Dario Argento does not look fondly upon his second effort as a director. The middle installment of a trilogy that uses animal references in its titles, 'Il gatto a nove code' AKA 'The Cat O' Nine Tails' is admired by giallo enthusiasts but doesn't have Argento's full support.
Argento, the son of an Italian producer, turned heads with his first directorial gig, 'The Bird with the Crystal Plumage,' in 1970. An impressive effort for any first-time director, 'Bird' won critical praise and even topped the American box office for a week. The following year, 30-year-old Argento teamed with screenwriters Dardano Sacchetti and Luigi Collo on 'The Cat O' Nine Tails,' which fits a premise from Bryan Edgar Wallace (the famed novelist's son) into modern-day scientific research.
Like 'Bird,' 'The Cat O' Nine Tails' is far removed from Argento's later projects, including 'Deep Red' and the otherworldly 'Phenomena.' Argento was still working in the crime and slasher genres with formulaic plotting, but also with a great deal of style and competence. Only two films into his directorial career, 'Cat' is evidence of a full-fledged moviemaker who receives strong performances from his cast and assembles a satisfying final product.
As with his debut film, Argento recruited major talent for 'Cat' in James Franciscus ('Beneath the Planet of the Apes') and Academy Award-winner Karl Malden ('A Streetcar Named Desire,' 'Patton'). Franciscus plays Carlo Giordani, a newspaperman who reports on the burglary of a Rome genetics institute geared to wealthy clientele. Though nothing appears to have been stolen, his interest is heightened by the company's secretive ways of doing business and the mysterious death afterwards of a biochemist working in its labs.
Giordani receives unexpected help from Franco Arno (Malden), an ex-reporter who was blinded in an accident several years before and is now using his sense of touch to design word puzzles. Arno and his young niece Lori (future dubbing voice Cinzia De Carolis) have stumbled upon information that may lead to the killer, providing Giordani and Arno can stay alive. While the police run their own investigation, Giordani and Arno use their journalism skills to examine the institute's strange goings-on, chaired by Fulvio Terzi (Tino Carraro) and his alluring daughter Anna (Catherine Spaak).
'Cat' relies a great deal on Argento's 'first-person' techniques, including hand-held camera shots and unusual angles. Very effective are sequences from the killer's point of view, which project feelings of uneasiness and despair in tense situations. Argento also has fun with clichés such as a femme fatale, a car chase, a gay pick-up bar, and of course, a serial killer. Though its dialogue is awkward (at least in English), Cat's screenplay is efficiently written; the story moves at a reliable pace and tosses in moments of humor.
The lead cast plays their roles effectively. Franciscus uses a laid-back approach that makes his character very likable. Malden, who was portraying a blind man for the first time, gives an energetic performance and is matched by an impressive child outing from Cinzia De Carolis. Catherine Spaak, who plays the film's offbeat love interest, makes good use of limited material. The supporting actors are a usual mix ranging from fairly good to very bad; Rada Rassimov and Horst Frank are two names who stand apart.
Argento, who dislikes this film because of its parallels with the American action genre, made 'Cat' his second project with composer Ennio Morricone. Morricone's soundtrack again relies on serial technique, but is even darker and more restrained than his music for 'The Bird with the Crystal Plumage.' Scenes of chaos and suspense are helped once again by Morricone's fertile imagination; the soundtrack plays a key role in heightening emotion without being pushy or intrusive.
'The Cat O' Nine Tails,' a film recommended for thriller fans, was released on DVD by Anchor Bay Entertainment in 2001. Viewers should have a lot of fun with this offering: the film is presented in widescreen (2.35:1 aspect ratio) with Dolby 2.0 audio in Italian, English, and French. The disc has extras galore, including 'Tales Of The Cat,' a 14-minute featurette with Argento, Sacchetti, and Morricone; the U. S. and international theatrical trailers; TV and radio commercials; radio interviews with Franciscus and Malden; and a gallery of posters and stills.
Anchor Bay presents the film with a tidy appearance; colors are distinguishable without being overtly strong, preserving Cat's muted atmosphere by cinematographer Erico Menczer. There are occasional artifacts, but these are usually not noticeable. The English language track, always a problem in international co-productions, acquits itself; dialogue is generally clear, while Foley effects and Morricone's scoring are distinct.
If you don't know very much about Argento or 'The Cat O' Nine Tails,' you certainly will after pouring over the extras. Many aspects of this film are covered in detail, with Franciscus and Malden's interviews especially interesting. I found this DVD as a $1.99 clearance in my local supermarket, which will be our little secret. The disc also circulates on web sites (especially Amazon) and a newer release is available from Blue Underground.
*** out of 4
Roving Reviewer - http://rovingreviewer.blogspot.com
Argento, the son of an Italian producer, turned heads with his first directorial gig, 'The Bird with the Crystal Plumage,' in 1970. An impressive effort for any first-time director, 'Bird' won critical praise and even topped the American box office for a week. The following year, 30-year-old Argento teamed with screenwriters Dardano Sacchetti and Luigi Collo on 'The Cat O' Nine Tails,' which fits a premise from Bryan Edgar Wallace (the famed novelist's son) into modern-day scientific research.
Like 'Bird,' 'The Cat O' Nine Tails' is far removed from Argento's later projects, including 'Deep Red' and the otherworldly 'Phenomena.' Argento was still working in the crime and slasher genres with formulaic plotting, but also with a great deal of style and competence. Only two films into his directorial career, 'Cat' is evidence of a full-fledged moviemaker who receives strong performances from his cast and assembles a satisfying final product.
As with his debut film, Argento recruited major talent for 'Cat' in James Franciscus ('Beneath the Planet of the Apes') and Academy Award-winner Karl Malden ('A Streetcar Named Desire,' 'Patton'). Franciscus plays Carlo Giordani, a newspaperman who reports on the burglary of a Rome genetics institute geared to wealthy clientele. Though nothing appears to have been stolen, his interest is heightened by the company's secretive ways of doing business and the mysterious death afterwards of a biochemist working in its labs.
Giordani receives unexpected help from Franco Arno (Malden), an ex-reporter who was blinded in an accident several years before and is now using his sense of touch to design word puzzles. Arno and his young niece Lori (future dubbing voice Cinzia De Carolis) have stumbled upon information that may lead to the killer, providing Giordani and Arno can stay alive. While the police run their own investigation, Giordani and Arno use their journalism skills to examine the institute's strange goings-on, chaired by Fulvio Terzi (Tino Carraro) and his alluring daughter Anna (Catherine Spaak).
'Cat' relies a great deal on Argento's 'first-person' techniques, including hand-held camera shots and unusual angles. Very effective are sequences from the killer's point of view, which project feelings of uneasiness and despair in tense situations. Argento also has fun with clichés such as a femme fatale, a car chase, a gay pick-up bar, and of course, a serial killer. Though its dialogue is awkward (at least in English), Cat's screenplay is efficiently written; the story moves at a reliable pace and tosses in moments of humor.
The lead cast plays their roles effectively. Franciscus uses a laid-back approach that makes his character very likable. Malden, who was portraying a blind man for the first time, gives an energetic performance and is matched by an impressive child outing from Cinzia De Carolis. Catherine Spaak, who plays the film's offbeat love interest, makes good use of limited material. The supporting actors are a usual mix ranging from fairly good to very bad; Rada Rassimov and Horst Frank are two names who stand apart.
Argento, who dislikes this film because of its parallels with the American action genre, made 'Cat' his second project with composer Ennio Morricone. Morricone's soundtrack again relies on serial technique, but is even darker and more restrained than his music for 'The Bird with the Crystal Plumage.' Scenes of chaos and suspense are helped once again by Morricone's fertile imagination; the soundtrack plays a key role in heightening emotion without being pushy or intrusive.
'The Cat O' Nine Tails,' a film recommended for thriller fans, was released on DVD by Anchor Bay Entertainment in 2001. Viewers should have a lot of fun with this offering: the film is presented in widescreen (2.35:1 aspect ratio) with Dolby 2.0 audio in Italian, English, and French. The disc has extras galore, including 'Tales Of The Cat,' a 14-minute featurette with Argento, Sacchetti, and Morricone; the U. S. and international theatrical trailers; TV and radio commercials; radio interviews with Franciscus and Malden; and a gallery of posters and stills.
Anchor Bay presents the film with a tidy appearance; colors are distinguishable without being overtly strong, preserving Cat's muted atmosphere by cinematographer Erico Menczer. There are occasional artifacts, but these are usually not noticeable. The English language track, always a problem in international co-productions, acquits itself; dialogue is generally clear, while Foley effects and Morricone's scoring are distinct.
If you don't know very much about Argento or 'The Cat O' Nine Tails,' you certainly will after pouring over the extras. Many aspects of this film are covered in detail, with Franciscus and Malden's interviews especially interesting. I found this DVD as a $1.99 clearance in my local supermarket, which will be our little secret. The disc also circulates on web sites (especially Amazon) and a newer release is available from Blue Underground.
*** out of 4
Roving Reviewer - http://rovingreviewer.blogspot.com