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Carlo Alighiero, Pier Paolo Capponi, Tino Carraro, Tom Felleghy, Horst Frank ... see more see more... , Karl Malden , Werner Pochath , Rada Rassimov , Catherine Spaak , Cinzia De Carolis , James Franciscus , Corrado Olmi , Aldo Reggiani , Vittorio Congia , Emilio Marchesini

In this flawed mystery-thriller from flamboyant horror director Dario Argento, Karl Malden portrays a blind man who joins forces with a reporter (James Franciscus) to catch a killer with an extra chro... read more read more...mosome. Much of the action occurs at a research hospital, where the killer seeks to conceal the original crime with still more murders. Easily the least interesting of Argento's early thrillers (which include the superior L'Uccello dalle Piume di Cristallo and Quattro Mosche di Velluto Grigio), this film seems almost a parody of the genre at times, with preposterous coincidences and bogus Freudian analysis substituting for genuine mystery. Those familiar with the director's work may find it difficult to believe that Argento was responsible, but some undeniable stylistic touches -- such as one victim's wallpaper resembling a blood-splattered wall -- reveal that even a genius can make bad films. Ennio Morricone's soundtrack and a cast including Catherine Spaak and Pier Paolo Capponi offer little relief. The American version is missing approximately twenty minutes. ~ Robert Firsching, Rovi

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53% liked it

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73% liked it

15 critics

R, 1 hr. 42 min.

Directed by: Dario Argento

Release Date: February 11, 1971

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DVD Release Date: March 29, 2005

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on the set of 'Il gatto a nove code' on the set of 'Il gatto a nove code' (1971) on the set of 'Il gatto a nove code' (1971) Dr. Calabresi 'Il gatto a nove code' - Original Poster Cat O'Nine Tails Cat O'Nine Tails
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Flixster Reviews (193)

  • TheDudeLebowski65
    December 16, 2011
    TheDudeLebowski65
    Dario Argento's second film is a fairly underrated Giallo film. Argento has long expressed that Cat O' Nine Tails is one of least favorite films. Yet, this is a solid piece of Italian horror cinema. A film that is thrilling, horrifying and suspenseful. As a second work, Argento w... read moreould mould and sharpen his skills as a director and along with his debut, The Bird with the Crystal Plumage; Cat O' Nine Tails was just the early horrifying attempts by Argento to create memorable horror films. This is an underrated film, and though Dario Argento has directed far superior Giallo films such as Deep Red, Tenebrae and Opera, Cat O' Nine Tails is still a well crafted film. The cast do a fine job here and the plot is thrilling, suspenseful, and keeps you on the edge of your seat. Dario Argento has made a terrific Giallo film with Cat O' Nine Tails, and it doesn't deserve the hatred it has received. I have to admit that despite this not being the strongest of Dario Argento's films, this is still a must see for fans of the director. Cat O' Nine Tails has enough thrills going for it to appeal to the Argento Connoisseur. Karl Malden delivers a solid performance Cat O' Nine Tails is very well crafted Giallo film, and despite Argento's mixed feeling about his film, this, I think is nonetheless a great film with a wonderful cast, effective story, and plenty of mystery and thrills that is a signature in all of Argento's Giallo's. Everything you'd expect from a great Giallo film is here, and as an Argento fan, I very much recommend it. An underrated film that is better than what critics have claimed it to be.
  • FilmFanatik
    August 28, 2011
    FilmFanatik
    To be honest, I didn't find The Cat O'Nine Tails to be all that great. I actually found it kind of boring. The signature giallo plot twists are there and there isn't much gore to be seen (as Argento is usually known for), but it wasn't very appealing. I find it interesting to see... read more Karl Malden pop up in a seemingly stripped-down mystery thriller, but it feels more like an American best-of rather than being its own thing. I found The Bird with the Crystal Plumage to be far superior, even though it came first. Dario Argento would go on to perfect the giallo later in the decade, while he felt this to be his weakest effort. I would have to concur with that. It's not terrible, but it's certainly lackluster.
  • matertenebraum
    April 14, 2011
    matertenebraum
    When I first saw this I thought it was a wee bit undistinguished, much less interesting or exciting than an Argento movie should be. After watching it again I realised I couldn't have been more wrong, as this is a mystery/suspense film as they come, lacking mainly in the gore or ... read moretwistedness of Argento's best loved work. The plot is nicely complex and intriguing with many suspects and much going on and it unfolds at a good pace as a blind puzzle maker, skillfully played by Karl Malden probes the mystery. The screenplay is by the ever useful Dardano Sachetti and only slips up with a few scenes that have a vaguely cheesy, Americanised feel. Also the film has intrigue in spades but not so much intensity. There are a few murders, not too gruesome, in fact some of Argento's tamest, but they have great style and work in the more intrigue driven context. There is some real fine suspense and camera work, particularly in the break in scene and the rooftop finale. Ennio Morricone provides a customary fine score, creating a good haunting and hypnotic atmosphere for the film. Altogether, this is a fine work, one that all fans of the director or Italian thrillers in general should check out.
  • ariuza1
    January 11, 2011
    ariuza1
    The Cat o' Nine Tails is Dario Argento's 'difficult second movie'. This is the one that had to follow up his genre-defining debut The Bird with the Crystal Plumage. It's a movie that many fans (and the director himself apparently) think is unsubstantial. Certainly it's relatively... read more weak when set alongside Crystal Plumage but when it is considered as a film in its own right and directly compared to other early 70's gialli, it's actually pretty good.

    The story basically involves a couple of amateur sleuths - a journalist and blind ex-newsman - who get embroiled in a series of murders that surround a genetics institute.

    Plot wise, the film is very far-fetched. Events and character actions don't exactly make logical sense a lot of the time. This is a common feature of giallo cinema but it is something that viewers unfamiliar with the genre might find a little off-putting. If you can accept this and roll with it you will find that Cat o' Nine Tails is a good exercise in suspense film-making. Although it's fair to say that the story compares quite badly in comparison with the classic giallo twist-in-the-tail narrative of Crystal Plumage; although it is serviceable enough.

    Unlike many of his contemporaries, such as Umberto Lenzi or Sergio Martino, Argento did not incorporate graphic violence in his early gialli. Sure, there are murders here that are quite disturbing but it's not exactly a blood-bath. What Argento does show, however, is a clear understanding of how to generate suspense. There are some very tense, well handled scenes such as the poisoned milk set-piece, the sequence in the mausoleum and the climatic rooftop fight. He is helped in creating this kind of atmosphere by the soundtrack provided by Ennio Morricone. It's a nice dark piece of work with a memorable main theme, not as good as his work on Crystal Plumage but superior to his subsequent score for Four Flies on Grey Velvet. Like that latter film, Cat o' Nine Tails has a more experimental approach than his debut movie. Argento incorporates odd editing techniques where we see quick flashes of events before they actually happen. This disorientating approach helps create a slightly mad, off-kilter atmosphere. We are actively encouraged to identify with the killer in this film, as the various POV shots and the huge close-ups of their retina attest. Overall, this isn't the best looking movie that Argento has directed but it's still very accomplished. The cinematography is good and the interior décor is, at times, insane - check out Bianca Merusi's wallpaper; its garishly appalling in a way that only early 70's décor can be! The acting here is pretty decent. James Franciscus and Karl Malden lead the cast well enough. And there are some interesting performances from other supporting cast members, most notably Cinzia De Carolis as the little girl Lori, Horst Frank as the homosexual Dr. Braun and Rada Rassimov as Dr. Calabresi's doomed lover Bianca. As is typical in movies from Argento's golden period, and unlike other gialli of the time, there is a distinct lack of eye-candy; this is not a criticism, far from it, just an observation. It's interesting how disinterested he appeared to view the sex side of things in his classic gialli when you weigh it up against the somewhat dubious relish he seems to give it in his latter (inferior) thrillers.

    I think this film has definitely been unfairly maligned for either not being as good as The Bird with the Crystal Plumage or for not containing sufficient sex and violence. While it's true that it's restrained compared to many of its contemporaries, it's a better film than most of them because its mystery is compelling enough and its a genuinely tense affair a lot of the time. Not only that but this movie has one of the most ambiguous and downbeat endings in any gialli I have seen - lets just say that you really aren't too sure about the well-being of certain cast members at the end. If you're a fan of either giallo cinema, the work of Dario Argento or cult Italian cinema in general then I would strongly recommend seeking this one out. It's ultimately a superior, if relatively restrained, slice of giallo mayhem from the master of the genre.
  • animegirlaya
    November 13, 2010
    animegirlaya
    Meany today wouldn't know what Giallo films are there Italian hardback books that consisted of mystery/crime and with the all famous yellow background. Then in the 70s the first true Giallo movies came out starting with Dario Argento's the bird with the crystal plumage. Defying t... read morehe films are characterized by extended murder sequences featuring excessive bloodletting, stylish camerawork and unusual musical arrangements and stories. All thought not all Giallo films are violent let alone scary the cat of 0'nine tails is a great example of very good story telling with out the all famous killing scenes.

    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.

    Unlike Meany would say to me the story was very well done and suspenseful but it cane be very hard to follow sometimes. But lots of cliffhangers and very good stories make the prefect Giallo film.

    90% for story it can be hard to follow like I said but its very well done.

    80% for acting again it's very well done

    70% for special effects although there's not much that is very unusual for an Argento film.

    80% for characters there's lots of them with a tone of back story

    90% for everything else. The music was very good but suspiria is still in the lead

    If you can find It I say watch it

    Keiko's score 90-100
  • ythelastman89
    January 18, 2010
    ythelastman89
    Not anywhere near the perfection of the other Animal Trilogy films from Dario Argento, but still a great movie. It is perhaps the most outlandish and sarcastic plots of his early work, mainly due to the fact that it has a Blind man and a little girl solving a mystery. However, it... read more is beautiful looking and experimental. I think this is the movie that Dario Argento really went for it and tried a lot of different angles. Some worked and some didn't, but it's a fun movie nonetheless.
  • SirPant
    November 25, 2009
    SirPant
    The king of Giallo, Dario Argento at his best. Pure genius and glorious 70's cinema.
  • kenstachnik
    June 29, 2008
    kenstachnik
    Decent Giallo from Argento. Couple of good kills, a great ending fight sequence and Karl Malden turning in an interesting performance
  • YosemiteSamFan
    June 25, 2007
    YosemiteSamFan
    Weird Dario Argento "Giallo" (gorey Italian detective mystery) movie with people connected to a genetics research project being killed. There was no cat in this movie! I don't know why Argento chose animal names for his first three Giallos. Karl Malden is a blind puzzle-solver wh... read moreo helps the detective James Franciscus unlock this strange case. There's a few nice death scenes: someone being hit by a train, someone sliding down an elevator cable and shredding their hands, someone drinking from a poisonous pyramid-shaped milk carton. The plot is a bit silly and borning, but there's some nice set pieces.
  • danieljparsons
    March 25, 2012
    danieljparsons
    One of Dario Argento's lesser 70's works, the film suffers from an overly confused story and a totally ridiculous plot device that must have sounded far-fetched at the time, and feels very dated now. Argento's excellent direction and POV shots (familiar from the superior Opera... read more and Deep Red) mean this is at best an interesting curio for giallo fans.

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Critic Reviews

Donald J. Levit
April 18, 2012
Donald J. Levit, ReelTalk Movie Reviews

A tall and slimmer Karl Malden stands out, but even with a rooftop chase, the conclusion and revelation are abrupt. Full Review

James Kendrick
June 15, 2011
James Kendrick, Q Network Film Desk

if it is Argento's weakest early effort, it is only because he was still trying to find his voice, experimenting with different techniques and gradually learning just how far he could push the envelope. Full Review

Fernando F. Croce
November 16, 2009
Fernando F. Croce, CinePassion

Uncanny Full Review

Beth Accomando
January 17, 2008
Beth Accomando, KPBS.org

Italian 'giallo' thriller by horrormeister Dario Argento.

Staci Layne Wilson
July 12, 2006
Staci Layne Wilson, About.com

Dario Argento giallo is the cat's meow. Full Review

David Nusair
October 23, 2005
David Nusair, Reel Film Reviews

...highly unlikely to appeal to anyone other than the most ardent Argento fan, and even those folks will be hard-pressed to find anything here worth embracing. Full Review

Ken Hanke
August 21, 2002
Ken Hanke, Mountain Xpress (Asheville, NC)

Moderately effective, stylish early giallo from Argento

Jon Lap
January 29, 2002
Jon Lap, Apollo Guide

... through the employment of his visual technique, commonality is transformed into remarkable quality. Full Review

Ed Gonzalez
November 8, 2001
Ed Gonzalez, Slant Magazine

Set against a backdrop of genetic research and espionage, Argento's formal obsession with allusions to seeing and sightlessness is on fierce display. Full Review

A.H. Weiler
June 15, 2005
A.H. Weiler, New York Times

Click to read the article Full Review

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