Il portiere di notte (1973)

The Night Porter poster

English Title: The Night Porter
Lotar Film Productions
Starring:
 Dirk Bogarde, Charlotte Rampling
Directed by: Liliana Cavani

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

Synopsis: Max (Dirk Bogarde) is a former Gestapo agent working as a night porter in Vienna when one of his former victims, a girl named Lucia (Charlotte Rampling) checks into the hotel, leading to unexpected consequences.

Kitty Cameo: Max owns a Siamese cat with a bobbed tail that is seen several times in the man’s apartment.

The Night Porter - Siamese cat on table behind Max Dirk Bogarde

The cat runs away from Lucia when she first enters Max’s apartment.

The Night Porter - Siamese cat running away

The Siamese becomes familiar and comfortable with Lucia, lying on the bed with her even when Max is putting a chain on her wrist.

The Night Porter - Siamese cat on bed behind Max Dirk Bogarde

Lucia holds the cat when Dr. Folger (Gabriele Ferzetti) comes to question her.

The Night Porter - Lucia Charlotte Rampling holding Siamese cat

The Night Porter - Lucia Charlotte Rampling kissing Siamese cat

The cat is also seen on the bed with Dr. Folger as Lucia crawls beneath a table.

The Night Porter - Siamese cat on couch with Dr. Folger Gabriele Ferzetti

The last time the cat is seen is when Max is cutting up pieces of bread for rations, as he and Lucia have been cut off from getting any supplies by Max’s Nazi compatriots.  What is not addressed or made clear is whether or not they resort to eating the cat at some point, as they are literally starving and the cat is not seen again.

The Night Porter - Siamese cat out of focus behind Max Dirk Bogarde

The Night Porter - Siamese cat on bed with Lucia Charlotte Rampling behind Max Dirk Bogarde

Final Mewsings: Cats should not be considered part of emergency rations.

Many thanks to @OSUItalian2053 for letting us know about this film!


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