Review #246: 'The Cat o' Nine Tails' (1971)

Blind, retired journalist Franco (Karl Malden) is walking with his niece when he overhears a man in a car talking about blackmail. Pretending to tie his shoe, he gets his niece to describe the man in the car. That same night, a research facility is broken into and a security guard is knocked unconscious. Reporter Carlo (James Franciscus) begins the investigation, bumping into Franco along the way who has taken a personal interest. They learn that apparently nothing was stolen from the break-in. Dr. Calabresi (Carlo Alighiero) knows what was taken, but before he can do anything about it, he is pushed in front of a moving train. Carlo and Franco begin their own investigation, but find themselves hampered by a killer who will stop at nothing to protect the truth from being uncovered.

Argento's second feature, made in between his excellent debut The Bird With The Crystal Plumage (1970) and the bollocks-but-enjoyable Four Flies On Grey Velvet (1971), The Cat O' Nine Tails is the second in his 'animal' trilogy, and one of his personal least favourites. It wouldn't be until four years later when Argento would properly find his stride, making the phenomenal Deep Red (1975) and following it with three of his finest films, including two of the most memorable horrors ever made, Suspiria (1977) and Inferno (1980). However, Cat does include some enjoyable set-pieces, if sadly they lack Argento's usual Hitchcock-esque masterful touch.

The plot of the film, which includes something about a breakthrough in XXY chromosome research, is one of Argento's silliest, most confusing, and least interesting. It never really hits top gear until the last fifteen to twenty minutes when the plot finally comes together. The film is also disappointingly gore-light. This would of course not be a problem if the rest of the film was involving enough, but it fleshes out a rather simplistic story with no excitement or intrigue. However, Franciscus and Malden are good value, and the final death, one of Argento's most squirm-inducing, will send shivers down your spine. It's still head and shoulders above the majority of giallo's that came out around the same time, but knowing what Argento is capable of, this is a minor work.


Directed by: Dario Argento
Starring: James Franciscus, Karl Malden, Catherine Spaak
Country: Italy/France/West Germany

Rating: ***

Tom Gillespie