he is interrupted by Emma asking “What is this, a monologue?” “No,” quips Bill, “It’s more of a cat-alogue.”

As the scene plays out there are cat cries from inside the van. Viewers awaiting the expected pay-off to Bill’s actions will be disappointed as the cat isn’t seen again (Mrs. Enthwistle is but doesn’t seen to have missed her cat!).

Final Mewsings: In a battle of wits, no man can match a cat.

Many thanks to RobG for also spotting the cat in this film.

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