The Cat's Meow (2001)

User Rating:

6.4/10   

Director:

Peter Bogdanovich

Writers (WGA):

Steven Peros (screenplay)
Steven Peros (play)

Release Date:

19 September 2002 (Australia)

Genre:

Drama

Tagline:

"The Whisper Told Most Often..."

Plot:

Semi-true story of the Hollywood murder that occurred at a star-studded gathering aboard William Randolph Hearst's yacht in 1924.

Plot Keywords:

William Randolph Hearst | Hollywood | Yacht | Gossip Columnist | Gossip

Awards:

1 win

Cast

Kirsten Dunst	...	Marion Davies
Edward Herrmann	...	W.R. Hearst
Eddie Izzard	...	Charlie Chaplin
Cary Elwes	...	Thomas Ince
Joanna Lumley	...	Elinor Glyn
Jennifer Tilly	...	Louella Parsons
Claudia Harrison	...	Margaret Livingston
Victor Slezak	...	George Thomas
James Laurenson	...	Dr. Daniel Goodman
Ronan Vibert	...	Joseph Willicombe
Chiara Schoras	...	Celia
Claudie Blakley	...	Didi
Ingrid Lacey	...	Jessica Barham
John C. Vennema	...	Frank Barham
Steven Peros	...	Elinor's Driver

MPAA:

Rated PG-13 for sexuality, a scene of violence and brief drug use.

Runtime:

114 min

Country:

USA | Germany | UK

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White | Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

Iceland:12 | Portugal:M/12 | Finland:K-11 | UK:12 (video rating) | Argentina:13 | Australia:M | Singapore:NC-16 | UK:12A | USA:PG-13 | Canada:PG (Ontario)

Filming Locations:

Kyparisi, Greece

Company:

Lions Gate Films

Trivia:

The first script written by Steven Peros was originally entitled "Everybody Charleston".

Goofs:

Anachronisms: The Walther PPK pistol was not produced until 1931, nor would it have a plastic finger extension on the magazine's base plate.

Quotes:

W. R. Hearst: You ever eaten a seagull, Tom?
Thomas Ince: No...
W. R. Hearst: God, they taste awful. Just like eating a crow.

Movie Connections:

References Yolanda (1924)

Soundtrack:

April Showers

Excellent

This film, from reclusive director Peter Bogdanovich, traces one of Hollywood's Urban legends.. the rumor that mogul William Randolph Heart (effectively played by Edward Herrmann) accidentally shot movie producer Thomas Ince (Cary Elwes, shedding his trademark smirk) while trying to kill Charlie Chaplin (an excellent Eddie Izzard) who was having an affair with Heart's mistress, actress Marion Davies (Kirsten Dunst, mesermizing as always). The setup and the performers are excellent and the depiction of Hollywood in the late 1920s is well done and the murder and resulting cover-up are believable. While perhaps a bit too much of an "inside Hollywood legends" tale for the mainstream.. the film is well done and entertaining enough that I would definitely recommend it. GRADE: A