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.
The star of "Castle Rock" Season 2 shares her method for building out her take on a terrifying character.
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Title: The Cat's-Paw (1934)
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Cast
| Complete credited cast: | |||
| Harold Lloyd | ... | Ezekiel Cobb | |
| Una Merkel | ... | Pet Pratt | |
| George Barbier | ... | Jake Mayo | |
| Nat Pendleton | ... | Strozzi | |
| Grace Bradley | ... | Dolores Doce | |
| Alan Dinehart | ... | Mayor Ed Morgan | |
| Grant Mitchell | ... | Silk Hat McGee | |
| E. Alyn Warren | ... | Tien Wang (as Fred Warren) | |
| Warren Hymer | ... | 'Spike' Slattery | |
| J. Farrell MacDonald | ... | Shigley (as J. Farrell Macdonald) | |
 |
James Donlan | ... | Red - the Reporter |
| Edwin Maxwell | ... | District Attorney Neal | |
| Frank Sheridan | ... | Dan Moriarity - Police Commissioner | |
| Fuzzy Knight | ... | Stuttering Gangster | |
| Vince Barnett | ... | Wilks - a Gangster (as Vincent Barnett) | |
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Plot Summary
|
Add Synopsis
Storyline
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. Written by Herman Seifer <alagain@aol.com>
Taglines:
Everything new but these [eyeglasses]Genres:
ComedyParents Guide:
Add content advisory for parents »
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See full technical specs »
Details
Country:
USARelease Date:
7 August 1934 (USA) See more »Also Known As:
The Cat's Paw See more »Filming Locations:
General Service Studios - 1040 N. Las Palmas, Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, USAEdit
Box Office
Budget:
$617,000 (estimated)Company Credits
Show more on
IMDbPro »
Technical Specs
Runtime:
Sound Mix:
Mono (Western Electric Sound System)Color:
Black and WhiteAspect Ratio:
1.37 : 1
Edit
Ezekiel Cobb: Good evening, Miss Pratt. Isn't this terrible!
Pat Pratt: What?
Ezekiel Cobb: What? I've got to be mayor!
Pat Pratt: Oh, well its all a circus anyway. And every circus must have its clown.
See more »
(1934) (uncredited)
Music by Harry Akst
Lyrics by Roy Turk
Performed by Grace Bradley
See more »
Did You Know?
Trivia
The novel upon which this film is based was serialized in the Saturday Evening Post from 26 August to 30 September 1933. Harold Lloyd paid $25,000 ($488,000 in 2018) for the rights to the story. See more »Quotes
Pat Pratt: Well, Mr. Mayor!Ezekiel Cobb: Good evening, Miss Pratt. Isn't this terrible!
Pat Pratt: What?
Ezekiel Cobb: What? I've got to be mayor!
Pat Pratt: Oh, well its all a circus anyway. And every circus must have its clown.
See more »
Soundtracks
I'm Just That Way(1934) (uncredited)
Music by Harry Akst
Lyrics by Roy Turk
Performed by Grace Bradley
See more »
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Maybe it was because I had heard about how every silent film star failed to make quality sound films but I was caught by surprise that I actually enjoyed this Lloyd vehicle. While definitely not as innovative or captivating as his silent work, The Cat's-Paw proves to be a delight to watch.
Harold Lloyd's character is a good fit for his acting skills and does not seem very far off from the up and coming and somewhat hopeful and naive characters he played in the silent era. I loved the oddity of his character and thought that the running joke of him quoting Ling Po was highly enjoyable, probably because it reminded me of how people always misquote Confucius. The political message is a bit alarming to modern viewers but does not completely overshadow the finale's bizarre yet amusing ending and makes more sense when taken into the context of the times. While not a groundbreaking piece of film, it is still an enjoyable snapshot into Lloyd's career after the advent of sound and the political climate of mid-1930's America.