Sawdust and Tinsel (1953)

Original Title: Gycklarnas afton

Directed by: Ingmar Bergman

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

Synopsis: Albert Johansson (Åke Grönberg) is tired of circus life and tries to reconcile with his successful wife much to the dismay of his lover and fellow circus performer Anne (Harriet Andersson).

Cat Burglar (Scene Stealer): Anne has a beautiful shorthair tuxedo cat which is first seen early in the film when Albert is waking up.

Sawdust and Tinsel - black and white tuxedo cat on bed behind alarm clock

Albert rearranges the blankets over Anne and then pets the cat before going outside the moving circus wagon.

Sawdust and Tinsel - black and white tuxedo cat on bed behind covers

Sawdust and Tinsel - Albert Åke Grönberg petting black and white tuxedo cat on bed

The unnamed cat appears several times inside the couple’s wagon.

Sawdust and Tinsel - Albert Åke Grönberg and Anne Harriet Andersson with black and white tuxedo cat

In one scene Anne is looking at playing cards with the cat on the bed. The cat seems fascinated by something above (a boom mike, perhaps?)

Sawdust and Tinsel - Anne Harriet Andersson on bed with black and white tuxedo cat

When Albert enters, the cat stares at him intensely and somewhat nervously. Albert is clearly angry.

Sawdust and Tinsel - Albert Åke Grönberg and Anne Harriet Andersson on bed with black and white tuxedo cat

After Albert sits down, the camera pushes in and the cat’s attention turns to the approaching machine.

The cat is featured prominently near the end of the film when Albert is contemplating suicide.

Sawdust and Tinsel - black and white tuxedo cat cowering on bed

Sawdust and Tinsel - black and white tuxedo cat cowering on bed animated gif

It isn’t clear how Bergman was able to make the cat look so afraid and concerned, whether someone was scaring the cat actor or simply playing to make it react in such a dramatic fashion.