Merton of the Movies (1947)

Merton of the Movies poster

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)
Starring: Red Skelton, Virginia O’Brien
Directed by: Robert Alton

Synopsis: Merton Gill (Red Skelton) is an aspiring movie star who leaves Kansas to travel to Hollywood where he finds the path to stardom is not as easy as he’d hoped.

Kitty Cameo: In one scene Merton meets a newfound friend in stuntwoman Phyllis Montague (Virginia O’Brien) after trying to save her from drowning. He has been given a replacement set of clothes from the property man which includes a huge coonskin-type hat. As he enters the studio diner to meet Phyllis a long-haired tabby cat can be seen standing on one of the barstools.

Merton of the Movies - tabby Maine Coon cat on stool in diner with Red Skelton

Merton takes off the cap and sets it on the counter. Moments later the cat is seen licking at the cap (something must have been placed inside to attract the cat to it) and the cat ends up pushing the cap off the counter. Oddly enough this cat is a long-haired gray cat and not the long-haired tabby used in the other shots.

Merton of the Movies - gray cat moving across counter

Merton of the Movies - gray cat licking at furry cap on counter

Some time goes by and finally Merton gets up to leave and predictably places the cat on his head instead of the cap. As he replaces the cat with his cap he comments, “Must have had kittens!”

Merton of the Movies - Virginia O'Brien laughs at Red Skelton with cat on head