Portrait in Black (1960)

Portrait in Black poster

Ross Hunter Productions Inc.
Starring: Lana Turner, Anthony Quinn, Lloyd Nolan
Directed by: Michael Gordon

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

Synopsis: Sheila Cabot (Lana Turner) conspires with her husband’s doctor, David Rivera (Anthony Quinn), to murder the man but their plot is quickly complicated by someone who knows what they have done.

Featured Feline: Sheila’s ailing husband, shipping magnate Matthew S. Cabot (Lloyd Nolan) owns a Siamese cat named Rajah who is often seen in bed with him. The cat is present in the opening scenes of the film.

Portrait in Black - Matthew Cabot Lloyd Nolan in bed with Siamese cat Rajah

Portrait in Black - Matthew Cabot Lloyd Nolan in bed with Siamese cat Rajah and Sheila Lana Turner and Dr. Rivera Anthony Quinn in background

Later after Cabot is murdered, Sheila is unnerved when she hears his adjustable bed moving up and down in the other room. She walks in and sees the bed moving with no one in it. Just then Rajah jumps (or is rather thrown, catapult-style) onto the pillow, creating a classic spring-loaded cat moment.

Portrait in Black - Sheila Lana Turner scared by Siamese cat Rajah animated gif

Portrait in Black - Sheila Lana Turner startled by Siamese cat Rajah

Portrait in Black - Siamese cat Rajah

Sheila picks up Rajah and takes him out of the room, setting him down. The housemaid, Tawny (Anna May Wong) is at the foot of the stairs as the cat comes down.

Portrait in Black - Sheila Lana Turner picking up Siamese cat Rajah

Portrait in Black - Sheila Lana Turner looking down at Tawny Anna May Wong as Siamese cat Rajah runs down stairs

Sheila asks Tawny to keep the cat downstairs. The cat is in Tawny’s arms, looking for all the world as if he wants to say, “She did it! They killed him! I saw them!”

Portrait in Black - Sheila Lana Turner turning away from Siamese cat Rajah held by Tawny Anna May Wong animated gif

Portrait in Black - Tawny Anna May Wong holding Siamese cat Rajah

Later in the film Sheila’s son Peter (Dennis Kohler) is sitting outside with Rajah as Sheila’s step-daughter, Cathy (Sandra Dee) approaches. Peter says the police are inside questioning Sheila about the murder of Cabot’s partner, Mason, and wants to tell Cathy about the strange dream he had the night before.

Portrait in Black - Peter Dennis Kohler holding Siamese cat Rajah with Cathy Sandra Dee

Inside Cathy and Peter enter the room where the police are questioning Sheila. Peter continues to carry Rajah.

Portrait in Black - Peter Dennis Kohler holding Siamese cat Rajah with Cathy Sandra Dee and Sheila Lana Turner questioned by police

Portrait in Black - Peter Dennis Kohler holding Siamese cat Rajah with Sheila Lana Turner and Cathy Sandra Dee in background

Peter then goes into the kitchen to talk to the driver Cobb (Ray Walston), but he is also too busy to listen to the boy.

Portrait in Black - Peter Dennis Kohler holding Siamese cat Rajah with Cobb Ray Walston

Finally Peter catches Cathy’s attention on the stairs and she sits down to listen to him tell about how he’d heard arguing and a shot the night before. Rajah is still in Peter’s arms but runs away at the end of the scene, not to return.

Portrait in Black - Peter Dennis Kohler holding Siamese cat Rajah with Cathy Sandra Dee on stairs

Portrait in Black - Peter Dennis Kohler holding Siamese cat Rajah with Cathy Sandra Dee

Portrait in Black - Peter Dennis Kohler holding Siamese cat Rajah

Kitty Cameo: Late in the film Dr. Rivera is stumbling around the streets of San Francisco worrying about what he has done. At one point he looks into a pet store window and sees a Siamese cat that reminds him of Rajah and Mr. Cabot.

Portrait in Black - Dr. Rivera Anthony Quinn looking at Siamese cat in pet shop window animated gif