What's New Pussycat (1965)

Directors:

Clive Donner
Richard Talmadge

Writer:

Woody Allen (original screenplay)

Release Date:

22 June 1965 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy

Tagline:

FOLLOW US... ...and find the answer to the comedy question of the year!

Plot:

A playboy who refuses to give up his hedonistic lifestyle to settle down and marry his true love seeks help from a demented psychoanalyst who is having romantic problems of his own.

Plot Keywords:

Hotel | Chateau | Womanizer | Breaking The Fourth Wall | Toothbrush

Awards:

Nominated for Oscar. Another 3 nominations

Cast

Peter Sellers	...	Dr. Fritz Fassbender
Peter O'Toole	...	Michael James (as Peter O'toole)
Romy Schneider	...	Carole
Capucine	...	Renée
Paula Prentiss	...	Liz
Woody Allen	...	Victor
Ursula Andress	...	Rita
Eddra Gale	...	Anna Fassbender (as Edra Gale)
Katrin Schaake	...	Jacqueline
Eléonore Hirt	...	Mrs. Werner (as Eleonor Hirt)
Jean Parédès	...	Marcel (as Jean Paredes)
Jacques Balutin	...	Etienne
Jess Hahn	...	Mr. Werner
Howard Vernon	...	Doctor
Michel Subor	...	Philippe

Also Known As:

Quoi de neuf, Pussycat? (France)

Runtime:

108 min

Country:

France | USA

Language:

English | French

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.66 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Westrex Recording System)

Certification:

Canada:14A (Ontario) | USA:Approved | Argentina:18 | Australia:M | Finland:K-16 | France:U (re-release) | Sweden:15 | UK:15 | West Germany:12

Filming Locations:

Paris, France

Company:

Famartists Productions S.A.

Trivia:

The scene where Woody Allen's character celebrates his birthday on the wharf was filmed on December 1, 1964 - Woody's 29th birthday.

Goofs:

Continuity: Near the end during the go-cart scene, Dr. Fassbender enters a farmyard in his go-cart and ends up on a horse; however immediately afterwards he is seen driving the go-cart again.

Quotes:

Dr. Fritz Fassbender: I've hated you from the first moment I married you!

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "I Dream of Jeannie: What's New, Poodle Dog? (#2.6)" (1966)

Soundtrack:

My Little Red Book

Peter Sellers - Under Appreciated - Under Recognized

What's New Pussycat makes no pretense of being anything other than what it seems on the surface. Peter O'toole holds the lead in a high energy performance consistent with the times that the film represents and was made in. It is Peter Sellers who, once again, steals the screen as the whacked-out Dr. Fritz Fasbender. His performance is classically neurotic "Sellers," with one of his best bavarian (austrian, german - whatever) accents which makes the character. Fans of the Austin Powers series are well served in seeing this film for the influences it produces some 30 years later. Ultimate this is a very funny period piece, uncharacteristically written by Woody Allen (who also co-stars in the film). One of the best scenes of the film occurs between Allen and Sellers as Allen interrupts Sellers Overly Dramatic Suicide with an annual dinner ritual. The humor is raw, the move is fun and should be taken at face value. For Peter Sellers fans this film is a MUST.