Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
Starring: Ricardo Montalban, Claire Trevor, Wendell Corey
Directed by: William A. Wellman

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

Synopsis: Farm laborer Chu Chu Ramirez (Ricardo Montalban) is equally proud of his Mexican heritage and his American citizenship (he carries a letter written to him from the President in his pocket).  Chu Chu works hard to achieve the American dream and approaches life with unbounded optimism.  Unfortunately he finds himself surrounded by natural-born citizens who have all but given up on any dreams, including his love interest Nancy (Shelley Winters) as well as an unscrupulous employer and farm owner Ansel Ames (Wendell Corey) and his wife (Claire Trevor).

Featured Feline: When Chu Chu is hired to work on the Ames’ farm he meets Mrs. Ames, who carries a large Maine Coon Cat around during the first two scenes.  The cat, she explains, is named Nikki, and she’s worried that one day her husband’s dogs (who have taken to Chu Chu) will catch Nikki and kill her.  Chu Chu says he is willing to bet on the cat, who looks big enough to take care of herself.  Unfortunately, Mrs. Ames fears prove to be well founded as the next time we see her she is placing a marker on a grave that reads “Nikki.”

Cat Burglar (Scene Stealer): Later in the film Mrs. Ames hears the dogs barking at something outside and goes to investigate.  Chu Chu’s friends, who have been trying to guilt the Ames couple into changing their ways, have left a small box outside their door from which tiny mews are eminating.  Mrs. Ames opens the box to find a Maine Coon kitten with a ribbon around its neck.  She remembers Chu Chu’s advice from before and immediately introduces the kitten to the dogs.  At first her husband threatens to kill the kitten but when she calls his bluff he admits he wouldn’t actually hurt a cat, which is a turning point in the film.

Final Mewsings: Farewell, Nikki . . . we hardly knew ye.

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