The Cat O' Nine Tails

classic film by dario

Karl Malden plays a blind man, who used to be a reporter and lives with a young girl, who is his eyes to the world. James Franciscus plays a young reporter. There is a break in at a genetics lab, and the Malden character gets involved. Like he said, he likes to solve puzzles. Together they try and piece together increasingly complicated parts of the puzzle, and bodies start to pile up. Nothing apparently was stolen from the genetics lab, but there had to be a reason for the break in. I feel it was well crafted and entertaining, and certainly not obvious. Critics might point to the story unfolding slowly, and that the movie is slow paced. But that is how films were made then.

Even though "Cat 'o Nine Tails" is widely known as one of Dario Argento's least favorite films that he's made in his career (he felt it was "too much like American cinema," and that's not far from the truth. the problem I have with such a quote is that this little neglected film of Argento's is pure cinema at its finest!Both Karl Malden and James Franciscus are a great team in this whodoneit mystery! yeah, it may look a bit dated, but that is the charm of this film, it takes you back to a simpler, yet very violent past. Ennio Morricone's hauntingly beautiful score accompanies you through a maze of unexpected horrors, a rarity in today's flash cut cinema. The transfer is first rate, considering the age of the filmstock, wonderful cinematography from beginning to end. the extras are fair, was hoping to get an insightful commentary track, but everything else here should please any Argentophile! I've had the original Anchor Bay dvd, which also had a great picture, but this one easily surpasses it in many ways! Get this version, it has a nice double-sided mini-poster and a double-sided case cover, along with a cool booklet with text written by Alan Jones about the making of the film! be the first on your block to possess a great disc from the Italian Hitchcock!

The Picture Quality couldn’t be any better, but the Audio is Weak Terrible for Surround Sound Systems.The Movie itself, Is Quite Boring.It Moves along quite nicely, but if your looking for a Cliff Hanger and Spin Tingling Action, it’s Not Here.

While most films that fall under the Giallo banner are far more style than substance, this one rises far above all of that. Among Dario Argento's finest works, it is an eerie psychological thriller which is part Hitchcock, part Raymond Chandler novel, and part Cinecitta. The story is believable and captivating, the suspense is chilling, the acting is superb. Of course there's great music, with Ennio Morricone at the helm of the sounds, and of course there's all kinds of good-looking people, cool cars, and stylish set pieces, just as you'd expect from an Italian film from 1970. But with this film those extras are minor attractions, and the film itself is what keeps you watching.

I couldn't help but a notice a really interesting painting over the couch in the reporter's apartment. It appeared to be a sheet of LSD fashioned to look like Vladimir Lenin. Anyone know where I can find one?

Cat 'O Nine Tails is one of Argento's very early works. Arrow Video, as usual, did an excellent job of not only picture restoration, but of just adding all the extras.

But still very involving. Particularly enjoyable was the relationship between the young girl and the Karl Malden character.The mystery kept you guessing and for the squeamish among you the murders were PG-13.Loaded with extras.

Presented in a 2.35:1 aspect ratio with DTS-HD Master Audio Mono English or Italian soundtracks, this is another fantastic 4k restoration from Arrow. The film can be watched in either English or Italian languages with corresponding opening and closing credits. There are English SDH subtitles for the English version of the film and newly translated English subtitles for the Itslian version. Both versions of the film contain brief inserts (signs on buildings, newspaper headlines etc) in Italian with automatic English on-screen translations. When watching the English version of the film on blu-ray this function unfortunatly duplicates the title of the film, the DVD however does not have this problem. The discs, poster and booklet are housed in a very sturdy hardboard slipbox. The Blu-ray is region B, the DVD region 2.

For the age of this film, picture and sound quality of both pretty good; although it’s not been remastered/restored (as far as I could tell). A simple story line, and don’t expect lashings of gore. It’s the second in Argento’s so called “animal trilogy” films (the others being The Bird With The Crystal Plumage and Four Flies On Grey Velvet). The soundtrack is quite good, by another Italian maestro. Not one of Argento’s best films, but certainly better than some. As in many of his films, various clues to the mystery are simply visual; rather to be found in logical deduction alone.

Not Seen the movie yet, but very Nice box and item. as described. Really happy with this purchase.

This is a very good film I liked it.

Classic arrow release, immaculate as always