by Mark Murton
Directed by: John Guillermin
Synopsis: Businessman Francis Templar (Hugh McDermott) suspects his neglected wife Lucienne (the ever-watchable Kathleen Byron) of having an affair with his business partner’s son and all-around sleazeball Johnny (Peter Reynolds). He confronts the pair, starting a chain of attempted poisoning, near suicide, amnesia, forgery and blackmail, all packed in a film which runs less than an hour.
Cat Burglar (Scene Stealer): At the Templar’s Devon retreat Lucienne plays the piano while Johnny stands beside her. Under the piano is a small calico tabby cat.
The unexpected arrival of Francis puts Johnny and Lucienne on edge, while the cat just lies under the piano stool washing.
In the next shot the cat appears to have somehow moved under a table instead.
Later, Francis and Lucienne are alone at the property, with Lucienne again at the piano and this time the cat is sitting on the piano. The cat takes a moment to scratch itself as the shot commences.
Later still, Johnny arrives at the property to confront Lucienne and as he lets himself in he spies the cat sitting on a nearby table.
He goes to the cat to pet the kitty . . .
. . . before hanging up his coat while the cat scratches again.
Final Mewsings: Convoluted scripts make cat actors itch.
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