Games (1967)

Directed by: Curtis Harrington

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

Synopsis: Eccentric couple Paul and Jennifer Montgomery (James Caan and Katharine Ross) get pulled into intrigue and murder by a mysterious saleswoman named Lisa (Simone Signoret).

Featured Feline: An older neighbor named Miss Beattie (Estelle Winwood) is seen calling for her cat Valentino early in the film. We don’t get to see the ginger kitty until Miss Beattie knocks on the Montgomery’s back door at an inopportune time. She is looking for the grocery delivery boy (whom Paul has just accidentally murdered).

Games - Miss Beattie Estelle Winwood and ginger tabby cat Valentino talking to Paul James Caan

Paul tries to convince Miss Beattie the delivery boy is not there but she insists he was going to bring her some kitty litter for Valentino.

Miss Beattie spots the kitty litter on the counter and Paul assures her the boy forgot it there the day before. She eyes Paul accusingly and points out that he would have received some of her trading stamps. To get rid of her, Paul gives her several sheets of stamps, which she excitedly shows to Valentino before they finally leave.

Games - Miss Beattie Estelle Winwood and ginger tabby cat Valentino with kitty litter talking to Paul James Caan

Games - Miss Beattie Estelle Winwood showing ginger tabby cat Valentino trading stamps with Paul James Caan

Valentino later startles Jennifer by knocking a potted plant off her windowsill.

Games - close of ginger tabby cat Valentino by potted plant

Games - ginger tabby cat Valentino on window sill after knocking off potted plant

After Jennifer picks up the plant and broken pot she realizes the cat is sniffing at a statue of a man which is the dead delivery boy (at least that’s what we are led to believe).

Games - ginger tabby cat Valentino sniffing at foot of statue

Jennifer picks Valentino up and places him outside.

Games - ginger tabby cat Valentino at foot of statue with Jennifer Katharine Ross

Games - ginger tabby cat Valentino being placed outside by Jennifer Katharine Ross

Valentino next shows up outside the back door as Jennifer walks out to drink some tea.

Games - ginger tabby cat Valentino sitting on back step as Jennifer Katharine Ross exits

She sits down in the small garden and Valentino comes over and jumps in her lap.

Games - ginger tabby cat Valentino approaching Jennifer Katharine Ross

Games - ginger tabby cat Valentino in lap of Jennifer Katharine Ross

The scene fades to later that night. A storm is brewing and Jennifer has fallen asleep. Valentino jumps off her lap and scurries next door.

Games - ginger tabby cat Valentino in lap of sleeping Jennifer Katharine Ross

Valentino is last seen being held by Miss Beattie as the authorities come to take Jennifer away.

Games - ginger tabby cat Valentino being held on street by Miss Beattie Estelle Winwood

Estelle Winwood, who also appeared with a cat in the Alfred Hitchcock Presents episode There Was an Old Woman was perfect as the cat-loving Miss Beatty. “I’m very fond of cats,” she was quoted in a 1969 article, adding “I always act better when I have a cat.”