Went the Day Well? (1942)

Directed by: Alberto Cavalcanti

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

Synopsis: Synopsis: A quaint English village finds itself occupied by Nazi soldiers as a means to springboard a U.K. invasion during World War II.

Purr Blurs: At the beginning of the film a man is approached by the camera. He is petting a cat which can just barely be seen.

Went the Day Well - man in yard petting tabby cat
Went the Day Well - man in yard with tabby cat at feet

When the German soldiers arrive in the town, Kommandant Orlter (Basil Sydney), under the guise of Major Hammond, pays a visit to the Vicar (C.V. France) and Nora (Valerie Taylor). When Orlter goes to sit down, he says hello to a large long-haired tabby cat then picks it up and sits, placing the cat on his lap.

Went the Day Well - Kommandant Orlter Basil Sydney picking up longhaired tabby cat from chair with Vicar C.V. France and Nora Valerie Taylor

The cat remains on Orlter’s lap in some of the following scene, only the blocking is such that the cat is either hiding its face, just below the table or hidden behind a vase of tulips.

Went the Day Well - Kommandant Orlter Basil Sydney sitting with longhaired tabby cat in lap with Vicar C.V. France and Nora Valerie Taylor
Went the Day Well - Kommandant Orlter Basil Sydney sitting with longhaired tabby cat in lap
Went the Day Well - Kommandant Orlter Basil Sydney sitting with longhaired tabby cat behind flowers with Vicar C.V. France and Nora Valerie Taylor
Went the Day Well - Kommandant Orlter Basil Sydney sitting with longhaired tabby cat in lap out of shot

Final Mewsings: If you are going to include a cat in a scene, move the vase!

Many thanks to Ted Davis for letting us know about the cats in this film.

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