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The Cat's Paw

Play trailer Poster for The Cat's Paw Released Jul 30, 1934 1h 41m Comedy Play Trailer Watchlist
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Tomatometer 4 Reviews 56% Popcornmeter 100+ Ratings
Ezekiel Cobb (Harold Lloyd) is a sheltered young man who had a missionary upbringing in Asia. When he goes back to America, he unwittingly becomes a dupe for crooked politicians who recruit him, intending him to be a losing candidate in a fixed election. However, when he unexpectedly becomes mayor, he embarks on a program to root out corruption. The politicians try to intimidate him into submission, but he recruits the local Chinese community to lend a hand.

Critics Reviews

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Meyer Levin (Patterson Murphy) Esquire Magazine Very slow stock-comedy stuff for the first forty minutes... Apr 21, 2020 Full Review Ann Ross Maclean's Magazine Harold Lloyd performs with a sedateness which may baffle some of his old admirers. But the story is lively. A family picture. Jul 23, 2019 Full Review Charles Davy The Spectator The story is nearly always exciting, and it leads to an exceptionally ingenious climax. Oct 4, 2018 Full Review Dennis Schwartz Dennis Schwartz Movie Reviews Though one of Lloyd's weaker comedies, it's still striking as a curio. Rated: B- May 1, 2014 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Audience Member Fun creative movie, not the usual Harold Lloyd slapstick but still very entertaining. Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 01/28/23 Full Review Audience Member Very different in style to Lloyd's previous movies, it fares pretty well overall despite its rather odd and unbelievable final act. Rated 3 out of 5 stars 01/17/23 Full Review Audience Member another good Harold Lloyd comedy. Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars 01/21/23 Full Review Audience Member Really unique movie by Lloyd in which he tries his hand at a dialogue-based comedy rather than his old stunts and gags model. Also, he plays a missionary's son who cultural background is more Chinese than American. He really does a good job, but talkie comedies were a competitive field by this time, and Lloyd's fame continued to fade. Highlights include a pre-code dancers in a nightclub and Lloyd's uh, extreme solution to the city's gang problem. Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 02/18/23 Full Review Audience Member Racist, sure, but taken within its context, it's a lot of fun. Taylor's direction is very lively and engaging, and Lloyd does very well in a sound film. It's less zany than his silents, but perhaps more amusing, what with the satirical shift in material (and I likes me good satire). George Barbier is awesome, as well. A terrific little gem that deserves to be remembered. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 02/10/23 Full Review Audience Member This movie was a bit of a departure from Harold Lloyd's previous movies. Comedy derived more from dialogue, often rather serious, predominates here, rather than the elaborate sight gags which powered Harold's classics of the past. There are some splendid moments, however, which are pure visual fun, as when Harold attempts to follow a convertible down a crowded street, or when he desperately tries to keep a nightclub stripper from losing her clothes. There is also the climactic scene, set in a Chinatown basement, in which Harold gleefully jumps unabashedly into the darkest comedy. But most of the humor derives from Harold's refusal to be the patsy of the criminals who've run his hometown for years. Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 02/05/23 Full Review Read all reviews
The Cat's Paw

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Movie Info

Synopsis Ezekiel Cobb (Harold Lloyd) is a sheltered young man who had a missionary upbringing in Asia. When he goes back to America, he unwittingly becomes a dupe for crooked politicians who recruit him, intending him to be a losing candidate in a fixed election. However, when he unexpectedly becomes mayor, he embarks on a program to root out corruption. The politicians try to intimidate him into submission, but he recruits the local Chinese community to lend a hand.
Director
Sam Taylor
Producer
Harold Lloyd
Production Co
The Harold Lloyd Corporation
Genre
Comedy
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Jul 30, 1934, Original
Runtime
1h 41m