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The Nine Lives of a Cat
(1907) United States of America
B&W : One reel / 955 feet
Directed by J. Searle Dawley
Cast: Miss Stewart
Edison Manufacturing Company production; distributed by Edison Manufacturing Company. / Cinematography by Edwin S. Porter. / Released July 1907. / Standard 35mm spherical 1.33:1 format. / The production was shot from 28 May 1907 through 8 July 1907. Dawley’s first film as director.
Comedy.
Synopsis: [The Moving Picture World, 10 August 1907, page ?] The old familiar adage that a cat has nine lives has been taken more or less for granted by the majority of people, but the following pictures will undoubtedly convince even the most skeptical, that the old saying is true. In the sitting room of his home Mr. Jones (a well-to-do city gentleman), evidently preparing to go out, is engaged in conversation with his wife. Their little daughter, pet cat in arms, walks to the writing desk and, unnoticed by her parents, secures the ink bottle which Mrs. Jones has just been using. Seating herself on the floor, she pours the contents over the cat’s back, rubs it in and lets her go. Pussy, released, walks away, and the little one, seeing the stains on her hands and pretty dress, begins to cry. She is taken up by her mother, who, unconscious of the child’s condition, is soon highly decorated by the tiny hands, much to the amusement of her husband. The nursemaid is also nicely daubed before the child is taken from the room. The ever-vigilant butler now having secured the cat, the ink stains are explained, and Mrs. Jones, indignant, orders the pesky thing disposed of. Leaving the house with the cat, Mr. Jones enters his automobile an soon reaches the suburbs, where he throws the animal into some bushes by the roadside. Returning home, he is met at the door by his wife, to whom how explains how he has carried out her wishes; but on entering the house is astonished to see perched on the newel post at the foot of the stair, the cat he had left by the roadway but a short time before. A butcher boy, while passing, is called in, and, upon receipt of a small fee, agrees to dispose of the troublesome canine. Puss is placed in his basket and taken to the butcher shop, where she is dropped into the sausage machine. A few turns of the crank and several neatly tied sausages are ground out. These the boy (unnoticed by his employer) hangs on the rack behind the counter. Soon a lady, who proves to be Mrs. Jones, enters the shop and, perceiving the fresh-made sausages, purchases the lot. At dinner that evening several guests are present. One or two courses are served before the maid enters with a platter of the highly seasoned meat. Soon it is seen to move, and the diners, rising from the table, are horrified to behold the sausages return to life in the form of the discarded pet. Mr. Jones becomes very angry, and orders the butler to immediately dispose of the animal. During the night Mrs. Jones is awakened by some uncanny noises. She arouses her husband, who, taking a pistol from beneath his pillow, searches the room. The cat emerges from an open grate, but is quickly seized. She is soon securely tied up in a pillow case, and Jones, donning his hat, coat and slippers, hurries out and down the street, evidently intent on disposing of the fateful animal. A policeman, suspicious of his movements, soon overtakes him, and, failing to impress the officer with his story, Jones is hustled off to the station and the cat turned over to a passer-by with instructions as to its disposal. A day or two later Mr. Jones goes on a quiet fishing trip. Seated on the bank of a brook, rod in hand, he feels a tug at the line. Quickly pulling in his prize, he discovers a bag, in which some creature is struggling for liberty. At this moment another gentleman steps up, much interested in the find. On opening the bag, however, Jones is again confronted with his ink-stained quadruped. Now thoroughly disgusted, he throws the animal into the tall grass behind him, and taking a bottle from his basket, enjoys a social drink with the stranger. While thus engaged, the still undaunted cat, smelling the fish, returns. She crawls into the basket, unnoticed by the drinkers, and her movements inside cause the lid to drop. She is thus left alone to enjoy the fresh meat. The bottle being emptied, Jones gathers up his outfit and starts homeward, occasionally looking back to see that the cat does not follow. Arriving at home, he tells his wife of the days sport, and, on opening the basket, is greatly chagrined to once more behold the detestable creature, which he thought had been left behind. In the cellar of their home a small electric plant serves as the next means to rid themselves of the nuisance, and the cat, having been placed on a table which had been properly arranged, the current is turned on. The poor thing squirms and twists about, and Jones, in his excitement, takes hold of an electrode. Being unable to let go, his screams bring the butler to his assistance. In the meantime Pussy escapes from the table and disappears just as Mrs. Jones and the maid reach the scene. They all receive a severe shock before Mrs. Jones finally pulls the switch. Again in the night Mr. and Mrs. Jones are awakened by their audacious tormentor. Pulling back the curtain, they perceive another opportunity for putting an end to the object of their torment. Mr. Jones secures his shotgun, and taking aim over the foot of the bed, pulls the trigger. As the smoke clears away several pieces of the animal’s body float in the air. The fragments, however, come together again, and the body, apparently intact, falls to the ground. The following scene shows Jones at West Point. A cannon is stationed at the loophole in the wall, and into this he loads an extra heavy charge. Then shoving in the cat, he rams her down and applies the fuse. The cannon hangs fire a moment, and Jones steps up just as the explosion takes place, blowing out the rear of the gun. Several fragments strike him, and he falls to the ground unconscious. The cat now being liberated, leisurely walks out unhurt. On the lawn surrounding their city home, the little girl who has so innocently spoiled the cats life is tying two balloons to Pussy’s tail. Then, letting go, her former pet is carried aloft, while her mother and father, the latter bandaged and limping as the result of his recent experience with the cannon, seem especially delighted with the result of the child’s experiment. The closing scene, showing the little girl with an abundance of ice cream, fruit and cake before her; tells more effectually than words how her childish ingenuity has been appreciated.
Survival status: (unknown)
Current rights holder: Public domain [USA].
Keywords: Animals: Cats
Listing updated: 21 November 2022.
References: Slide-Aspects pp. 41-42 : Website-IMDb.
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