by Ted Davis

Directed by: Lance Comfort

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

Synopsis: It looks pretty bad for good-natured cab driver Tom Manning (Richard Attenborough) — arrested for the heinous murder of a young child, it’s very likely that that he’ll be convicted because of a most improbable chain of circumstantial evidence, and forced to undergo the “eight o’clock walk,” otherwise known as the hour of execution. Thankfully, he still has the constant support of loyal wife Jill (Cathy O’Donnell), whose specialty is smiling bravely through heartache and tears, and earnest neophyte defending counsel Peter Tanner (Derek Farr), who is matched against worldly and experienced prosecuting barrister Geoffrey Tanner, Q.C. (Ian Hunter), who just happens to be his dear old dad.

Cat Burglar (Scene Stealer): After Peter and Jill settle in a restaurant booth, little Edith Higgs (Sally Stephens) presents a kitten for their approval. Jill compliments Edith on her kitten and asks his name, but the tot doesn’t reply.

Moments later, the kitten darts out of the restaurant, followed by little Edith. Peter watches in horror as she heads toward the busy street but relaxes and says someone stopped her.

After quickly snagging the kitten, Edith stops back by the booth and offers a sweet (piece of candy) to the pair, which turns out to be a significant bit of evidence for the defense. Edith returns to her table where her mother tells her to put the kitten down and sit.

Final Mewsings: Kitten as deus ex machina.

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