Mabel Normand Feature Film Company
Starring: Mabel Normand, Minnie Devereaux
Directed by: F. Richard Jones, James Young
Cat Out of the Bag Alert! This review contains some spoilers for this film!
Synopsis: Mickey (Mabel Normand) is an orphan girl who is raised by her father’s mining partner, Joe (George Nichols). Worried for her prospects since the mine has not paid off, Joe sends her to live with rich relatives who mistakenly think she is worth a fortune.
Cat Burglars (Scene Stealers): In the very beginning of the film there is a strange insert of a cat by a river.
The cat sees a frog and timidly steps out in the water to get it. This cat is not seen again in the film and it’s not clear why this scene is even included, although it’s possible there is missing footage that would tie this segment in somehow.
Jim and his housekeeper, Minnie (Minnie Devereaux) come to believe that Mickey is trapped down in the mine. In reality she is rescuing a tabby kitten from a side shaft. This is our introduction to Mickey.
Mickey brushes the dust off the cat and wipes its face with a handkerchief.
An alternative take of this scene is included in this reel of footage uncovered from the film.
Minnie spots Mickey and runs over to her in relief.
When Mickey’s father sees her, he angrily rushes over. Mickey hides behind Minnie but the cat is peeking over Minnie’s shoulder.
Kitty Carnage Warning! Things start getting rough for the poor tabby when Mickey hands the cat over to Minnie as her father berates her. Minnie is holding the cat but doesn’t seem to know what to do with the poor animal and ends up shuffling it back and forth, to and fro, not being very careful about it.
Kitty Carnage Warning! Minnie sets the cat down but when Mickey and her father arrive at their cabin she somehow has the cat again. Mickey then lets the cat drop and holds it by the tail for a few moments.
Later the tabby is present when Mickey finds out she is being sent to her rich relatives.
Kitty Cameos: At the home of the Drake family, Reggie (Lew Cody) is an often-drunk, no good bum and in one scene he is seen passed out on an outdoor sofa. A pretty long-haired cat walks across him for a moment then scurries away.
Still later, Joe and Minnie come to the home looking for Minnie. The workers have finally struck a vein in the mine and they are rich. Joe has bought Minnie a new hat with feathers on it. The hat ends up on the floor and a white long-haired cat starts pulling off the feathers.
Kitty Carnage Warning! When Minnie sees the cat destroying her hat she becomes livid and actually kicks the poor cat, causing it to scurry away.
It’s true that animals were not always treated too kindly in these early knockabout comedies but for some reason this film seems particularly brutal to the animals. Not only were the cats mistreated but there are cringe-worthy scenes involving the lead dog and a mule, which makes this otherwise cute comedy unfortunately difficult to stomach at times.
Final Mewsings: Given the choice, cats would probably not participate in knockabout comedy.
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