Film Record: House That Cats Built, The

Still image from The House That Cats Built via Seattle Channel.

Identifier:

• MV0366 (Source: University of Washington Libraries Digital Collections)

Date produced: 1938

Filmmaker(s):

Iwao Matsushita

Country of Production:

United States

Languages:

English, Japanese

Duration:

00:12:00

Length:

1 reel (150 ft)

Format:

8mm

Colour:

B&W

Sound Notes:

Silent

Awards/Recognition:

University of Washington Libraries list of titled amateur films

Description:

"The 1938 Seattle film, shot by Iwao Matsushita, features chubby cats playing, eating, and being cuddled by their humans." K5 News.

Resources:

The film, and its status as an early "cat video," is discussed in "Seattle's love of cats and dogs goes way back according to MOHAI exhibit," King 5 News, March 6, 2018.

The film was featured in the Seattle Channel's "History in Motion" series in 2007.

This film is a part of the Iwao Matsushita Films collection held by the University of Washington Libraries.

Locations:

• Seattle, Washington (Filming)

Subjects:

•               Married people
•      Pets
•           Cats

Genre:

• Documentary

Form:

• Short

Repository:

Iwao Matsushita Films, University of Washington Libraries, Special Collections Division

Screenings:

• Screened as part of the "Raining Cats and Dogs" exhibit at the Museum of History and Industry in 2018: Seattle, WA

Viewing Notes:

"The Matsushita's house. Iwao walks out of the house. Hanaye Matsushita holding cats up for the camera. Ceramic cat statues on a mantle. Cats in the backyard, playing, eating from a bowl, playing with sticks. Felix the Cat cartoon of Felix stealing fish. Cat sitting in a window, yawning, licking its paw. Footage of the garden, the house, chickens, and cats. Cat in the yard, playing in a paper bag and in a rug. Drawings of cats. Cats playing in a window with a toy mouse. Cats outside, playing in a rug, with chickens. Cat in a basket, sleeping. Drawing of a cat sleeping. Iwao yawning." Via the University of Washington Libraries.

Video Link:

• via Seattle Channel

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