Over 100 wonderful images of Hollywood film stars from the Golden Age,
photographed with cats of all shapes, size and breeds"There is a saying
that you never really own a cat, rather the cat owns you. If that really
is the case then we should be grateful that they allowed themselves to
be photographed at all, for they are just as much the stars of the show
as their human counterparts" from the introduction There were an
impressive number of animal stars during the golden age of film; not
just cats, but also dogs, lions, monkeys, elephants and any number of
other species that could find a part to play. With studio contracts and
the potential to earn sums equal to that of their human co-stars was it
any wonder that animals (and their trainers) were ever present. Cats,
however, had something of a unique place within this menagerie of
animals. Some, like the young cat that sits on Marlon Brando's knee in a
scene from The Godfather found themselves a place in cinema history, but
most simply lived out their lives within the confines of the lots
untroubled by dreams of stardom. Hollywood Cats showcases an incredible
selection of photographs, taken during the golden age of Hollywood, of
stars with their cats, celebrating and documenting this special
relationship. Both Carole Lombard and Greer Garson manage to look even
more sultry draped alongside their feline friends; photographs of madcap
duo Laurel and Hardy playing with a kitten are both comical and
endearing. Perhaps the most famous - and arguably the most important of
all Hollywood cats is the MGM lion, Leo, who appeared (and still
appears) on every MGM movie.
