loading loading...

Cat's Meow Details

2002 Certificate 12
  • Rated:
  • 50
  • from 2542 members

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 .. Read more

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

Sign up Cat's Meow DVD

Buy From: £3.93

loading loading...

Cat's Meow cover art

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 Certificate 12
Genres Drama
Language DVD: English
Released DVD: 04 Oct 2004
Production year: 2002
Format DVD

  • Critics' reviews of Cat's Meow

    View all
  • 3 stars out of 5

    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

    View all
  • 5 out of 5 people found this review helpful

    Rated - 4 stars

    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

    View all
  • 3 out of 4 people found this review helpful

    Rated - 2 stars

    A domestic cat?

    A film in a similar vein to Gosford Park but this film lacked the sparkle associated with that film. However, It had the odd moment especially when Joanna Lumley was involved.

      • Robert Larter from Hampshire, England
      • Posted 14 Nov 2005 22:03

  • More like this

    View all
    Showing 1 to 4 of 20

    loading

Find cinemas


Rating breakdown

2,542 Member ratings
  • 100
66
  • 90
93
  • 80
195
  • 70
331
  • 60
524
  • 50
401
  • 40
347
  • 30
264
  • 20
213
  • 10
108

Related user collection

20th Century Novels as Film (172)

Average rating: 4.40   88% from 5 members

Showing 1 to 3 of 172

View all

loading

by: Catherine Birchmore from Durham City

Buy from the LOVEFiLM shop

    • Cat's Meow

    • Cat's Meow
    • DVD: £3.93
      Free Delivery
    • RRP £9.79 (you save: 60%)
      • 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 ...