Directed by: Edward Sedgwick

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

Synopsis: Barber Joe Jenkins (Jack Haley) admires society girl Patricia Randolph (Betty Furness) from afar and agrees to take millionaire Aloysius P. Merriweather’s (Monroe Owsley) place at a business dinner with her father which leads to general zaniness.

Kitty Cameo: Complicating things is the arrival of Patricia’s Aunt Penelope (Kathleen Lockhart) who carts along her bizarrely dressed longhair white cat Napoleon, which she immediately shoves into the arms of the much put-upon butler Watkins (Arthur Treacher).

As Penelope stalks off with Patricia’s father (Raymond Walburn), Watkins scoffs, “Cats!” Retrieving Penelope’s bag, he starts up the stairs complaining, “They must take me for a veterinary!” Despite the possibilities for further comedy complications Napoleon is not seen again.

Behind the Scenes

An article (the source of which we have sadly misplaced at the moment) stated that director Edward Sedgwick had actress Kathleen Lockhart audition with one hundred cats for her part in this film. Or were the cats being auditioned for the role of Napoleon? Either way, the story sounds a little implausible but we will update this review if we can locate the original piece.

Final Mewsings: Cats will only tolerate so much in the name of comedy.

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