Friday the Thirteenth (1933)

by Ted Davis

Directed by: Victor Saville

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

Synopsis: On Friday the Thirteenth, the Heavy Hand of Fate plays havoc with the futures of a motley group of Londoners, gathering them all together during a dark rainy night for an eventful bus ride that concludes abruptly and violently, with the consequence that their lives are forever altered – for those fortunate enough to survive the calamity. Foremost among the characters are jealous schoolmaster Horace Dawes (Ralph Richardson), who is incredibly lucky to be affianced to the lissome and leggy Milly (Jessie Matthews, she of the sexy overbite), aka the Non-Stop Variety Girl; glib fast-talking salesman Joe (Max Miller) of the Caledonian Market, who just might talk himself into a stretch in the pokey; and nasty and articulate rotter William Blake (the inevitable Emlyn Williams performing his specialty at this stage of his career), who is putting the bite on hardworking Frank Parsons (Frank Lawton) and his loyal fiancĂ©e Mary Summers (Belle Chrystall).

Purr Blur: Joe trades a clinker of a car to a rag-and-bone merchant, humorously remarking that he made the bargain for a cigarette and a black cat, at which point an actual black cat hops out of his basket.

Friday the Thirteenth - Joe Max Miller with black cat jumping out of basket
Friday the Thirteenth - Joe Max Miller with black cat jumping out of basket
Friday the Thirteenth - Joe Max Miller with black cat jumping out of basket animated gif

Cat Burglar (Scene Stealer): Milly recuperates comfortably in bed, attended by an adoring Horace, and joined by a pretty and evidently pretty sleepy tabby cat which she pets and cossets.

Friday the Thirteenth - Milly Jessie Matthews with tabby cat in bed
Friday the Thirteenth - Milly Jessie Matthews with tabby cat in bed and Horace Ralph Richardson
Friday the Thirteenth - Milly Jessie Matthews with tabby cat in bed
Friday the Thirteenth - Milly Jessie Matthews with tabby cat in bed
Friday the Thirteenth - Milly Jessie Matthews with tabby cat in bed animated gif

Final Mewsings: Nine-lived cats make their own luck.

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