A newspaper reporter and a retired, blind journalist try to solve a series of killings connected to a pharmaceutical company's experimental, top-secret research projects and in so doing, both become targets of the killer.

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Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
...
...
...
Anna Terzi
...
Police Supt. Spini
...
Dr. Braun
Rada Rassimov ...
Bianca Merusi
Aldo Reggiani ...
Dr. Casoni
Carlo Alighiero ...
Dr. Calabresi
Vittorio Congia ...
Righetto (cameraman)
Ugo Fangareggi ...
Gigi the Loser
Tom Felleghy ...
Dr. Esson
Emilio Marchesini ...
Dr. Mombelli
Fulvio Mingozzi ...
Spimi's man
Corrado Olmi ...
Morsella
Pino Patti ...
Barber
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Storyline

Franco Arno is a blind man that lives with his young niece and makes a living writing crossword puzzles. One night, while walking on the street, he overhears a weird conversation between two man sitting in a car parked in front of a medical institute where genetic experiments are performed. The same night someone breaks in the institute and knocks out a guard. Arno decides to investigate with the help of reporter Carlo Giordani. Written by Giancarlo Cairella <[email protected]>

Plot Summary | Plot Synopsis

Taglines:

Caught between the truth and a murderer's hand! See more »


Certificate:

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Parents Guide:

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Details

Country:

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Language:

Release Date:

9 August 1971 (France)  »

Also Known As:

El gato de las nueve colas  »

Box Office

Budget:

$1,000,000 (estimated)
 »

Company Credits

Show detailed on  »

Technical Specs

Runtime:

(cut) | (Super 8-version in 2 parts) | (Limited Uncut Integral-Version)

Sound Mix:

Color:

(Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1
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Did You Know?

Trivia

The scene where Giordani meets Anna Terzi at her father's house is a reference to the scene in the novel The Big Sleep by Raymond Chandler where Marlowe first meets Vivian Regan at her father's house. Portions of the dialogue are verbatim. See more »

Goofs

Early in the graveyard scene, as they are walking, the position of the actors changes between shots. In the side angle Malden has his left arm raised with his hand on Franciscus' right shoulder, in the angle showing them from the front, Malden has his arm down and Franciscus is gripping his shoulder. See more »

Quotes

Gigi the Loser: Nothing's easy for me. I can't even knock over a chair without getting caught.
See more »

Connections

Edited into Tales of the Cat (2001) See more »

Frequently Asked Questions

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User Reviews

 
Not the best Argento's giallo,but worth a look.
18 July 2006 | by (Chyby, Poland) – See all my reviews

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."Cat's Nine Tails" is the second giallo made by Italian maestro Dario Argento.The film is well-acted and very suspenseful.Karl Malden is awesome as the blind puzzle designer."Cat's Nine Tails" is even less bloody than Argento's stunning debut "The Bird with the Crystal Plumage",so gore-hounds expecting vicious murders in the vein of "Deep Red" or "Tenebre" will be disappointed.Still there are some truly unnerving stalking sequences and subjective killer's view camera shots.The score by Ennio Morricone is as always splendid.9 out of 10.


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