Black Cat (Gatto nero) (1981)

User Rating:

5.6/10   

Director:

Lucio Fulci

Writers:

Lucio Fulci (screenplay)
Edgar Allan Poe (story)
(more)

Release Date:

10 February 1984 (USA)

Genre:

Horror

Tagline:

Flesh Ripping Felines!

Plot:

Robert Miles is a psychic that can communicate with the dead. He also has the ability to control the mind of his cat (who incidentally is black)...

Plot Keywords:

Cat | Psychic | Death | Photographer | Black Cat

Cast

Patrick Magee	...	Prof. Robert Miles
Mimsy Farmer	...	Jill Trevers
David Warbeck	...	Inspector Gorley
Al Cliver	...	Sgt. Wilson
Dagmar Lassander	...	Lillian Grayson
Bruno Corazzari	...	Ferguson
Geoffrey Copleston	...	Inspector Flynn
Daniela Doria	...	Maureen Grayson
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Lucio Fulci	...	Doctor (scenes deleted)

Directed by
Lucio Fulci

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
Lucio Fulci		screenplay
Edgar Allan Poe		story
Biagio Proietti		screenplay
Biagio Proietti		story

Produced by
Giulio Sbarigia	....	producer

Original Music by
Pino Donaggio

Cinematography by
Sergio Salvati

Film Editing by
Vincenzo Tomassi

Production Design by
Franco Calabrese

Art Direction by
Massimo Antonello Geleng

Costume Design by
Massimo Lentini

Makeup Department
Maria Pia Crapanzano	....	hair stylist
Franco Di Girolamo	....	makeup artist
Rosario Prestopino	....	assistant makeup artist

Production Management
Renato Angiolini	....	production supervisor
Antonio Da Padova	....	unit manager
Ennio Onorati	....	production manager
Tommaso Pantano	....	unit manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
David Del Bufalo	....	assistant director
Roberto Giandalia	....	second unit director
Victor Tourjansky	....	assistant director

Art Department
Alfredo D'Angelo	....	drapes

Sound Department
Nick Alexander	....	dubbing editor
Fernando Caso	....	sound effects
Ugo Celani	....	sound
Eros Giustini	....	boom operator
Alvaro Gramigna	....	sound effects

Special Effects by
Paolo Ricci	....	special effects

Stunts
Nazzareno Cardinali	....	stunts

Camera and Electrical Department
Ennio Brizzolari	....	key grip
Franco Bruni	....	camera operator
Alfredo Fedeli	....	gaffer
Roberto Forges Davanzati	....	camera operator
Maurizio Lucchini	....	assistant camera
Gianfranco Massa	....	still photographer: action stills

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Mina Tacconi	....	seamstress

Editorial Department
Rita Antonelli	....	first assistant editor
Pietro Tomassi	....	second assistant editor

Music Department
Natale Massara	....	conductor

Other crew
Alfredo D'Angelo	....	tapestry
Pasquale Martino	....	cat trainer
Daniela Tonti	....	continuity

Production Companies

• Italian International Film
• Selenia Cinematografica

Distributors

• Italian International Film (1981) (Italy) (theatrical)
• P.M Productions (1983) (France) (theatrical)
• World Northal (1984) (USA) (theatrical) (dubbed)
• Anchor Bay Entertainment (2001) (USA) (DVD)
• Anchor Bay Entertainment (????) (USA) (VHS)
• Blue Underground (2007) (USA) (DVD)
• Creative Axa Co. Ltd. (????) (Japan) (DVD)
• DMEG (2004) (Sweden) (VHS)
• Redemption Films (1995) (UK) (VHS)
• Rhino Video (????) (USA) (VHS)
• Shameless Films (2008) (UK) (DVD)
• Viking Video (2002) (Russia) (VHS)

Also Known As:

The Black Cat (International: English title) (USA)

Runtime:

92 min

Country:

Italy

Language:

English | Italian

Color:

Color (Eastmancolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Canada:13+ (Quebec) | Australia:M | France:-12 | Italy:VM14 | Norway:16 | UK:18 | USA:R | West Germany:18

Filming Locations:

England, UK

Company:

Italian International Film

Trivia:

The role of Professor Miles was intended for Donald Pleasence.

Goofs:

Crew or equipment visible: During one of the later scenes when the cat is terrorizing Jill you can see a crew member's hands holding onto the cat.

Quotes:

[Sergeant Wilson sees Jill coming out of an underground crypt]
Sergeant Wilson: Miss, let me give you some advice, don't go down there anymore.
Jill Trevers: Why not?
Sergeant Wilson: My Grandad used to tell me when I was a lad that the dead like to be left alone. They're not very hospitable.

Movie Connections:

Version of Die schwarze Katze (1980) (TV)

Surprisingly good.. my favorite Fulci so far

This was a good version of the Poe story. Not quite as bloody as Fulci's other flicks, and it didn't really need to be. It tells its tale of a man who records the dead conversing (!) while his cat commits murders convincingly, and the way they present the cat as the master over the man is very fetching. The only problem with this movie-- (shudder) the EYEBALL CAM!! Wayyyy too many close-ups of a man's eyes (pause for 3-5 seconds), then to the cat's eyes (pause another 3-5 seconds) and repeat ad nauseum.

Arrrgh!!! But if you can put up with that here and there, you'll be pleased with Fulci's best offering (in my opinion).