Cat's Meow Details

2002

Rated:
50
from 2531 members

Starring	Kirsten Dunst, Edward Herrmann, Eddie Izzard, Cary Elwes
Director	Peter Bogdanovich
Genres	Drama

Cat's Meow

In November 1924, multimillionaire William Randolph Hearst (Edward Herrmann) hosts a weekend of festivities aboard his 220-foot steamer in honor of filmmaker Thomas Ince's (Cary Elwes) birthday. It seems that everyone on board wants something from Hearst. Ince and his partner, George Thomas (Victor Slezak), need his financial assistance for their faltering business; gossip columnist Louella Parsons (Jennifer Tilly), an East Coast Hearst employee, wants to transfer to Tinseltown; and comedian womanizer Charlie Chaplin (Eddie Izzard) wants Hearst's lover Marion Davies (Kirsten Dunst) for his own. Joined by other party goers, including English Victorian novelist Elinor Glyn (Joanna Lumley) and Ince's mistress, the actress Margaret Livingston (Claudia Harrison), the group ships off for a weekend of fun and debauchery. The festivities soon turn more serious as Chaplin pursues Davies, fueling Hearst's jealousy over their alleged relationship. Ince, meanwhile, attempts to ingratiate himself with Hearst by keeping an eye on Chaplin and Davies. Ultimately, jealousy leads to tragedy, with all of the party goers sworn to secrecy over what transpired. Director Peter Bogdanovich (MASK) successfully recreates the opulence of Hearst's lifestyle and the spirit of the Roaring Twenties right down to the bootleg moonshine and the Charleston.

Starring	Kirsten Dunst, Edward Herrmann, Eddie Izzard, Cary Elwes, Joanna Lumley, Jennifer Tilly, Claudia Harrison, Victor Slezak
Director	Peter Bogdanovich
Studio	UNIVERSAL PICTURES UK
Run time	DVD: 1 hr 49 mins
Certificate
Genres	Drama
Language	English
Released	DVD: 04 Oct 2004 Production year: 2002
Format	DVD

Critics' reviews of Cat's Meow
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Returning to the silent era of his much-maligned Nickelodeon (1976), Peter Bogdanovich investigates the mysterious demise of Thomas Ince, the Hollywood pioneer whose trip aboard tycoon William Randolph Hearst's yacht ended in tragedy in November 1924. Unfortunately, the approach is more Agatha Christie than Citizen Kane, with teleplay plastic visuals depicting a familiar cast of faces bandying bon mots in stitch-perfect costumes. Yet, for all its shallowness, this is hugely entertaining, with the careful performances from Eddie Izzard and Kirsten Dunst as Charlie Chaplin and Marion Davies being balanced by outrageous turns from Joanna Lumley and Jennifer Tilly as novelist Elinor Glyn and gossip columnist Louella Parsons.
- Radio Times
- Posted 29 Jan 2006
Most helpful member's review of Cat's Meow
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5 out of 5 people found this review helpful

A beautifully shot film

Peter Bogdanovich is a man I?m inspired with, by any means. It's fantastic that he is now back on our cinema screens where he rightfully belongs (although the episode he directed for The Sopranos 'Sentimental Education' was terrific) I?m just thrilled cinema has him back.

On with the review, from the very first shot, it?s evident. The cinematography is pitched somewhere between the exquisite and the sublime. Capturing the musky air, the dusty velvet, the glamour, and the mystery... every sense of the 20's is here. This theme is wonderfully prevalent throughout its running time. Also included are some wonderfully wicked performances. The two main leads, the gorgeous Kirsten Dunst whom, in my opinion, represents the best actress Hollywood has to offer. Here she wonderfully plays star of the silver screen, Marion Davies. Focusing on her ongoing affair with a rather dapper Charles Chaplin played by the talented Eddie Izzard. Both give believable and warming performances to the characters they portray. But for me, it was Elinor Glyn played by the fab Joanna Lumley. I have no doubt Joanna Lumley's favourite book was Elinor Glyn's 'Three Weeks'. He she creates a truly wonderfully, sexy, witty, darkly erotic, character, these elements are never hard to find in any Joanna Lumley performance.

Wonderfull film, some lovely performances and an atmosphere alight with the roaring 20's.
- - A customer from Paignton, Devon
  - Posted 23 Feb 2005 21:02
Most recent members' review of Cat's Meow
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3 out of 3 people found this review helpful

For Cinema Buffs....

If you have watched the region 1 release of Citizen kane (with audio commentary by film historian Roger Ebert) you will already have a head start & enjoy this as a short vignette. Eddie Izzard is excellent as the young Chaplin displaying the intelligent confidence Chaplin possessed in the 20s and throughout his life (Eddie, you could have shed a few pounds though).

Peter Bogdanovich has a strong affection with this period of Hollywood & the extras highlight this.

Overall, interesting insight into a world where money could literally buy anything
- - John from South Croydon, UK
  - Posted 17 Apr 2005 11:07
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