by Mark Murton

Directed by: Leslie Arliss

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

Synopsis: Two impecunious English spinster sisters, Agnes (Margaret Johnson) and Ellen (Dulcie Grey), unexpectedly inherit a villa in Naples. The villa’s handsome caretaker marries one of them but he is not what he seems.

Cat Burglar (Scene Stealer): In England where the sisters run a school for girls, financial bad news sees them facing the humiliation of having to sell more of their furniture to heat the place. Ellen seeks comfort from her tabby cat Waify while Agnes hugs her pet dog.

After inheriting the villa they move to Italy where their new employee, manservant Salvatore (Kieron Moore), shows them to their rooms. The first thing Ellen does upon their arrival is to remove Waify from his travel basket.

Salvatore offers to take the animals to “do their business” as the women settle in.

The next morning, Ellen wakes from a blissful night’s sleep with Waify on the bed beside her.

She carries him out onto the balcony to survey the view.

Back in her room she is surprised to find Salvatore bringing her breakfast in bed.

Later, Ellen cleans Waify’s paws after he’s had a night on the tiles while Agnes plays solitaire behind her. “You don’t think he’s picked up something from those other village cats, do you?” Ellen asks Agnes worriedly.

Salvatore then enters the room.

Having fallen for Salvatore, and despite being warned of his reputation, Agnes tells Ellen, who is holding Waify at the time, that she and he are to be married, a decision that will put her life in danger. The cat doesn’t appear again, although he is present in the last scene as Ellen prepares to return to England, although he remains unseen in his basket.

Final Mewsings: A man about the house is optional but a cat about the house is essential.

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