The Baker's Wife (1938)

Original Title: La femme du boulanger

Directed by: Marcel Pagnol

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

Synopsis: The young wife (Ginette Leclerc) of a town’s new baker (Raimu) runs off with a younger man, leading to gossip and ridicule.

Cat Burglars (Scene Stealers): The baker, Aimable, is showing some of the town’s men his baked goods. The Marquis (Fernand Charpin) suddenly exclaims, “Oh, what a pretty cat! Is it yours?” A black cat is walking by. “Yes, that’s Pompon,” Aimable explains, “A bakery has to have a cat, or the rats will eat up all the profits. Pompon and his mate Pomponette save me at least 20 pounds of flour a day.” He goes on to explain that the female, Pomponette, has been missing for three days. Someone suggests she might end up in someone’s stew and Aimable is appalled at the thought. The Marquis assures him they have enough hares and won’t eat the cat.

The Baker's Wife - black cat Pompon on flour bags

Late in the film the chastened wife, Aurélie, returns to her husband. He seems loving and forgiving. That’s when they both see Pomponette nearby. She looks very much like Pompon but wearing a ribbon (it’s possible the same cat actor was used for both parts since we never see them together).

The Baker's Wife - black cat with ribbon Pomponette walking past flour bags

Aimable starts scolding the cat, calling her a bitch and a slut and shaming her for running out on Pompon, everything he would like to say to his wife but hasn’t. Aurélie understands this all too well.

The Baker's Wife - black cat with ribbon Pomponette walking past Aimable Raimu and Aurélie Ginette Leclerc

Pomponette drinks some milk from a dish. “Look at her,” Aimable says, “She saw poor Pompon’s saucer of milk. That’s why she came back. She was hungry and cold. Go on, drink his milk. It gives him pleasure.”

The Baker's Wife - black cat with ribbon Pomponette drinking from saucer

The role of the cats in shadowing the main story was a prominent part of this film, so much so that a cat is featured on the poster for the movie, as well as Criterion’s release of the film.

The Baker's Wife - movie poster for La femme du boulanger

The Baker's Wife - artwork for Criterion DVD cover

The story was also adapted as a musical stage play, although in one production a stuffed cat sat in for Pomponette since the lead actor was allergic to cats.