by Ted Davis
Behind the Scenes by Linda Kay

Also Known As: East End Chant

Directed by: Alexander Hall

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

Synopsis: In London’s Limehouse district, half-caste Harry Young (George Raft) runs the Lily Garden, a waterfront nightclub which serves as a blind for his expanding criminal smuggling empire. Although persevering Inspector Sheridan (Robert Loraine) has been unable to arrest Young for any of his crimes, the smuggler’s devotion to spunky and inept pickpocket Toni (Jean Parker) may lead to his downfall.

Kitty Cameos: As Young pets and talks affectionately to his tabby kitten Cleopatra, Inspector Sheridan barges into his office and interrupts the gentle moment.

The unfazed Young responds mildly to the inspector’s interrogation and even lets the man knot his tie while his cat moves to the floor to bite the cuffs of his trousers.

During an extremely foggy night, Young rescues a mewing black kitten from a perilous position, intending her as a friend and playmate for Cleopatra. Sadly the kitten is very difficult to see in available prints.

Behind the Scenes

The tiny black kitten in the latter scene appears to have been difficult to cast. An article in the Film Topics column compiled by someone named “Fairfan” sheds light on how the role was eventually, and dubiously, filled:

    After Hollywood’s numerous animal shops had been canvassed in a futile search for a kitten small enough to fit George Raft’s pocket in “Limehouse Blues,” an Empire feature, the director solved the problem. He suddenly thought of the dozens of cats that roam the studios and guard the property “bins” from rats. Reasoning that one of these must have a litter of kittens, he instituted a search, which was rewarded with success in less than half an hour. Six kittens, their eyes just opened, were found in an unused “prop” tub. The blackest of the litter was borrowed to appear in a scene with Raft. — Coventry Herald and Observer — March 29, 1935

Final Mewsings: Yes, Young may have been on the wrong side of the law, but his heart was in the right place regarding cats.

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