Hotel Splendide (1932)

by Ted Davis and Linda Kay

Directed by: Michael Powell

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

Synopsis: Lowly bank clerk Jerry Mason (Jerry Verno) inherits the misnamed Hotel Spendide, which he intends to manage with the assistance of cute and competent Joyce Dacre (Vera Sherborne), but he’s unaware that buried within the hotel grounds are the stolen Dysart Pearls, which serve as a magnet to disreputable criminal types like ‘Gentleman Charlie’ Miller (Edgar Norfolk) and the very mysterious ‘Pussy’ Saunders.

Cat Burglar (Scene Stealer): Pussy Saunders keeps a luxuriously furred black cat which is first observed next to a lamp during Pussy’s phone conversation with a fellow thief (Michael Powell).

Hotel Splendide - black cat sitting on desk above by phone

The stunning cat receives a well-deserved closeup during this scene. At this point in the movie, Pussy’s face is not shown in order to preserve the secret of his identity.

Hotel Splendide - black cat sitting on desk by lamp

Pussy is carrying his cat when the phone next rings, and he transfers the animal to his companion, whose face is also hidden, so that he can take the call.

Hotel Splendide - black cat held by man hanging up phone

The cat is loaded into a wicker basket for safe handling during the journey to the Hotel Splendide.

Hotel Splendide - black cat being placed into basket

After their arrival at the hotel, the faintly groaning cat is taken out of the basket by one of the unknown pair.

Hotel Splendide - black cat being taken out of basket animated gif

The curious cat peeks past a curtain, then paces out of the shot.

Hotel Splendide - black cat standing by curtain

Hotel Splendide - black cat standing behind curtain animated gif

The cat sits in the hotel hallway outside of Pussy’s door.

Hotel Splendide - black cat sitting outside door

After Gentleman Charlie opens the hotel safe which contains the valuable pearls, he sustains a rude shock when he notices the black cat lounging on the top of the safe, and an even ruder shock when he is attacked by the desperate Pussy. The unsettled cat can be heard mewing during the fatal tussle between the two robbers.

Hotel Splendide - black cat sitting on top of safe

Hotel Splendide - Charlie Edgar Norfolk opening safe then noticing black cat animated gif

Hotel Splendide - black cat sitting on safe behind Charlie Edgar Norfolk and Pussy

Jerry and the hotel guests are aghast when they notice the cat, which is licking his lips nervously, behind the fresh unmourned corpse of Gentleman Charlie.

Hotel Splendide - black cat in corner being stared at by people animated gif

The tense cat makes his way out of the cluttered office, and the hotel customers part obediently.

Hotel Splendide - black cat leaving corner

The cat’s journey out of the room and up the stairs, with Jerry and Mr. Meek (Philip Morant) leading the troop of lodgers behind him, is accompanied by Charles Gounod’s music piece Funeral March of the Marionette, better known as the theme for the Alfred Hitchcock Presents tv show.

Hotel Splendide - bobtail black cat going up stairs

Hotel Splendide - black cat being followed up stairs by people animated gif

The cat going up the stairs is different from the cat seen previously as he has a bobbed tail. We also get a quick glimpse of behind the scenes movie making when the trainer (or one of the cast or crew pressed into service) is clearly visible at the foot of the stairs after releasing the cat!

Hotel Splendide - man releasing bobtail black cat to run up stairs

The mutinous cat arrives at room number 7, betraying Pussy’s presence in the bedroom, and slinks off guiltily a moment before Jerry and Mr. Meek reach the door.