Hubby’s Quiet Little Game (1926)

Directed by: Del Lord

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

Synopsis: A Mack Sennett slapstick silent comedy short involving Billy Foote (Billy Bevan), an amorous dance instructor, Thelma Stone (Thelma Parr), his new student, Jim Stone (Vernon Dent), her jealous husband and Barbara Foote (Barbara Tennant), Billy’s suspicious wife.

Cat Burglar (Scene Stealer): After a series of crazy interactions, Billy ends up at a poker game with Jim and his friends. Not realizing Jim is Thelma’s husband, he brags about his newest conquest, sending the man into a silent rage. Billy goes to the bar and when he turns back a black cat crosses his path, foreshadowing impending doom.

Hubby's Quiet Little Game - black cat running in front of Billy Foote Bevan
Hubby's Quiet Little Game - black cat running in front of Billy Foote Bevan
Hubby's Quiet Little Game - black cat crossing the path of Billy Foote Bevan animated gif

A while later Billy returns to the bar to find the cat drinking from a glass. Billy picks up the cat and sets it down on the floor.

Hubby's Quiet Little Game - black cat drinking from glass on bar with Billy Foote Bevan
Hubby's Quiet Little Game - black cat drinking from glass on bar with Billy Foote Bevan
Hubby's Quiet Little Game - black cat drinking from glass on bar with Billy Foote Bevan animated gif

Eventually Thelma also joins the game, as well as Barbara. Billy is given the information that Jim is the jealous husband just as a mouse appears. The cat takes chase and somehow they both manage to run right up Jim’s pants leg (this is achieved by some clever layover animation). It doesn’t help that Jim has been holding a loaded and cocked revolver under the table in order to shoot Billy, and it starts going off as Jim jumps around.

Hubby's Quiet Little Game - black cat sitting on floor
Hubby's Quiet Little Game - animated black cat paws running up Jim's trouser leg
Hubby's Quiet Little Game - white mouse chased by black cat up Jim Vernon Dent's pants leg animated gif

The cat and mouse move from one pants leg to the other and then pop up under Jim’s shirt before finally exiting the pants and running away.

Hubby's Quiet Little Game - animated black cat head coming out of Jim's trouser leg
Hubby's Quiet Little Game - black cat fighting with white mouse in shirt front
Hubby's Quiet Little Game - black cat fighting with and chasing white mouse in Jim Vernon Dent clothing animated gif

Final Mewsings: Cats should steer clear of poker games.

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