The House in the Woods (1957)

by Linda Kay

Directed by: Maxwell Munden

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

Synopsis: Author Geoffrey Carter (Michael Gough) and his wife Carol (Patricia Roc) decide to get away from their apartment block and noisy, sociable neighbors to help Geoffrey overcome his writer’s block. They find the perfect isolated cottage offered for rent by the unusually cordial widowed painter Spencer Rowland (Ronald Howard) who immediately invites them to stay with him before he moves out. This leads to suspicion on Geoffrey’s part when what Spencer tells them doesn’t add up. Is Geoffrey just being fanciful? Or is there more to Spencer than meets the eye?

Cat Burglar (Scene Stealer): When the Carters arrive at the cottage home they are greeted by Spencer and his pet seal point Siamese cat Cleopatra who rides upon his shoulder.

The House in the Woods - Geoffrey Michael Gough, Carol Patricia Roe meeting Spencer Ronald Howard with seal point Siamese cat Cleopatra on shoulder

The House in the Woods - Geoffrey Michael Gough, Carol Patricia Roe with Spencer Ronald Howard carrying seal point Siamese cat Cleopatra on shoulder animated gif

Spencer makes the couple feel right at home as Cleopatra occupies his chair.

The House in the Woods - Geoffrey Michael Gough, Carol Patricia Roe with Spencer Ronald Howard and seal point Siamese cat Cleopatra on chair

It is clear Spencer feels great affection for Cleopatra as he holds her while speaking with his potential new tenants.

The House in the Woods - Spencer Ronald Howard with seal point Siamese cat Cleopatra on lap

After explaining that he plans to travel and offering the couple the cottage for a ridiculously low rent, Spencer suggests they move in immediately to keep him company while the rental agreement is being drawn up. The Carters can hardly believe their good fortune in finding such hospitality along with the perfect retreat.

The House in the Woods - Geoffrey Michael Gough, Carol Patricia Roe with Spencer Ronald Howard with seal point Siamese cat Cleopatra on chair

Spencer is so anxious to have the Carters move in he proposes they drive into town right away and get their things, provided no one in their building would be disturbed (or have knowledge of their leaving). He sets down the cat and they leave right away.

The House in the Woods - Geoffrey Michael Gough, Carol Patricia Roe with Spencer Ronald Howard holding seal point Siamese cat Cleopatra

As Geoffrey works on his novel he takes a look at one of Spencer’s books and realizes that it was inscribed by the man’s wife on a date long after she was supposed to have died. A porcelain Siamese cat sits on the shelf next to the calendar.

The House in the Woods - porcelain seal point Siamese cat on bookshelf

Confused by Spencer’s warnings to stay away from the woods, Geoffrey explores nearby and notices a large rock with disturbances around it. He suspects Spencer has buried his wife under the rock. Upon returning to the cottage and confronting Spencer with his findings, Spencer explains he buried a cat under the rock. Cleopatra may be trying to tell Geoffrey something as she is particularly squirmy and vocal in Spencer’s arms.

The House in the Woods - Geoffrey Michael Gough with Spencer Ronald Howard holding seal point Siamese cat Cleopatra

The House in the Woods - Geoffrey Michael Gough with Spencer Ronald Howard holding squirming seal point Siamese cat Cleopatra under arm animated gif

Cleopatra is still anxious when Carol appears to go on a walk.

Eventually the time comes when Spencer is to move out. He surprises the Carters by saying he wants them to look after Cleopatra while he’s away.

The House in the Woods - seal point Siamese cat Cleopatra curled up on chair

Geoffrey is now even more convinced that Spencer killed his wife and has a complicated plan to use Carol as a stand in so he can inherit some money. Carol is reluctant to believe him at first while Cleopatra jumps up on a chair nearby and acts especially cute.

The House in the Woods - Geoffrey Michael Gough, Carol Patricia Roe with seal point Siamese cat Cleopatra on chair

The House in the Woods - Geoffrey Michael Gough and Carol Patricia Roe talking as seal point Siamese cat Cleopatra rolls on chair animated gif

When Geoffrey goes out to the Carter’s car (which won’t start, of course), Cleopatra is sitting on the hood. Perhaps she wanted them to take her with them?

The House in the Woods - seal point Siamese cat Cleopatra on hood of car

Inside the house, Carol is packing her bags. Cleopatra is sitting on a nearby chair.

The House in the Woods - seal point Siamese cat Cleopatra on chair

When the Siamese jumps down Carol realizes the cat was sitting upon some documents which contain forged signatures of herself and Geoffrey.

The House in the Woods - Carol Patricia Roe packing case as seal point Siamese cat Cleopatra jumps down from chair animated gif

It turns out Spencer didn’t leave after all and the aggravated man pulls a gun on Geoffrey. But turns out Spencer’s just as bad at confrontations as he is at painting, because Geoffrey simply slaps the gun out of his hand as Cleopatra watches from a shelf by the front door.

The House in the Woods - seal point Siamese cat Cleopatra sitting on shelf by front door

Spencer regains control of the gun and backs to the front door where Cleopatra sits upon the shelf, yowling. Incredibly (and not surprisingly to any cat owner) Spencer turns to actually comfort his cat while Geoffrey jumps at him and they wrestle for the weapon.

The House in the Woods - Spencer Ronald Howard backing up toward seal point Siamese cat Cleopatra on shelf by door

The House in the Woods - seal point Siamese cat Cleopatra on shelf

The House in the Woods - Spencer Ronald Howard reaching back to pet seal point Siamese cat Cleopatra on shelf

The House in the Woods - Geoffrey Michael Gough fighting with Spencer Ronald Howard who pauses to pet seal point Siamese cat Cleopatra on shelf animated gif

After Spencer is subdued the last we see of Cleopatra is her tail end sticking out from behind the curtains. Perhaps she couldn’t stand to witness such violence. Or maybe she was just embarrassed by the ineptitude of her owner. Either way, the Carters do not take Cleopatra with them when they return home and the fate of the innocent cat is left unknown.