Die Blechtrommel (1979)

The Tin Drum poster

English Title: The Tin Drum
Franz Seitz Filmproduktion
Starring: David Bennent, Angela Winkler, Otto Sander
Directed by: Volker Schlöndorff

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

Synopsis: Oskar Matzerath (David Bennent) decides at the age of three that he will no longer grow and stays small, using his tin drum and shattering glass with his screams to protest the insane happenings as World War II takes place around him.

Kitty Cameos: One minor character in the film is Meyn the Trumpeter (Otto Sander) who is a tenant in Oskar’s building. In the book he accompanies Oskar on the drum and is said to own four cats (whom he eventually kills, throwing their bodies into a dumpster which leads to him being reported to animal control.) In the film he is only seen playing the trumpet from his window with a cat either nearby or on his shoulders (thankfully the cats are not killed in the film).

The Tin Drum - Meyn Otto Sander playing trumpet at window with black cat on shoulder

The Tin Drum - Meyn Otto Sander playing trumpet at window with black cat on another sill

The Tin Drum - Meyn Otto Sander playing trumpet at window with black cat on shoulder again

Later in the film Oskar’s mother, Agnes (Angela Winkler), begins to scarf down pickled herrings like mad. Her loved ones try to stop her and Oskar’s grandmother throws a piece of herring out through the door where Meyn is squatted in the street surrounded by his cats. An English shorthair chases a black kitten off the screen.

The Tin Drum - Meyn Otto Sander in street with cats