by Ted Davis
Directed by: Martin Gabel
Cat Out of the Bag Alert! This review contains some spoilers for this film!
Synopsis: Publisher Lewis Venable (Robert Cummings) schemes to acquire the lost love letters of a 19th century poet who vanished under mysterious circumstances.
Kitty Cameos: In the mansion where Venable is lodging under false credentials, lowly maidservant Amelia (Joan Lorring) tends to her inside chores, accompanied by two young tabby cats. At the approach of Tina Bordereau (Susan Hayward), schizophrenic great-niece of ancient crone Juliana Bordereau (Agnes Moorehead), the original recipient of the letters, the cats scamper away to safety, hiding and taking shelter under a set of drapes.
After Tina departs the room and heads upstairs, Amelia bustles the kitties into the courtyard, and implores Venable not to tell Tina about them, for fear that the schizophrenic will hurt them while in her bad personality phase. In this scene one of the tabby cats appears to have turned into a bicolor tabby!
Cat Burglar (Scene Stealer): Later in the movie, during the night, Venable tracks a single vocal tabby cat across the grounds, up stairways and through corridors.
These scenes are particularly impressive because the cat actor is filmed with the actor in long shots. The cat often pauses and waits for Cummings to follow.
They arrive in a distant, elegantly furnished apartment where Tina is playing the piano. Luckily, Tina is in her good phase and welcomes and caresses the cat. The cats are not seen again after this.
Final Mewsings: Don’t lose a moment to spend with your kitties!
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