Directed by: Richard Quine

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

Synopsis: Nick and Emily Rocco (Richard Conte and Judy Holliday) are in the family way and facing financial hardship due to repairs needed on their home. Nick reluctantly agrees to ask for help from his stubborn father Vittorio (Salvatore Baccaloni) which leads to further family strife.

Cat Burglar (Scene Stealer): We first see Vittorio and his wife Colletta (Esther Minciotti) at their home in Sacramento. Vittorio is sitting outside with a ginger tabby cat named Philomena on a nearby bench.

Having received the mail, Colletta reads a junk letter to Vittorio as he picks up the cat (by the scruff, unfortunately) and holds Philomena in this lap. Philomena seems to be interested not only in the nearby bottle of wine but the man’s cigar as well.

Colletta starts to walk away but Vittorio insists she bring a pen and paper so he can dictate a letter of disappointment to his sons. He then offers Philomena some wine and the cat laps it up happily.

Returning outside, Colletta pulls the bench (with Philomena upon it) closer and sits down to take dictation (in actuality she only pretends to write, having been through this before).

The scene fades to another time and Vittorio is once again sitting out front holding the cat as Nick and Emily drive up. Vittorio sets Philomena down and the cat it not seen again.

Final Mewsings: You should encourage your cat not to indulge in cigars and wine!

Many thanks to Jon Kennedy for letting us know about the cat in this film.

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