Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)
Starring: Stewart Granger, Wendell Corey, Cyd Charisse
Directed by: Andrew Marton
Cat Out of the Bag Alert! This review contains some spoilers for this film!
Synopsis: Jules Vincent (Stewart Granger) is a resourceful French-Canadian tracker who resists being brought in by Mountie Constable Pedley (Wendell Corey) to stand trial for murder.
Cat Burglar (Scene Stealer): One probably wouldn’t expect to find a cat in a story about the frozen North, but surprisingly the young cat character featured in this film is so prominent it should have received fourth billing!
The yellow tabby kitten (although sometimes played by different tabbys as well as a cream-colored kitten) is being harrassed by a dog when Jules arrives in town.
Jules puts a quick stop to this and tucks the kitten inside his shirt. This shows Jules is a good guy in true Save the Cat fashion.
The kitten is featured prominently in these early scenes when Jules meets the Indian Girl (Cyd Charisse) singing in the saloon. She immediately takes a liking to Jules and the kitten as well and they entertain the animal by twirling a quarter on the bar.
Jules takes the kitten and the Indian girl back north with him and leaves the kitten in her care. The kitten is “catapulted” onto the table when Constable Pedley arrives to look for Jules.
The cat is not seen throughout the adventurous segments when Jules and Pedley are crossing the Northern territory in harsh conditions. But an attack by wolves leaves Pedley almost catatonic. Jules takes the Mountie home where the man forms an instant connection with the cat.
Jules takes drastic steps to bring Pedley around and the Mountie actually testifies on Jules’ behalf at his trial. After Jules is freed, he presents the cat to Pedley.
Pedley asks the cat’s name. Up until now the cat has been nameless and Jules says Pedley can name it. Throughout their adventure Jules has called Pedley “Bebe”, and so that is what Pedley ends up naming the small cat.
Final Mewsings: A mountie always gets his cat!
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