Directed by: Robert Stevenson
Cat Out of the Bag Alert! This review contains some spoilers for this film!
Synopsis: Originally a two-part film shown on Disney’s Wonderful World of Color. A St. Bernard named Barabbas (played by The Bernardiner Noel) has a tendency to steal things and get his new owner, helicopter traffic reporter Jack Crandall (Dwayne Hickman) into trouble.
Cat Burglar (Scene Stealer): Jack’s landlady, Mrs. Formby (Elsa Lanchester) has a strict no-dogs policy for her apartments. This is because her white Persian cat Cleopatra (which she pronounces Cleo-pay-tra) is allergic to dogs and will start sneezing whenever one is present.



Of course Mrs. Formby is explaining this to a new tenant right when Jack is trying to sneak Barabbas into the building under a cardboard box. Cleopatra starts to sneeze and Mrs. Formby becomes concerned.



At the end of the film, Mrs. Formby has not been able to find the dog she is sure Jack is hiding, so she shows Cleopatra a dog whistle which she will blow to reveal the canine. Instead numerous dogs come running into her apartment from all directions, causing poor Cleopatra to take shelter on top of a high shelf and sneeze miserably. Her series of sneezes are actually just two sneezes and then the film reversed to show them backwards.





Final Mewsings: Cat allergies are nothing to sneeze at!
Relevant Links:
To discuss this film and other cats in movies and on television, join us on Facebook and Twitter.