by Linda Kay

Directed by: Luigi Comencini

This review contains a severe Kitty Carnage Warning!

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

Synopsis: Amedeo (Ugo Tognazzi) and Ofelia (Mariangela Melato), constantly bickering adult siblings, tolerate each another only because they are actively trying to evict the few remaining tenants in their apartment building which they can then sell to a developer for a large profit. Their interest in amateur sleuthing comes in handy as they try to pinpoint the culprit who killed their cat, assuring yet another eviction for the guilty party.

Cat Burglar (Scene Stealer): The titular cat who does not appear to have a name is present from the beginning, sitting on the roof of the apartment building.

The cat proceeds to climb down and make its way around the building, passing many of the eccentric characters who stubbornly refuse to vacate the premises.

At one point the cat passes a window with some exposed wires which spark as he passes. This sets off the building’s fire alarm.

One of the tenants has a habit of shooting at the cat. Amedeo and Ofelia are desperate to catch the perpetrator in the act because it would mean instant eviction for them.

When the cat returns to their apartment he is dragging a large fish which they quickly grab and cook for themselves.

Once finished, Amedeo drops the fish bones on the ground for the cat.

Severe Kitty Carnage Warning! After this promising beginning the poor cat is not seen again, except in fake cat / corpse form after being murdered. The rest of the film follows the siblings as they try to figure out who killed the cat and how.

It would appear that more than one brown tabby actor was used throughout the various shots. The cat’s tail was usually used on the posters, except for the French poster which bears a cartoon black cat and the title Who Killed the Cat?

Final Mewsings: Cats may have nine lives but each one is irreplacable.

Many thanks to Mark Murton for letting us know about the cat in this film.

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