by Ted Davis
English Title: The Assassin
Also Known As: The Lady Killer of Rome
Directed by: Elio Petri
Cat Out of the Bag Alert! This review contains some spoilers for this film!
Synopsis: Morally flexible antique dealer Alfredo Martelli (Marcello Mastroianni) is picked up by the police for questioning regarding the overnight murder of his rich and superficial mistress Adalgisa De Matteis (Micheline Presle), and the truth of his guilt or innocence emerges during a series of flashbacks which reveal his exploitive and conscienceless nature.
Kitty Cameo: An art forger responds to questions, confirming that Martelli paid him a pittance to fake paintings which were later sold at an exorbitant price. The painter’s female companion, carrying a large shaggy tabby cat, steps up from the back of the studio to supplement his complaint.
Mercifully not shown in the movie, Martelli is also accused of killing Pippo the cat when a boy, but, to be fair, this abuse was unproven.
Final Mewsings: Cats consider forgers to be cheap copycats.
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