Independent Artists
Starring: Peter Sellers, Dany Robin, John Fraser
Directed by: John Guillermin

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

Synopsis: Lothario General Leo Fitzjohn (Peter Sellers) finds himself retired from military life and facing a dreary existence at his country estate with his shrewish wife and two daughters, that is until his French dalliance Ghislaine (Dany Robin) turns up unexpectedly.

Kitty Cameo: Things come to a head at Fitzjohn’s estate when his wife runs off to committ suicide and Ghislaine hesitatingly does the same thing.  Ghislaine is “rescued” by the innocent Lt. Robert Finch (John Fraser) who is smitten with her.  Recuperating in a room, Ghislaine is being attended to by Dr. Grogan (Cyril Cusack).  There is a black cat lying on the bed with her and she is petting it roughly, as she is angry.

When General Fitzjohn checks on them he sees the cat and says, “There’s a damn moggy on the bed.”  Moggy is a British slang term for a mongrel or stray cat.

Later Lt. Finch sneaks into the room to see Ghislaine and finds her sleepy, having been given a draught.  She reaches for him.  Lt. Finch falls across the bed, knocking the cat off.

When General Fitzjohn returns, Lt. Finch hides under the bed.  The black cat starts licking his foot, causing him to need to stifle a laugh.  Eventually Lt. Finch kicks his way out from under the bed (kicking the cat away as he does) and sneaks out of the room unseen.

Final Mewsings: Don’t kick the cat that licks you.

Relevant Links:

To discuss this film and other cats in movies and on television, join us on
Facebook and Twitter.