RKO Radio Pictures
Starring: Sharyn Moffett, Robert Winans
Directed by: Richard Fleischer

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

Synopsis: A little girl named Pat (Sharyn Moffett) loves her hunting dog Banjo. Unfortunately the rich aunt she goes to live with does not.

Cat Burglar (Scene Stealer): When Pat goes to live with her Aunt Elizabeth (Jacqueline White) the woman makes her keep Banjo in a pen outside. Three neighborhood children, Judy (Jean Moorhead), her brother Beep (George McDonald) and their little neighbor Skiddles (Robert Winans), come by to visit. Skiddles is holding a large Bengal striped tabby Maine Coon cat.

The children ask about Banjo. When Pat tells them how well Banjo can hunt birds, Skiddles scoffs, “Cats are better!”

At one point Skiddles drops the cat, whose name we later learn is Snoopy. Banjo spots Snoopy, causing the cat to run away.

Snoopy runs into the house and Banjo jumps the fence to go after him. The cat and dog chase all throughout the house, Banjo knocking things over right and left (it actually looks as if the furniture is being pulled over by hidden wires).

Snoopy runs out again and up a tree. Banjo jumps at the cat, who sits smugly out of harm’s reach.

Eventually Aunt Elizabeth send Banjo back to Georgia. Pat is depressed and the children come back. Skiddles generously offers to give her Snoopy. “He’s a nice cat,” he says. Pat is kind and says, “I know he is, Skiddles, but I wouldn’t want anybody but Banjo.”

Final Mewsings: No one should come between a child and their beloved pet.

Relevant Links:

To discuss this film and other cats in movies and on television, join us on
Facebook and Twitter.