by Mark Murton

Directed by: Claude Whatham

Synopsis: In this updated, Americanized, made-for-TV movie adaptation of the Agatha Christie classic, mathematician and author Luke Williams (Bill Bixby) is travelling to London on a train when he meets an old lady, Lavinia Fullerton, who tells him she is on her way to Scotland Yard to report her suspicions about a number of deaths in the small village where she lives which the local police are sure were all accidental. As they part ways, Luke is horrified to see Lavinia killed in a hit and run and becomes convinced that she was telling the truth and so sets out to solve the mystery.

Cat Burglar (Scene Stealer): Staying in the village on the pretext of writing a book about witchcraft, Luke is introduced to Miss Wainfleet (Olivia de Havilland) and when he accompanies her back to her home he is introduced to “Wonky-pooh,” Lavinia’s longhair diluted calico Persian whom Miss Wainfleet was looking after while Lavinia went to London. Wonky-pooh is first seen sitting on a small table beside a canary in a cage.

Miss Wainfleet then picks up the cat and struggles to hold her as the kitty constantly tries to wriggle from her grasp. She casually mentions the cat has been suffering from an infection.

Later, Luke returns to Miss Wainfleet’s to question her about her relationship with one of the people he has identified as a suspect, and this time he holds Wonky-Pooh firmly on his lap while they talk.

Final Mewsings: Holding a struggling cat can be murder!

Thanks also to Teresa and Bill Peschel for also spotting the cat in this film.

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