by Ted Davis

Original Air Date: September 20, 1963

Starring: Orangey

Directed by: Hy Averback

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

Synopsis: Smug and smarmy (but rich) Capt. Amos Burke (Gene Barry), head of the Hollywood homicide division, investigates the strange and possibly redundant murder of Holly Howard, a young up and coming model, who was drowned, then shot in the back. With the assistance of Detectives Tim Tilson (Gary Conway) and Les Hart (Regis Toomey), Burke sifts through a tangled mélange of suspects and motives, which include jealousy and blackmail, to reveal the killer.

Cat Burglars (Scene Stealers): When questioned by Burke and Tilson, Mrs. Bowie (Zasu Pitts), Holly Howard’s vague and dotty landlady, carries a ginger cat, which she introduces as Mr. DeMille, explaining that she was discovered by the legendary director Cecil B. DeMille and was a regular supporting actress in his pictures so she named her cat after him.

When asked for some information about Holly Howard, Mrs. Bowie hands Detective Tilson the cat so she can retrieve a large book of tenant information. Tilson holds Mr. DeMille properly and even pets him a little, even though it jiggles the poor cat actor.

When Mrs. Bowie brings the book and finally gives them an address, Burke tells Tilson to write it down. Tilson hands Burke Mr. DeMille, but Burke doesn’t seem as comfortable holding the cat and soon hands him back to Mrs. Bowie.

Later, Mrs. Bowie is questioned a second time in a briefer session, and again carries a ginger cat, which Burke addresses as Mr. DeMille.

“This isn’t Mr. DeMille,” she corrects. “Mack Sennett?” Burke ventures. Mrs. Bowie appears insulted and somewhat snippily corrects him by stating, “No, it’s Tom Mix,” before stalking off in frustration. (In his heyday, Tom Mix was arguably the most popular cowboy hero in the movies.)

It’s clear that both Mr. DeMille and Tom Mix, since they were never seen together during the episode, were played by the same cat, one of the Orangey team. The only difference between the two are a few small white spots, possibly make up of some kind, to try to make it look slightly like another cat?

Final Mewsings: Mr. DeMille is always ready for his closeup.

Relevant Links:

To discuss this show and other cats in movies and on television, join us on Facebook and Twitter.