Spitfire (1934)

Spitfire poster

RKO Radio Pictures
Starring:
 Katharine Hepburn, Robert Young, Ralph Bellamy
Directed by: John Cromwell

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

Synopsis: A mountain girl named Trigger Hicks (Katharine Hepburn) is a tough and feisty loner who turns to prayer for healing her neighbors, but when her fiery nature and outrageous behavior are mistaken for witchcraft it threatens her safety.

Featured Feline: The first scene of the film shows a black cat stalking through the woods.

Spitfire - black cat Zedrack stalking through woods

The cat runs across the path of a mountain man who is not pleased.  As it turns out the female cat, whose name is Zedrack (Zeddie for short) belongs to Trigger.  We’re not positive of the spelling, not having found any reference to the cat’s name written online, but this is the closest we can decipher it.

Spitfire - black cat Zedrack carried by Trigger

Trigger talks to Zeddie often, carrying her around and lamenting the lack of food.

Spitfire - black cat Zedrack carried by Trigger 2

When Trigger runs away from her home after taking a baby from a family from the other side of the mountain, she goes to the temporary cabin of George Fleetwood (Ralph Bellamy), the foreman on a dam building job.  She brings Zedrack with her.  This cat actor is one of the calmest cats we have ever seen on film.

Spitfire - black cat Zedrack brought by Trigger to Fleetwood's cabin

Trigger quickly hands off the baby to Fleetwood so she can take Zeddie outside and tie her with a lead under the porch, explaining that she accidentally dropped the cat into the creek coming there and that the cat is dripping wet.

Spitfire - black cat Zedrack on Trigger's shoulder as she hands baby to Fleetwood

The next morning when Trigger leaves she unties Zeddie and takes her with her when she returns home.

Spitfire - black cat Zedrack with Trigger going home

Trigger lights a lamp and then lets Zeddie go into the other room to catch a rat for breakfast.

Spitfire - black cat Zedrack on table beside Trigger

At the end of the film Trigger takes Zeddie with her when she decides to live on the road for a while.

Spitfire - black cat Zedrack in Trigger's arms as she leaves

After some consideration, Trigger says she might come back sooner to be with Fleetwood and he promises he will wait for her.  Trigger and Zeddie set off down the road.

Spitfire - black cat Zedrack in between Trigger and Fleetwood as they kiss

Final Mewsings: Anyone who loves a cat must have a good heart.


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