Directed by: Michael Curtiz
Cat Out of the Bag Alert! This review contains some spoilers for this film!
Synopsis: Depiction of the on-again, off-again relationship between Queen Elizabeth I (Bette Davis) and Robert Devereux, the Earl of Essex (Errol Flynn).
Cat Burglars (Scene Stealers): Near the end of the film Elizabeth announces Essex a traitor and has him imprisoned. The sentence is death and the next scene opens with the executioner sharpening his axe on a grindstone. Inexplicably the scene begins on a shot of three kittens playing beneath the grindstone.
The kittens wander away from the grindstone as the camera pulls back. It seems an odd choice to open such a dire scene with kittens, and we’re not sure why that choice was made. Was it meant to be contrary; the cuteness of kittens compared to the horror of execution? Did the cats just happen to be on the set? In any case, we certainly appreciated the inclusion of these little cuties.
Final Mewsings: Kittens should keep their noses far from the grindstone.
Many thanks to Brian for letting us know about the cats in this film!
Relevant Links:
To discuss this film and other cats in movies and on television, join us on Facebook and Twitter.