by Linda Kay
Original Air Date: January 2, 1956
Directed by: Ralph Smart
Cat Out of the Bag Alert! This review contains spoilers for this episode!
Synopsis: When villagers suspect a woman named Ethelreda (Dorothy Blythe) of being a witch for having a secret stash of gold, the Sheriff of Nottingham (Alan Wheatley) uses their fear as a ruse for capturing Robin Hood (Richard Greene).
Cat Burglar (Scene Stealer): Realizing that Ethelreda is going to be burned at the stake in order to lure Robin Hood out of hiding, Friar Tuck (Alexander Gauge) releases a black cat from a bag near her home.
As the Sheriff’s men drag the hapless woman from her abode, the cat darts past them.
As Ethelreda is left bound near a well, the cat jumps up behind her. This scares the guard who comes to take her away.
Friar Tuck tells the guard the cat is actually a demon, at the same time a bunch of toads are also released, effectively scaring away the men and saving Ethelreda. After revealing their tricks to the villagers to assuage their fear of the innocent woman, Robin’s Merry Men leave the scene and laugh as they see the cat slinking away.
Final Mewsings: Black cats and women don’t deserve to be labeled as evil.
Many thanks to Laura for letting us know about the cat in this episode.
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