by Mark Murton

Original Title: Il Terzo Occhio

Directed by: Mino Guerrini

Synopsis: Count Mino Alberti (Franco Nero), who lives in an old manor with his domineering mother (Olga Solbelli), spirals into madness after first she and then his fiancée die under mysterious circumstances in quick succession.

Cat Burglar (Scene Stealer): In the film’s opening scene Mino’s mother is sitting with a white kitten on her lap as the maid (Gioia Pascal) brings her tea.

As she drinks the tea, the kitten tries to wriggle free from her grasp.

Mino’s mother makes clear her displeasure at her son’s impending marriage before skulking off.

In a later scene Mino’s mother is sitting in an armchair with the cat on her lap.

Mino enters and she drops the cat to the floor as he greets her.

The cat sits happily on the floor where it has landed as Mino and his mother have a conversation. At one point Mino turns around and nearly swipes the kitten with his feet.

Stuffed Cat: The kitten isn’t seen again, but when we see Mino’s taxidermy collection which consists mostly of stuffed birds, prominent amongst them is a white cat.

Final Mewsings: Even kittens don’t appreciate clinging mothers!

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