MovieChat Forums > The Ladykillers (2004) Discussion > The symbolism of the cat

The symbolism of the cat

posted 16 years ago by regulus7000
10 replies | jump to latest

Am I supposed to assume the cat played a secret, but large role in the film? I'm uncertain, but the film seems to suggest the cat is some sort of guardian of the old lady, especially in relation to the portrait of her dead husband.

A few important points the cat plays:
-The cat clock on the wall startled the general leading to his demise.
-The cat escaped several times causing distraction and disorganization among the thieves.
-The cat hated the prof from the very beginning.
-The cat drops off the last remains of the thieves onto the barge.
-The cat seems to be associated the portrait in the ways of persuading, directing, and protecting the old lady.

Am I crazy, or am I to assume the cat had a secret role, perhaps even as a proxy of her husband?

[–] AdafuknC 16 years ago

Yeah, I understand what you're saying. Like her husband was watching over her and Pickles (the cat) was sort of like her guardian. I noticed that a lot in this film. I like this film, I didn't know it was a remake until I researched it on here, but now I'm going to watch the orignal.

[–] punkrocks91 16 years ago

The new one is waaay funnier, the old one was a little goofy

[–] Isaac5855 15 years ago

The cat was definitely some kind of symbol and it wouldn't have surprised me at all of the spirit of the woman's late husband was inside Pickles. Maybe that's why every time someone opened the door, Pickles belted out of it.

[–] stanleyhetz 12 years ago

Yeah, I understand what you're saying. Like her husband was watching over her and Pickles (the cat) was sort of like her guardian. I noticed that a lot in this film. I like this film, I didn't know it was a remake until I researched it on here, but now I'm going to watch the orignal.

Nobody even talks about having the runs in the original movie. Nothing about Bull Connor or his dogs either.

[–] alfabetizado 15 years ago

I noticed that too, but I also think that it may have something to do with Edgar Allan Poe's work. There's a short story from him about a black cat that is cemented inside a wall, and if I'm not mistaken, during the movie Pancake proposes that they do the same to the old lady. Then at the end of the movie Tom Hank's character is pleased when seeing a raven, which ends up killing him. I've never read The Raven, so I don't know if what happens in the movie has some parallel to Poe's story. I'm guessing that it does.

Anyway, my point is: perhaps the cat's behavior is a refference to some of Poe's work? It's been a long while since I've read The Black Cat, so I'm not qualified for anything else but specullation.

[–] dachshundweaver 12 years ago

There is indeed a Poe story about a man who accidentally walls a cat up with his murdered wife, but the dialogue about immuring Mrs. Munson is actually a reference to another Poe story, "The Cask of Amontillado."

[–] nobody_nameless 15 years ago

You post as your first example -The cat clock on the wall startled the general leading to his demise.

In this same scene doesn't the cat trip the General, literally leading to his demise?

[–] Brother_h 15 years ago

Im pridy sure that was the point of showing the cat always nosying around the crooks and eventually getting rid of them(also showing the husbands portrait from time to time when the cat is around.

[–] meecrofilm 14 years ago

There was a strong religious undertone in the movie -- think back to the beginning of the movie where they're talking about an outsider, and then as Hanks arrives the candle flame begins to flicker -- I think I agree with the Cat maybe holding the spirit of her husband, as well as being a sort of guardian against evil.

[–] fearforthefuture 9 years ago

Made me think of Inside Llewyn Davis...