American Filmworks
Starring: Jane Fonda, Jeff Bridges
Directed by: Sidney Lumet

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

Synopsis: Alex Sternbergen (Jane Fonda) is an alcoholic actress who wakes up one morning in bed with a murdered man. She then runs into ex-cop Turner Kendall (Jeff Bridges) who tries to find out what really happened.

Featured Feline: When Alex wakes up in the loft apartment next to the dead man, she stumbles out of the bedroom in confusion. A beautiful male flame point cat is washing itself on a table.

Alex suddenly moves in the direction of the cat, who starts back at the movement.

A short time later Alex is going through the man’s wallet to pull out his I.D. The cat is on the couch behind her.

Alex calls her friend to tell him what has happened. When she gets off the phone, the cat is rubbing up against her on the floor. She pets the cat.

Some time later Alex returns to the apartment to clean up the crime scene and try to wash away any trace of herself. The cat is still in the apartment as she works.

As she finishes, the cat sees the closet door open and crosses the room to go inside.

Moments later Alex is about to leave when she hears the cat meowing from inside the closed closet. She heads for the door, asking, “How did you get in a closed … ?” She then stops, realizing that the only way the door could be closed is if someone is inside the closet with the cat. She hurries from the apartment.

Later in the film Turner goes to the apartment building to try to find out more about the murder. He talks to Alex’s neighbor (Kathy Bates) for a while. As they finish, the cat appears at Turner’s feet.

“Whoa, you’re locking your cat out,” Turner tells the woman. “I wouldn’t own a cat,” the woman replies. Turner holds up the cat to look at him.

As Turner leaves the building he is carrying the cat with him. Sergeant Greenbaum (Richard Foronjy) is sitting in a car outside and gets out to talk.

There’s a moment at the beginning of their conversation where the cat actor is very fidgety, probably because Jeff Bridges isn’t supporting his feet, but the cat soon calms down.

After they discuss the murder, Turner gets into his car and drives away, still holding the cat. The cat is not seen again after this.

Final Mewsings: Cats may know whodunnit but they’re not talking!

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