Paramount Pictures
Starring: Miriam Battista, Louis Stern
Directed by: Frank Borzage

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

Synopsis: Leon Kanter (Gaston Glass) dreams of playing the violin and is encouraged by his mother (Vera Gordon) which eventually promises to bring fame and fortune.

Kitty Carnage Warning! In the beginning of the film Leon lives in a New York ghetto with his family. A little girl named Minnie (Miriam Battista) also lives in the neighborhood. She is sickly and needs a crutch. In one scene Leon has received a new suit for his birthday and he goes down into the alley. As the other boys confront him, Minnie can be seen in the background pulling the limp body of a kitten out of an ashcan.

She gently tucks the kitten inside her cloak.

One of the boys sees this and tries to take the kitten from her. Leon is quick to her defense, pointing out that she found it and that it’s cold anyway. She suggests that she might be able to warm it back to life.

Later Minnie is seen picking up an empty box from the street. She places the dead kitten inside.

Back home, Minnie plucks a flower from a plant on the windowsill where she has placed the box. She puts the flower inside with the kitten.

Kitty Cameo:  When Minnie’s father (Louis Stern) finds the box he is shocked and starts to throw it away. Minnie begs him not, saying, “Please, Papa, he’s so tired. He ain’t left to rest — even after he’s dead.” Her father leaves her with the box. But later he returns and sits beside her. He is holding a paper bag. Suddenly a live kitten pops out of the bag.

Minnie is thrilled and hugs the kitten which her father has brought for her.

Final Mewsings: Live kittens definitely make better pets.

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