Original Air Date: January 10, 1961
Starring: Murray Matheson, Sarah Marshall, Jennifer Raine
Directed by: Herschel Daugherty
Cat Out of the Bag Alert! This review contains some spoilers for this episode!
Synopsis: Thomas Edward Griffith (Murray Matheson) is thrilled with his beautiful new wife Frances (Sarah Marshall) but not as much when his mother-in-law and sister-in-law unexpectedly move in and also turn out to be broke, leading him to murder.
Featured Feline: The cat featured in this episode is first scene being held by actress Jennifer Raine as Boris Karloff introduces the players.
When Frances’ mother Mrs. Abercrombie (Brenda Forbes) and sister Helen (Jennifer Raine) turn up, Helen is sickly and confined to a wheelchair. In her lap is an orange tabby cat with a dark ribbon around her neck.
The cat belongs to Frances and is named Hermione. Frances takes Hermione from her sister and holds it as she talks to her husband, who grows more frustated upon learning the women and cat will be living with them.
Griffith snarls for Frances to get “that animal” out of there. She insists the cat belongs to her and that Hermione and her family will stay.
Griffith knocks over a statue as he is storming from the house and almost throws it at Mrs. Abercrombie but just throws it down and leaves. The cat is calm throughout this entire scene.
Hermione is later seen in Helen’s lap in her chair as she tries to spy on Griffith.
At one point Hermione is shut out of Helen’s room.
Hermione sits on the railing over the stairway looking down on Griffith. The mewing used in this segment sounds more like a kitten than a full-grown cat.
Kitty Carnage Warning! When Griffith comes up the stairs, he angrily and very forcefully shoves Hermione off the railing. The push is amplified by the sound of a cat crying out but whether or not there were wires attached to the cat actor to pull it off the railing or whether or not the actor actually pushed the cat that hard it is still an upsetting action.
Unfortunately Hermione drinks some of the brandy Griffith has poisoned, giving Frances no doubt that her husband is a murderer.
It’s very possible that the cat actor(s) in this episode is the Orangey team of cats.
Final Mewsings: There’s a special place in Hell for men who shove cats!
Many thanks to Ted Davis for spotting this Television Tabby for us!
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