Plots with a View (2002)

Undertaking Betty poster

Also Known As: Undertaking Betty
Snowfall Films
Starring: Alfred Molina, Brenda Blethyn
Directed by: Nick Hurran

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

Synopsis: Betty (Brenda Blethyn) finds herself in a loveless marriage and longs to be with her almost childhood sweetheart Boris (Alfred Molina) so the two hatch a plot to use Boris’ skills as an undertaker to fake her death.

Featured Felines: While missing out on childhood love, Boris and Betty continued to have similar likes as they grew, one of them being ballroom dancing. Boris owns a male tuxedo cat named Fred and Betty owns a female ginger named, of course, Ginger. The film opens with Fred and Ginger walking down the street together towards their respective homes.

Undertaking Betty - tuxedo cat Fred and tabby Ginger walking down street

Each cat goes into their home, Fred to the small mortuary parlor and Ginger to the palatial mansion.

Undertaking Betty - tuxedo cat Fred approaching Plots funeral parlor

Undertaking Betty - tabby Ginger entering through door of mansion

Each cat jumps onto their owner’s bed.

Undertaking Betty - tuxedo cat Fred jumping onto bed

Undertaking Betty - tabby Ginger jumping onto bed with Betty Brenda Blethyn

Undertaking Betty - tuxedo cat Fred lying on bed

Undertaking Betty - tabby Ginger lying on bed

Fred tries to get Boris to get up by nudging his face.

Undertaking Betty - tuxedo cat Fred nudging face of Boris Alfred Molina

Both cats manage to rouse their owners out of bed.

Undertaking Betty - tabby Ginger waking up Betty Brenda Blethyn

Undertaking Betty - tuxedo cat Fred waking up Boris Alfred Molina

Both cats are then fed by their owners.

Undertaking Betty - tuxedo cat Fred going downstairs with Boris

Undertaking Betty - tabby Ginger being fed by Betty Brenda Blethyn

Undertaking Betty - tuxedo cat Fred eating by Boris Alfred Molina

Kitty Carnage Warning! When Betty’s husband Hugh (Robert Pugh) leaves the house he stops to punt kick Ginger. Fortunately it is clear a fake cat was used for this quick shot.

Undertaking Betty - fake stuffed tabby Ginger before being kicked

The cats are only seen occassionally after this and there are more scenes of Boris with Fred than of Betty with Ginger.

Undertaking Betty - Betty Brenda Blethyn sitting at table with tabby Ginger in her lap

Undertaking Betty - Boris Alfred Molina and Betty Brenda Blethyn with tuxedo cat Fred on table between them

Very fortunately when Boris and Betty do run away at the end and are seen dancing on the deck of a cruise ship, Fred and Ginger are seen running across the deck and up onto a railing together via the use of green screen (which was used for this entire final scenario).

Undertaking Betty - Boris Alfred Molina and Betty Brenda Blethyn dancing on deck of cruise ship with tuxedo cat Fred and tabby Ginger running behind them