That Darn Cat! 1965

“Darn Cat,” also known affectionately as “DC,” introduces us to a clever and adventurous Siamese tomcat who calls the suburbs home, accompanied by his two young owners, sisters Ingrid “Inky” and Patricia “Patti” Randall. Every evening, DC embarks on his escapades through town, delighting in mischief—teasing local dogs, snatching food, and leaving his mark on parked vehicles with his muddy paws, all while exploring the vibrant streets.

However, one fateful night, DC’s curiosity leads him to follow a bank robber named Iggy into an unsuspecting apartment, where Iggy and his partner Dan have taken bank employee Margaret Miller hostage. In a clever twist, Miss Miller seizes the moment to swap her watch for DC’s collar, inscribing most of the word “HELP” on it. Unbeknownst to DC, this seemingly innocuous act is crucial to unraveling the dangerous situation.

When DC returns home, Patti quickly discovers the watch and begins to suspect that it belongs to the kidnapped woman. Driven by a strong sense of duty, she approaches the FBI and relays her findings to Agent Zeke Kelso. To this end, Supervisor Newton assigns Kelso the task of tracking DC, hoping that this wily feline holds the key to locating the robbers’ hideout.

As the investigation unfolds, Kelso sets up a makeshift headquarters at the Randall household, coordinating a team to monitor DC’s movements. In a series of hilarious escapades, DC skillfully outsmarts the agents—each attempt at surveillance leading to comedic scenarios and embarrassing encounters. One particularly memorable chase sees DC darting through backyards and a drive-in theater, all while amusingly evading the diligent Agent Kelso. During this chaotic pursuit, he attracts the ire of Gregory Benson, an irritable carpool member of Ingrid’s, who, after his confrontation with DC, storms off in frustration.

The narrative takes a turn when the following day, a frustrated Supervisor Newton halts the operation, dismissing the watch as a mere trinket. Determined to prove the significance of her findings, Patti devises a clever ruse, donning the disguise of a hippie niece and persuading the FBI that the watch is crucial evidence. With new motivation, Newton and Kelso prepare for a final stakeout, trailing DC through various neighborhoods. This ultimately leads them back to the hideout of the bank robbers.

In a tense climax, Kelso bursts into the apartment just in time to thwart Dan and Iggy’s plans, rescuing Margaret Miller. This heroic moment is followed closely by Patti, who enters to assist Kelso, ensuring his safety in the nick of time. The robbers quickly find themselves apprehended, and the hostage situation comes to a thrilling conclusion, with Miss Miller safely freed.

As the story winds down, we find Patti mending her romantic relationship with her occasionally jealous boyfriend, Canoe, who had been feeling the strain of the investigation’s secrecy. Meanwhile, Agent Kelso, now enamored with Ingrid, joins her carpool, signaling a budding romance blossoming between them. In a delightfully heartwarming finale, DC embarks on a new chapter of his adventurous life, having met a charming gray cat with whom he hopes to start a family, culminating in a joyful and hopeful turn of events for our beloved feline hero.