Casanova's Big Night (1954)

by Ted Davis

Directed by: Norman Z. McLeod

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

Synopsis: In the Italy of 1757, Casanova (Vincent Price) is regarded as the greatest swordsman in all of Europe, and Pippo Popolino (Bob Hope), cowardly tailor’s apprentice, impersonates Casanova as part of a plot, masterminded by conniving valet Lucio (Basil Rathbone) and greedy widow Francesca Bruni (Joan Fontaine), to seduce the innocent and charming Elena Di Gambetta (Audrey Dalton). The proof of the seduction is to be Elena’s embroidered petticoat, a requirement that is within Pippo’s particular if limited set of skills.

Cat Burglars (Scene Stealers): After his romantic overtures are roundly rejected by Francesca and he is bodily hurled by Casanova from a second story balcony to smack resoundingly on the flagstones below, a humiliated Pippo is further embarrassed when doused with a bucket of water. An understandably chastened Pippo retires from the encounter and crosses the street to greet Leonardo the cat, who he refers to later in the movie as next of kin.

Casanova's Big Night - Pippo Bob Hope with ginger tabby cat Leonardo

Pippo picks up Leonardo from the front stoop and carries him inside the shop, ruefully musing, “Home already, Leonardo? Just isn’t our night, I guess.” (It is very likely that this is a member of the Orangey team playing this part.)

Casanova's Big Night - Pippo Bob Hope picking up ginger tabby cat Leonardo animated gif

Later in the film, Elena’s father Alberto (Paul Cavanaugh), brother Stefano (Hugh Marlowe) and their hulking henchman Corfa (Primo Carnera) invade her bedroom, just as Pippo is failing in his first seduction attempt. He quickly scurries under a clothes mannequin to hide underneath the very same petticoat which Lucio and Francesca intend to claim as proof. Elena’s little terrier dog darts under the petticoat, which attracts the attention of Alberto. Elena attempts to head off her father by explaining that the dog is playing with the cat, which prompts Pippo to meow like a cat, which in turn prompts the actual longhair grey cat to hop off his chair and attack Pippo and the dog.

Casanova's Big Night - longhair grey cat jumping off chair

Casanova's Big Night - longhair grey cat running toward mannequin

Casanova's Big Night - longhair grey cat running under mannequin

Casanova's Big Night - longhair grey cat running under mannequin where Bob Hope is meowing animated gif

The commotion increases until Corfa, flanked by Alfredo and Stefano, lifts up the mannequin to reveal the combatants, at which point the dog and cat scramble out of the frame, and the bumbling Pippo is left to receive punishment.