by Mark Murton

Directed by: Robert Donat

Cat Out Of The Bag Alert! This review contains some spoilers for this film.

Synopsis: Predictable comedy that can’t shake its stage play origins with Robert Donat as timid Sergeant Jack Hardacre who returns to his Lancashire home on leave from WWII service in the Middle East. Despite believing he is engaged to scheming floozy Janey Jenkins (Dora Bryan), he can’t help falling in love with his mother’s billeted lodger, Milly Southern (Renee Asherson), a factory girl from London.

Kitty Cameos: On his return home Jack is greeted by his mother. He in turn greets their cat, although it isn’t actually seen until Milly picks it up and carries it to the couch, placing it down beside her as she sits.

Meanwhile, across street in the Jenkins’ household, a scene of chaos includes a tabby and white cat crouching on the kitchen table eating something unseen.

The cat continues to feed as Janey and her mother (Gladys Henson) busy themselves around the room. Eventually the cat jumps down to floor and at the end of the scene gets an unceremonious (off-screen) boot from Mrs. Jenkins and told “get from under me feet, cat”.

After a strained evening out with Janey, made worse by seeing Milly out with her boyfriend, Jack returns home and finds the cat lying on Milly’s bed in the parlour.

He sits by the cat and smooths it as he talks to the kitty.

Eventually he drops the cat to the floor and it is last seen heading out the door behind him.

Back at the Jenkins’ household, the cat is again cursed for this time getting under Janey’s feet, although it isn’t actually seen. Indeed, neither cat is seen again.

Final Mewsings: There’s no cure for loving cats (nor would we want one).

Many thanks to RobG for also spotting the cats in this film.

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