Boccaccio ’70 (1962)

Directed by: Vittorio De Sica, Federico Fellini, Mario Monicelli, Luchino Visconti

This review contains a mild Kitty Carnage Warning!

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

Synopsis: A collection of four short films inspired by Boccaccio’s novellas center on the varied relationships between males and females.

Cat Burglars (Scene Stealers): The third film directed by Luchino Visconti is titled Il lavoro (The Job) and focuses on a playboy Count named Ottavio (Tomas Milian) and his wife Pupe (Romy Schneider). Ottavio is in the midst of a scandal as his time with prostitutes has been well documented in numerous newspapers. His lawyers and advisers gather to decide what to do, but they wait to hear from Pupe to discover her position in the matter. Pupe is upstairs in her room with her many long-haired kittens. Ottavio enters the room to find two white kittens on the bed and Pupe on the floor with a grey kitten. She is busy writing.

Boccaccio '70 - Il lavoro - Count Ottavio Tomas Milian looking at two long haired white kittens on bed

Boccaccio '70 - Il lavoro - Pupe Romy Schneider on floor with gray kitten

The couple enter into a long discussion about the matters at hand. Pupe decides she is going to go get a job but isn’t sure what she is qualified for. Ottavio picks up the kittens in his nervousness. At one point he even anxiously tosses one of the kittens from one hand to another!

Boccaccio '70 - Il lavoro - Count Ottavio Tomas Milian holding at long haired white kitten on bed

Boccaccio '70 - Il lavoro - Pupe Romy Schneider with Count Ottavio Tomas Milian fidgeting with long haired gray kitten

Pupe eventually calls upon her attendants Antonio and Franz to round up the cats as she plans to take them with her when she leaves. The men seem less than enthusiastic but do their best.

Boccaccio '70 - Il lavoro - Count Ottavio Tomas Milian with Antonio holding two cats behind him

Kitty Carnage Warning! Franz goes after some of the kittens, picking up one white one by the tail! Pupe is quick to rescue the kitten and then cuddles it with a gray one as she continues to talk to Ottavio.

Boccaccio '70 - Il lavoro - Franz picking up long haired white kitten by tail

Boccaccio '70 - Il lavoro - long haired white kitten on floor

Boccaccio '70 - Il lavoro - Pupe Romy Schneider holding long haired white and gray kittens to face

Boccaccio '70 - Il lavoro - close up of long haired white kitten being grabbed

Boccaccio '70 - Il lavoro - Pupe Romy Schneider holding long haired white and gray kittens to her face

Boccaccio '70 - Il lavoro - Pupe Romy Schneider holding long haired white and gray kittens to her face animated gif

Pupe is disgusted when one of the kittens (a white one named Matisse) goes to the bathroom on her. She asks Franz to take the kitten.

Boccaccio '70 - Il lavoro - Pupe Romy Schneider on phone holding white and gray kittens with Count Ottavio Tomas Milian

Boccaccio '70 - Il lavoro - Pupe Romy Schneider with gray kitten's tail under her nose with Count Ottavio Tomas Milian

Ottavio tries to convince Pupe that most people do not enjoy their jobs and asks Antonio, who is holding a larger tabby cat (presumably mother to the kittens) and a kitten, if he is bored with his work. Pupe is shocked to realize this is even a possiblity. The men leave with the cats who are not seen again.