Starring: High Bred
Directed by: Andrew V. McLaglen
This review contains a severe Kitty Carnage Warning!
Cat Out of the Bag Alert! This review contains some spoilers for this film!
Synopsis: At the end of the Civil War, Union Colonel John Henry Thomas (John Wayne) and Confederate Colonel James Langdon (Rock Hudson) head to Mexico for very different missions but end up having to join forces against common enemies.
Cat Burglar (Scene Stealer): Colonel Thomas heads west to round up wild horses to sell. Amongst his party of old friends and compatriots is the chuck wagon driver and cook McCartney (Dub Taylor). When they meet again for the first time, Thomas makes fun of McCartney’s cooking, then notes, “You still got that mangy old cat?” A scraggly brown tabby cat is sitting on the seat beside McCartney.
“High Bred?” McCartney answers, “Finest partner I ever had. Cleans his paws and buries his leavings. Lot more than some folks I know!”
High Bred is next seen beneath the chuck wagon eating beans as McCartney is serving the complaining men. “High Bred, you know what good food is, don’t ya? You mangy old cat.” McCartney sighs.
When the men talk about what they’re going to do with the money they make, McCartney says, “Me and High Bred’s going to go to St. Louis and open up a little cat house.” High Bred meows (dubbed in).
High Bred is seen several times throughout the film, mostly sitting on or around the chuck wagon. High Bred wears a little harness and leash.
When Thomas comes to get some beans, High Bred is sitting beside McCartney and even rests a paw on the man’s arm. A moment later the cat hooks McCartney’s shirt with a claw.
McCartney carries High Bred to get some water then comes back to alert the men that someone is approaching. He steps over to tell Thomas personally.
Due to some complications in Mexico, Thomas and his men decide not to sell the horses to Maximillian’s army. The French soldiers come looking for them but Thomas has a plan to rush them. He has loaded guns and men into the chuck wagon and when he gives the signal McCartney tells High Bred to hold on and urges his horses forward at a gallop as the men start shooting.
Kitty Carnage Warning! Unfortunately McCartney’s wagon rolls down an incline, spilling the passengers. While the men are portrayed by stunt men, a stuffed cat appears to be attached to the wagon as it falls. The fake cat can be seen on the leash as the wagon tips over (we assume it is fake, since its legs stick out straight and it doesn’t move while this is happening.)
McCartney is mortally wounded and tells Short Grub (Ben Johnson) to look after High Bred for him. Short Grub looks over and sees High Bred lying on the ground, dead.
Behind the Scenes
High Bred apparently stole attention away from the stars of the movie, according to The Baltimore Sun, reporting on December 7, 1969:
“Scenes getting the most laughs are those in which a skinny cat named High Bred shows up with the Duke and the cook, Ben Johnson, who in the story owns the feline (CC Note: the cat is owned by Dub Taylor’s character).
Now Wayne, after studying crowd reaction, is trying to buy the scene-stealer for his personal household.
“I knew the moment that first scene turned up at the preview that this cat was going to hog every one we played together – and it’s turned out that way,” the big fellow explained. That first cat bit has be on horseback and looking down at High Bred (CC Note: Wayne was not on horseback looking down at the cat). I had a big grin on my face. It wasn’t supposed to be there but I couldn’t help laughing at the funny sight.”
“That homely little critter seemed to know he was going to be good. He looked up to me with those big green eyes that I swear said, ‘forget it, Mr. movie star – this is my picture.’ Then he yawned. He almost broke me up every time. I don’t know where High Bred is now (his trainer claims he ran away) but I’m doing my best to locate him.”
The little mouser didn’t play the picture strictly for laughs, either. His death scene – he died a big hero – is drawing tears from audiences.
Another article from December 1969 claims that John Wayne bought the cat and planned to give him steady work.
Final Mewsings: It takes a talented cat to steal scenes from John Wayne and Dub Taylor!
Many thanks to Mark Murton for letting us know about the cat in this film!
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