Cat O Nine Tails (1971)

"One of Dario Argento's better horror flicks...  Christopher Null, FilmCritic.com
"A real thrill ride!  DVD Savant
"Dario Argento giallo is the cat's meow.  Staci Layne Wilson, About.com

Editor's Note Italian master of horror Dario Argento's second directorial effort (and the centerpiece of the "animal trilogy" of giallos--or mystery/thrillers--which includes BIRD WITH THE CRYSTAL PLUMAGE and FOUR FLIES ON GREY VELVET) is a suspenseful murder mystery infused with the filmmaker's trademark graphic violence. Karl Malden stars as a blind man with a talent for solving puzzles who teams-up with reporter Carlo Giordani (James Franciscus) to launch a private investigation into a string of peculiar murders, all of which seem to involve a dubious genetic research facility. The killer soon becomes wise to the duo's plans and will do whatever it takes to stop them from reporting to the police.

	Catherine Spaak
	James Franciscus
	Karl Malden
	Pier Paolo Capponi
	Carlo Leva - Production Designer
	Dario Argento - Director
	Dario Argento - Screenplay
	Ennio Morricone - Original Music By
	Erico Menczer - Cinematographer
	Franco Fraticelli - Editor
	Luigi Collo, et. al. - Based On Story By
	Salvatore Argento - Producer

DVD Maniacs 8 of 10
Anchor Bay continues their Dario Argento collection with his second thriller Cat O' Nine Tails, a crime mystery that predates the science thrillers of Michael Crichton and others that populated the seventies up to the present. The film is more of a standard Italian giallo thriller, with a more textbook linear film style and structure. But rest assured, it has some touches that are 100% Argento, most notably in the murder sequences, of course. It also has a fantastic Ennio Morricone score that stands independent from the film...Visually, there are classical Argento moments. Wonderful use of locations, architecture, camera angles, color schemes, and more...Ennio Morricone's score once again complements the slickness of the thriller film, by fusing progressive sounds with popular jazz and rock sounds of the period. His composition becomes the pulse of the film and truly sticks with the visuals and overall tone of the story...Cat O'Nine Tails is nowhere near Argento's best work, but is still a good film. The DVD is defiantly worth picking up is your are a fan of the great maestro. - Robert Marcucci & Edwin Samuelson