The Cat Burglar

In Low-Rent Los Angeles (rent $9 per wk) that our Anti-Hero, Jack Hogan, has Trouble Paying, and is Badgered by a Mumbling Landlady (Billie Bird), becomes Involved by Happenstance in a Spy-Ring Moving Sensitive Documents.

The Papers were in a Briefcase of His Latest "Clout", an also Innocent June Kenney.

It's Her Boyfriend that's the Bad-Guy who Used Her to Unwittingly Procure the Papers.

Inspired by Sam Fuller's "Pickup on South Street" (1953), one Guesses.

The Movie Moves Along with an Initially "Cool Pink Pantherish" Score (Buddy Bergman), that is Used a bit too Much and Loses some of its Nifty.

The Digs are Low-Life, like a Pawn-Brokers Place, the Filthy Apt. Of an Obese Whino (Bruno DeSota), and the Obligatory Warehouse Climax that is Filmed with Some Style, as was the Opening, by Director William Whitney.

Produced by Roger Corman's Brother Gene, it has All the Ingredients that Make for Some Slumming by "Buffs", like a Young Quentin Tarantino, that Touts this Cheap Thrill with Gusto.

At 65 min. It Never Wears-Out Before it's Over and Overall is Above Average for its Type with some Hard-Boiled Fisticuffs, and a Feline Tie-In that's a Hoot.

Worth a Watch.

The titular thief, Jack Coley (Jack Hogan) finds himself in deep trouble after he steals a certain briefcase. Now, government types are involved, while Jack remains oblivious to just how valuable and dangerous the briefcase's contents are.

THE CAT BURGLAR takes us along with Jack's victim Nan Baker (June Kenney) as she desperately tries to track him down. Along the way, she encounters some pretty shady characters, two of whom are played by Bruno VeSota and Gene Roth!

This is an entertaining crime / espionage thriller complete with the requisite Mcguffin! It also boasts a cool jazz soundtrack...

A solid 65 minute noir drama. Everyone played their part with total professional gusto. These guys and gals have all been round the block many times, and put in a good day's work for a (presumably) modest day's pay. I was playing "guess the lookalike" all the way through. "Could that have been Lee Remick? How about that guy, Steve McQueen or maybe Paul Newman? Clint Walker type? And maybe Rock Hudson?" We had a cast of stalwart Hollywood working stiffs, some of whom achieved "a little" success, most of whom achieved "little" success (what a difference the indefinite article makes). Hats off to the stalwarts who didn't become mega stars, but nevertheless kept us entertained at the movies for years. Nevertheless this tightly scripted and well directed tale is worth an hour of your time. You can see nougats of later films blossoming here. A zippy sound track, riffing on "Fever" with basement jazz club arrangement drives the action along. No spoilers; does our anti-hero turn out to be the good guy? Or does he revert to type? Who gets the girl? Does crime ultimately pay? Watch this little gem to find out.

I just finished watching this film from 1961 as directed by William Witney on the Trio Channel. It's a quick paced film that according to the folks here at IMDB has a 65 minute run time. Trio put it in a 90 minute slot with a lot of commercials so that time seems about right. Anyway, I got a total kick out of the movie which featured a cool 60's "beatnik" type soundtrack and had a fella by the name of Jack Hogan in the lead. Fans of the 60's TV series COMBAT! will recognize Jack as the BAR toting William G. Kirby. A fun flick that I wouldn't mind seeing on DVD down the road and a very big favorite of Quentin Tarantino's. He's a big William Witney fan and he always thought the film was lost but Trio found it and also aired the trailer for the film afterwards. Good stuff.

Jack Hogan is "The Cat Burglar" who steals the briefcase sexy blonde June Kenney (as Nan) is holding for her secretive suitor John Baer (as Alan). He is really out for her jewels, but picks up the briefcase as an afterthought. Unbeknownst, he has acquired a notebook filled with top secret spy formula doodling - the stuff men KILL, and DIE, for!

This film begins with fluid direction from William Witney, mirrored cat-like burgling by Mr. Hogan, and cool soundtrack music from Buddy Bregman. As the plot develops, the film unravels. The soundtrack becomes annoyingly repetitive. The characters get lost in a wildly illogical story; possibly the most incredible element is the bonding (love?) of the characters played by Mr. Hogan and Ms. Kenney. The players continue to try, however; and, the warehouse climax is nicely shot.

*** The Cat Burglar (1961) William Witney ~ Jack Hogan, June Kenney, John Baer