Madame Sans Gêne (1961)

Directed by: Christian-Jaque

This review contains a very mild Kitty Carnage Warning!

Cat Out of the Bag Alert! This review contains some spoilers for this film!

Synopsis: Catherine Hubscher (Sophia Loren) is a laundress whose energy and spirit have a direct impact on those fighting in the French Revolution and the Napoleonic Wars, including The Little General himself (Julien Bertheau).

Kitty Cameo: Catherine, aka Madame Sans Gêne, falls for a sergeant named François-Joseph Lefebvre (Robert Hossein). They talk in the courtyard of Catherine’s business as unseen cats nearby meow. Catherine comments on the cats and Lefebvre admits he also has a cat that he talks to. He then tells Catherine where he lives and asks that if something should happen to him would she take care of his cat Thérèse. We get to see Thérèse in a later scene when Catherine and Lefebvre are lying in bed together. Catherine spots the tiny tabby kitten by a bowl of spilled milk and makes kissy noises.

Madame Sans Gêne - Catherine's hand reaching for grey tabby kitten by bowl of milk

Mild Kitty Carnage Warning! She then picks the kitten up by the scruff and cuddles it just a little too vigorously.

Madame Sans Gêne - Catherine Sophia Loren cuddling roughly a grey tabby kitten in bed with Lefebvre Robert Hossein
Madame Sans Gêne - Catherine Sophia Loren cuddling roughly a grey tabby kitten in bed with Lefebvre Robert Hossein
Madame Sans Gêne - Catherine Sophia Loren cuddling roughly a grey tabby kitten in bed with Lefebvre Robert Hossein animated gif

Just as suddenly, Catherine pushes the kitten aside. Thérèse is not seen again.

Madame Sans Gêne - Catherine Sophia Loren cuddling roughly a grey tabby kitten in bed with Lefebvre Robert Hossein
Madame Sans Gêne - Catherine Sophia Loren cuddling roughly a grey tabby kitten in bed with Lefebvre Robert Hossein
Madame Sans Gêne - Catherine Sophia Loren cuddling roughly a grey tabby kitten in bed with Lefebvre Robert Hossein

Final Mewsings: Cats are probably the only ones who don’t want to be roughhoused by Sophia Loren.

Many thanks to Nick Wale for letting us know about the kitten in this film!

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