Seven Days to Noon (1950)

Jun 24, 2017

Seven Days to Noon poster

London Film Productions
Starring: Barry Jones, Joan Hickson
Directed by: John and Roy Boulting

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

Synopsis: The city of London is threatened when Professor Willingdon (Barry Jones) becomes unstable, abandoning his work on atomic weapons for the government and running off with one of the bombs.

Cat Cattle Call: At one point the Professor seeks a room at a boarding house run by a woman named Mrs. Pecket (Joan Hickson). Mrs. Pecket owns numerous cats, seen around her house. We first see her slippered feet as she calls to one of the cats, a tabby which comes running into her room.

Seven Days to Noon - tabby cat running through doorway

Another multi-colored cat is sitting on the landing as she walks to open the door.

Seven Days to Noon - multi-colored cat on hallway floor

As she talks to the Professor on the doorstep she is holding yet another tabby cat named Wendy.

Seven Days to Noon - Mrs. Pecket Joan Hickson holding tabby cat while talking to Professor Willingdon Barry Jones

The multi-colored cat remains in the hall as Mrs. Pecket invites the Professor in to see the room. She puts Wendy in her room and explains, “I don’t mind the gentlemen going out but I’m a bit more particular about my young ladies. My cats, you know.”

Seven Days to Noon - multicolored cat in hallway with Mrs. Pecket Joan Hickson and Professor Willingdon Barry Jones

Seven Days to Noon - multicolored cat still in hallway with Mrs. Pecket Joan Hickson and Professor Willingdon Barry Jones

Up in the room Mrs. Pecket finds a tabby cat on the bed named Bunty. “You never know where you’re going to find her,” Mrs. Pecket notes, then claps her hand and tells Bunty to shoo. Bunty remains where she is, completely unfazed.

Seven Days to Noon - tabby cat Bunty on bed with Mrs. Pecket Joan Hickson and Professor Willingdon Barry Jones

Seven Days to Noon - tabby cat Bunty still on bed with Mrs. Pecket Joan Hickson and Professor Willingdon Barry Jones

After agreeing to let the Professor the room, Mrs. Pecket removes Bunty from the bed. She then lifts to covers to find another tabby cat. “Oh, there’s Amber,” Mrs. Pecket sighs, “She’s forever in the beds.”

Seven Days to Noon - tabby cat Amber on bed with Mrs. Pecket Joan Hickson and Professor Willingdon Barry Jones

Seven Days to Noon - Mrs. Pecket Joan Hickson lifting tabby cat Amber from bed with Professor Willingdon Barry Jones

In the middle of the night the Professor is pacing in his room. Mrs. Pecket is sitting in a chair, petting a black cat and listening to the pacing.

Seven Days to Noon - Mrs. Pecket Joan Hickson sitting and holding black cat

Seven Days to Noon - Mrs. Pecket Joan Hickson sitting and looking up with black cat

Mrs. Pecket sets the cat down and turns on the radio. Another tabby cat is eating nearby.

Seven Days to Noon - Mrs. Pecket Joan Hickson with tabby cat eating nearby

Still later Mrs. Pecket is in bed with two tabbies still worried by the pacing.

Seven Days to Noon - Mrs. Pecket Joan Hickson in bed with two tabby cats

Seven Days to Noon - Mrs. Pecket Joan Hickson getting up from bed leaving two tabby cats

Going upstairs to listen at the door, a multicolored cat approaches her feet and meows. “Sshh! Down Penny!” Mrs. Pecket scolds softly. The Professor hears this and opens the door.

Seven Days to Noon - multicolored cat Penny sitting at slippered feet

The next morning the one cat is still in the hallway. The multicolored cat is sitting outside the Professor’s room.

Seven Days to Noon - multicolored cat sitting in hallway

Seven Days to Noon - multicolored cat sitting outside door at top of landing

Seven Days to Noon - multicolored cat looking back at open door at top of landing

Kitty Cameo: Later in the film the city has been evacuated but the pets have all been left behind. A cat is seen sitting on the front steps of a home, mewing.

Seven Days to Noon - multicolored cat lying on stairs outside apartment block

Final Mewsings: Maybe the animals should build bombs and then leave all the people behind!

Relevant Links:

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