by Ted Davis
Directed by: Carol Reed
Cat Out of the Bag Alert! This review contains some spoilers for this film!
Synopsis: Responsible and compassionate Nurse Anne Graham (Margaret Lockwood) is wrongfully accused and tried for murdering invalid patient Miss Blakey (Irene Handl), but is acquitted of the charges, mainly through the efforts of her capable counsel, Stephen Farringdon (Barry K. Barnes). However, because of the notoriety of the case, Anne is unable to secure another nursing position and resorts to changing her name. She is soon hired to care for another hopeless invalid, wheelchair bound Edward Bentley (Wyndham Goldie), and quickly establishes a companionable and professional relationship with her new patient. Unfortunately, Bentley’s unfaithful wife Judith (Margaretta Scott) is under the thumb of her slimy lover, the butler Tracy (Emlyn Williams), and the immoral pair plan to murder Edward and frame the nurse for the crime, a very real likelihood considering Anne’s tainted reputation.
Cat Burglar (Scene Stealer): With her health failing, depressed and bedridden Miss Blakey finds much to complain about, and is literally desperate for a full night’s sleep. But she has one reliable bright spot in her day — the very engaging tuxedo kitten that plays and romps on her bed (although she seems sadly indifferent to the poor kitty).
After Miss Blakey maneuvers the trusting Nurse Anne out of the bedroom, she lifts herself from the bed and struggles to walk the short distance to the medicine cabinet in order to pilfer a dangerous quantity of sleeping tablets, unlocking it with the key she stole from Anne’s purse. Miss Blakey’s progress is closely watched by the kitten, who jumps downs from the bed to follow her and play with the tail ends of her night dress which trail on the carpet. The scene ends as Miss Blakey opens the cabinet and the kitten is not seen again.
Final Mewsings: If only the kitten could have testified, Nurse Anne would never even have been brought to trial in the first place.
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