Never Too Late (1965)

Directed by: Bud Yorkin

This review contains a slight Kitty Carnage Warning!

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

Synopsis: Harry Lambert (Paul Ford) is shocked when his fifty-something-year-old wife Edith (Maureen O’Sullivan) announces she is pregnant.

Kitty Cameo: Harry owns a lumber mill where he employs his son-in-law Charlie (Jim Hutton). Harry walks into the office to find Charlie sleeping in a chair at his desk. A long-hair gray tabby cat is lying on the file cabinets in the background.

Never Too Late - Harry Paul Ford and Charlie Jim Hutton in office with longhair gray cat on file cabinet in background
Never Too Late - Harry Paul Ford and Charlie Jim Hutton in office with longhair gray cat on file cabinet in background

Harry yells at Charlie about sleeping so much. He doesn’t know that Charlie has been kept awake trying to get his wife pregnant as well. Despite the yelling and noise the cat remains in place, although he seems fascinated by something above (a boom mike, perhaps?) and lets out a plaintive meow.

Never Too Late - Harry Paul Ford and Charlie Jim Hutton in office with longhair gray cat on file cabinet in background
Never Too Late - Harry Paul Ford and Charlie Jim Hutton in office with longhair gray cat on file cabinet in background

Finally Harry notices the cat and asks, “What’s with this cat?” “Oh, he’s just resting,” Charlie insists. Harry picks up the cat, which despite putting his ears back allows himself to be picked up. Harry complains that everyone’s always resting around the place, “He’s as lazy as you are!”

Never Too Late - Harry Paul Ford and Charlie Jim Hutton in office with longhair gray cat on file cabinet in background
Never Too Late - Harry Paul Ford picking up longhair gray cat from file cabinet with Charlie Jim Hutton in office
Never Too Late - Harry Paul Ford holding longhair gray cat in office with Charlie Jim Hutton

Kitty Carnage Warning! Charlie then proceeds to toss the poor cat out the window, telling him to “Go out and catch some mice!” A poor cat screech is dubbed in to make the exit more dramatic.

Never Too Late - Harry Paul Ford holding longhair gray cat in office with Charlie Jim Hutton
Never Too Late - Harry Paul Ford throwing longhair gray cat out of office window past Charlie Jim Hutton

Final Mewsings: Cats don’t find defenestration funny.

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