The Wild Wild West – “The Night of the Raven”

The Wild Wild West Season Two DVD

Original Air Date: September 30, 1966
Starring: Robert Conrad, Ross Martin, Michael Dunn
Directed by: Irving J. Moore

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

Synopsis: Dr. Miguelito Loveless (Michael Dunn) returns and kidnaps an Indian Princess named Wanakee (Phyllis Newman) to lure Jim West (Robert Conrad) and Artemus (Ross Martin) into a trap.

Featured Feline: Dr. Loveless manages to shrink Jim to a small size, leaving him in a bedroom alone. Dr. Loveless and his female accomplice, Antoinette (Phoebe Dorin) look into the room. The Doctor is holding an orange tabby cat.

The Wild Wild West - The Night of the Raven - Dr. Loveless Michael Dunn holding orange tabby cat with Antionette Phoebe Dorin behind

Dr. Loveless only refers to the cat as Pussycat, setting her on the floor and telling Jim that she can tear him to pieces if he moves.

The Wild Wild West - The Night of the Raven - Jim West Robert Conrad facing giant orange tabby cat

Dr. Loveless then places Jim in a box with the shrunken Princess and leaves the cat to guard them.

The Wild Wild West - The Night of the Raven - Dr. Loveless Michael Dunn leaving orange tabby cat on bed and Antionette Phoebe Dorin

Later in the episode, Jim decides to try escaping and climbs out of the box. The cat is on the bed and doesn’t seem to hear him (although he is making plenty of noise).

The Wild Wild West - The Night of the Raven - Jim West Robert Conrad climbing out of box with orange tabby cat on bed

The cat finally spots him as he crosses the floor and takes chase.

The Wild Wild West - The Night of the Raven - orange tabby cat on bed looking down

Jim manages to run into a large mousehole as the cat peers inside.

The Wild Wild West - The Night of the Raven - Jim West Robert Conrad in hole with giant orange tabby cat looking in

Loveless then arrives and pushes the cat roughly away from the hole.

The Wild Wild West - The Night of the Raven - Dr. Loveless Michael Dunn pushing orange tabby cat away from wall

After making his way through the walls of the house, Jim finds himself in a makeshift arena built by Loveless. The cat is looking down at Jim and the Princess, who is tied to a stake.

The Wild Wild West - The Night of the Raven - Artemus Gordon Ross Martin Dr. Loveless Michael Dunn Antionette Phoebe Dorin and orange tabby cat looking into small arena

Loveless places the cat in the arena with West and the Princess. The cat is obviously greenscreened into the shot.

The Wild Wild West - The Night of the Raven - orange tabby cat in arena with small Jim West Robert Conrad and Wanakee Phyllis Newman

Artemus throws a sharp cutter to Jim who can now defend himself.

The Wild Wild West - The Night of the Raven - orange tabby cat in arena with small Jim West Robert Conrad with knife

The cat swipes at Jim, who then shoves the sharp point into the cat’s paw (this is not graphic, it looks like it barely touches the cat).

The Wild Wild West - The Night of the Raven - orange tabby cat blurry close up

The cat beats a hasty retreat from the arena where she stops to lick her injured paw.

The Wild Wild West - The Night of the Raven - Artemus Gordon Ross Martin Dr. Loveless Michael Dunn Antionette Phoebe Dorin watch orange tabby cat run from arena

The Wild Wild West - The Night of the Raven - orange tabby cat licking paw

Final Mewsings: Don’t expect a cat to do your dirty work after you treat her badly!

Many thanks to our friend Ted Davis for spotting this television cat for us!


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