Cat Chaser (1989)

A Miami hotel owner finds danger when he becomes romantically involved with the wife of a deposed general from the Dominican Republic where he fought many years back.

Director:

Abel Ferrara

Writers:

Elmore Leonard (novel), James Borrelli (screenplay)

Stars:

Peter Weller, Kelly McGillis, Charles Durning

1 nomination.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Peter Weller	...	George Moran
Kelly McGillis	...	Mary DeBoya
Charles Durning	...	Jiggs Scully
Frederic Forrest	...	Nolen Tyner
Tomas Milian	...	Andres DeBoya
Juan Fernández	...	Rafi
Kelly Jo Minter	...	Loret
Phil Leeds	...	Jerry Shea
Tony Bolano	...	Corky
Adrianne Sachs	...	Anita DeBoya
Roberto Escobar	...	Mario Prado (as Robert Escobar)
Millie Ruperto	...	Luci Palma (as Maria M. Ruperto)
Vivian Addison	...	Maid Lula
Brooke Becker	...	Philly
Fara Schiller	...	Marilyn

Storyline

An American veteran (Weller) of the Dominican Republic intervention (LBJ era) is running a hotel in Miami, and is trying to put the memories of the intervention behind him. He gets involved with a former Dominican Republic general's wife (McGillis). He then gets duped through a series of intricate plot twists into helping a group of people trying to rip the general off. Based on the novel by Elmore Leonard.

---

Plot Keywords:

male full frontal nudity | sex scene | marital rape | abusive marriage | abusive husband | 

---

Taglines:

Passion. Greed. Murder. Tonight they pay.

---

Genres:

Crime | Drama | Thriller

---

Certificate:

R

Did You Know?

Trivia

Peter Weller and Kelly McGillis did not get along during the filming of the movie, although in later interviews the crew was never able to comprehend what drove such animosity. The final straw was on the last day of shooting when Weller and McGillis were shooting a sex scene. Weller made a disparaging comment towards McGillis during filming. McGillis, who was the subject of frequent taunting by other members of the crew during filming, stormed off the set after filming wrapped and came back with her head completely bald, and vowing never to return for retakes.

---

Alternate Versions

UK cinema and video versions were cut by 27 secs with heavy edits to the scene where Mary is forced to strip at gunpoint and the gun inserted into her mouth and sexual regions. The 2004 DVD release restores the BBFC cuts though the print used is still the edited U.S R-rated version.

---

Connections

Referenced in A Short Film About the Long Career of Abel Ferrara (2004)

---

Soundtracks

MERCY MERCY ME
Performed by DEVERE DUCKETT
Written by Greg De Belles (as Greg Debelles)

User Reviews

Flawed but interesting Abel Ferrara film

It's no secret that "Cat Chaser" was taken away from director Abel Ferrara and slapped together by committee right around the time of the Vestron bankruptcy. Consequently, Ferrara has disavowed this film. But he shouldn't. While it has some murky plotting, no doubt due to the re-editing, it's quite an interesting, evocative adaptation of an Elmore Leonard novel. Ferrara always impresses with his sharp direction, and the wonderful art direction really captures the feel of sleazy bars, motel rooms, and the Dominican Republic. Peter Weller is fine, Kelly McGillis is quite uninhibited in her numerous nude scenes, and it's fun to hear Charles Durning pronounce "toilet" as "tur-let." "Cat Chaser" is a lost treasure from the late 80's worthy of rediscovery and a director's edition DVD.

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

20 October 1989 (Portugal)

Also Known As:

Cat Chaser

Filming Locations:

Laguna Studios, Laguna Beach, California, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$6,000,000 (estimated)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Vestron Pictures, Whiskers Productions Inc.

Technical Specs

Runtime:

90 min

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Color:

Color (Technicolor)