Cat O' Nine Tails

Starring: Karl Malden, James Franciscus, Catherine Spaak, Pier Paolo Capponi, Horst Frank

Synopsis:

When blind ex-journalist Frank Arno (Malden) overhears a heated conversation about blackmail one evening, it marks the beginning of a sinister series of events, including a break-in at a nearby research laboratory and a series of violent deaths. Teaming up with news reporter Carlo Giodarni, the two amateur sleuths try to establish who the killer is – but find themselves being targeted too..

Cat o Nine Tails was Argento’s second feature, following the previous year’s Bird With The Crystal Plumage. It is another giallo in which an artistic man (in this case, Karl Malden as a blind crossword maker) who obliquely witnesses a violent crime (he overhears a violent attack on a security guard).

Already, Argento’s slick style is starting to establish itself, as the film is filled with smooth p.o.v. shots of the killer stalking his/her victims, and staccato edits giving the audience flashes of dead victims. It also contains a large number of suspects and red herrings to keep the audience guessing, and in true giallo/Argento fashion, contains a couple of outstanding set-pieces.

The first of these sees one of the professors meeting with the person he believes is behind the break-in at the lab. Meeting at the train station, the professor instead finds himself thrown in front of a train. The moment of his death is captured by a photojournalist, snapping away with his camera on pure reflex.

What is amusing that the paparazzi are there to take photos of the arrival of a starlet, and as soon as the train stops they run from the body of the scientist to take the shot they’re being paid for. Nevertheless, the professor’s death photo is the one that makes the front page and propels Arno to get in contact with Giodarni.

Giodarni is a hot-shot reporter who has a respectful relationship with the police, and Superintendent Spini. He is also ridiculously handsome, a cross between Simon Baker and Charlton Heston. Arno is sure that the man thrown in front of the train was murdered, rather than an accident as reported. A call to the photographer shows the picture was cropped for publication, and the full photo shows a blurred hand having pushed the professor...

As mentioned, there are a number of suspects, including Dr Braun, a German researcher who turns out to be gay, and frequents a “specialist” club. Then there is Anna Terzi (Spaak), the beautiful daughter of the research company’s chairman, who becomes rather familiar with Giodarni.

Cat O Nine Tails is full of idiosyncrasies which keep the film interesting any time the mystery procedural elements start to flag. There is the detective who is obsessed with cooking, constantly talking about recipes – it turns out Spini hates him because he keeps blabbing information to the press. Then there is the scene with a barber, who is rather miffed that the police have reported that perhaps the killer is one of them, and gives Giodarno a shave he won’t forget quickly!

There is also a rather tense car chase, as Anna takes Giodarno for a spin in his own sports car and tries to ditch the police detail shadowing her. Some of the p.o.v. sequences are excellent and exciting – especially when you consider that neither car is fitted with seat-belts!

The film builds to a tense finale and a chase across roof-tops, leading to another big murder set-piece involving a lift shaft. The denouement is typically convoluted, with the killer’s motives being typically obtuse. But that’s all part of the enjoyment of giallos.

Verdict

Cat O' Nine Tails fits in well both with the giallo genre and Argento's style and works to the blueprint set by Bird With the Crystal Plumage.

8 out of 10 (MikeOutWest)

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