Call a Cop! (1931)

Directed by: George Stevens

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

Synopsis: Boy Friends Mickey (Mickey Daniels), Dave (David Sharpe) and Alabam (Grady Sutton) come running when their girlfriends Mary (Mary Kornman) and Gertie (Gertrude Messinger) think there is a burglar in their house.

Cat Burglar (Scene Stealer): The short begins with the gang taking a ride in Dave’s new car. Gertie is sidling up beside Dave with Mary next to them holding a tabby cat. Dave’s German Shepherd dog is riding in the back.

Call a Cop! - Mary Kornman with tabby cat Genevieve riding in car with Gertrude Messinger Dave Sharpe and dog

When they get to their destination it is revealed that Mickey and Alabam have been sitting on the front fenders. Mary gets out of the car and pushes her cat at Mickey, saying, “Hold Genevieve, boyfriend!” Mickey seems less than thrilled.

Call a Cop! - Mary Kornman with tabby cat Genevieve and Mickey Daniels outside car
Call a Cop! - Mary Kornman handing tabby cat Genevieve to Mickey Daniels outside car
Call a Cop! - Mickey Daniels holding tabby cat Genevieve

Mickey then drops Genevieve on the lawn. This causes the dog to chase after the cat. Since the dog’s leash is attached to the car, he pulls the automobile backwards. Mary screeches for Mickey to save her baby.

Call a Cop! - Mary Kornman and Gertrude Messinger with Mickey Daniels holding tabby cat Genevieve Dave Sharpe Alabam Grady Sutton and dog in car
Call a Cop! - tabby cat Genevieve on grass
Call a Cop! - Mickey Daniels dropping tabby cat Genevieve on grass and dog chases cat pulling car animated gif

The cat runs through a fence with the dog chasing, causing the car to crash into the posts. It appears the cat and dog running were filmed separately.

Call a Cop! - tabby cat Genevieve running toward fence

Dave jumps out and brings Genevieve back to Mary, who gathers the cat in her arms. “Oh my darling!” she cries, “Oh you poor little thing. Why you’re palpitating all over!”

Call a Cop! - Dave Sharpe holding out tabby cat Genevieve
Call a Cop! - Mary Kornman holding tabby cat Genevieve with Mickey Daniels and Dave Sharpe

Mary yells at Dave for even owning the dog and the girls storm off angrily.

Call a Cop! - Mary Kornman holding tabby cat Genevieve with Mickey Daniels and Dave Sharpe
Call a Cop! - Gertrude Messinger with Mary Kornman holding tabby cat Genevieve and yelling at Mickey Daniels Dave Sharpe Alabam Grady Sutton

Later in the short the girls are sleeping over at Gertie’s house. Genevieve is seen in the dark downstairs licking at a dog statue (it is likely something was smeared on the statue to make the cat lick there).

Call a Cop! - tabby cat Genevieve licking at dog statue
Call a Cop! - tabby cat Genevieve beside dog statue
Call a Cop! - tabby cat Genevieve beside dog statue
Call a Cop! - tabby cat Genevieve licking at dog statue animated gif

The girls get nervous at every noise and Genevieve doesn’t help when she knocks three plates from a shelf.

Call a Cop! - tabby cat Genevieve knocking plates off shelf
Call a Cop! - tabby cat Genevieve knocking plates off shelf
Call a Cop! - tabby cat Genevieve knocking plates off shelf animated gif

Moments later Genevieve jumps off a roll-top desk, making the top slide down with a bang.

Call a Cop! - tabby cat Genevieve on top of roll top desk
Call a Cop! - tabby cat Genevieve jumping down off roll top desk
Call a Cop! - tabby cat Genevieve jumping down off roll top desk scaring Mary Kornman and Gertrude Messinger animated gif

This is very likely the same tabby cat actor who appeared in several Hal Roach shorts around this time, including ones with Our Gang and Charley Chase.

Call a Cop! - tabby cat Genevieve on top of roll top desk

Final Mewsings: People with cats should be used to bumps in the night.

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