Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)
Starring: Robert Montgomery, John Wayne, Donna Reed
Directed by: John Ford
Cat Out of the Bag Alert! This review contains some spoilers for this film!
Synopsis: Lt. John Brickley (Robert Montgomery) and Lt. (J.G.) ‘Rusty’ Ryan (John Wayne) command a group of P.T. boats defending the Philippines during World War II but have trouble convincing the higher ups of the value of their smaller ships.
Kitty Cameo: As two P.T. boats are preparing to leave the dock, one of the sailors is seen holding a black cat. He sets the cat down on the dock.
Lt. (J.G.) ‘Shorty’ Long (Donald Curtis) beckons the cat to come on board the number 31 boat. He strokes the cat and says, “Let’s go, Good Luck.”
Unfortunately the P.T. boat is destroyed during the fight. The crew of number 31 are later seen limping back, having been through enemy lines to return. One young crewman is carrying Good Luck with him.
Later when the P.T. boat is about to take General MacArthur out of the Philippines, ‘Slug’ Mahan T.M. 1c (Murray Alper) drops the cat off the side of the boat onto the dock, saying, “Come on, Bad Luck. Scat!” The cat quickly jumps onto the other boat.
Once they have reached their destination, two of the crew of the number 41 boat have found the cat has been with them all along and think it might be good luck for them. One of the Ensigns, who has been trying to tell them they’ve been awarded the Silver Star for gallantry, walks away sighing, “Well, anyway, you’ve been awarded the silver cat.”
Final Mewsings: You can’t blame a cat for your bad luck.
Many thanks to our friend Ted Davis for spotting this cat for us!
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