The Boogie Man Will Get You (1942)

The Boogie Man Will Get You poster

Columbia Pictures Corporation
Starring:
 Peter Lorre, Boris Karloff
Directed by: Lew Landers

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

Synopsis: Winnie Slade (Jeff Donnell) is newly divorced and looking to be independent, so she invests in an old inn occupied by a mad scientist named Prof. Nathaniel Billings (Boris Karloff).

Cat Burglar (Scene Stealer): One of the kooky characters in this horror comedy is Dr. Arthur Lorencz (Peter Lorre), a literal man-of-all-trades who pops in often to serve various purposes. When he first arrives he acts as a notary public overseeing the sale of the house. As he prepares the sale, he pulls a Siamese kitten out of his pocket and sets her on the desk.

The Boogie Man Will Get You - Dr. Arthur Lorencz Peter Lorre with Siamese kitten on desk

The Boogie Man Will Get You - Dr. Arthur Lorencz Peter Lorre with Siamese kitten on desk

The Boogie Man Will Get You - Siamese kitten being taken out of pocket by Dr. Arthur Lorencz Peter Lorre animated gif

The Boogie Man Will Get You - Dr. Arthur Lorencz Peter Lorre with Siamese kitten on desk

The Boogie Man Will Get You - Dr. Arthur Lorencz Peter Lorre with Siamese kitten on desk

Winnie and her ex-husband Bill (Larry Parks) pay a visit to Lorencz after finding a dead body in Billings’ lab. The signs outside the man’s home indicate he also is a Doctor, Justice of the Peace, Mayor, Coroner and handles Loans and Insurance. Before entering Lorencz’ home the Siamese kitten is seen sitting on a desk.

The Boogie Man Will Get You - Siamese kitten on desk

After telling him about the corpse, Lorencz steps into his role as Sheriff and picks up the Siamese kitten, placing her in his pocket.

The Boogie Man Will Get You - Dr. Arthur Lorencz Peter Lorre with Siamese kitten at desk next to Winnie Jeff Donnell and Bill Larry Parks

The Boogie Man Will Get You - Dr. Arthur Lorencz Peter Lorre placing Siamese kitten in pocket with Winnie Jeff Donnell and Bill Larry Parks

Instead of arresting Billings, Lorencz agrees to go into business with him and they sign a contract with the kitten sitting on the table. Once again Lorencz finishes by placing the kitten in his pocket.

The Boogie Man Will Get You - Dr. Arthur Lorencz Peter Lorre and Dr. Billings Boris Karloff with Siamese kitten on table

The kitten is seen briefly as Billings and Lorencz approach the house.

The Boogie Man Will Get You - Dr. Arthur Lorencz Peter Lorre carrying Siamese kitten with Dr. Billings Boris Karloff approaching house

Looking for clues, Lorencz and Billings search a room. The kitten continually mews until Lorencz takes her out of his pocket and asks what she wants. “You know it isn’t milk time yet!”

The Boogie Man Will Get You - Siamese kitten being held

The Boogie Man Will Get You - Siamese kitten being held

The Boogie Man Will Get You - Siamese kitten being taken out of pocket by Dr. Arthur Lorencz Peter Lorre with Dr. Billings Boris Karloff animated gif

Lorencz sets the kitten down on the floor, feeling the kitten is sensing something. “You know she has the most amazing instinct for crime and corruption,” he explains to Billings.

The Boogie Man Will Get You - Dr. Arthur Lorencz Peter Lorre holding Siamese kitten with Dr. Billings Boris Karloff

The kitten runs into another room and starts pawing at a door. Lorencz picks up the kitten and asks, “Really?” then pockets the kitten while telling Billings, “I told you so!”

The Boogie Man Will Get You - Siamese kitten running out of room

The Boogie Man Will Get You - Siamese kitten scratching at door

The Boogie Man Will Get You - Siamese kitten runs from room and scratches at door animated gif

The Boogie Man Will Get You - Dr. Arthur Lorencz Peter Lorre holding Siamese kitten with Dr. Billings Boris Karloff

The kitten is only seen again briefly in the basement as Billings and Lorencz are moving unconscious people into another room.

The Boogie Man Will Get You - Dr. Arthur Lorencz Peter and Dr. Billings Boris Karloff carrying body with Siamese kitten nearby

Final Mewsings: Is that a kitten in you pocket … ?

Many thanks to Ted Davis for letting us know about the kitten in this movie!


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