The Cat o' Nine Tails (1971)
"Il gatto a nove code" (original title)

A newspaper reporter and a retired, blind journalist 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 killer.

Director:

Dario Argento

Writers:

Dario Argento (story), Luigi Collo (story),

Stars:

James Franciscus, Karl Malden, Catherine Spaak

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
James Franciscus	...	Carlo Giordani
Karl Malden	...	Franco Arno
Catherine Spaak	...	Anna Terzi
Pier Paolo Capponi	...	Police Supt. Spini
Horst Frank	...	Dr. Braun
Rada Rassimov	...	Bianca Merusi
Aldo Reggiani	...	Dr. Casoni
Carlo Alighiero	...	Dr. Calabresi
Vittorio Congia	...	Righetto (cameraman)
Ugo Fangareggi	...	Gigi the Loser
Tom Felleghy	...	Dr. Esson
Emilio Marchesini	...	Dr. Mombelli
Fulvio Mingozzi	...	Spimi's man
Corrado Olmi	...	Morsella
Pino Patti	...	Barber

Storyline

Franco Arno is a blind man that lives with his young niece and makes a living writing crossword puzzles. One night, while walking on the street, he overhears a weird conversation between two man sitting in a car parked in front of a medical institute where genetic experiments are performed. The same night someone breaks in the institute and kills a guard. Arno decides to investigate with the help of reporter Carlo Giordani.

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Plot Keywords:

night | car | scientist | journalist | picture | 

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Taglines:

Caught between the truth and a murderer's hand!

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Genres:

Mystery | Thriller

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Certificate:

GP

Details

Country:

Italy France West Germany

Language:

English

Release Date:

21 May 1971 (USA)

Also Known As:

Cat o' Nine Tails

Filming Locations:

Cinecittà Studios, Cinecittà, Rome, Lazio, Italy

Box Office

Budget:

$1,000,000 (estimated)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Labrador Films, Seda Spettacoli, Terra-Filmkunst

Technical Specs

Runtime:

115 min 90 min (cut) 32 min (Super 8-version in 2 parts) 114 min (Limited Uncut Integral-Version)

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Although it's one of his most successful films, this is the least favorite of Dario Argento among his pictures.

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Goofs

Early in the graveyard scene, as they are walking, the position of the actors changes between shots. In the side angle Malden has his left arm raised with his hand on Franciscus' right shoulder, in the angle showing them from the front, Malden has his arm down and Franciscus is gripping his shoulder.

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Quotes

Carlo Giordani: Do you know how many people are together right now making love this very second?
Anna Terzi: No.
Carlo Giordani: 780 on the average. Really.
[pause]
Carlo Giordani: I don't know if you're aware of it or not, but that was an invitation.

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Connections

Follows L'uccello dalle piume di cristallo (1970)

User Reviews

Argento's most underrated movie.

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!