It should be said right up front that this is not a movie about a cat's paw, or kittens' claws, or anything to do with the feline species, or any animal paws. A cat's-paw, spelling just like that, is defined as one of three things in Merriam-Webster. In this case, it's a dupe or stooge, or someone who is used as a tool by someone else. And that fits this film perfectly.
"The Cats-Paw" is based on a novel of the same title (though spelled, "The Cat's Paw?), by Clarence Budington Kelland. An all but forgotten American author of some 60 novels and numerous short stories, Kelland is otherwise anonymously known -- and is likely to remain known, for generations to come because of Hollywood. That's because 30 films were made based on his stories. Among those that are best known are "Thirty Day Princess" of 1934, "Mr. Deeds Goes to Town" of 1936, "Stand-In" of 1937, and "Arizona" of 1940.
Harold Lloyd was of the three great comedians of the silent film era to have a huge influence on cinema. This is one of a handful of sound films that his company made after making the last of his silent era films. Another reviewer noted that this isn't the Harold Lloyd most recognized from the silent era, and that's true. There are no antics or pratfalls by Lloyd here. But, instead there's a very good comedy with a cunningly thoughtful plot.
Lloyd is Ezekiel Cobb who was born and raised in China by his parents, where his father was a missionary. So, all he ever knew about Caucasians and Western civilization was from his father. He grew up with and was a friend of many of the Chinese people in his father's mission area. But now he is being sent off to America for some formal education and training in Western ways, before he hopes to return to follow in his father's footsteps. But shortly after his arrival, and before he can even meet the man in the church that has sponsored his father's mission, that guy drops dead of a heart attack. Cobb meets and gets some directional help from Jake Mayo, who is an old political operator. Cobb appreciates Mayo's frankness and honesty, and when the minister drops dead, Mayo convinces his crony friends that they should run Cobb on the opposition ticket in the minister's place. The election is just three days off, and they need to front a reform candidate, who is never expected to win, but just to keep a good face on the elections so that their friend, mayor Ed Morgan, can continue to operate the city with his thoroughly corrupt machine - of which they are all a part.
Well, without his church connection, Cobb then turns, naturally, toward the city's China town where he meets and befriends the leading wise Chinese men. And, his native Chinese language and constant reference to the sage Ling Po, endears him to these men. So, Cobb is often out having tea at Tien Wang's.
The story turns quite hilarious as Cobb, who only agreed to run because he could be assured of not winning, has a couple of encounters on the campaign trail that the newspapers chronicle and that endear him to the public. So, after a sweeping upset, the battle is on between the crooked Morgan and his machine who are daily losing members as Cobb fires one after another of them who are on the city roles. Mayo has become his right hand man and has to run interference with his old buddies and the new mayor.
George Barbier has never played any other role as well as he does this one, as Jake Mayo. He's superb in the role, and very funny in the situations he gets entangled in. Along with Lloyd and Barbier, two others on the supporting cast give top performances. Una Merkel plays Pet Pratt and Nat Pendleton is Strozzi. The rest of the cast give good performances.
The ending is a hilarious, very different and wonderful wrap to this story. Here are a couple of favorite lines from this film.
Ezekiel Cobb, to Jake Mayo, 'Now, that's what I like about you. You're so honest in your dishonesty that at heart I believe you're honest." Jake Mayo, "Say that again - kinda slow like."
Ezekiel Cobb, "He who's lived in the jungle is best equipped to fight wild beasts." Jake Mayo, "What?" Cobb, "Ling Po." Mayo, "Whatta you mean lived in the jungle?"
"The Cats-Paw" is based on a novel of the same title (though spelled, "The Cat's Paw?), by Clarence Budington Kelland. An all but forgotten American author of some 60 novels and numerous short stories, Kelland is otherwise anonymously known -- and is likely to remain known, for generations to come because of Hollywood. That's because 30 films were made based on his stories. Among those that are best known are "Thirty Day Princess" of 1934, "Mr. Deeds Goes to Town" of 1936, "Stand-In" of 1937, and "Arizona" of 1940.
Harold Lloyd was of the three great comedians of the silent film era to have a huge influence on cinema. This is one of a handful of sound films that his company made after making the last of his silent era films. Another reviewer noted that this isn't the Harold Lloyd most recognized from the silent era, and that's true. There are no antics or pratfalls by Lloyd here. But, instead there's a very good comedy with a cunningly thoughtful plot.
Lloyd is Ezekiel Cobb who was born and raised in China by his parents, where his father was a missionary. So, all he ever knew about Caucasians and Western civilization was from his father. He grew up with and was a friend of many of the Chinese people in his father's mission area. But now he is being sent off to America for some formal education and training in Western ways, before he hopes to return to follow in his father's footsteps. But shortly after his arrival, and before he can even meet the man in the church that has sponsored his father's mission, that guy drops dead of a heart attack. Cobb meets and gets some directional help from Jake Mayo, who is an old political operator. Cobb appreciates Mayo's frankness and honesty, and when the minister drops dead, Mayo convinces his crony friends that they should run Cobb on the opposition ticket in the minister's place. The election is just three days off, and they need to front a reform candidate, who is never expected to win, but just to keep a good face on the elections so that their friend, mayor Ed Morgan, can continue to operate the city with his thoroughly corrupt machine - of which they are all a part.
Well, without his church connection, Cobb then turns, naturally, toward the city's China town where he meets and befriends the leading wise Chinese men. And, his native Chinese language and constant reference to the sage Ling Po, endears him to these men. So, Cobb is often out having tea at Tien Wang's.
The story turns quite hilarious as Cobb, who only agreed to run because he could be assured of not winning, has a couple of encounters on the campaign trail that the newspapers chronicle and that endear him to the public. So, after a sweeping upset, the battle is on between the crooked Morgan and his machine who are daily losing members as Cobb fires one after another of them who are on the city roles. Mayo has become his right hand man and has to run interference with his old buddies and the new mayor.
George Barbier has never played any other role as well as he does this one, as Jake Mayo. He's superb in the role, and very funny in the situations he gets entangled in. Along with Lloyd and Barbier, two others on the supporting cast give top performances. Una Merkel plays Pet Pratt and Nat Pendleton is Strozzi. The rest of the cast give good performances.
The ending is a hilarious, very different and wonderful wrap to this story. Here are a couple of favorite lines from this film.
Ezekiel Cobb, to Jake Mayo, 'Now, that's what I like about you. You're so honest in your dishonesty that at heart I believe you're honest." Jake Mayo, "Say that again - kinda slow like."
Ezekiel Cobb, "He who's lived in the jungle is best equipped to fight wild beasts." Jake Mayo, "What?" Cobb, "Ling Po." Mayo, "Whatta you mean lived in the jungle?"