Christmas in July (1940)

Christmas in July DVD

Paramount Pictures
Starring:
 Dick Powell, Ellen Drew, Raymond Walburn, Alexander Carr
Directed by: Preston Sturges

Synopsis: A screwball comedy in the classic Sturges’ style.  Jimmy MacDonald (Dick Powell) is convinced that he will be the winner of a slogan contest held by a nationally recognized coffee company.  His co-workers decide to play a trick on him, sending him a telegraph stating he has won the $25,000 first prize, which sets off a series of events and complications for Jimmy, his girlfriend Betty (Ellen Drew) and everyone around them.

Featured Feline: A black cat appears very briefly near the beginning of the film in a quick sight gag in which Betty is trying to climb down off the roof and falls, scaring the cat away.

Christmas in July black cat running

Later in the film another black cat (quite possibly the same one, although there is no logical reason for the cat to be where it is) approaches them as they talk to the janitor after hours in the office where they work.

Christmas in July black cat rubs legs

Betty asks the janitor if it’s good luck or bad luck when a black cat crosses your path.  “It all depends on what happens next!” the janitor answers wisely.  The cat follows them after that in different scenes, finally following them out of the office and to the elevator as a series of good fortune finally smiles upon the couple.

Christmas in July black cat in hall

The final shot of the film is a classic, with the camera taking a point-of-view shot from the descending elevator, showing the black cat sitting on the floor and then moving down into darkness with the words “The End” coming up.

Christmas in July black cat end

Final Mewsings: This proves it . . . a black cat crossing your path is good luck!


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