Also Known As:  Murder on the Run
Warner Brothers-First National Productions
Starring: Emlyn Williams, Ernest Thesiger, Anna Konstam
Directed by: Arthur B. Woods

Cat Out of the Bag Alert!  This review contains some major spoilers for this film!

Synopsis: Shorty Matthews (Emlyn Williams) has just been released from prison when he finds himself accused of killing a former girlfriend, causing him to go on the run while trying to prove his innocence.

Purr Blur: In one scene Shorty goes to meet with his former crooks to try to get help in his flight from justice. As he walks down a corridor, a white cat can barely be seen passing him.

Cat Burglars (Scene Stealers):  Shorty meets up with a friend of the murdered girl, a dance hall employee named Molly (Anna Konstam). Molly finds an abandoned house where Shorty can hide. She gives him a sandwich and leaves him. As Shorty walks through the house he looks down and sees an adorable Bengal tabby at his feet.

After lifting some nearby sheets, Shorty discovers some kittens belonging to the female shorthair. He picks one of the kittens up. In this shot the kitten looks tiny, as if it barely has its eyes open.

The camera cuts to another angle and this time the kitten looks a little older. Shorty sets the kitten back into the box and then tears off some pieces of sandwich for the litter.

Shorty lays down to sleep and the mother cat approaches him but the scene cuts off. Later in the film Molly and Shorty are joined by the mysterious Walter Hoover (Ernest Thesiger) who states that he believes in Shorty’s innocence. This is because Hoover is the real killer and Shorty suspects this. While they are talking, the mama cat appears at Hoover’s feet.

Hoover comments on what a pretty cat she is and picks her up. He is excited when Shorty tells him about the kittens and hurries over to see them.

Hoover convinces Shorty and Molly to come to his house and to bring the cats with them. Hoover is seen carrying the mama cat into his house while Molly carries the two kittens.

Once inside Hoover’s house they put the cats on his bed.

Later Hoover gets a saucer of milk to take to the cats. Molly goes with him and he sets the saucer on the floor and puts the cat and kittens down with it. Moments later when Hoover tries to kill Molly and Shorty comes in and fights him they appear to fall right where the cats were eating! But the cats are not mentioned or seen again.

Final Mewsings: Both good guys and bad guys love cats!

Many thanks to Ted Davis for recommending this film to us!