Original Air Date: January 26, 1966
Starring: Irene Ryan, Buddy Ebsen, Donna Douglas, Max Baer Jr.
Also Starring: Orangey
Directed by: Joseph Depew
Cat Out of the Bag Alert! This review contains some spoilers for this episode!
Synopsis: The Clampetts learn that a cat burglar is on the prowl in Beverly Hills. Elly May (Donna Douglas) starts bringing every cat she can find into the house to keep them safe and sets traps for the thief while Jethro (Max Baer Jr.) plays amateur detective. Little do they know the “detective” they invite into their home (John Ashley) is, in fact, the cat burglar!
Kitty Cameo: In the first scene Granny (Irene Ryan) pulls out her nightgown drawer to find a cat sitting inside with her three kittens. The cat, whom Elly May called Mathilda, is in fact cat star Orangey in a cute cameo role. What’s even funnier is the fact that an orange tabby cat appears to have given birth to three Siamese kittens! It’s likely that Orangey got the role because he is tolerant of kittens which aren’t his.
Cat Cattle Call: In addition to Orangey there is a huge amount of cats and kittens in this episode. After the nightgown drawer incident, Granny discovers the kitchen is full of cats. She doubts her own eyes because Elly May had taken the mama cat and kittens from her drawer before Granny showed it to Jed (Buddy Ebsen) so she thinks she’s imagining the cats in the kitchen, even when a tabby kitten climbs up her leg. After Jethro convinces her the cats are really there, Granny claps her hands and the cats rush out of the room, leaving her questioning her senses again. Elly May is seen holding a striped tabby kitten several times throughout the rest of the episode. The cats for this episode were provided by trainer Frank Inn.
Kitty Carnage Warning! When Jethro enters the kitchen full of cats he throws the door open and it hits a couple of the kittens sitting inside, but they scurry off and don’t appear to be hurt. Later when they are trying to gather the kittens Jethro grabs one by the tail.
Final Mewsings: As any cat owner knows, cats are the real valuables!
[nggallery id=73]
Relevant Links:
