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The Cat's-Paw

  • 19341934
  • Not RatedNot Rated
  • 1h 42m
IMDb RATING
6.7/10
1.3K
YOUR RATING
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
  • IMDbPro
Harold Lloyd and Una Merkel in The Cat's-Paw (1934)
  • Comedy
A naive missionary brought up in China returns to America to seek a wife. Corrupt politicians enlist him to run for mayor as a dummy candidate with no chance of winning.A naive missionary brought up in China returns to America to seek a wife. Corrupt politicians enlist him to run for mayor as a dummy candidate with no chance of winning.A naive missionary brought up in China returns to America to seek a wife. Corrupt politicians enlist him to run for mayor as a dummy candidate with no chance of winning.
IMDb RATING
6.7/10
1.3K
YOUR RATING
  • Directors
    • Sam Taylor
    • Harold Lloyd(fill-in director)
  • Writers
    • Clarence Budington Kelland(story)
    • Sam Taylor(screen play)
    • Clyde Bruckman(contributor to screenplay)
  • Stars
    • Harold Lloyd
    • Una Merkel
    • George Barbier
Top credits
  • Directors
    • Sam Taylor
    • Harold Lloyd(fill-in director)
  • Writers
    • Clarence Budington Kelland(story)
    • Sam Taylor(screen play)
    • Clyde Bruckman(contributor to screenplay)
  • Stars
    • Harold Lloyd
    • Una Merkel
    • George Barbier
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 25User reviews
    • 12Critic reviews
  • See production, box office & company info
  • See more at IMDbPro
  • Photos26

    George Barbier, Warren Hymer, and Grant Mitchell in The Cat's-Paw (1934)
    Harold Lloyd in The Cat's-Paw (1934)
    Harold Lloyd in The Cat's-Paw (1934)
    Harold Lloyd, Nat Pendleton, and E. Alyn Warren in The Cat's-Paw (1934)
    Sidney Bracey, Harold Lloyd, and Una Merkel in The Cat's-Paw (1934)
    Harold Lloyd in The Cat's-Paw (1934)
    Una Merkel in The Cat's-Paw (1934)
    Harold Lloyd in The Cat's-Paw (1934)
    Harold Lloyd in The Cat's-Paw (1934)
    George Barbier and Harold Lloyd in The Cat's-Paw (1934)
    George Barbier and Harold Lloyd in The Cat's-Paw (1934)
    Harold Lloyd and Una Merkel in The Cat's-Paw (1934)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Harold Lloyd
    Harold Lloyd
    • Ezekiel Cobbas Ezekiel Cobb
    Una Merkel
    Una Merkel
    • Pet Prattas Pet Pratt
    George Barbier
    George Barbier
    • Jake Mayoas Jake Mayo
    Nat Pendleton
    Nat Pendleton
    • Strozzias Strozzi
    Grace Bradley
    Grace Bradley
    • Dolores Doceas Dolores Doce
    Alan Dinehart
    Alan Dinehart
    • Mayor Ed Morganas Mayor Ed Morgan
    Grant Mitchell
    Grant Mitchell
    • Silk Hat McGeeas Silk Hat McGee
    E. Alyn Warren
    E. Alyn Warren
    • Tien Wangas Tien Wang
    • (as Fred Warren)
    Warren Hymer
    Warren Hymer
    • 'Spike' Slatteryas 'Spike' Slattery
    J. Farrell MacDonald
    J. Farrell MacDonald
    • Shigleyas Shigley
    • (as J. Farrell Macdonald)
    James Donlan
    • Red - the Reporteras Red - the Reporter
    Edwin Maxwell
    Edwin Maxwell
    • District Attorney Nealas District Attorney Neal
    Frank Sheridan
    Frank Sheridan
    • Dan Moriarity - Police Commissioneras Dan Moriarity - Police Commissioner
    Fuzzy Knight
    Fuzzy Knight
    • Stuttering Gangsteras Stuttering Gangster
    Vince Barnett
    Vince Barnett
    • Wilks - a Gangsteras Wilks - a Gangster
    • (as Vincent Barnett)
    Samuel Adams
    Samuel Adams
    • Irish Copas Irish Cop
    • (uncredited)
    Ernie Alexander
    • Pedestrian Who Explains About Radioas Pedestrian Who Explains About Radio
    • (uncredited)
    Dorothy Bay
    • Withers' Housekeeperas Withers' Housekeeper
    • (uncredited)
    • Directors
      • Sam Taylor
      • Harold Lloyd(fill-in director) (uncredited)
    • Writers
      • Clarence Budington Kelland(story)
      • Sam Taylor(screen play)
      • Clyde Bruckman(contributor to screenplay) (uncredited)
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
    • All cast & crew

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    Storyline

    Edit
    Naive Ezekial Cobb, brought up by his missionary father in China returns to America to seek a wife. Corrupt politicians enlist him to run for mayor as a dummy candidate with no chance of winning. Their plan backfires as he wins and embarks upon a reform crusade. —Herman Seifer <alagain@aol.com>
    • bare chested male
    • missionary
    • mayor
    • election
    • chinese proverb
    • 12 more
    • Plot summary
    • Add synopsis
    • Taglines
      • YOU ONLY think YOU'VE SEEN HAROLD LLOYD! Until you've seen this HAROLD LLOYD! (Print Ad- Nashua Telegraph, ((Nashua, NH)) 27 September 1934)
    • Genre
      • Comedy
    • Certificate
      • Not Rated
    • Parents guide
      • Add content advisory

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      The delay that followed Harold Lloyd's last picture Movie Crazy (1932) was partly due to the fact that he could find no suitable story. He bought The Cat's Paw when Author Clarence Budington Kelland had finished only the first chapter, offered suggestions to make the part more to his taste. When the story was finished Lloyd was amazed to find that none of the antics which his private staff of "gagmen" usually arrange for him seemed to fit the plot. He finally accepted the advice of his director, Sam Taylor, to make the picture without his customary comedy inventions.
    • Quotes

      Pete - Policeman: Say, what's the big idea?

      Ezekiel Cobb: I have no ideas. In fact, I'm quite bewildered.

      Pete - Policeman: Now, don't get gay with me.

      Ezekiel Cobb: Sir, I'm far from gay.

    • Connections
      Featured in Legends of World Cinema: Harold Lloyd
    • Soundtracks
      I'm Just That Way
      (1934) (uncredited)

      Music by Harry Akst

      Lyrics by Roy Turk

      Performed by Grace Bradley

    User reviews25

    Review
    Top review
    5/10
    Harold speaks.... Chinese... sort of...
    We hear so much about how the coming of sound ruined careers. This doesn't seem to be the case for Harold Lloyd, who smoothly makes the transition to talkies in 'The Cat's Paw' (1934). The story has Lloyd as missionary's son Ezekiel Cobb raised in rural China. On return to America Cobb becomes a patsy for a political machine, but to everyone's surprise gets elected mayor.

    The story is entertaining even though most of the jokes fall flat. It does contain a lot of racial stereotypes and epithets, but is good natured and pretty equal-opportunity in it's treatment of various ethnic groups making it at least honest in it's portrayal of life in Depression era U.S.A.

    Modern audiences may find the use of caucasian actors in Chinese roles, and the dubbing of Lloyd when he speaks Chinese in 'The Cat's Paw' as much more blatantly obvious than did audiences of the time. And while it's not as groundbreaking as Lloyd's silent film work, and there are admittedly better films from the mid 30s, as mentioned, it's entertaining and fast moving, and worth checking out if for no other reason than to see Una Merkel as savvy cigarette girl Pet and to see Lloyd transition from sight gags to speaking.
    helpful•7
    2
    • revere-7
    • Sep 3, 2009

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • August 7, 1934 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Languages
      • English
      • Cantonese
      • German
    • Also known as
      • The Cat's Paw
    • Filming locations
      • General Service Studios - 1040 N. Las Palmas, Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, USA
    • Production company
      • The Harold Lloyd Corporation
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $617,000 (estimated)
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 42 minutes
    • Color
      • Black and White
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.37 : 1

    Contribute to this page

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    Harold Lloyd and Una Merkel in The Cat's-Paw (1934)
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    By what name was The Cat's-Paw (1934) officially released in Canada in English?
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