Meet the Wildcat

1940 film by Arthur Lubin

Ralph Bellamy
Margaret Lindsay
Joseph Schildkraut

CinematographyStanley CortezEdited byArthur HiltonMusic byHans J. SalterDistributed byUniversal Pictures

Release date

October 1940^[1]

Running time

61 minutesCountryUnited StatesLanguageEnglish

Meet the Wildcat is an American 1940 mystery film directed by Arthur Lubin starring Ralph Bellamy and Margaret Lindsay.^[2]

Plot

One day in Mexico, magazine photographer Ann Larkin is in a museum when she happens to see a man steal a painting. Pursuing and accusing him, she believes the man, Brod Williams, to be a notorious art thief known only as "The Wildcat."

Brod brings the stolen painting to Leon Dumeray, a gallery owner. Dumeray recognizes it as stolen property and notifies the police, who place Brod under arrest. Ann comes to visit Brod in jail, but after complying with his request to bring him a pineapple from a local fruit stand, she is shocked to find a gun has been hidden inside it. Brod makes a daring escape, forcing Ann to switch clothing with him and fleeing the jail dressed as a woman.

Law authorities later congratulate Brod on his scheme. He is actually a police detective from New York City who is trying to smoke out Dumeray, who is the real Wildcat. He is offered a job by Dumeray, who now trusts Brod to be a dishonest man. Ann, however, doesn't know Dumeray is the thief and tips him off to Brod's true identity. Dumeray takes both as his prisoners, but Brod breaks free and calls for the police.

Cast

Ralph Bellamy as Lt. Brad Williams
Margaret Lindsay as Ann Larkin
Joseph Schildkraut as Leon Dumeray
Allen Jenkins as Max Schwydel
Jerome Cowan as Digby Vanderhood III
Rudolph Anders as Feral - Henchman
Frank Puglia as Chief of Police
Guy D'Ennery as Mordaunt - Henchman
Hans Herbert as Marco - Henchman
Juan de la Cruz as National Museum Director
Reed Hadley as Basso - Henchman
Gloria Hadley as Annabelle Lee
Iris Adrian as Jail Cell Blonde

Production

Filming started August 1940.^[3] Bellamy was cast shortly before filming began.^[4]

Reception

The New York Times called it "an obvious picture" but one that was "deftly and amusingly played" and "breezes along at a smooth pace."^[5]

Diabolique magazine called it "a really fun mystery comedy with Margaret Lindsay in superb form as a photographer convinced Ralph Bellamy (miscast, trying to channel Cary Grant) is an art thief."^[6]

References

^ Of Local Origin, The New York Times, 22 October 1940: 31
^ Meet the Wildcat, Monthly Film Bulletin, London, Volume 7, Issue 73, January 1, 1940: 186.
^ Screen News Here and in Hollywood, The New York Times, 1 August 1940: 25.
^ Marshall Will Direct Roosevelt 'Pot o' Gold', Los Angeles Times, 2 August 1940: 13.
^ The Screen: At the Rialto At the Teatro Latino, Bosley Crowther, The New York Times, 23 October 1940: 27
^ Vagg, Stephen (14 September 2019). "The Cinema of Arthur Lubin". Diabolique Magazine.