Hal Roach Studios
Starring: Mickey Daniels, Joe Cobb
Directed by: Robert F. McGowan
Synopsis: After playing around with some dangerously real trains, the Gang decide to set up their own railroad.
Cat Burglars (Scene Stealers): Once again cats are used as the principle means of locomotion, this time for the Gang’s train. The impending gag was hinted at when Joe allows a pretty girl to ride up front. As she climbs into the car behind the engine you can just see two tabby kittens in a cage.
Mickey the engineer pulls a lever which says “Go Ahead.” A corresponding door opens in the “engine” where the Gang’s dog is waiting. The “Go Ahead” door is raised and a tabby kitten is seen, causing the dog to run on a treadmill and power the engine. The tabby kitten is less than thrilled about this and hisses.
In long shots the tabby kitten looks darker than the kitten used in the close ups.
The frightened kitten is shown in its cage several times, although the dog cannot reach it.
Eventually a flaw is revealed when the dog gets his head underneath the door so it doesn’t close, causing the train to run out of control with no way of stopping.
Disconnected from the cars and running out of control, the engine circles the track and crashes into the back of the cars. Mickey then tells Joe to get another cat so they can throw it in reverse.
They place the tabby kitten in a box behind the engine and lift the “Reverse” door so that the dog runs the other way.
In one shot the reverse kitten is seen poking its adorable little head out through a hole.
Final Mewsings: Obviously no one asked the cats if they wanted to be train engines.
Relevant Links:
To discuss this film and other cats in movies and on television, join us on
Facebook and Twitter.