Laugh and Get Rich (1931)

Directed by: Gregory La Cava

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

Synopsis: Joe Austin (Hugh Herbert) is a dreamer who drives his wife Sarah (Edna May Oliver) crazy with his kooky get rich quick schemes, the latest of which is investing in an oil venture.

Kitty Cameo: The Austin family appears to own a ginger tabby cat which is only seen very briefly in two scenes. First the cat is sitting on the lap of Larry Owens (Russell Gleason), a young suitor interested in the daughter Alice (Dorothy Lee). Joe is looking at the whistling tire valve Larry has invented.

Laugh and Get Rich - Larry Owens Russell Gleason sitting with ginger tabby on lap near Joe Austin Hugh Herbert
Laugh and Get Rich - Larry Owens Russell Gleason sitting with ginger tabby on lap looking up at Joe Austin Hugh Herbert

Sarah, who disapproves of Larry and his inventions, enters the room and scowls. The cat remains in Larry’s lap until he stands up (he makes a slight motion of dropping the cat off his lap in a closer shot).

Laugh and Get Rich - Larry Owens Russell Gleason sitting with ginger tabby on lap near Joe Austin Hugh Herbert and Sarah Edna May Oliver

Later Joe is walking down the stairs with the cat under his arm. Sarah has just left a police detective Flannery (Wade Boteler) in the parlor and Joe walks in not knowing the man. Joe sets down the cat and proceeds to complain about the police.

Laugh and Get Rich - Joe Austin Hugh Herbert carrying ginger tabby cat under arm
Laugh and Get Rich - Joe Austin Hugh Herbert carrying ginger tabby cat under arm
Laugh and Get Rich - Joe Austin Hugh Herbert looking around curtain with ginger tabby cat under arm
Laugh and Get Rich - Joe Austin Hugh Herbert carrying ginger tabby cat into parlor with Flannery Wade Boteler

Final Mewsings: Give the cat a subplot, at least!

Many thanks to Jon R. Kennedy for letting us know about the cat in this film.

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