Two Way Stretch (1960)

Two Way Stretch poster

Tudor Productions
Starring:
 Peter Sellers, Bernard Cribbins, George Woodbridge
Directed by: Robert Day

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

Synopsis: Three British convicts plan an escape, hoping to pull a robbery before sneaking back into prison the day before their release, giving themselves the perfect alibi.

Featured Feline: The convicts Dodger Lane (Peter Sellers), Jelly Knight (David Lodge) and Lennie Price (Bernard Cribbins) are living large as trustees in their prison cell and even have their own cat, a tortoise shell named Strangeways. Chief Jenkins (George Woodbridge) is their lenient officer and even takes Strangeways out for walks for them.

Two Way Stretch - Dodger Peter Sellers Jelly David Lodge and Lennie Bernard Cribbins with Chief Jenkins George Woodbridge and tortoiseshell cat Strangeways

Two Way Stretch - Chief Jenkins George Woodbridge and tortoiseshell cat Strangeways

Two Way Stretch - Chief Jenkins George Woodbridge leaving cell with tortoiseshell cat Strangeways

Jenkins brings the cat back when he returns and Lennie places Strangeways on the top bunk.

Two Way Stretch - Dodger Peter Sellers Jelly David Lodge and Lennie Bernard Cribbins with Chief Jenkins George Woodbridge bringing back tortoiseshell cat Strangeways

Two Way Stretch - Dodger Peter Sellers Jelly David Lodge and Lennie Bernard Cribbins with Chief Jenkins George Woodbridge and tortoiseshell cat Strangeways

Two Way Stretch - Dodger Peter Sellers Jelly David Lodge and Lennie Bernard Cribbins with Chief Jenkins George Woodbridge and tortoiseshell cat Strangeways

When the boys find out that Jenkins is going to retire they throw him a party. Strangeways is also in attendance.

Two Way Stretch - Dodger Peter Sellers Jelly David Lodge and Lennie Bernard Cribbins with Chief Jenkins George Woodbridge and tortoiseshell cat Strangeways

Two Way Stretch - Lennie Bernard Cribbins with tortoiseshell cat Strangeways on lap

Two Way Stretch - Lennie Bernard Cribbins with tortoiseshell cat Strangeways

Two Way Stretch - Lennie Bernard Cribbins with tortoiseshell cat Strangeways

They say they don’t know how they’ll get by without Jenkins and Lennie adds that he doesn’t know who will take Strangeways out for walks.

Two Way Stretch - Dodger Peter Sellers Jelly David Lodge and Lennie Bernard Cribbins with Chief Jenkins George Woodbridge and tortoiseshell cat Strangeways

Two Way Stretch - Dodger Peter Sellers Jelly David Lodge and Lennie Bernard Cribbins with Chief Jenkins George Woodbridge and tortoiseshell cat Strangeways

They ask Jenkins if he will take the cat down with him one last time.

Two Way Stretch - Dodger Peter Sellers Jelly David Lodge with Chief Jenkins George Woodbridge and tortoiseshell cat Strangeways

Later Jenkins is replaced by the strict military Chief Crout (Lionel Jeffries). When Crout spots a guard with Strangeways he tells him to get rid of the cat.

Two Way Stretch - Chief P.O. Crout Lionel Jeffries with guard holding tortoiseshell cat Strangeways

Strangeways is not seen again until the end of the film when the boys’ cohort Soapy (Wilfrid Hyde-White) finally ends up doing time and is seen behind bars petting the cat.

Two Way Stretch - Soapy Wilfrid Hyde-White petting tortoiseshell cat Strangeways behind prison bars

Two Way Stretch - Soapy Wilfrid Hyde-White petting tortoiseshell cat Strangeways behind prison bars closer

Final Mewsings: Cats are sure doing a lot of hard time in movies.


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