CAT O'NINE TAILS (DVD) DVD

The Cat O' Nine Tails
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 chromosome. 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, All Movie Guide

Cast n/a

Crew Carlo Leva - Art Director Bruno Nicolai - Conductor Carlo Leva - Costume Designer Roberto Pariante - First Assistant Director Dario Argento - Director Franco Fraticelli - Editor Ennio Morricone - Composer (Music Score) Erico Menczer - Cinematographer Salvatore Argento - Producer Luciano Vittori - Special Effects Dardano Sacchetti - Screen Story Dario Argento - Screenwriter Luigi Collo - Short Story Author

The Cat O' Nine Tails
(not reviewed)
 

(no awards)

General Specifications: Language Options: Subtitle Options: Sound Processing: DD: Generic Dolby Digital (unspecified format) Additional Features: DVD special features Digitally mastered Interactive menus Scene selections MPAA Rating: R DVD Discs Included: 1 DVD Sides: 1 DVD DVD Region Code: Content Length: 112 min   DVD Chapters: Side #1 -- 2. Puzzle Games [8:50] 3. The Institute [7:34] 4. Cropped [10:57] 5. The Boss' Daughter [11:44] 6. A Wild Ride [10:37] 7. Cat O'Nine Tails [9:56] 8. A Little Spilled Milk [9:29] 9. An Inside Job [9:58] 10. Cats Love Cemeteries [5:55] 11. Message From the Grave [9:32] 12. Snatched! [6:21] 13. X - Y - Y [10:31]