The Third Eye (1966)

by Mark Murton

Original Title: Il Terzo Occhio

Directed by: Mino Guerrini

Synopsis: Count Mino Alberti (Franco Nero), who lives in an old manor with his domineering mother (Olga Solbelli), spirals into madness after first she and then his fiancée die under mysterious circumstances in quick succession.

Cat Burglar (Scene Stealer): In the film’s opening scene Mino’s mother is sitting with a white kitten on her lap as the maid (Gioia Pascal) brings her tea.

The Third Eye - Il Terzo Occhio - mother Olga Solbelli sitting in chair holding white kitten with maid Gioia Pascal

As she drinks the tea, the kitten tries to wriggle free from her grasp.

The Third Eye - Il Terzo Occhio - mother Olga Solbelli sitting in chair holding wriggling white kitten
The Third Eye - Il Terzo Occhio - mother Olga Solbelli sitting in chair holding wriggling white kitten animated gif
The Third Eye - Il Terzo Occhio - mother Olga Solbelli sitting in chair holding white kitten with maid Gioia Pascal

Mino’s mother makes clear her displeasure at her son’s impending marriage before skulking off.

The Third Eye - Il Terzo Occhio - mother Olga Solbelli holding white kitten with maid Gioia Pascal

In a later scene Mino’s mother is sitting in an armchair with the cat on her lap.

The Third Eye - Il Terzo Occhio - mother Olga Solbelli sitting in chair holding white kitten

Mino enters and she drops the cat to the floor as he greets her.

The Third Eye - Il Terzo Occhio - mother Olga Solbelli with Mino Franco Nero and white kitten sitting on floor

The cat sits happily on the floor where it has landed as Mino and his mother have a conversation. At one point Mino turns around and nearly swipes the kitten with his feet.

The Third Eye - Il Terzo Occhio - mother Olga Solbelli with Mino Franco Nero and white kitten sitting on floor

Stuffed Cat: The kitten isn’t seen again, but when we see Mino’s taxidermy collection which consists mostly of stuffed birds, prominent amongst them is a white cat.

The Third Eye - Il Terzo Occhio - stuffed white taxidermy cat on table
The Third Eye - Il Terzo Occhio - stuffed white taxidermy cat on table with Mino Franco Nero

Final Mewsings: Even kittens don’t appreciate clinging mothers!

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