Jungle Street (1960)

Also Known As: Jungle Street Girls

Directed by: Charles Saunders

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

Synopsis: After accidentally killing a man during a robbery, Terry Collins (David McCallum) resorts to more desperate and violent means to avoid being apprehended.

Kitty Cameos: During the robbery in which Terry hits an old man over the head to steal his wallet, a tabby cat is rummaging in a garbage can nearby. The noise of the blow startles the cat into running away.

Jungle Street - tabby cat on garbage can

Jungle Street - Terry David McCallum hitting old man on street and scaring tabby cat on garbage can animated gif

Terry frequents a strip club called the Adam and Eve. A regular named Joe Lucas (Brian Weske) approaches the club as a ginger tabby cat stands on a garbage can nearby.

Jungle Street - ginger tabby cat on garbage can as Joe Lucas Brian Weske approaches club

The cat runs across the street to follow Joe into the club.

Jungle Street - ginger tabby cat following Joe Lucas Brian Weske into club

The doorman picks up the cat (an entirely different cat for this shot, it would appear), saying, “Hello, my darling! Out you get.” He gently tosses the cat outside.

Jungle Street - ginger tabby cat held by doorman inside club with Joe Lucas Brian Weske

Terry’s friend Johnny (Kenneth Cope) has just been released from prison and Terry owes him money. Terry explains they can rob the safe in the strip club. He explains that the caretaker feeds the alley cats at a certain time every day and they can easily overpower him and then have all the time they need to crack the safe. Sure enough the caretaker, Old Bill (Howard Douglas) is opening a tin of cat food at the set time. It is clear from the pictures of cats on the wall that he is a cat lover.

Jungle Street - Old Bill Howard Douglas opening can of cat food with photos of cats on walls

The same tabby cat seen earlier is waiting outside for the food.

Jungle Street - ginger tabby cat waiting outside club

Terry and Johnny are as anxious as the cat for Old Bill to emerge.

Jungle Street - Terry David McCallum and Johnny Kenneth Cope waiting against wall with ginger tabby cat in background

Old Bill finally comes out and sets the plate of food down for the cat. Two more cats emerge and one arches its back at the other before warily approaching the other kitty for a sniff.

Jungle Street - Old Bill Howard Douglas feeding tabby cats outside club

Jungle Street - Old Bill Howard Douglas feeding tabby cats outside club animated gif

The cats finally settled in to eat and Old Bill does not see Terry sneaking up from behind. Terry clubs the man who falls unconscious to the ground. The cats don’t seem terribly concerned and keep eating.

Jungle Street - Old Bill Howard Douglas falling to ground in front of eating tabby cats

Jungle Street - Terry David McCallum and Johnny Kenneth Cole attacking Old Bill Howard Douglas in front of eating tabby cats animated gif

The ginger tabby stays put as Terry and Johnny carry Old Bill into the club and tie him up.

Jungle Street - Terry David McCallum and Johnny Kenneth Cope picking up Old Bill as ginger tabby cat watches

Johnny comes back out and decides to take away the plate of food. The ginger tabby saunters away.

Jungle Street - Johnny Kenneth Cope taking plate of food away from ginger tabby cat

This proves to be their undoing, as a policeman passes the club and notes something amiss. When he comes across a tabby cat in the doorway of a shop, he realizes he didn’t see Old Bill feeding the cats and goes back to investigate.