Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)
Starring: Michael York, Jenny Agutter, Peter Ustinov
Directed by: Michael Anderson
Cat Out of the Bag Alert! This review contains some spoilers for this film!
Synopsis: In the future, young people live in idyllic conditions inside an enormous city. At the age of 30, citizens are mandated to go through something called Carousel. Those who refuse and try to run are hunted down by enforcers called Sandmen. But one Sandman, Logan 5 (Michael York), becomes a runner himself as he tries to find the fabled Sanctuary.
Cat Cattle Call: After Logan 5 and his companion Jessica 7 (Jenny Agutter) escape from the city they travel across a wide expanse until they reach the dilapidated remains of Washington D.C. When they enter what used to be the U.S. Senate Building a cat runs out and startles them.
They enter the main room and find an Old Man (Peter Ustinov) surrounded by dozens of cats.
As they speak to the old man he walks around petting the cats and quoting from the T.S. Eliot book Old Possum’s Book of Practical Cats.
The cats are very prominent throughout this scene, as there is a cat sitting on almost every available surface.
When Logan’s fellow Sandman Francis (Richard Jordan) arrives he and Logan get into a fight. As they fight they practically roll into a cat sitting on a table!
Another cat has to dash to get out of their way.
In a later scene Logan is seen holding a cat in his lap as he and Jessica talk about what they are going to do.
Many reviewers of the time cited Ustinov’s performance as one of the highlights of the film. We’re sure the cats helped, too!
Final Mewsings: A Senate comprised of cats? Sounds like Sanctuary to us!
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