by Mark Murton and Linda Kay

Directed by: Oscar Burn and John Wall

Cat Out Of The Bag Alert! This review contains some spoilers for this film.

Synopsis: In this British B-movie short, the third in a series known as Potter of the Yard, police clerk and amateur detective Edward Potter (John Laurie) pursues a seaside serial killer who disposes of his female victims in an acid bath.

Featured Feline: In the opening scene we learn the identity of the titular Mr. Beamish, a delightful tuxedo kitten owned by Potter who is seen dressing the cat in some sort of coat and placing him in a wicker basket as they prepare for their annual holiday, a skiing trip to Switzerland. (Quite what a cat does on a skiing holiday we’re not sure, not to mention the need to go into quarantine on his return to the UK!?!)

However, Potter’s penchant for amateur sleuthing results in a change of plan and they end up in a hotel in Sussex where Potter believes a killer resides. Arriving at the hotel, Potter releases Mr. Beamish from his basket and sets him on the floor.

But Beamish is frightened by the appearance of two poodles belonging to another of the guests, Mrs. Gainsborough (Catherine Campbell), causing Potter to quickly scoop him up again.

Still cradling the cat, Potter questions the hotel manager (Charles Lloyd-Pack), seeking information on the other guests, including Mrs. Gainsborough who Potter thinks is going to be the killer’s next victim, but is politely rebuffed.

Later, Potter is about to follow Mrs. Gainsborough and a potential suspect when he is accosted by Danny, the bell boy, who presents Mr. Beamish to him, declaring “your cat has been making an awful row.” Potter assures him that Mr. Beamish is just lonely and quickly tucks him inside his jacket before venturing out.

Potter follows Mrs. Gainsborough and her companion, the Major (Peter Bathurst), along the seafront until he inadvertently finds himself left to play a game of croquet with the Major while Mrs. Gainsborough makes off. It must have been a windy day during filming because the kitten’s ears are being blown back.

Potter slips away from the major and soon catches up with Mrs. Gainsborough as she meets up with another man, Henry (Derek Sidney) a member of staff at the hotel. Henry spots Potter and challenges him as to what he is doing there. “Just taking the air,” explains Potter, adding, “with Mr. Beamish,” as he opens his jacket to reveal the cat.

Hurrying off, Potter bumps into Miss Carrington (Molly Raynor), a woman he met at the hotel who seems keen on him. Potter accompanies her to a deserted, dilapidated old hotel which she says she’s interested in buying.

Potter is more interested in keeping tabs on Mrs. Gainsborough and Henry and in an upstairs room places Mr. Beamish on the ground so he can make a gap in a boarded-up window to see outside.

While in the room Potter inadvertently uncovers a bath of acid and fearing for the safety of the approaching Mrs. Gainsborough rushes outside to head them off. This done, he suddenly remembers Mr Beamish — who in an insert is seen wandering along the edge of the bath! — and rushes back inside.

Before Potter can make it back to the room he is greeted by a beaming Miss Carrington descending the stairs holding Mr. Beamish in her arms.

Back at the hotel that evening, Potter attempts to see Mrs. Gainsborough in her room so he can explain himself but is thwarted by Miss Carrington who has the room between them and so returns to his room and Mr. Beamish.

Potter then removes his shoes so he can creep silently past Miss Carrington’s room. As he advances down the corridor Mr. Beamish darts out of the open door and races past him.

Not surprisingly, Mrs. Gainsborough is alarmed by Potter’s appearance in her room and is in no mood to listen to his excuses. Things get worse when Mr. Beamish pushes his way into the room which sets Mrs. Gainsborough’s poodles barking.

Potter picks up Mr. Beamish and unwisely advances on Mrs. Gainsborough who lets out some half-hearted screams.

All the commotion brings the manager and various guests to the room, resulting in Potter being told he must vacate the hotel the next day.

Sheepishly, Potter returns to his room but not before an encounter with the disapproving Miss Carrington.

The next morning, Potter is back to following Mrs. Gainsborough and once again Mr. Beamish is with him, this time seemingly on a lead. [?!]

Returning to the hotel, Potter gathers his things together ready to leave but while talking to Mr. Beamish he suddenly has a flash of inspiration.

Hurriedly, and rather roughly, returning Mr. Beamish to his basket Potter rushes back to the disused hotel. Here the denouement plays out and as Potter and Miss Carrington exit the building Mr. Beamish runs out behind them (on a lead held by Potter!) before being picked up by Miss Carrington. (Quite how the cat got out of his closed basket and all the way to the deserted hotel with his lead seems destined to remain a mystery.)

The first two films in the series were Too Many Detectives and Potter of the Yard, although it is not clear whether or not the kitten Mr. Beamish appeared in either of those short films. The shorts were reportedly based on stories penned by detective fiction author Selwyn Jepson and although we can’t find any direct connection to these characters he did pen the book God and the Little Cat and included cats in some of his stories. Also, perhaps tellingly, the author reportedly used the name E. Potter in connection with his work recruiting secret agents for the British government during World War II.

Final Mewsings: Apparently kittens don’t really hinder or help detective work.

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