The Dressmaker (1988)

Oct 22, 2025

by Mark Murton and Linda Kay

Directed by: Jim O’Brien

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

Synopsis: Based on the novel by Beryl Bainbridge. In England during the Second World War, repressed dressmaker, Nellie (Joan Plowright) and her more liberal sister, Margo (Billie Whitelaw), struggle raising their seventeen-year-old niece, Rita (Jane Horrocks), who is having a delusional affair with an American soldier, Wesley (Tim Ransom).

Cat Burglar (Scene Stealer): The family’s black cat is sitting contentedly on a chair near the fire as Rita reads a magazine and Nellie prepares for bed.

The Dressmaker - black cat sitting by fire with Rita Jane Horrocks

Margo enters and pours a pan of cold water on the fire to extinguish it, the noise of which, much to Margo’s amusement, frightens the cat, causing him to hurriedly depart the chair.

The Dressmaker - black cat watching Margo pouring water on fire from chair
The Dressmaker - black cat scared off chair as Margo Billie Whitelaw pours water onto fire animated gif

One night, Nellie and Margo, who share a bed, hear a noise coming from their late mother’s bedroom which has remained undisturbed since her death. Suspecting that the cat — which we learn has been saddled with an unfortunately derogatory name which begins with the letter ‘N’ — is responsible, Nellie goes to investigate and her suspicions are confirmed when her torch picks out the guilty party crouched on a small table.

The Dressmaker - black cat on table in dark room

The cat quickly jumps away.

The Dressmaker - black cat slinking away from table in dark room as Nellie Joan Plowright shouts animated gif

Later, Nellie has finally decided it’s time to put away her mother’s things away, and as she carries a box up the stairs the cat is seen moving rapidly in the opposite direction.

The Dressmaker - black cat going down stairs as Nellie is carrying box upstairs
The Dressmaker - black cat walking down stairs as Nellie Joan Plowright walks up animated gif

Despite not being in favor of Rita’s fondness for the American G.I., the family invite the young man over for tea. After Wesley and Rita have been talking in the back alley they go inside via the back door, and the cat can be seen walking along the wall adjoining the next house stalking towards the neighbour’s pigeon coop.

The Dressmaker - black cat walking toward pigeon coop as Rita and Wesley stand with Nellie

The cat suddenly leaps on top of the coop, startling the pigeons terribly!

The Dressmaker - black cat jumping onto pigeon coop startling birds animated gif

In a later scene, Margo carries the cat out the back door and puts it down to feed.

The Dressmaker - black cat carried outside by Margo Billie Whitelaw
The Dressmaker - black cat set down outside by Margo Billie Whitelaw

The story takes a sudden and unexpected turn which results in a glass case getting knocked over. The cat is wandering nearby as Margo cleans up the broken glass.

The Dressmaker - black cat nearby as Margo Billie Whitelaw cleans up broken glass

As the film winds down the story comes full circle as once again Margo takes great delight in frightening the cat from its seat by pouring cold water on the fire.

The Dressmaker - black cat sitting on chair
The Dressmaker - black cat being startled from chair by water being poured on fire animated gif

Final Mewsings: Cats appreciate a regular routine but not one that scares them every day.

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