Il gatto a nove code (1971)

User Rating:

6.6/10   

Director:

Dario Argento

Writers:

Dario Argento (screenplay)
Dario Argento (story)

Release Date:

21 May 1971 (USA)

Genre:

Horror | Mystery | Thriller

Tagline:

It's nine times more suspenseful!

Plot:

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.

Plot Keywords:

Night | Killing | Walking | Street | Car

Cast

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

Also Known As:

Cat o' Nine Tails (USA) (dubbed version)
Die neunschwänzige Katze (West Germany)
Le chat à neuf queues (France)
The Cat o' Nine Tails (USA) (DVD title)

Runtime:

Spain:110 min | USA:112 min | Argentina:115 min | USA:90 min (cut version) | West Germany:32 min (Super 8-version in 2 parts) | Austria:114 min (Limited Uncut Integral-Version)

Country:

Italy | France | West Germany

Language:

Italian

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Netherlands:16 | Finland:K-15 (2005) (uncut) | Finland:K-16 (1972) (cut) | Norway:16 (1972) | West Germany:18 (nf) | Germany:16 (re-rating) (2006) | Canada:13+ (Quebec) | Argentina:16 | Australia:M | Italy:VM14 | Spain:18 | Sweden:15 | UK:15 (video re-rating) (2005) | UK:18 (video rating) (1987) | UK:AA (original rating) | USA:GP (original rating) | USA:PG

Filming Locations:

Cinecittà Studios, Cinecittà, Rome, Lazio, Italy

Company:

Labrador Films

Trivia:

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

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.

Movie Connections:

Featured in Hera Pheri (1976)

Underrated gem

Argento's second feature is very underrated.

A blind man, his niece and a local newspaper reporter try to track down a mysterious serial killer who happens to have a chromosome imbalance. Argento adds the usual flowing camera movements and interesting characters to the mix and creates a terrific giallo. Although a little talky and slow in some parts, the movie has some standout moments: a car chase through Roman streets; a great poisonous milk scene (like Hitchcock's Saboteur); and an incredible rooftop final battle. The murders aren't abundant but they are all well-executed with effective murderer POV shots. The train scene is flawless.

Recommended.