Okay, most critics even Argento lovers give this film poor reviews. I admit this is not his best work, but it's not a bad mystery Giallo film and I enjoyed it a lot. From the intricate plotting, to the impressive Argento style camera-work, and those trendy (circa 1971) sets this film is a winner. I saw this at the theater when it was released, as a teenager coming off seeing Bird W/ The Crystal Plumage 2 years before so I expected at least another stylish horror film. I got it black patent leather gloves and all. Argento himself said this is his most disappointing film. I disagree it delivered the goods in a well made, suspenseful, well plotted, never boring and good looking package. His worst film by far is the atrocious Phantom of The Opera (1998). Avoid that one. Although Cat O' Nine tails is no Suspiria or Deep Red, it still is a worthy addition to any Argento or Giallo horror film collection. I give it 8/10.
103 Reviews
More twisty, less violent Argento...
tim-764-29185612 July 2012
I saw this on The Horror Channel.
Having seen a few Dario Argento horror flicks on this channel now, I would dare say that Cat O' Nine Tails is the most restrained, at least in the gore/violence stakes, of those I've watched. There are moments of extreme but swift, clever nasty bits, though.
I guess you'll be watching this cos it is by this so-influential 'Italian Hitchcock' maestro rather than for its story, but having said that, it's decently far-fetched enough but with enough relevance to paranoia around government testing of miracle drugs and all that...
It looked to me to have been made in English, rather than dubbed, or could just that the brilliant, understated performance by Karl Malden was and everyone else were dubbed after. He plays a blind, retired journalist, who has a young orphaned girl as his visual aide and along with a current newspaper reporter,(James Franciscus) they uncover all these secrets after a man, they suspect, was pushed under a train, rather than falling and then, other murders.
I'm no expert on the horror genre but would dare say that this still has signs of the director's visual stylish daring, but is less operatic than some of his, being more workmanlike and 'American'. It still works well, but is more akin to a crime thriller than out-and-out horror, though we do get moments of terror and suspense and the odd twist in the tale.
This might be a lesser Argento (number of reviews and score on IMDb) but is still a heap better than many Hollywood affairs but somehow, doesn't have that magic ingredient that his best movies have. Quite good, but not great.
Having seen a few Dario Argento horror flicks on this channel now, I would dare say that Cat O' Nine Tails is the most restrained, at least in the gore/violence stakes, of those I've watched. There are moments of extreme but swift, clever nasty bits, though.
I guess you'll be watching this cos it is by this so-influential 'Italian Hitchcock' maestro rather than for its story, but having said that, it's decently far-fetched enough but with enough relevance to paranoia around government testing of miracle drugs and all that...
It looked to me to have been made in English, rather than dubbed, or could just that the brilliant, understated performance by Karl Malden was and everyone else were dubbed after. He plays a blind, retired journalist, who has a young orphaned girl as his visual aide and along with a current newspaper reporter,(James Franciscus) they uncover all these secrets after a man, they suspect, was pushed under a train, rather than falling and then, other murders.
I'm no expert on the horror genre but would dare say that this still has signs of the director's visual stylish daring, but is less operatic than some of his, being more workmanlike and 'American'. It still works well, but is more akin to a crime thriller than out-and-out horror, though we do get moments of terror and suspense and the odd twist in the tale.
This might be a lesser Argento (number of reviews and score on IMDb) but is still a heap better than many Hollywood affairs but somehow, doesn't have that magic ingredient that his best movies have. Quite good, but not great.
None so blind
petra_ste29 July 2014
Warning: Spoilers
Ranking among Argento's best movies, The Cat O'Nine Tails is a compelling giallo with solid writing and two strong leading performances.
A fine James Franciscus is the conventional Argento protagonist; more interesting is the blind amateur sleuth played by a magnificent Karl Malden. A vamped-up Catherine Spaak, who was memorable as Gassman's daughter in Il Sorpasso, isn't quite as good as the femme fatale.
Neither as creepy as Profondo Rosso nor as stylish as Suspiria, The Cat O'Nine Tails distinguishes itself among Argento's thrillers for its writing, with more care put into dialogues and secondary characters, and an unusually complicated plot.
Argento, a huge Hitchcock fan, homages the British director with a sequence involving a poisoned glass of milk (Suspicion).
7/10
A fine James Franciscus is the conventional Argento protagonist; more interesting is the blind amateur sleuth played by a magnificent Karl Malden. A vamped-up Catherine Spaak, who was memorable as Gassman's daughter in Il Sorpasso, isn't quite as good as the femme fatale.
Neither as creepy as Profondo Rosso nor as stylish as Suspiria, The Cat O'Nine Tails distinguishes itself among Argento's thrillers for its writing, with more care put into dialogues and secondary characters, and an unusually complicated plot.
Argento, a huge Hitchcock fan, homages the British director with a sequence involving a poisoned glass of milk (Suspicion).
7/10
Sixth Sense and Nine Avenues.
hitchcockthelegend2 November 2013
Il gatto a nove code (The Cat O' Nine Tails) is written and directed by Dario Argento. It stars Karl Malden, James Franciscus, Catherine Spaak, Horst Frank, Aldo Reggiani, Carlo Alighiero and Rada Rassimov. Music is by Ennio Morricone and cinematography by Erico Menczer.
Blind puzzle solver Franco Arno (Malden) and newspaper man Carlo Giordani (Franciscus) team up to see if they can solve the mystery of the murders that are terrifying the city. With their own lives becoming increasingly in danger, and the lines of investigation splintered all over the place, the men are drawn to the mysterious Terzi Institute where geneticists are tampering with gene patterns
Argento doesn't like it and the fans are very much divided about the worth of it on the Argento curriculum vitae, yet The Cat O' Nine Tails is a delightfully entertaining oddity.
The plot is labyrinthine with relish on top, spinning the viewers into the same convoluted investigative maze that Messrs Arno and Giordani find themselves in. In fact, it's near genius that it rarely makes sense under inspection, yet still there's a fascinating edge to the story, with its characterisations, sexual kinks and cruel murders, there's a power to the piece that rewards if you can just run with it, buy into Argento's Giallo singed world.
With Malden turning in a great performance and Franciscus performing to a level nobody thought was in him, the lead characters really come to life. Add to that Morricone's creepy jazzy-garde fuelled score underlining the skew-whiff nature of the beast, and Menczer's photography tonally muted, tech credits are at one with the themes ticking away in the narrative, a narrative that has observation, ironically, on vision, sight and minds eye. While there's a couple of rug-pulls jostling for our attention just to keep things twisty.
Then there is the director himself. The Cat O' Nine Tails finds him restrained compared to the excess of style over substance films that would dominate his oeuvre post release of The Cat. That's not to say there isn't style here, there's plenty as Argento dallies in POV, iris vision, and a nifty trick that gives the blind Arno "sight", further ensuring that the supposed handicapped character is the key player and potential saviour of all. A number of scenes are bursting at the seams with suspense, with a cemetery/mausoleum sequence top draw, for sure Argento is firmly getting in his stride here.
It's not a gore movie, something which I personally think has led to some of Argento's fans giving the film the cold shoulder, but it's the tale (or tails of course) and characterisations that hold it up as being under valued. It's a Giallo whodunit flecked with sexual stings and no little amount style draped all over it. 7/10
Blind puzzle solver Franco Arno (Malden) and newspaper man Carlo Giordani (Franciscus) team up to see if they can solve the mystery of the murders that are terrifying the city. With their own lives becoming increasingly in danger, and the lines of investigation splintered all over the place, the men are drawn to the mysterious Terzi Institute where geneticists are tampering with gene patterns
Argento doesn't like it and the fans are very much divided about the worth of it on the Argento curriculum vitae, yet The Cat O' Nine Tails is a delightfully entertaining oddity.
The plot is labyrinthine with relish on top, spinning the viewers into the same convoluted investigative maze that Messrs Arno and Giordani find themselves in. In fact, it's near genius that it rarely makes sense under inspection, yet still there's a fascinating edge to the story, with its characterisations, sexual kinks and cruel murders, there's a power to the piece that rewards if you can just run with it, buy into Argento's Giallo singed world.
With Malden turning in a great performance and Franciscus performing to a level nobody thought was in him, the lead characters really come to life. Add to that Morricone's creepy jazzy-garde fuelled score underlining the skew-whiff nature of the beast, and Menczer's photography tonally muted, tech credits are at one with the themes ticking away in the narrative, a narrative that has observation, ironically, on vision, sight and minds eye. While there's a couple of rug-pulls jostling for our attention just to keep things twisty.
Then there is the director himself. The Cat O' Nine Tails finds him restrained compared to the excess of style over substance films that would dominate his oeuvre post release of The Cat. That's not to say there isn't style here, there's plenty as Argento dallies in POV, iris vision, and a nifty trick that gives the blind Arno "sight", further ensuring that the supposed handicapped character is the key player and potential saviour of all. A number of scenes are bursting at the seams with suspense, with a cemetery/mausoleum sequence top draw, for sure Argento is firmly getting in his stride here.
It's not a gore movie, something which I personally think has led to some of Argento's fans giving the film the cold shoulder, but it's the tale (or tails of course) and characterisations that hold it up as being under valued. It's a Giallo whodunit flecked with sexual stings and no little amount style draped all over it. 7/10
Good but not excellent
michelerealini8 November 2004
The second Dario Argento movie is one of his classics, although not as excellent as "L'uccello dalle piume di cristallo". Also here there's everything you expect from an Argento picture -an extremely well directed thriller, exciting shots and a very good editing.
The story is original, but at the end everything seems a little... thrown away, it seems that Dario was in a hurry to finish and the terrible truth at the end has something wasted. A journalist and a blind man investigate about a series of murders -as it happens in many Argento films. Their research focuses on a medical institute, which is developing a medicine for curing criminal instincts.
James Franciscus, the leading man, is too American and too handsome for being a credible Italian journalist. And the scene in the crypt is highly improbable -Franciscus penetrates a crypt in order to look for a necklace...
Good points are the shots -subjective shots-, in which the spectator can follow the action with the assassin eyes. Good cinematography, exciting soundtrack of Ennio Morricone and excellent presence of Karl Malden -he acts very well the role of the blind man.
If "L'uccello dalle piume di cristallo" deserves 9 out of 10, "Il gatto a nove code" deserves "only" 7 out of 10.
The story is original, but at the end everything seems a little... thrown away, it seems that Dario was in a hurry to finish and the terrible truth at the end has something wasted. A journalist and a blind man investigate about a series of murders -as it happens in many Argento films. Their research focuses on a medical institute, which is developing a medicine for curing criminal instincts.
James Franciscus, the leading man, is too American and too handsome for being a credible Italian journalist. And the scene in the crypt is highly improbable -Franciscus penetrates a crypt in order to look for a necklace...
Good points are the shots -subjective shots-, in which the spectator can follow the action with the assassin eyes. Good cinematography, exciting soundtrack of Ennio Morricone and excellent presence of Karl Malden -he acts very well the role of the blind man.
If "L'uccello dalle piume di cristallo" deserves 9 out of 10, "Il gatto a nove code" deserves "only" 7 out of 10.
A solid murder mystery.
Nightman8511 May 2006
The second film from the great Dario Argento, following his excellent depute film Bird with the Crystal Plumage (1970), is a lengthy but enjoyable thriller.
Reporter joins with a blind old man (and former-reporter) to solve the mystery of why someone is killing people involved with genetic research.
While granted Cat O' Nine Tails doesn't rank with Argento's earlier film (or his later ones for that matter) it is still an atmospheric and well-made giallo thriller that is worth a look. The mystery is a well-mounted one with some nice twists to be had. The roof-top climax and shocking conclusion is quite worth the wait as well! The direction is sleek and the music score of Ennio Morricone is beautiful.
Cast-wise the film is good as well, James Franciscus and Karl Malden steal the show though as an unlikely pair of investigators.
Most people don't rate this film as one of Argento's best, even Argento himself declares it his least favorite film, but Cat O' Nine Tails still deserves to be seen - if only by Argento fans.
*** out of ****
Reporter joins with a blind old man (and former-reporter) to solve the mystery of why someone is killing people involved with genetic research.
While granted Cat O' Nine Tails doesn't rank with Argento's earlier film (or his later ones for that matter) it is still an atmospheric and well-made giallo thriller that is worth a look. The mystery is a well-mounted one with some nice twists to be had. The roof-top climax and shocking conclusion is quite worth the wait as well! The direction is sleek and the music score of Ennio Morricone is beautiful.
Cast-wise the film is good as well, James Franciscus and Karl Malden steal the show though as an unlikely pair of investigators.
Most people don't rate this film as one of Argento's best, even Argento himself declares it his least favorite film, but Cat O' Nine Tails still deserves to be seen - if only by Argento fans.
*** out of ****
Not my favourite Argento but still worthwhile
Mother_of_Tears26 January 2007
Dario Argento has gone on record as saying that The Cat o' Nine Tails is his least favourite of all his own work. I was a bit surprised to hear that, although I must agree it's a flawed film. It's worth noting that, while it's generally regarded as something of a minor early work among his filmography, in his native Italy it remains his most popular video rental.
The Cat o' Nine Tails is a murder mystery thriller that strays far closer to classic Hitchcock and Agatha Christie than to Argento's own later works which focused heavily on extreme violence and/or the supernatural. While the "Ten Little Indians"-style whodunit plot has some clever, interesting twists and turns to keep you guessing, I did feel that Argento got rather bogged down in the mechanics of his plot at times. Also, at 112 minutes it's one of the only Argento films that slightly outstays its welcome.
Karl Malden is excellent as Arno, the blind crossword puzzle designer. I enjoyed his charming interaction with both his little niece Lori and sleazy investigative journalist James Franco. There's one strikingly tense set piece where Franco is trapped in a dark crypt. The film also has an amiably jaunty comic tone in places. Perhaps my favourite feature of the whole movie was the excellent musical score of Ennio Morricone. A jazzy prog-rock soundtrack that mixes bass, percussion and trumpets, it's probably the coolest, grooviest music in any Argento film before he began collaborating with soundtrack maestros Goblin.
All in all, The Cat o' Nine Tails is for me not quite as lively, memorable or inspired as Argento's strongest work, but it's still an entertaining and clever thriller that's well worth a look.
The Cat o' Nine Tails is a murder mystery thriller that strays far closer to classic Hitchcock and Agatha Christie than to Argento's own later works which focused heavily on extreme violence and/or the supernatural. While the "Ten Little Indians"-style whodunit plot has some clever, interesting twists and turns to keep you guessing, I did feel that Argento got rather bogged down in the mechanics of his plot at times. Also, at 112 minutes it's one of the only Argento films that slightly outstays its welcome.
Karl Malden is excellent as Arno, the blind crossword puzzle designer. I enjoyed his charming interaction with both his little niece Lori and sleazy investigative journalist James Franco. There's one strikingly tense set piece where Franco is trapped in a dark crypt. The film also has an amiably jaunty comic tone in places. Perhaps my favourite feature of the whole movie was the excellent musical score of Ennio Morricone. A jazzy prog-rock soundtrack that mixes bass, percussion and trumpets, it's probably the coolest, grooviest music in any Argento film before he began collaborating with soundtrack maestros Goblin.
All in all, The Cat o' Nine Tails is for me not quite as lively, memorable or inspired as Argento's strongest work, but it's still an entertaining and clever thriller that's well worth a look.
Argento hits his giallo stride
paul_johnr21 January 2010
Warning: Spoilers
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
Underrated Argento!
Mario778 July 2001
I personally love this movie and I'm a shameless admirer of Dario Argento, so take my comments as worth a grain of salt. Sure, "Cat O' Nine Tails" (1971) is not an Argento "masterpiece" (depending what one's criteria are) and is certainly not a perfect film, but the "good stuff" in this baby just outweighs whatever it's faults may be, as far as I'm concerned. It's beautifully photographed (as usual) and makes lovely use of the widescreen filmscape, it has a great Ennio Morricone musical score and it really displays the first true signs of Argento's unique "ultra-style" and technique for which he is now so beloved. There are some gorgeous set pieces here and some truly striking sequences (the cemetery scene and the car chase are my two particular favorites). The film is filled with typically Argento-esque odd, eccentric characters and bit players and the atmosphere created is one of true unease and hidden perversion. Karl Malden is terribly sweet and thoroughly convincing as the blind man Arno and James Franciscus is handsome and cool (almost too cool) as the reporter with whom he collaborates. I think Catherine Spaak makes a great leading lady with her aloof beauty and non-acting presence. She, to me, represents the kind of female character that Hitchcock was so good at bringing out of his actresses; she is a virtual blank slate upon which the director (in this case Argento) projects what he wants. This being Argento's second film as director, it's perhaps true that he does not achieve the delirious highs and awe inspiring beauty of some of his later films. But on the flip side, "Cat O' Nine Tails" is exceedingly better than so many other 'giallo' films of that era or any era. Definitely a must for any Argento fan and, I think, a good recommendation for anyone looking for a unusual Euro-Horror-Thriller.
Nine Leads to Follow
claudio_carvalho5 August 2009
The former journalist Franco Arno (Karl Malden) is a retired blind man that likes crosswords and lives with his orphan niece Lori (Cinzia De Carolis) nearby the Terzi Institute. While walking with Lori on the street, he overhears a strange conversation of two men in a car parked in front of the institute and he asks Lori to watch their faces. In the same night, there is a break in the institute with an attempt of heist. On the next morning, the researcher Dr. Calabresi (Carlo Alighiero) dies in the train station and the police believe that it was an accident. However, Lori recognizes the picture of the scientist in the newspaper as one of the men in the car. Franco contacts the snoopy reporter Carlo Giordano (James Franciscus) and asks him to blow up the picture and examine the details. The photographer discovers that Dr. Calabresi was pushed off from the platform but he is also killed and the photograph vanishes. After their preliminary investigation, they find that the scientists are researching a revolutionary drug and a genetic experiment of XYY chromosomes associated to delinquency for the government and they conclude that there are nine leads to be followed: each of the five assistants of the institute (Dr. Calabresi; Dr. Esson; Dr. Mobelli; Dr. Casoni; and the gay Dr. Braun); the stepdaughter of Prof. Fulvio Terzi, Anna Terzi; the fiancée of Dr. Calabresi, Bianca Merusi; the missing photograph; and the robbery of the institute.
The suspenseful "Il Gatto a Nove Code" is the second film in the career of the director Dario Argento and despite the flaws, it is an entertaining conventional thriller. The association of Giordano with Arno is implausible; the unethical way that Giordano works, breaking in the residences is unacceptable for an experienced reporter; the one night stand of Giordano and Anna has no chemistry or eroticism; the car race of Anna is pointless; the edition of the accident of Dr. Calabresi is poor. But there are good moments, like the angles of camera in the stairways, or when Giordano brings two glasses of milk toward Anna. The deduction of Arno that Bianca has hiding the note in the watch in the necklace is unconvincing. My vote is seven.
Title (Brazil) "O Gato de Nove Caudas" ("The Cat of Nine Tails")
Note: On 12 March 2016 I saw this film again.
The suspenseful "Il Gatto a Nove Code" is the second film in the career of the director Dario Argento and despite the flaws, it is an entertaining conventional thriller. The association of Giordano with Arno is implausible; the unethical way that Giordano works, breaking in the residences is unacceptable for an experienced reporter; the one night stand of Giordano and Anna has no chemistry or eroticism; the car race of Anna is pointless; the edition of the accident of Dr. Calabresi is poor. But there are good moments, like the angles of camera in the stairways, or when Giordano brings two glasses of milk toward Anna. The deduction of Arno that Bianca has hiding the note in the watch in the necklace is unconvincing. My vote is seven.
Title (Brazil) "O Gato de Nove Caudas" ("The Cat of Nine Tails")
Note: On 12 March 2016 I saw this film again.
No clues but in the end you are told who the murderer is
Angel_Peter14 July 2019
I did think the start of the movie was promising, but as it moved on I did not really connect with any of the characters. The story moved on. But you did not get any hint about who and why the murders was really happening. As the end of the movie came closer I felt it had outstayed its welcome and had failed to keep me interested. Actually I did not care who the murderer was in the end.
Do not look for anything like great acting here or a great mystery. But you will see a few brutal killings, not knowing why they happen except for keeping the murderer secret. Those killings are not enough to satisfy those that see it for those reasons though I assume. So watch another movie. Maybe like "The Bird with the Crystal Plumage" by the same director and a far better movie.
Do not look for anything like great acting here or a great mystery. But you will see a few brutal killings, not knowing why they happen except for keeping the murderer secret. Those killings are not enough to satisfy those that see it for those reasons though I assume. So watch another movie. Maybe like "The Bird with the Crystal Plumage" by the same director and a far better movie.
The only problem with this movie is that it's a Dario Argento film
Maciste_Brother28 October 2003
When fans of Dario Argento watch his films, they expect to see certain things: violence, amazing camera-work, violence, crazy story-lines, violence towards women, etc. And that's the main problem with CAT O' NINE TAILS: it doesn't deliver those things fans of Argento expect to see. If you take Argento's name off of this film's credit, I'm sure a lot of people would consider it great but because it's sorta thrifty when it comes to the usual Argento ingredients, too many have dismissed it as being average. Most of the on-screen killings are strangulations. I'm sure many fans of Argento were disappointed with this. And most of the people killed are men, which probably also disappointed fateful Argento fans, accustomed to seeing the director murdering women in spectacular ways.
Compared to other non-Argento Gialli, CAT O' NINE TAILS is excellent. For example, it is much better than DELERIUM, SOLANGE, TORSO, THE CASE OF THE BLOODY IRIS and slew of other average or mediocre gialli out there. It's a shame this movie is a Dario Argento film because it is completely overlooked as a great giallo.
With that said, the film still has some weaknesses. It's all over the place. One minute, it's a mystery. The next, it's a racing movie. Then it suddenly becomes a romance story, etc. The lack of focus in the direction and the script is evident throughout the movie. In comparison, THE BIRD WITH THE CRYSTAL PLUMAGE was much more focused that this second movie in Dario's animal trilogy. The characters' motivations are also murky and muddled. The relationship between handsome Franciscus and not-so handsome Malden is fun if not really convincing. There's simply very little background information about those two characters, certainly James Franciscus' character, who is as one dimensional as humanly possible. But the acting is better than most Argento films and what's lacking in details in the characters is compensated by the excellent cast. The little girl was really good. The comedic bits, like the barber shop scene or when Franciscus decides to wear a raincoat after making love (?!?!) fell flat with a big thud. But the film's story-line IS interesting, if implausible. The feel and look of the film is dream-like and the music is excellent. Even if CAT O' NINE TAILS doesn't have as many signature Argento scenes as his other famous films, there are a couple of stand-out moments or shots peppered throughout which makes this worthwhile viewing. And there's actually an ending to this Dario Argento film.
All in all, I think CAT O' NINE TAILS is totally memorable. It is much better than the crap Argento has been making these days. And like I've said above, it is much better than most non-Argento gialli made in those days. So, the only thing wrong with this great film is that it's a Dario Argento film.
Compared to other non-Argento Gialli, CAT O' NINE TAILS is excellent. For example, it is much better than DELERIUM, SOLANGE, TORSO, THE CASE OF THE BLOODY IRIS and slew of other average or mediocre gialli out there. It's a shame this movie is a Dario Argento film because it is completely overlooked as a great giallo.
With that said, the film still has some weaknesses. It's all over the place. One minute, it's a mystery. The next, it's a racing movie. Then it suddenly becomes a romance story, etc. The lack of focus in the direction and the script is evident throughout the movie. In comparison, THE BIRD WITH THE CRYSTAL PLUMAGE was much more focused that this second movie in Dario's animal trilogy. The characters' motivations are also murky and muddled. The relationship between handsome Franciscus and not-so handsome Malden is fun if not really convincing. There's simply very little background information about those two characters, certainly James Franciscus' character, who is as one dimensional as humanly possible. But the acting is better than most Argento films and what's lacking in details in the characters is compensated by the excellent cast. The little girl was really good. The comedic bits, like the barber shop scene or when Franciscus decides to wear a raincoat after making love (?!?!) fell flat with a big thud. But the film's story-line IS interesting, if implausible. The feel and look of the film is dream-like and the music is excellent. Even if CAT O' NINE TAILS doesn't have as many signature Argento scenes as his other famous films, there are a couple of stand-out moments or shots peppered throughout which makes this worthwhile viewing. And there's actually an ending to this Dario Argento film.
All in all, I think CAT O' NINE TAILS is totally memorable. It is much better than the crap Argento has been making these days. And like I've said above, it is much better than most non-Argento gialli made in those days. So, the only thing wrong with this great film is that it's a Dario Argento film.
well worth watching
Thorsten-Krings3 February 2009
You have to baer in mind that Argento was in 1979 not the accomlished film maker he is today. So naturally The Cat of Nine Tails is bound to be seen critical in comparison to his alter work. But unless we are Wunderkinder all of us learn from our mistakes. One of the main issues about the film is that it is just too long. I caught myself losing interest in the story every 15 minutes or so only to be drawn back into it violently. Visually the film is well made with some great scenes which really show promise. There is a great late night scene at the cemetery for example, the murders are well executed (no pun intended) and he also does some great work with eyes as symbols (Blind hero, killer's eyes) although he doesn't pull it off completely from my point of view.There are a lot of good elements but you can see that he is still developing at that point in his career. The cast is great: ultra-cool James Franciscus, ultra-sexy Cathrine Spaak and Karl Malden in an exquisite performance as blind ex-journalist. All in all, it's a film well wort watching.
"I like solving puzzles".
lost-in-limbo5 August 2011
Early, minor Dario Argento giallo (his second directorial feature after the 1970 debut "The Bird with the Crystal Plumage") that's professionally crafted with interesting visuals (with a couple memorable death set-pieces), dazzling techniques and convulsive camera-work (stalking POV shots), but the well-dressed mechanics doesn't translate to its insipidly commonplace storytelling of murder and espionage. One night while walking down a street, Franco Arno a blind man with his niece overhears a conversation between two men sitting in a car in front of a medical institute that specialises in genetic experiments. That same night, a security guard is murdered at the research institute. So Arno who was an ex-newspaper reporter before being blinded decides to investigate along with the aid of reporter Carlo. What made it gripping are the good tailored performances of the cast. Karl Malden and James Franciscus hold their own as the leads, serving up a workable combination. Also Catherine Spaak's beautiful presence lights up every scene she's in. Solid turns by Horst Frank, Pier Paolo Capponi and an amusing Ugo Fangareggi. The sombre plot throws around its leads, detailing events, providing evasive characters or keeping things behind closed doors to only end up rather contrived with its revelation. However it's Argento's handling that sets-up the stinging suspense along with that harmoniously, bone rattling music score than say its unconvincingly snooping material.
"Isn't there something fishy in all our lives?"
"Isn't there something fishy in all our lives?"
Argento's most underrated movie.
Infofreak3 March 2002
I expected the worst from 'The Cat O'Nine Tales' because of its generally poor critical standing, but was pleasantly surprised by this intriguing and effective murder mystery. I must point out that I watched the uncut, undubbed original Italian version. I think this might be a factor in my reaction to it. I'm assuming that the American version is botched and that is the version most people have seen.
This movie isn't as flamboyant and eccentric as most of Argento's later work. The plot, though convoluted at times, actually makes sense, and there is a bit more character development that you normally expect. As much as I enjoy Argento's later surrealism he sometimes just goes too far e.g. the messy and downright silly 'Phenomena'. This movie is more controlled and conventional but still features some spectacular murders and has enough Argento touches to make it an above average giallo thriller. A very good, suspenseful mystery that holds the interest until the last (very memorable) sequence. Argento fans shouldn't overlook this one!
This movie isn't as flamboyant and eccentric as most of Argento's later work. The plot, though convoluted at times, actually makes sense, and there is a bit more character development that you normally expect. As much as I enjoy Argento's later surrealism he sometimes just goes too far e.g. the messy and downright silly 'Phenomena'. This movie is more controlled and conventional but still features some spectacular murders and has enough Argento touches to make it an above average giallo thriller. A very good, suspenseful mystery that holds the interest until the last (very memorable) sequence. Argento fans shouldn't overlook this one!
Comes Together Pretty Well
Hitchcoc14 November 2006
This is a pretty good suspense thriller. It is set up well with the blind Karl Malden and his little niece, minding their own business, soon to be embroiled in a series of murders. The reason is not known but the plot is picked up by a reporter played by James Franciscus. There are a series of twists and turns. Malden, does a nice job playing the blind man although his abilities seem a little more than is normally fathomable. The two men forge a relationship in hopes of finding, first, why the murders were being committed, then who the killer was. There are sidetracks and red herrings along the way. A mob like figure seems to be withholding information. There is the Sophia Loren look-alike. She serves more as a distraction. But, to be honest, she is what she is. There are so many avenues to explore. Some scientific research into predisposition to violence is at the center of everything. The conclusion is pretty satisfying. If there is a major criticism, it is about half and hour too long. Some good editing could have helped. But, still, it works very well, is pleasant to look at, and has plenty of excitement to keep ones attention .
Snappy giallo in Argento's "Animal Trilogy"
moonspinner5530 September 2017
Delivered in-between the far-superior "The Bird with the Crystal Plumage" and "Four Flies on Grey Velvet", this Dario Argento murder-mystery doesn't quite rise to those heights--and Argento himself was dismissive of it--but there's still a great deal to treasure here. Karl Malden is terrific as an ex-newspaperman man and puzzle-lover, blinded 15 years ago in an accident and living with his orphaned niece, who partners with reporter James Franciscus in a case involving a break-in at a forensic science institute wherein the burglar assaulted the night watchman but didn't take anything. Soon, a doctor at the institute is killed in a mysterious 'accident' involving a train, followed by the photographer who snapped a picture of the man's death--revealing that it was indeed a murder. Argento also had a hand in the original story and co-authored the screenplay with Bryan Edgar Wallace; he gives us fully-rounded characters with lives outside their jobs, including their extracurricular activities, their acquaintances, their sexual proclivities (including a stop at a gay bar that must have been eyebrow-raising in 1971). If his pacing is sometimes slow, it is deliberate, careful. He loves mounting his narrative with as much minutiae as he can stuff into a frame, although he may give viewers too much time to rethink the scenario and find faults with his plotting (on the crowded train platform, did no one notice the killer?). Argento-buffs probably won't mind the flaws, of course, and with that boffo finale you can hardly blame them. **1/2 from ****
A gory killing mystery by the great Dario Argento
ma-cortes21 December 2005
A blind and retired old detective (Karl Malden) who lives with his orphan niece and an attractive newsman (James Franciscus) team up to resolve a series of murders related with a medical laboratory where make genetical experiments with the chromosome in a secret research project . They try to solve a series of killings connected to a pharmaceutical company's experimental , top-secret research projects and in so doing, both become targets of the murderer . Both of whom decide to investigate it, but various brutal killings happen and appearing as prime suspects some doctors (Horst Frank , Aldo Reggniani) . Meanwhile , the journalist falls in love for a beautiful young (Catherine Spaak), the doctor's daughter . From the master of terror who gave you The Bird with Crystal Plumage! It is nine times more suspenseful !. Step into the Cult Arena!. Caught beween the truth and a murderer's hand! The picture that out-psyched "Psycho"!.
The film has suspense , tension , mystery, intrigue and being a very exciting terror-thriller . The picture is a Giallo , sub-genre created by Mario Bava in the following films : ¨The girl who knew too much¨ and ¨Blood and Black lace¨ . Dario Argento continued the genre with much success , too . These films (along with movies directed by Riccardo Freda) are characterized all for intelligent edition , special overblown use of color and slick utilization of shock-images . Thus , the movie is formed by a series of horror set-pieces that are filmed in eye-popping style and usually getting hints to solve the criminal cases . This picture belongs to ¨ trilogy of animals¨ along with ¨Bird with the crystal plumage¨(1968) and ¨Four flies on gray velvet¨(1971) , these are detective/intrigue stories with eerie assassinations , but the following Argento trilogy :¨Deep red¨ , ¨Suspiria¨ and ¨Inferno¨ have even more excess of blood-shed as in his later movies.
Casting is frankly well , specially the pair protagonist , Karl Malden and James Franciscus, along with the gorgeous Catherine Spaak . Being well accompanied by a fine support cast fully of actors usually playing in the B-Italian genres as Pier Paolo Capponi Horst Frank, Umberto Raho, Werner Pochath, Rada Rassimov, among others. Atmospheric and suspenseful music by Ennio Morricone, but I miss ¨Goblin¨ who used to work with Dario Argento . The movie was nicely directed by Argento . Although it's one of his most successful films , for many reviewers this is the least favorite of Dario Argento among his pictures. The motion picture will appeal to terror cinema fans and Giallo enthusiasts.
The film has suspense , tension , mystery, intrigue and being a very exciting terror-thriller . The picture is a Giallo , sub-genre created by Mario Bava in the following films : ¨The girl who knew too much¨ and ¨Blood and Black lace¨ . Dario Argento continued the genre with much success , too . These films (along with movies directed by Riccardo Freda) are characterized all for intelligent edition , special overblown use of color and slick utilization of shock-images . Thus , the movie is formed by a series of horror set-pieces that are filmed in eye-popping style and usually getting hints to solve the criminal cases . This picture belongs to ¨ trilogy of animals¨ along with ¨Bird with the crystal plumage¨(1968) and ¨Four flies on gray velvet¨(1971) , these are detective/intrigue stories with eerie assassinations , but the following Argento trilogy :¨Deep red¨ , ¨Suspiria¨ and ¨Inferno¨ have even more excess of blood-shed as in his later movies.
Casting is frankly well , specially the pair protagonist , Karl Malden and James Franciscus, along with the gorgeous Catherine Spaak . Being well accompanied by a fine support cast fully of actors usually playing in the B-Italian genres as Pier Paolo Capponi Horst Frank, Umberto Raho, Werner Pochath, Rada Rassimov, among others. Atmospheric and suspenseful music by Ennio Morricone, but I miss ¨Goblin¨ who used to work with Dario Argento . The movie was nicely directed by Argento . Although it's one of his most successful films , for many reviewers this is the least favorite of Dario Argento among his pictures. The motion picture will appeal to terror cinema fans and Giallo enthusiasts.
Argento's follow-up to Bird not bad at all
ODDBear19 May 2004
Warning: Spoilers
Spoilers
The Cat O'Nine Tails is considered by many to be Argento's least characteristic film. I'm inclined to agree with that. But that doesn't mean it's not a good film.
The plot of this movie is different from all of Argento's other outings. Argento toys with genetics and criminology and makes up a murder mystery. The theory that an extra chromosome in males was indicative of a criminal nature was quite the debate in the academic field in the day. Today's scientists think of this theory and laugh out loud, but, as the film touches on, an experiment was made in a prison and it's results showed that an incredible amount of inmates had an extra chromosome. Hence, the extra chromosome indicated a greater possibility of a violent nature. Argento puts this theory to great use and creates an excellent motive for the bad guy in the story.
This film is also Argento's most american looking film, he even manages to put in a car chase. But the fact that this film feels american is not at all that bad. Never before, or after, has Argento allowed two male characters to bond in the way Karl Malden and James Franciscus do here. Their characters actually grow in the process of this film and they're relationship is wholly believable. That is in large part due to the very capable acting of both leads.
Argento's visual style is not strongly detected here. It has a couple of great touches here and there, but mostly it's got that american feel to it visually. That said, it's well photographed and it must be viewed in widescreen, Argento puts the widescreen format to great use as always.
The Cat O'nine Tails is a solid film in every way. It's suspenseful, it's got a decent plot, good acting (many notches above The Bird with the Crystal Plumage), good music score (by Ennio Morricone) and some well orchestrated action sequences. Plus a few great touches from the maestro which would be better realized later.
When you decide to view Argento's films, you should take a look at this one. A bit different but in a good way.
The Cat O'Nine Tails is considered by many to be Argento's least characteristic film. I'm inclined to agree with that. But that doesn't mean it's not a good film.
The plot of this movie is different from all of Argento's other outings. Argento toys with genetics and criminology and makes up a murder mystery. The theory that an extra chromosome in males was indicative of a criminal nature was quite the debate in the academic field in the day. Today's scientists think of this theory and laugh out loud, but, as the film touches on, an experiment was made in a prison and it's results showed that an incredible amount of inmates had an extra chromosome. Hence, the extra chromosome indicated a greater possibility of a violent nature. Argento puts this theory to great use and creates an excellent motive for the bad guy in the story.
This film is also Argento's most american looking film, he even manages to put in a car chase. But the fact that this film feels american is not at all that bad. Never before, or after, has Argento allowed two male characters to bond in the way Karl Malden and James Franciscus do here. Their characters actually grow in the process of this film and they're relationship is wholly believable. That is in large part due to the very capable acting of both leads.
Argento's visual style is not strongly detected here. It has a couple of great touches here and there, but mostly it's got that american feel to it visually. That said, it's well photographed and it must be viewed in widescreen, Argento puts the widescreen format to great use as always.
The Cat O'nine Tails is a solid film in every way. It's suspenseful, it's got a decent plot, good acting (many notches above The Bird with the Crystal Plumage), good music score (by Ennio Morricone) and some well orchestrated action sequences. Plus a few great touches from the maestro which would be better realized later.
When you decide to view Argento's films, you should take a look at this one. A bit different but in a good way.
What ARE Those Maltin People Talking About?!?!?!
ferbs5430 October 2007
I just can't understand the editors of the "Maltin Movie and Video Guide" sometimes. How could they possibly give their lowest "Bomb" rating to 1971's "The Cat O'Nine Tails," for example, citing its "graphic gore and sex" and "bad dubbing"? The uncut DVD that I just viewed had hardly any gore at all, one very brief topless scene and was excellently dubbed (indeed, the main characters look to be speaking English). This is actually a very fine mystery thriller that should have received 3 stars from this often-dubious guide. In the film, a blind ex-reporter played by Karl Malden teams up with journalist James Franciscus to investigate a string of murders that takes place following a break-in at a genetics lab. The two make a fine and believable team, especially when joined by Malden's cute little niece (Cinzia de Carolis); I could have easily seen the pair continuing on to a crime-busting TV series of their own. Speaking of TV, this film often reminded me of old "Avengers" episodes, what with a crazed killer doing away with folks around a scientific institution while our heroes scramble to track him/her down. Of course, though, this is a Dario Argento giallo--his least favorite of all his films, he tells us in one of the DVD's many extras, but a very entertaining one from where I sit. The picture has a complex plot that takes many unexpected turns, involving genetic anomalies, garrotings, a visit to a gay bar, a double poisoned-milk tribute to Hitchcock's "Suspicion," kidnapping, blackmail, an insult contest, a very-high-speed car chase, grave robbing, death by locomotive and elevator shaft, and on and on. Ennio Morricone here delivers yet another superb score, alternating between a creepy childish lullaby of sorts and discordant, pulsating, arrhythmic jazz. The film also features some excellent dialogue and handsome production values. A bomb? Hardly!
Dardano Sacchetti's first of many great Italian stories.
Arlis6 October 2006
Dario Argento is great, I have admired his work for years. I love horror and he is in my top 5 as people I admire and respect the most. Here recently I am starting to realize though that a true legend named Dardano Sacchetti is becoming a fave.
Sacchetti has written dozens of great movies, or at least co-written them. I have been seeing his name pop up on Dario Argento's films,both Mario and Lamberto Bava's as well as Lucio Fulci, Sergio Martino, Umberto Lenzi and many more. To me that sounds like a guy that needs to be praised in the highest of manners.
I decided to pay tribute to the guy by watching all of the movies I have of his and I have most of them. I thought what a better way to re-watch some Argento and Fulci movies than to do it looking at it from another prospective. I am not sure in many cases who wrote what exactly, especially in cases such as this when four writers worked on the screenplay.
Sacchetti started his career here but is still writing even today. He has not been exclusively horror, as he has done other genres including the great action Italian style THUNDER WARRIOR which is one of my all time favourite trilogies.
In Cat O'Nine Tails we are thrilled with a crime story as opposed to being spooked by a horror. This Is a great "who-done-it" type of early seventies giallo. Not only is it a first for Sacchetti but it is one of the first for Argento in this genre. Argento had done many movies mostly of the western genre, but had turned to giallo and gained his most successful attempt with Bird Wtih The Crystal Plummage. Here he adds the same treatment and doesn't allow anyone to forget his style and his name. Watching his films finds you trapped wanting more.
The direction was very neat and focused on the characters you need to be paying mind to at any given time, which is a trademark style for Dario. There are moments of sloppy editing in the film, but many older films esp. foreign ones were notorious for that.
The acting is amazing and I thought each were so different and great for the parts they played. This movie is perfect for people who like crime movies and a must see for Dario Argento fans. It is not a horror movie so if you want to be scared this isn't for you.
I say again that there are no scares, but two scenes do come to mind that are creepy and disturbing. I am not going to spoil anything for you, but I will say when the man is over run by a train and he tumbles 3-4 times thats pretty gross. Also the part that creeped me out the most was when the guy was being shaved and his barber was talking about how easy it would be to slice his throat - wow, can you imagine being in that guys shoes..
Last but not least...The music was superb. Great film!
7 out of 10 stars.
Sacchetti has written dozens of great movies, or at least co-written them. I have been seeing his name pop up on Dario Argento's films,both Mario and Lamberto Bava's as well as Lucio Fulci, Sergio Martino, Umberto Lenzi and many more. To me that sounds like a guy that needs to be praised in the highest of manners.
I decided to pay tribute to the guy by watching all of the movies I have of his and I have most of them. I thought what a better way to re-watch some Argento and Fulci movies than to do it looking at it from another prospective. I am not sure in many cases who wrote what exactly, especially in cases such as this when four writers worked on the screenplay.
Sacchetti started his career here but is still writing even today. He has not been exclusively horror, as he has done other genres including the great action Italian style THUNDER WARRIOR which is one of my all time favourite trilogies.
In Cat O'Nine Tails we are thrilled with a crime story as opposed to being spooked by a horror. This Is a great "who-done-it" type of early seventies giallo. Not only is it a first for Sacchetti but it is one of the first for Argento in this genre. Argento had done many movies mostly of the western genre, but had turned to giallo and gained his most successful attempt with Bird Wtih The Crystal Plummage. Here he adds the same treatment and doesn't allow anyone to forget his style and his name. Watching his films finds you trapped wanting more.
The direction was very neat and focused on the characters you need to be paying mind to at any given time, which is a trademark style for Dario. There are moments of sloppy editing in the film, but many older films esp. foreign ones were notorious for that.
The acting is amazing and I thought each were so different and great for the parts they played. This movie is perfect for people who like crime movies and a must see for Dario Argento fans. It is not a horror movie so if you want to be scared this isn't for you.
I say again that there are no scares, but two scenes do come to mind that are creepy and disturbing. I am not going to spoil anything for you, but I will say when the man is over run by a train and he tumbles 3-4 times thats pretty gross. Also the part that creeped me out the most was when the guy was being shaved and his barber was talking about how easy it would be to slice his throat - wow, can you imagine being in that guys shoes..
Last but not least...The music was superb. Great film!
7 out of 10 stars.
The Cat o' Nine Fails
dav3w20 May 2023
Warning: Spoilers
"The Cat o' Nine Tails" is a vastly overrated film from director Dario Argento and a textbook case of how not to make a crime-thriller. The film starts slow and crawls to its eventual conclusion, only arriving there with nonsensical plot devices that make watching this film a tedious chore. The plot is flat as a pancake and the only time the storyline isn't dull is when it's absurd. Your eyes will be getting a workout with the number of eye-rolls they'll be doing.
One example of the film's poorly conceived narrative is when the protagonists are able to magically read the mind of a victim named Bianca. They figure out she knew who the killer was, and she wrote his name on a note, which she then hid in a secret compartment in a locket necklace. This plot point is just laughably absurd considering the protagonists had no absolutely no way of knowing this.
Of course, the locket was buried with Bianca, but the protagonists are so sure of their magical deduction that they decide to break into the crypt and open her casket to retrieve the locket. Upon getting the note, they don't even bother to read it! One of the protagonists sticks it in his pocket. Then in a painfully cliched turn of events, they are attacked, and the attacker somehow knows about the note and steals it. The drawn-out series of missed opportunities and underwhelming twists in this movie is an insult to the viewer's intelligence.
Even Argento himself disowned this film, saying it was the least favorite of his works, and it's not hard to see why. The movie lacks the elegance of storytelling, the thrill of suspense, and the intrigue of a well-crafted whodunit, leaving the audience disappointed and unsatisfied. "The Cat o' Nine Tails" is a cinematic blunder, a meandering mess that fails to evoke even passing interest. It's a jumble of half-baked plot devices, a boring narrative, and a frustrating lack of coherence.
I have to assume that anyone who rated this higher than me did not watch the movie and simply rated it based on seeing Argento's name in the credits.
One example of the film's poorly conceived narrative is when the protagonists are able to magically read the mind of a victim named Bianca. They figure out she knew who the killer was, and she wrote his name on a note, which she then hid in a secret compartment in a locket necklace. This plot point is just laughably absurd considering the protagonists had no absolutely no way of knowing this.
Of course, the locket was buried with Bianca, but the protagonists are so sure of their magical deduction that they decide to break into the crypt and open her casket to retrieve the locket. Upon getting the note, they don't even bother to read it! One of the protagonists sticks it in his pocket. Then in a painfully cliched turn of events, they are attacked, and the attacker somehow knows about the note and steals it. The drawn-out series of missed opportunities and underwhelming twists in this movie is an insult to the viewer's intelligence.
Even Argento himself disowned this film, saying it was the least favorite of his works, and it's not hard to see why. The movie lacks the elegance of storytelling, the thrill of suspense, and the intrigue of a well-crafted whodunit, leaving the audience disappointed and unsatisfied. "The Cat o' Nine Tails" is a cinematic blunder, a meandering mess that fails to evoke even passing interest. It's a jumble of half-baked plot devices, a boring narrative, and a frustrating lack of coherence.
I have to assume that anyone who rated this higher than me did not watch the movie and simply rated it based on seeing Argento's name in the credits.
Not the best Argento's giallo,but worth a look.
HumanoidOfFlesh18 July 2006
Karl Malden stars as a blind man with a talent for solving puzzles who teams-up with reporter Carlo Giordani(James Franciscus)to launch a private investigation into a string of peculiar murders,all of which seem to involve a dubious genetic research facility.The killer soon becomes wise to the duo's plans and will do whatever it takes to stop them from reporting to the police."Cat's Nine Tails" is the second giallo made by Italian maestro Dario Argento.The film is well-acted and very suspenseful.Karl Malden is awesome as the blind puzzle designer."Cat's Nine Tails" is even less bloody than Argento's stunning debut "The Bird with the Crystal Plumage",so gore-hounds expecting vicious murders in the vein of "Deep Red" or "Tenebre" will be disappointed.Still there are some truly unnerving stalking sequences and subjective killer's view camera shots.The score by Ennio Morricone is as always splendid.9 out of 10.
Me-OW!
Pjtaylor-96-13804416 July 2021
'The Cat O' Nine Tails (1971)' eschews much of the horror usually associated with the Giallo genre, despite featuring a number of relatively protracted and painful POV murder sequences, and focuses more on the mystery aspects of its story, which sees a blind puzzle enthusiast and a reporter work together to try and figure out who's behind a series of deaths connected to a pharmaceutical company. Argento ensures that the piece is peppered with pretty much all his trademarks (although this was only his second feature), which naturally leads to a relatively distinct and stylish affair. It's nowhere near as colourful or, even, borderline experimental as some of his later work, but that isn't too big an issue. Perhaps the film's weakest element is the fact that its mystery isn't actually all that intellectually stimulating because the plot doesn't provide you with any real clues as to what's going on and why. If you guess who the killer is before the thing outright shows you, you really have just guessed. Still, the narrative is engaging enough and it has just enough red herrings to at least feel like it's keeping you on your toes. It does have its duller moments, but it also has some well-crafted set-pieces and it's enjoyable overall. The two leads are compelling and the musical score (by Ennio Moriconne, no less) is quite catchy, too. It's a solid little mystery-thriller. 7/10.
The least of Argento's early works
Libretio17 January 2005
THE CAT O'NINE TAILS (Il Gatto a Nove Code)
Aspect ratio: 2.35:1 (Cromoscope)
Sound format: Mono
(35mm and 70mm release prints)
A blind ex-journalist (Karl Malden) overhears a blackmail plot outside a genetics research laboratory and later teams up with a fellow reporter (James Franciscus) to investigate a series of murders at the lab, unwittingly placing their own loved ones at the mercy of a psychopathic killer.
Rushed into production following the unexpected worldwide success of his directorial debut THE BIRD WITH THE CRYSTAL PLUMAGE (1969), Dario Argento conceived THE CAT O'NINE TAILS as a giallo-thriller in much the same vein as its forerunner, toplining celebrated Hollywood actor Karl Malden - fresh from his appearance in PATTON (1969) - and rising star Franciscus (THE VALLEY OF GWANGI). Sadly, the resulting film - which the ads claimed was 'nine times more suspenseful' than "Bird" - is a disappointing follow-up, impeccably photographed and stylishly executed, but too plodding and aimless for general consumption.
Malden and Franciscus are eminently watchable in sympathetic roles, and cinematographer Enrico Menczer (THE DEAD ARE ALIVE) uses the wide Cromoscope frame to convey the hi-tech world in which Argento's dark-hearted scenario unfolds, but the subplot involving Euro starlet Catherine Spaak (THE LIBERTINE) as Franciscus' romantic interest amounts to little more than unnecessary padding. Highlights include an unforgettable encounter with the black-gloved assassin in a crowded railway station (edited with sleek assurance by cult movie stalwart Franco Fraticelli), and a nocturnal episode in which Malden and Franciscus seek an important clue inside a mouldering tomb and fall prey to the killer's devious machinations. But despite these flashes of brilliance, the film rambles aimlessly from one scene to the next, simmering gently without ever really coming to the boil. It's no surprise that "Cat" failed to emulate the runaway success of "Bird" when released in 1971.
(English version)
Aspect ratio: 2.35:1 (Cromoscope)
Sound format: Mono
(35mm and 70mm release prints)
A blind ex-journalist (Karl Malden) overhears a blackmail plot outside a genetics research laboratory and later teams up with a fellow reporter (James Franciscus) to investigate a series of murders at the lab, unwittingly placing their own loved ones at the mercy of a psychopathic killer.
Rushed into production following the unexpected worldwide success of his directorial debut THE BIRD WITH THE CRYSTAL PLUMAGE (1969), Dario Argento conceived THE CAT O'NINE TAILS as a giallo-thriller in much the same vein as its forerunner, toplining celebrated Hollywood actor Karl Malden - fresh from his appearance in PATTON (1969) - and rising star Franciscus (THE VALLEY OF GWANGI). Sadly, the resulting film - which the ads claimed was 'nine times more suspenseful' than "Bird" - is a disappointing follow-up, impeccably photographed and stylishly executed, but too plodding and aimless for general consumption.
Malden and Franciscus are eminently watchable in sympathetic roles, and cinematographer Enrico Menczer (THE DEAD ARE ALIVE) uses the wide Cromoscope frame to convey the hi-tech world in which Argento's dark-hearted scenario unfolds, but the subplot involving Euro starlet Catherine Spaak (THE LIBERTINE) as Franciscus' romantic interest amounts to little more than unnecessary padding. Highlights include an unforgettable encounter with the black-gloved assassin in a crowded railway station (edited with sleek assurance by cult movie stalwart Franco Fraticelli), and a nocturnal episode in which Malden and Franciscus seek an important clue inside a mouldering tomb and fall prey to the killer's devious machinations. But despite these flashes of brilliance, the film rambles aimlessly from one scene to the next, simmering gently without ever really coming to the boil. It's no surprise that "Cat" failed to emulate the runaway success of "Bird" when released in 1971.
(English version)
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