by Linda Kay

Also Known As: Deadly Chase; Play Cop

Directed by: Francesco Prosperi

This review contains a Kitty Carnage Warning!

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

Synopsis: Police Inspector Verrazzano (Luc Merenda), a man with a weakness for gambling and a love for women, is called upon to investigate the death of an art gallery owner’s brother which was ruled a suicide, only to also become a target of the killer or killers.

Cat Burglar (Scene Stealer): At the start of the film we hear Verrazzano speaking over a nighttime panning shot as he tells someone he tried not to wake them and promises he will be home soon. It turns out he is talking to his pet gray tabby cat Ciro who is receiving scritches from his attentive owner. “You’ll find your milk under the sink, as usual,” Verrazzano assures the kitty before promising no gambling (of course in the next shot the man is doing just that).

Later in the film Ciro watches and mews as Verrazzano loads his gun.

Verrazzano shares some insight about his concerns as well as describing the art gallery owner, Giulia (Janet Agren), as a knockout as he gives his vocal kitty some tidbits of food, urging Ciro not to eat so quickly.

Ciro is mentioned several times, especially by Verrazzano’s underling, Brigadiere Baldelli (Giacomo Rizzo), who when asked how he knew Verrazzano was with his married girlfriend Rosy explains he called Verrazzano’s house and talked to Ciro. “He’s the only one who knows where you are,” Baldelli adds.

Later when Verrazzano is expecting Giulia to come over he lets Ciro know they have company coming. The cat mews (which sounds a lot like a squeak toy) as the man starts to leave then returns having forgetten his wallet. He pauses to tell the cat that the “fabulous piece of ass he mentioned the other day,” is the one who is coming, only to have her walk in right then. Ciro hides away as Verrazzano and Giulia manage to enjoy the dinner she brought, that is until Rosy shows up and both women end up leaving. Ciro comes out of hiding and is scolded by his owner. “Ah, you do well to hide. You might have told me that Rosy called, you know? If I end up all alone tonight it’ll be all your fault. Nice friend you are.”

Kitty Carnage Warning! Eventually the bad guys decide to send a message to get the Inspector to back off. When Verrazzano returns home he calls out for Ciro and is surprised when the cat doesn’t come running. Unfortunately he finds Ciro lying on his kitty bed with blood across his neck. However it is clear the cat actor is very much alive as he moves slightly during the brief shot and the bloody wound looks more like someone spilled ketchup on the poor animal. A lengthy scene follows with Verrazzano putting away Ciro’s things and reading the warning note left for him which reads “lascia in pace i morti” which means “Leave the dead alone.” Even Baldelli is sad to hear about Ciro’s passing, but the killing gives Verrazzano a clue when someone later mentions their frustration over his determination to find the killer of Ciro when he was just a cat, a fact that person could not have known.

Final Mewsings: Poor movie kitties always seem to take the brunt of the revenge aimed against their owners.

Many thanks to Nick Wale for letting us know about the cat in this film.

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