Peg of Old Drury (1935)

Directed by: Herbert Wilcox

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

Synopsis: Irish actress Peg Woffington (Anna Neagle) is jilted by her boyfriend after moving to London but seeks out a new career at Drury Lane theater.

Cat Cattle Call: Peg becomes enamored of actor David Garrick (Cedric Hardwicke) and tries to get into the Drury Lane Theatre to see the manager, Mr. Rich (Hay Petrie), about getting a job. She is stopped at the door by Digby (Aubrey Fitzgerald) who tells her Mr. Rich is busy with his cats. Peg says she doesn’t mind waiting until the man is done with his ladies. “Ladies?” Digby cries, “Ladies? I said cats! Cats! Cats! Real cats! Twenty seven of them!” We are then shown a shot of Rich in his room with his many cats.

Peg of Old Drury - Mr. Rich Hay Petrie with his many cats

Peg of Old Drury - Mr. Rich Hay Petrie with his many cats animated gif

Peg sees a black and white cat in a nearby doorway and gets an idea. She excuses herself.

Peg of Old Drury - black and white cat in doorway

Moments later she returns covered in a shawl and acting like an old woman with a cat in her arms (note that this cat is a tabby and not the black and white cat shown earlier!) She tells Digby she is delivering the cat Mr. Rich wanted and he lets her pass.

Peg of Old Drury - Peg as old woman taking tabby cat past Digby Aubrey Fitzgerald

Inside the theatre, Peg looks for Mr. Rich (now she is holding the black and white cat seen earlier!)

Peg of Old Drury - Peg Anna Neagle carrying black and white cat through theatre

When Peg finds Mr. Rich’s office she peers in through the window with her mouth hanging open, amazed at the sight of his many cats.

Peg of Old Drury - Peg Anna Neagle looking shocked through window with black and white cat

Peg enters, holding the adorable black and white cat in front of her. Mr. Rich immediately gets up and approaches her.

Peg of Old Drury - Peg Anna Neagle carrying black and white cat

“What eyes!” Mr. Rich exclaims excitedly. “What hair! What coloring! And the mouth! Lovely!” Peg thinks Mr. Rich is talking about her and is surprised when he takes the cat and sits down with it, petting it happily.

Peg of Old Drury - Mr. Rich Hay Petrie with Peg Anna Neagle holding black and white cat

Peg of Old Drury - Mr. Rich Hay Petrie petting black and white cat

Peg of Old Drury - Mr. Rich Hay Petrie taking black and white cat from Peg Anna Neagle animated gif

Quick to get on Mr. Rich’s good side, Peg gets down on the floor and cooes over the cats, saying how much she loves them.

Peg of Old Drury - Mr. Rich Hay Petrie and Peg Anna Neagle adoring cats

Peg of Old Drury - numerous cats eating from dishes

Peg’s dog has followed her into the theatre and starts barking outside the door. Mr. Rich is concerned and Peg tries to convince him there is no dog outside. When he isn’t swayed, she says she will take a look. Slyly she steals a piece of fish from a tabby cat and throws it out to the dog to quiet him. (Note that Mr. Rich is holding a calico cat as Peg goes to the door but when she is at the door he is holding a tabby! He doesn’t actually pick up the tabby cat until after she returns to his side.)

Peg of Old Drury - Mr. Rich Hay Petrie holding calico cat with Peg Anna Neagle holding cat

Peg of Old Drury - Peg taking fish from tabby cat

Peg of Old Drury - Mr. Rich Hay Petrie with tabby cat beside Peg Anna Neagle

Peg suggests to Mr. Rich that if she could get even just a small a part in the show she could be close to his cats. Mr. Rich agrees and Peg is so happy she hugs him and runs out the door, leaving him disheveled.

Peg of Old Drury - Mr. Rich Hay Petrie with cats

Peg of Old Drury - Mr. Rich Hay Petrie being hugged by Peg Anna Neagle with cats

Peg of Old Drury - Mr. Rich Hay Petrie looking disheveled while holding tabby cat

Mr. Rich is seen twice more holding a tabby cat in the film, once when Peg is performing on stage and once when she and Garrick are with him in Garrick’s room.