La souriante Madame Beudet (1923)

English Title: The Smiling Madame Beudet

Directed by: Germaine Dulac

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

Synopsis: Madame Beudet (Germaine Dermoz) is an unhappily married woman who is driven to thoughts of murder by her insensitive husband (Alexandre Arquillière).

Cat Burglar (Scene Stealer): Monsieur Beudet owns a tabby and white cat which appears halfway through the film. The cat rides on Monsieur Beudet’s shoulder as he walks down the stairs.

The Smiling Madame Beudet - tabby and white cat riding down stairs on Monsieur Beudet Alexandre Arquillière shoulder

The Smiling Madame Beudet - tabby and white cat riding down stairs on Monsieur Beudet Alexandre Arquillière shoulder animated gif

The cat is held and cuddled by Monsieur Beudet in another scene which Madame Beudet appears to be remembering.

The Smiling Madame Beudet - tabby and white cat being held by Monsieur Beudet Alexandre Arquillière

Later Madame Beudet is startled by a noise at the door and opens it quickly, only to have the cat run into the room.

The Smiling Madame Beudet - tabby and white cat entering room and startling Madame Beudet Germaine Dermoz

The Smiling Madame Beudet - tabby and white cat entering room and startling Madame Beudet Germaine Dermoz animated gif

Sitting down on a bed, Madame Beudet calls to the cat, who seems reluctant to come to her. In fact it appears that someone had to throw the cat in her direction from offscreen. In the next shot she picks up the cat and holds it tightly. This tender moment is disrupted when she hears something and jumps up, throwing the cat to the floor.