by Mark Murton

Directed by: George A. Cooper

Synopsis: Soon after the wealthy John Hillcrist (Farren Soutar) and his family move into their newly-acquired and reputedly haunted country mansion, Hillcrist is kidnapped and held for ransom.

Cat Burglars (Scene Stealers): The film opens with Frank Brooks (John Stuart) awkwardly proposing to Sylvia Hillcrest (Judy Kelly) as a black cat and a white cat recline on the sloped roof above them.

Sylvia accepts and the couple join the rest of the family inside where they are discussing the supposed ghost haunting the mansion. Chief believer is Lord Jerry Pilkdown (Richard Cooper), so Frank suggests he, Hillcrist, Jerry and another guest, Brian Heslewood (Edgar Norfolk), spend the night in the refectory in the hope of seeing the ghost. The men settle in for the night and as a bell tolls the form of a black cat is seen descending a stone staircase.

The increasingly nervous Jerry soon announces there is something around his legs. “A snake, I think.” The next shot shows it to be the black cat (which it would appear is being held back by something or someone).

Jerry asks Frank to look and see what it is and Frank informs him, “It’s a very domesticated looking snake.” Jerry then looks and realises it’s a cat as the kitty finally extricates itself from the man’s legs. “Never could stand cats anyway,” Jerry sighs.

Final Mewsings: Cats don’t think much of sniveling Englishmen, either.

Many thanks also to M2 Labs and Wahrhaftig for also spotting the cats in this film.

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