MGM/UA Entertainment Company
Starring: Bette Midler, Ken Wahl, Rip Torn
Directed by: Don Siegel
Cat Out of the Bag Alert! This review contains some spoilers for this film!
Synopsis: Harold Benson (Rip Torn) has a jinx on blackjack dealer Willie Brodax (Ken Wahl) and a hold on his browbeaten girlfriend Bonita Friml (Bette Midler), so Bonita inducts Willie in her scheme to solve both of their problems.
Featured Feline: Bonita owns an adorable black cat named Angus who is seen throughout the film. Angus is first seen in the truck with Bonita and Harold. Angus jumps over Harold’s shoulder and the man attacks the cat, screaming at Bonita for having him in the truck with them instead of back in their trailer.
Angus is seen with Bonita inside the trailer for much of the film.
Bonita clings to Angus nervously as Willie visits the trailer.
Harold treats Bonita roughly as Angus watches. Angus meows several times, as if in protest, and Harold tells him to shut up.
Kitty Carnage Warning! Harold finally gets fed up and throws his boot at Angus, who is thrown into the wall behind. This was done with clever cutting, as the cat actor was probably tossed back towards the wall but not hurt.
Having planned with Willie to kill Harold, Bonita first feeds Angus.
They watch as Harold comes home after gambling.
Angus steals the show in the cutest way by being very cat-like while Bonita and Willie deal with the deceased Harold.
Following the plan, Willie drives the truck and trailer to a remote area to dump them over a cliff. What they forgot about was Angus, who having endured a bumpy ride up the mountain is desperate to escape and jumps on Willie in his mad dash out.
Realizing she has forgotten Angus, Bonita goes to the crash site and finds the cat, a bit scruffy but not much worse for wear.
Bonita is then sent on a wild goose chase by the deceased Harold who was left her notes. As she drives to the various locations Angus is with her.
Finally ending up in the ghost town of Bodie, Bonita is desperate to leave but Angus jumps out of the car and runs into an old school room.
There Bonita deciphers the message. Sadly this is the last time we see Angus in the film.
Final Mewsings: Why oh why was Angus left out of the final shot??
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