Original Title: Cobra Nero
Directed by: Stelvio Massi
Cat Out of the Bag Alert! This review contains some spoilers for this film!
Synopsis: In this Italian action film, Detective Robert Malone (aka Black Cobra) (Fred Williamson) takes on a biker gang in order to protect photographer witness Elys Trumbo (Eva Grimaldi).
Cat Burglar (Scene Stealer): In a scene very reminiscent of the opening moments of The Long Goodbye, Malone is at home talking to his pet tuxedo cat Purrvis who is meowing. Malone goes to the cupboard to get his cat something to eat.
“Red can again, you got it,” Malone says as he opens the cupboard door only to find numerous open and empty red cans of cat food. Malone swears and looks nervously at the expectant Purrvis. He finally picks up a blue can of cat food, trying to sound enthusiastic.
Emptying out the can into a bowl, Malone acts as if he is going to eat it himself because it is so good. This apparently fools Purrvis, who is either very hungry or not as fussy as Malone thinks. Purrvis jumps onto the table and then follows the bowl to the floor as Malone sets it down. When Malone gets called into the precinct shortly afterward, he complains that his cat is home alone.
Later when Malone has brought Elys to his home, she is seen sleeping with Purrvis.
She wakes and carries the cat over to where Malone is looking through some old photos.
Malone calls upon a man named Purvis (Vassili Karis) to help fight the biker gang. Purvis is a fellow detective and friend of Malone’s and it may be that he named his cat after his friend, although this doesn’t seem to be mentioned in the film. Near the end of the movie the pair choose their weapons and leave to get the gang. Malone tells Purrvis to look after Elys for them.
Final Mewsings: Cats know that to avoid ants you should really throw your empty cat food cans away.
Many thanks to Mark Murton for letting us know about the cat in this film!
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