by Ted Davis
Directed by: Julien Duvivier
Cat Out of the Bag Alert! This review contains some spoilers for this film!
Synopsis: Prosperous and well-fed businessman Doakes (Robert Benchley) visits his club one evening to relieve a bad case of the jitters brought on by the combination of a disturbing experience with a fortune teller and an equally disturbing dream. As part of his therapy (the other component is a liberal alcohol intake), Doakes is introduced to three spooky tales of the supernatural – the first tells the story of Henrietta (Betty Field), an embittered young woman who is presented with a mysterious mask that, combined with the heady Mardi Gras celebration, could have the power to produce her dreamed-of romance with sturdy and dull Michael (Robert Cummings); the second focuses on arrogant and cynical lawyer Marshall (Edward G. Robinson), who has an adverse response to the prediction from weird but accurate palmist Septimus Podger (Thomas Mitchell) that he will commit murder; and the third features successful tight-rope walker Paul Gaspar (Charles Boyer), who experiences a series of nightmares that may foreshadow doom for himself and his new love, shipboard romance Joan Stanley (Barbara Stanwyck). By the end of the evening, a more lubricated Doakes appears to have conquered his demons.
Cat Cattle Call: During Marshall’s visit to Podger’s lodgings, a passel of cats of many shapes and sizes overflow in quarters that are a virtual cat paradise, with loads of comfy chairs, sofas, cubbyholes and dark corners in which to loll about and relax.
Podger interacts with some of the cats, most notably a dark grey cat named Silvia, who he picks up and nuzzles to his face.
He crosses the room to feed several other cats on the floor.
Carrying another cat, a young light colored model with dark markings, to the door, Podger delivers a parting admonition to the frustrated Marshall, an admonition that is unfortunately unheeded.
Final Mewsings: I foresee every cat owner experiencing much happiness (combined with measly portions of frustration).
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