Against the Wind (1948)

by Mark Murton

Directed by: Charles Crichton

Cat Out of the Bag Alert! This review contains a major spoiler for this film!

Synopsis: Philip Elliot, a refugee Belgian priest, reports to a secret school in London for spies and saboteurs behind German lines. After training, he and two others parachute into Belgium to help destroy a records office. After the Germans capture an important resistance leader, four more agents go in on a rescue mission unaware they have a traitor in their midst.

Purr Blur: Two of the agents, Max (Jack Warner) and Michèle (Simone Signoret) are at a safe house. Max is shaving while Michèle exchanges Morse code messages with London. As Max enters the bathroom a black cat appears on the windowsill behind him before jumping down out of sight.

Against the Wind - Max Jack Warner shaving with black cat on windowsill in background
Against the Wind - Max Jack Warner shaving with black cat on windowsill in background
Against the Wind - Max Jack Warner shaving with black cat on windowsill in background animated gif

Michèle decodes the message from London which reveals that Max is the traitor and without hesitation she grabs her pistol and shoots him dead. Hearing the noise, one of the Belgian helpers comes in and quickly sets about stealing the deceased man’s boots as the cat reappears and strolls around behind them.

Against the Wind - Max Jack Warner dead on floor with Belgian helper and black cat nearby
Against the Wind - Max Jack Warner dead on floor with Belgian helper and black cat nearby
Against the Wind - Max Jack Warner dead on floor with Belgian helper stealing boots and black cat nearby animated gif

Final Mewsings: Even cats find stealing from the dead to be distasteful.

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