Che gioia vivere (1961)

by Ted Davis

English Title: The Joy of Living

Directed by: Rene Clement

This review contains slight Kitty Carnage Warning for rough handling!

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

Synopsis: Set in turbulent 1921 Rome, Italy, this prolonged and misguided attempt at comedy centers on the overcomplicated misadventures of naive and nonchalant fascist Ulysses Cecconato (Alain Delon). As a byproduct of his duties to the fascist party, he is hired by the Fossattis, a screwball family of committed anarchists who involve him in their tangled plots to overthrow the fascists, but Ulysses blazes his own path apart from fascism or anarchy, with fresh and lovely Franca Fossatti (Barbara Lass) as more than compensation enough for all the troubles.

Purr Blur (with Faux Cats): Jobless and extremely hungry Ulysses and friend Turiddu (Giampierro Littera) spend the night sleeping out of doors in the Forum, serenaded by a handful of noisy street cats. The two friends discuss the possibility of cooking and eating the cats, who are wise to keep their distance and stay in the shadows. The two cats on top of a mound of dirt are actually fake cats, sitting stock still, while the only real cat in the scene sits just below them to the left.

Che Gioia Vivere - two fake cats and one real cat sitting on mound

Che Gioia Vivere - two fake cats and one real cat sitting on mound behind Ulysses Alain Delon and Turiddu Giampierro Littera

Cat Burglar (Scene Stealer) (with Slight Kitty Carnage Warning!:) Ancient wizened anarchist Grandfather Fossatti (Carlo Pisacane) slips out of his attic refuge onto the roof to avoid being exploded by a Russian bomb, but has the grace to warn a scruffy approaching calico cat of the imminent danger and push the confused animal away, although he does grab the poor confused cat by the front leg to do so.