by Ted Davis
Directed by: R. Milland
Cat Out of the Bag Alert! This review contains some spoilers for this film!
Synopsis: Short-statured Aristides Mavros (Claude Rains), rich and epicene malefactor, the last in a long unbroken line of malefactors, hires rugged Captain Robert John Evans (Ray Milland), your friendly neighborhood smuggler, to rescue aged industrialist Lloyd Merrill (Percy Marmont), who is married to the intriguing and much younger Sylvia (Maureen O’Hara), from a communist prison. The only certainty is that the unscrupulous Mavros’ motives are purely selfish and mercenary.
Cat Burglar (Scene Stealer): In the first scene of the movie, the pitiless Mavros establishes his villain bonafides right off the bat when he lures and kills the birds eating seed on his windowsill to provide breakfast for his sumptuously furred green-eyed cat patiently awaiting the fresh morsels while reposing comfortably on a red cushion.
The killing of the birds, via tennis racquet of all things, is performed out of the frame, as is the feeding of them to the hungry cat who licks his or her chops in anticipation, indicating this is a daily routine for the pair.
Final Mewsings: There are better ways to feed a cat.
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