English Title: The Red Circle
Euro International Film (EIA)
Starring: Alain Delon, André Bourvil
Directed by: Jean-Pierre Melville

Synopsis: Newly released from prison, master thief Corey crosses paths with an escapee named Vogel (Gian Maria Volontè) who teams up with him and a drunken police sharpshooter named Jansen (Yves Montand) to pull off an elaborate jewelry heist.

Kitty Cameos: The Inspector who is on the trail of Vogel is named Mattei (André Bourvil). In one scene we see him coming home to his apartment after being gone for three days. He owns three cats, a Maine Coon named Fiorello, a Himalayan named Griffaulait and a Siamese named Aufréne. Fiorello and Griffaulait greet him at the door but Aufrène remains seated in a chair.

Mattei goes through a routine of taking off his coat and hat, turning on some lights, drawing a bath and then feeding the cats. He pulls a plate of food which is all ready to go and sets it on the floor for the cats. He calls the cats who are slow to come and deduces that they are sulking because of his absence.

Aufrène remains on the chair so Mattei goes over and picks her up and sets her on the kitchen floor.

Late in the film this scene is repeated with Mattei coming home to feed his cats, going through pretty much the same routine.

According to the book Melville on Melville, the cats belonged to the director.

Final Mewsings: Would you be anxious to eat food that was sitting in the fridge uncovered for three days?

Many thanks to Eric Bond Hutton for letting us know about these cats and also the trivia about Melville.

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