Rating: 
Summary: This Cat Has Eaten Your Dogs...
Review: A rediscovery! Despite Argento's public disavowal of his sophomore effort, CAT O'NINE TAILS is a creepy, genuinely suspenseful thriller garnished with dry wit. CAT is very different from his other works in that it is structured like a fairly conventional detective story, with much less emphasis paid to the twisted psychology of the perpetrator and the creative modus operandi of killings. Seeing this film in an absolutely breathtaking anamorphic print with a stereo soundtrack, the best presentation of an Argento film Anchor Bay has ever given, in my opinion even surpassing DEEP RED, was delightful to say the least. It features, among others, a great turn by Karl Malden, whose character begins as a sympathetic protagonist with a handicap and gradually becomes a dark avenging figure, as his emotional stress and anger at having his surrogate child kidnapped and brutalized takes over, terrific action scenes including a car chase that reveal consummate skills of Argento as an editor and a manipulator of camera, and a wonderful score by Ennio Morricone, showcasing his inimitable mix of beautiful melodies and atonal and experimental "terror" music.
DVD includes an interview with Argento, the screenwriter Dardano Sacchetti (whose chief contribution appears to be the rationale for the killer's motivation and origins of his "madness" --which by the way is both greatly timely, since it involves genes, and hilariously unscientific. I am reassured to find that Argento knew all along that the idea was a hokum) and the maestro Morricone. As with other Anchor Bay interviews of the Argento series, do not watch it if you have not already seen the movie, since it includes spoilers about the killer's identity. In addition, there are radio interviews of Malden and Franciscus, conducted during the production. Malden's interview is by far more interesting, astutely pointing out the young Italian director's skills, and discussing his methods for playing a blind character. Since I believe Malden's performance is an important aspect of the movie's success, I enjoyed his time-capsule interview quite a bit. Although indeed a more conventional film in many ways compared to his later works, CAT is by no means an anonymous assembly line product some comments (including Argento's, perhaps)may lead you to believe. You will NOT be disappointed. Beware of milk deliveries!
Rating: 
Summary: This 'Cat' lets down.
Review: After hearing the reviews for THE CAT O" NINE TAILS i did not have high expectations for this film though it actually turned out to be a little better than i expected though not enough. A blind puzzle maker (Karl Malden) overhears two men disscussing something one night in front of a genetics building and later that night the guard of the building is assualted and something from the building is stolen. Soon after the puzzle maker joins with a newspaper reporter (James Franciscus) to find out who committed the robbery and soon after as a result of their snooping a series of murders are committed to cover up the tracks of the theif and along the way the reporter begins an affair with the daughter (Catherine Spaak) of the owner of the building. This was the second of Argento's animal trilogy. The first was THE BIRD WITH THE CRYSTAL PLUMMAGE and the third which Paramount is considering releasing is FOUR FLIES ON GRAY VELVET and it's also Argento's second film. Argento himself said he hated this film though it's not as bad as all that. The dubbing is what you normally expect from this kind of film. The acting is uneven. James Franciscus is stiff at times as is Catherine Spaak. Karl Malden does a competent enough job though at times it feels like he is not in enough of the movie. Catherine's role is not substantial enough, she's mostly there as eye candy. The direction is unusually restrained for an Argento film and surprisngly there is almost no violence in this movie which is extremely unusual in Argento's movies. Also the script is pretty bad. The story could have worked but instead it becomes uninvolving, the dialogue is stupid at times and a few plot devices are a little hard to believe. The saving graces though are the scenes of suspense which are good enough and Ennio Morricone's music for this movie which is actually very beautiful but it seems like he should have come up with more music for this movie. This movie is mostly a curiousity for Argento fans if you want to see Argento when he was just starting to develop as a director.
Rating:
Summary: Fantastic. Franciscus and Malden Shine.
Review: As already stated by other reviews, this DVD is excellent value. Fascinating interviews with the director and composer. The title music is haunting. Great radio interviews with James Franciscus and Karl Malden, very rare indeed. The poster and still gallery is excellent as are the biographies. A must for fans.
Rating: 
Summary: Surprisingly good
Review: Cat o' Nine Tails is generally considered second-tier Argento. In fact, Argento himself isn't too jazzed on it. But I find it to be an excellent Hitchcock-inspired suspense film. Yeah, it lacks the stylized, highly imaginative visuals of his later films, but that's not to say it lacks filmmaking verve and invention. Far from it. A must-have if you're an Argento fan, but I suspect it would have more appeal to a general audience than most of his films.
Rating:
Summary: Surprisingly good
Review: Cat o' Nine Tails is generally considered second-tier Argento. In fact, Argento himself isn't too jazzed on it. But I find it to be an excellent Hitchcock-inspired suspense film. Yeah, it lacks the stylized, highly imaginative visuals of his later films, but that's not to say it lacks filmmaking verve and invention. Far from it. A must-have if you're an Argento fan, but I suspect it would have more appeal to a general audience than most of his films.
Rating:
Summary: Master Argento's Cool Second Film
Review: Finally this makes its way to America uncut and in a gorgeous transfer. This isn't Argento's best but his development as a filmmaker is obvious. Many memorable scenes, including a brutal, tense-filled final 15 minutes and a great end for the mad killer. Argento's direction and camera compostions are brilliant and have so clearly influenced later filmmakers like John Carpenter and David Fincher. But there's only one Argento. Anchor Bay did a great job with this disc. Fans will drool. Now just patiently wait for "Susperia" and the grand "Opera".
Rating:
Summary: A Surprising Thriller
Review: I had many difficulties to see this movie from Dario Argento because it was not easy to find it in my country, but when I finally saw it, it really surprised me. Like THE BIRD WITH THE CRYSTAL PLUMAGE this second film from the Italian Master of Horror is very impressive. Again Dario used a calculating and very complicated plot, even more than in THE BIRD... This time with more colors and a fabulous score from Ennio Morricone. A great thriller even if Dario thinks it is his most disappointing film.
Rating:
Summary: A Surprising Thriller
Review: I had many difficulties to see this movie from Dario Argento because it was not easy to find it in my country, but when I finally saw it, it really surprised me. Like THE BIRD WITH THE CRYSTAL PLUMAGE this second film from the Italian Master of Horror is very impressive. Again Dario used a calculating and very complicated plot, even more than in THE BIRD... This time with more colors and a fabulous score from Ennio Morricone. A great thriller even if Dario thinks it is his most disappointing film.
Rating:
Summary: Surprisingly good
Review: I had read somewhere that Dario himself didn't think highly of this film and Maltin rates it a BOMB. I was sceptical when I rented this one but in the end I was relieved that I did. It's actually quite good and it has a cohesive plot that keeps you guessing 'till the very end. There's no gore here to speak of but Argento keeps things lively from start to finish and the actors here are amazingly good (compared to many other Argento films). Check it out, it certainly doesn't deserve a BOMB rating, and also, it seems that Dario is never entirely satisfied with his old films, apperently he can't even watch them on t.v.
Rating:
Summary: Surprisingly good
Review: I had read somewhere that Dario himself didn't think highly of this film and Maltin rates it a BOMB. I was sceptical when I rented this one but in the end I was relieved that I did. It's actually quite good and it has a cohesive plot that keeps you guessing 'till the very end. There's no gore here to speak of but Argento keeps things lively from start to finish and the actors here are amazingly good (compared to many other Argento films). Check it out, it certainly doesn't deserve a BOMB rating, and also, it seems that Dario is never entirely satisfied with his old films, apperently he can't even watch them on t.v.
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