One of the many positive things I have been doing during the COVID-19 pandemic is watching The Alienist, which is set in 1896 New York City. I’ve also been watching various old and classic movies also set in Manhattan. In addition to favorites such as West Side Story and Breakfast at Tiffany’s, I discovered a 1915 silent film called Regeneration, which was co-written and directed by Raoul Walsh.
I was pleased to find the complete film online. I was even happier to discover that the film starred several cats and one dog. Having written about Elizabeth Kingston, who rented cats from her Richmond Hill, Queens cattery to film studios during this same time period, I immediately wondered if any of the cats in this film were from her Kingston Kattery.
Cited as one of the first full-length gangster films, Regeneration tells the story of Owen, a poor orphan who is forced into a life of poverty after his mother dies. Using three actors of various ages, the film portrays Owen’s journey from his young life with abusive adoptive parents to his teenage years working on the docks and his adult years controlling the mob. One of the most memorable scenes–other than the cat and dog scenes–is a fire aboard an excursion ferry, much like the General Slocum disaster of 1904.
Regeneration was shot on location in New York City’s Lower East Side (down on the docks and the Bowery), and, in addition to several cats and one dog, the film used real prostitutes, gangsters, and homeless people as extras. It was the first film produced by Fox Film Corporation (a forerunner of the 20th Century Fox) and was released on September 13, 1915, to critical acclaim.
Pets and animals were apparently a recurring theme in Walsh’s films. The majority of his many films featured dogs, but lions, horses, monkeys, seals, birds, and elephants also made appearances. In addition to Regeneration, cats had cameo roles in The Strawberry Blonde, and lions and tigers were featured in The Thief of Baghdad and Esther and the King.
Reporting on the feline film stars of the Kingston Kattery in 1916, The New York Sun said:
“These cats have been in more motion picture shows than most of the actors, and their acting reaps a nice harvest for their owner. They don’t get rattled when the camera man begins to grind, and seem to enjoy posing.” According to Miss Kingston, her tabbies “registered very well” (showed well on the screen), they photographed beautifully when it came to close-ups, and “they never turn a hair in the most thrilling of scenes and stunts.”
The Cats of The Alienist
As an aside, if you enjoy psycho-killer movies (my favorite genre), have a strong stomach, and want to journey back in time to gritty Old New York in full color, I highly recommend this series. My husband and I binge-watched Season 1 in three days, and I can’t wait to delve into Season 2.
Not only does it bring 19th-century New York to life, but, like Regeneration, it also features some cameo cats (albeit, the scenes are gruesome, to say the least). My husband and I now look for cats in every episode. I must admit, though, I was quite disappointed that the scenes depicting Bellevue Hospital did not feature any cats. The director should have read my blog or consulted me first….just saying.
