Cass Timberlane (1947)

Directed by: George Sidney

This review contains a Kitty Carnage Warning!

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

Synopsis: Based on the novel by Sinclair Lewis. Judge Cass Timberlane (Spencer Tracy) marries Virginia Marshland (Lana Turner), a woman his society friends deem is from the “wrong side of the tracks.

Kitty Cameo: An early scene in the film establishes the fact that Timberlane is allergic to cats yet somehow manages to attract them. As he is on the bench listening to a case a gray and white cat strolls into the courtroom.

Cass Timberlane - gray and white cat walking into courtroom

The cat sits at the foot of the judge’s seat, causing the man to sneeze. He has to order the bailiff to remove the cat who is a repeat offender, apparently having already come in and made the judge sneeze on previous occassions.

Cass Timberlane - Spencer Tracy as judge on bench sneezing at gray and white cat animated gif

Cass Timberlane - gray and white cat sitting by judge's chair

Featured Feline: At home Timberlane plays the flute to relax. He doesn’t see the tiny tabby kitten behind him.

Cass Timberlane - tiny tabby kitten Cleo

Cass Timberlane - tiny tabby kitten Cleo looking up at Cass

Predictably the flute performance is interrupted with sneezing. Timberland then hears a mewing and spots the kitten looking up at him.

Cass Timberlane - tiny tabby kitten Cleo looking up

Cass Timberlane - tiny tabby kitten Cleo looking up at Spencer Tracy playing flute and sneezing animated gif

Cass Timberlane - tiny tabby kitten Cleo at foot of curtains looking up at Cass

Timberlane storms out looking for answers from his maid Mrs. Higbee (Jessica Grayson). The kitten scurries from the judge’s den.

Cass Timberlane - tiny tabby kitten Cleo looking startled

The judge finds his maid in the kitchen listening to a radio horror show called The Green Dragon. After a discussion, the judge starts to leave the house but sees the tiny tabby kitten sitting on the stairs.

Cass Timberlane - Cass Timberlane Spencer Tracy looking at tiny tabby kitten Cleo at foot of stairs

Cass Timberlane - tiny tabby kitten Cleo at foot of stairs

Slight Kitty Carnage Warning! Timberland tries to coax the kitten to go outside but when this fails he approaches the tiny creature and hisses, “I’m the Green Dragon!” and snarls, startling the kitten into scrambling up the stairs.

Cass Timberlane - scared tiny tabby kitten Cleo at foot of stairs

Cass Timberlane - tiny tabby kitten Cleo scared into running up stairs by Spencer Tracy animated gif

Timberlane is not fond of the cat but his new love Virginia is smitten with her, naming the kitten Cleopatra. From this point on they refer to their cat as Cleo.

Cass Timberlane - Cass Timberlane Spencer Tracy with Virginia Lana Turner looking at tiny tabby kitten Cleo

After the couple is married, Cleo is on hand while furniture moving is going on. She rides in on the couch then later is rolling contentedly on the floor as the work is being done.

Cass Timberlane - Cass Timberlane Spencer Tracy moving couch with tabby cat Cleo and Virginia Lana Turner

Cass Timberlane - Cass Timberlane Spencer Tracy moving couch with Virginia Lana Turner while tabby cat Cleo lies on floor

After a frustrating day, Timberlane snaps at Cleo and says he forgot her cat food. He sneezes and gives her an accusing look, then sneezes again so hard he makes poor Cleo jump!

Cass Timberlane - Cass Timberlane Spencer Tracy looking at tabby cat Cleo on bed

Cass Timberlane - Spencer Tracy getting angry and sneezing at tabby cat Cleo on bed animated gif

Cleo is also on hand when Virginia tells Cass she is going to have his baby.

Cass Timberlane - close up of tabby cat Cleo

Cleo stays with Virginia when she is bedridden during the last part of her pregnancy. She lets Cass put Cleo down on the floor so he won’t sneeze.

Cass Timberlane - Cass Timberlane Spencer Tracy with Virginia Lana Turner in bed holding tabby cat Cleo

Cass Timberlane - tabby cat Cleo sitting on floor

When Virginia starts having contractions, Cleo watches from below a table as Cass panics.

Cass Timberlane - tabby cat Cleo looking up from under table

Cass Timberlane - tabby cat Cleo looking up from table as Spencer Tracy calls doctor for Virginia Lana Turner animated gif

Unfortunately the child is lost and the marriage becomes strained. Virginia has an affair with Timberlane’s childhood friend, lawyer Bradd Criley (Zachary Scott). Cleo is lying on the floor of the bedroom when Timberlane comes in to talk to Virginia.

Cass Timberlane - Cass Timberlane Spencer Tracy looking at tabby cat Cleo on floor

They are sitting on the bed together when Cleo approaches. Timberlane puts his arm around the cat and sighs, “You know, I’m getting worried about myself. I can’t hate Brad. I’m even getting to the point where I like this cat.”

Cass Timberlane - Cass Timberlane Spencer Tracy with Virginia Lana Turner in bed and tabby cat Cleo

Finding himself alone, the Judge is leaving for the country club when he finds Cleo pawing at the front door.

Cass Timberlane - Cass Timberlane Spencer Tracy with tabby cat Cleo pawing at front door

“So you think you want to go out, do you?” Timberland asks Cleo angrily, undoubtedly also talking to his wife subconciously. “You want your freedom, too, huh? Go ahead, nobody’s stopping you.” He opens the door and lets Cleo out.

Cass Timberlane - tabby cat Cleo pawing at front door

Cass Timberlane - tabby cat Cleo pawing at front door which Spencer Tracy opens animated gif

Kitty Carnage Warning! Mrs. Higbee asks the judge who he’s talking to. A moment later there is the sound of growling coming from outside. Cleo is shown crouching and hissing, then being chased into the bushes by two dogs. Timberlane orders the dogs away and picks up Cleo, who is limp in his hands. “I’ll get her to the vet,” he says as the scene fades. Cleo is not seen again and while there is a brief moment where she is referred to as being alive it is not at all clear whether or not she survives.