by Mark Murton

Directed by: Paul Mazursky

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

Synopsis: In this loose adaptation of Shakespeare’s The Tempest, successful New York architect Phillip Dimitrius (John Cassavetes) is undergoing a mid-life crisis when he discovers his wife Antonia (Gena Rowlands) is having an affair. He takes their daughter Miranda (Molly Ringwald) away to Greece where he begins a fling with local nightclub singer Aretha Tomalin (Susan Sarandon) and the trio move to an isolated island where Philip hopes to bring meaning back to his life.

Cat Burglar (Scene Stealer): Philip is on the roof of their New York apartment building peering through his telescope when Miranda approaches carrying their calico tabby cat.

She pets the cat as they talk before letting the kitty slip gently from her arms down to the ground and out of shot. At the end of the scene they go back inside.

Back in the apartment Philip is trying to explain to Antonia why he wants “to quit,” telling her everything bores him until he turns his attention to the cat which is sitting on the sofa minding its own business.

“I hate this cat,” starts Philip. “I hate its whiskers; I don’t like its eyes,” before addressing himself directly to the cat. “I don’t like your face, you understand cat?” He finishes with, “I hate cats with your god-damn fleas!”

Later, the cat is siting in an armchair as a storm starts to rage outside and Philip goes to the window to watch.

The cat is less sure about the storm and watches nervously until a loud crash of thunder and lightening sends her scurrying from the room (and the film, as she isn’t seen again, although later Antonia informs Philip the cat is pregnant).

Final Mewsings: Anyone who declares they hate cats should be banished to an isolated island.

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