by Ted Davis

English Title: The Stranger’s Hand

Directed by: Mario Soldati

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

Synopsis: This thriller, filmed in a perceptively moldering Venice, Italy, and based on a lesser Graham Greene story, trails young lad Roger Court (Richard O’Sullivan) as he searches for his missing father Major Roger Court (Trevor Howard), who has been abducted by the sadly fallen Dr. Vivaldi (Eduardo Ciannelli). Hotel secretary Roberta Gleukovitch (Alida Valli) and her unstable lover Joe Hamstringer (Richard Basehart) are along for the ride as they alternately hinder and help Roger with his hunt.

Cat Burglar (Scene Stealer): During the highly coincidental first meeting between Roger and Dr. Vivaldi, a tuxedo street cat loiters behind Roger momentarily.

Purr Blur: Later, Roger runs across a plaza in the middle of the night and inadvertently startles another tuxedo street cat, which darts down a convenient alley (as a dog in the distant background also runs for cover).

Final Mewsings: The street cats of Venice are always well dressed.

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