Main Street After Dark (1945)

by Brian H.

Directed by: Edward L. Cahn

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

Synopsis: During World War II, Abby “Ma” Dibson (Selena Royle) leads a family of criminals who prey on soldiers and sailors, but Police Lieutenant Lorrigan (Edward Arnold) is determined to put an end to the Dibson’s family activities.

Cat Burglar (Scene Stealer): Ma lives with her son Lefty (Tom Trout), Lefty’s wife Jessie Belle (Audrey Totter), son Posey (Dan Duryea), and daughter Rosalie (Dorothy Morris). Jessie and Rosalie are pickpockets, Posey is lazy, and Lefty is a violent criminal who has just been paroled from prison. When we first see Ma she is knitting while seated in a chair with a big black cat at her feet.

Main Street After Dark - black cat lying at Ma Abby Dibson Selena Royle feet

The existing prints of the film are somewhat dark so the cat is often difficult to make out, such as the scene when the family is anxiously awaiting Lefty’s return home. Ma is sitting in her chair with her knitting but in the long shot she is petting the cat next to her. In the very next shot of the chair the cat is gone.

Main Street After Dark - black cat lying next to Ma Abby Dibson Selena Royle on chair

The cat is lying on the couch when Lefty enters and remains there throughout the scene.

Main Street After Dark - black cat lying on couch with Ma Abby Dibson Selena Royle, Lefty Tom Trout, Jessie Belle Audrey Totter, Posey Dan Duryea and Rosalie Dorothy Morris

Later Posey is taking a phone call from Jessie Belle while Ma listens in, petting the cat on her lap.

Main Street After Dark - black cat lying on lap of Ma Abby Dibson Selena Royle with Posey Dan Duryea

Much later Ma is pacing worriedly while awaiting word from everyone but Rosalie, cradling the cat in her arms.

Main Street After Dark - black cat held by pacing Ma Abby Dibson Selena Royle

Main Street After Dark - black cat in arms of Ma Abby Dibson Selena Royle with Rosalie Dorothy Morris

As it turns out, Lefty has tried to pull off a big job using a gun, which is certainly against the perimeters of his parole. Sure enough Lorrigan shows up, having caught Jessie Belle stealing wallets. The Lieutenant stalls for time inside the house, sitting on the couch where the black cat is lying.

Main Street After Dark - Lieutenant Lorrigan Edward Arnold with black cat lying on couch with Ma Abby Dibson Selena Royle and Rosalie Dorothy Morris

Main Street After Dark - Lieutenant Lorrigan Edward Arnold sitting on couch with black cat lying beside him with Ma Abby Dibson Selena Royle and Rosalie Dorothy Morris

Which brings us to the strangest part of this cat appearance, which is the fact that this cat hardly ever moves! There are scenes in which the cat is clearly moving, but in many scenes the cat is just lying motionless and doesn’t react, not even when the Lieutenant sits on chair the beside the cat and starts petting him or her! One wonders if the cat actor was drugged to keep them from running off during filming?