Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
Starring: Gene Kelly, J. Carrol Naish, Teresa Celli, Marc Lawrence
Directed by: Richard Thorpe

Synopsis: Johnny Columbo (Gene Kelly in a strictly dramatic role) goes back to Italy with his mother after his father is killed by the infamous Black Hand in New York, but returns years later to seek vengeance and to try to end the reign of terror caused by the heartless mafioso group once and for all.  On his side is his childhood friend turned love interest Isabella (Teresa Celli) and Police Detective Louis Lorelli (J. Carrol Naish), but the Black Hand organization is so widespread and so ruthless their efforts to combat them seem destined to fail.

Purr Blur: This is a blink-and-you’ll-miss-it cat moment in film.  At one point a member of the Black Hand is walking down the street at night carrying a box, which is a bomb.  He lights the fuse with his cigarette and sets it in front of a store, then continues down the street.  At the corner there is a black and white tuxedo cat sitting at the base of a building’s column.  It sits there as the man turns the corner and remains while the man stands just around the corner waiting for the bomb to detonate.  The cat doesn’t even move when there is finally a flash of light and the sound of the explosion and the man disappears.

Final Mewsings: Cat actors aren’t phased by flashes of light meant to be bombs.

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