A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur’s Court (1949)

A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court poster

Paramount Pictures
Starring:
 Bing Crosby, Rhonda Fleming
Directed by: Tay Garnett

Synopsis: Based on the Mark Twain story.  Hank Martin (Bing Crosby) is a Connecticut blacksmith who finds himself mysteriously transported back to the days of Camelot and King Arthur.

Kitty Cameo: Early in the film Hank is working in his blacksmith shop on an automobile, a new-fangled thing in the small town.  A group of children have come to watch in wonder as Hank tinkers with the car, trying to get it to run.  Hank sings the song “If You Stub Your Toe on the Moon” with the children about how not to give up.  At the end of the song, Hank is banging on the car and stops, then reaches inside.  He pulls out an orange cat by the scruff.

A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court - Hank Martin Bing Crosby pulls orange cat out of automobile engine animated gif

The car starts again and Hank hands the cat to a little girl just before the engine dies again.  The cat actor pads its part by kneading.

A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court - Hank Martin Bing Crosby with kids and girl with orange cat on her lap

Hank dismisses the kids and helps the little girl with the cat down from the car.  As she runs out of the stable (bouncing the poor cat actor as she goes) Hank calls after her, “If the cat spits up a spark plug, it’s mine!”

A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court - Hank Martin Bing Crosby helps girl with orange cat out of car

Final Mewsings: It didn’t take long for cats to get into car engines.

Many thanks to Kitty L. for spotting this cat for us!


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