Footsteps in the Fog (1955)

by Linda Kay

Directed by: Arthur Lubin

This review contains a slight Kitty Carnage Warning!

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

Synopsis: Stephen Lowry (Stewart Granger) is a widower with a secret: he actually murdered his wife. When his maid Lily (Jean Simmons) discovers that secret it begins a tense relationship which shifts precariously between love, hate and fear.

Cat Burglar (Scene Stealer): Stephen’s wife owned a female black cat named Missy which was so close to her she was even depicted in her portrait, which hangs prominently in the sitting room.

Footsteps in the Fog - Stephen Lowry Stewart Granger standing staring up at portrait of wife with black cat Missy on her lap

Footsteps in the Fog - portrait of woman with black cat Missy on her lap

Stephen keeps birds and loathes the cat, which gives one an impression of what his relationship with his deceased wife might have been like. As he’s feeding his birds he spots Missy sitting nearby wearing a little bell around her neck.

Footsteps in the Fog - black cat Missy standing on floor

Slight Kitty Carnage Warning! Stephen walks over and kicks the cat away with his foot, although it is really more of a push.

Footsteps in the Fog - black cat Missy being pushed by foot

Lily enters with a tray soon afterwards. When she asks if there is anything else she can do he asks her to take the cat away. Lily happily obliges, lovingly picking up Missy and giving her a hug and noting how lonely she must be without her mistress.

Footsteps in the Fog - Lily Jean Simmons holding black cat Missy

Footsteps in the Fog - Lily Jean Simmons hugging black cat Missy

Footsteps in the Fog - Lily Jean Simmons picking up and hugging black cat Missy animated gif

Footsteps in the Fog - Lily Jean Simmons carrying black cat Missy

Footsteps in the Fog - Stephen Lowery Stewart Granger with Lily Jean Simmons holding black cat Missy

They look at the portrait, and Lily comments on how whenever she looks at the picture she gets a queer feeling. She leaves with Missy in her arms.

Much later, Stephen walks upstairs to find Missy looking under the doorway of his wife’s old room where a light is shining.

Footsteps in the Fog - black cat Missy looking under doorway

The cat quickly jumps aside as Stephen approaches, looking understandably nervous.

Footsteps in the Fog - black cat Missy looking nervous outside of door

Footsteps in the Fog - black cat Missy looking nervous on shelf

Footsteps in the Fog - black cat Missy jumping away from doorway as Stephen Lowry Stewart Granger approaches animated gif

Still later, Stephen is a nervous wreck after doing something horrible and drastic. He hears someone entering the house and walks into the hallway. He hears the cat screech and eyes Missy warily. She returns the look as she stands up on the bottom step of the stairway.

Footsteps in the Fog - black cat Missy sitting on bottom step of stairs

Footsteps in the Fog - black cat Missy standing on bottom step of stair

Footsteps in the Fog - black cat Missy standing up on bottom step as Stephen Lowry Stewart Granger approaches animated gif

Finally Missy is sitting on the desk with Lily as she polishes some silver.

Footsteps in the Fog - Lily Jean Simmons polishing silver with black cat Missy on desk

Missy looks wide-eyed and nervous as she hears Stephen approaching. Lily sighs, “Oh Missy,” and picks her up from the desk before setting her down on the floor. Missy is not seen again after this.