Touchstone Pictures
Starring: Bette Midler, Barbara Hershey, Grace Johnston
Directed by: Garry Marshall

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

Synopsis: The touching story of two very different women; brash, struggling entertainer CC Bloom (Bette Midler) and privileged lawyer Hillary Whitney Essex (Barbara Hershey) who by chance come together as childhood friends and share their lives through the years.

Featured Feline: In the last segments of the film Hillary has had a child named Victoria (Grace Johnston) and we see her in their Bay Area home.  Victoria has a pet Russian Blue cat named Pouncer.  Pouncer is first seen with Victoria on the front lawn of the Essex estate.  Poor Pouncer is wearing a baby’s dress and Victoria is playing roughly with him.

When Hillary calls for her Victoria sets the cat on the lawn and runs to join her mother.  Understandably Pouncer does not follow.

Pouncer is taken to the beach house with Hillary, Victoria and CC for the summer when Hillary is ill.  He is seen in several scenes, such as being held by Hillary in a chair on the beach.  Hillary tells Victoria she thinks Pouncer is ready to go inside and gives her the cat.

Pouncer is also being held by Victoria on the steps outside the home as their friends are leaving.

When Hillary and Victoria return home they are planning to fly to Los Angeles to see CC in concert.  Victoria goes to get her mother’s bag and sees Pouncer on a bench.  She takes Pouncer off the bench and the cat runs into the bedroom where we see Hillary has collapsed.

After Hillary dies Victoria is seen lying on her bed with Pouncer by her side.

CC learns that Hillary wanted her to take Victoria.  She gives Victoria the option and after some thinking Victoria asks if she can bring her cat.  CC says of course she can.  Victoria places Pouncer into his carrier and carries him out when they leave together.

Final Mewsings: Cats, like friends, can take a lot of abuse and still be there for us.

Many thanks to Tj Dotson for recommending this film to us!

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