British Lion Film Corporation
Starring: Leslie Caron, Cicely Courtneidge
Directed by: Bryan Forbes
Cat Out of the Bag Alert! This review contains some spoilers for this film!
Synopsis: Jane Fosset (Leslie Caron) is a young French woman who arrives in London poor and pregnant and takes a flat in a seedy building with an interesting collection of characters.
Featured Feline: One of Jane’s neighbors is an aging stage performer named Mavis (Cicely Courtneidge). Mavis lives with her black cat Benji.
In one scene Mavis has asked neighbor Toby (Tom Bell) to pick up a tin of cat food since Benji has been off his food for a bit. But when we see Benji he appears to be very well fed. Mavis puts the food down for him and then grabs him before he can begin and makes him perform a “trick” by jumping through her arms to get to the dish.
Benji is seen several times throughout the film, often sitting on Mavis’ bed.
One time Benji tries to sneak out of the flat but Mavis stops him with her foot.
Benji keeps Mavis company while she is working on various projects.
In another scene Jane visits and asks how Benji has been doing.
The fondess Mavis feels for Benji throughout the film is very touching.
Final Mewsings: Older women and cats keep each other company.
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