Hollywood Cats

J. C. Suares' HOLLYWOOD CATS is a fitting tribute to those enigmatic creatures we know as cats that have had roles in Hollywood films as well as a black and white photo collection of stars with their favorite cats. There are images of the etherally beautiful Carole Lombard with a black Persian (the cover and pages 62 and 63), Ava Gardner with a Siamese (P. 67), Lauren Bacall with a black cat (p. 75), Ann-Margaret with a Siamese (p. 59), Gina Lollobrigida with a Persian-- photographed by the great Philippe Halsman (p. 55), Jean Harlow with three Persian kittens (p. 15), and Mr. and Mrs. James Mason at home with a whole litter of kittens (p. 60) et al. Since there is a rumor out there that cats and kittens are animals for women, I was pleased to see Mr. Suares included photographs in this collection of both Tony Perkins and Marlon Brando with their beloved four-legged friends. These two men are certainly cat people if we believe that the camera doesn't lie, at least before the age of the digital camera and photoshop when you can now do anything you want to with a photograph-- even changing the color of President Obama's swimming trunks. And a man as macho as the writer Ernest Hemingway loved cats. I rest my case. Also included here are many cats that played in a lot of movies. The most famous of the litter-- not literally of course-- would be Orangey and Morris, short-haired orange tigers. Mr. Suares in his commentary describes Orangey as "a cantankerous prima donna disliked even by his trainer." Orangey won two Patsy Awards, one for his role in the 1952 movie "Rhubarb," and the second for "Breakfast at Tiffany's." Morris, a much more likeable fellow, was rescued from a shelter by trainer Bob Martwick and went on to be featured in the ad campaign for 9-Lives cat food. There is a stunning photograph of Orangey jumping practically to the ceiling in the film "Breakfast at Tiffany's" (page. 22) and another photo of a much older Brando with a cat from the film "The Godfather." As glamourous and handsome as this collection of hollywood stars is, note that these feline beauties more than hold their own with the actors. Check out, for example, the great portraits of Morris (p.48) and the unnamed Domestic American Longhaired cat from the film "The Blue Bird" (p. 12). This is a great little collection for both film buffs and cat lovers.

This book is a small collection of black-and-white photographs of Hollywood movie stars with cats. Some of the photos are from movies, some are posed publicity stills, and others are images of stars at home with their pets. Featured in this collection are Grace Kelly, Audrey Hepburn, Carole Lombard, and Kim Novak. There are some contemporary stars as well, including Drew Barrymore and Sigourney Weaver, but the majority of the photos are images from classic Hollywood. My favorite photo is of a young Marlon Brando at home on his sofa, with his cat curled up around his neck. If you are a fan of classic Hollywood and cats, you will definitely want to add this book to your collection.

Yes! This is the book featuring Hollywood cats and stars in the movies! The movies range from Breakfast at Tiffany's to Stephen King's Cat's Eye and the cats include Morris the 9-Lives cat, himself! The photos are very glamerous!

It's very hard to tell without a cover photo or description, but I am pretty sure this is a picture book of actors with cats. If this is that one, then it's wonderful! I love the old art-deco glamour pics of glamour-pusses with famous stars like Marlene Dietrich and Cary Grant. Staci Layne Wilson