The Cat`s Meow - DVD

Film: Many films are nowadays everywhere in the world at the same time brought into the cinemas and then also promptly released on DVD and Blu-Ray. But every now and then some film pearl takes a little longer until it makes it to Germany. "The Cat`s Meow" by Peter Bogdanovich ("Is` what, Doc?", "The Last Performance") is such a film, but this worth seeing thriller-comedy was already made in 2001 and has only ten years later managed to find its way into German home cinemas as a DVD premiere.

The film takes place at the beginning of the 1920s: the rich newspaper mogul William Randolph Hearst (Edward Herrman, known from the "Gilmore Girls") has invited to his yacht, because the birthday of film mogul Thomas H. Ince (Cary Elwes) is to be celebrated with a lavish party. Everything that has rank and name accepts the invitation. So does Charlie Chaplin (Eddie Izzard), who is just recovering from the scolding he took for his film "The Nights of a Beautiful Woman" ("A Woman in Paris"). But Chaplin has a good reason for showing up at the party. For he has lost his heart to the young actress Marion Davies (Kirsten Dunst). She, however, is involved with Hearst. Amid champagne and jaunty Charleston dancing, tensions build and build, culminating in a dramatic accident after which one of the guests must fight for his survival.

"The Cat`s Meow" is a good-humouredly acted ensemble effort, with a convincing cast, engaging staging and an appealing set. With a script written by Steven Peros based on his own play, Bogdanovich creates a mix of comedy, dramatic romance and social thriller that is well worth watching, although it does come across as a bit over-the-top, especially at the beginning, revealing its theatrical origins a bit too clearly. But after the somewhat unwieldy beginning, the film soon succeeds in captivating the viewer and entertaining him well.

In doing so, the story makes use of a Hollywood myth that has never really been resolved. The mysterious death of one of the guests at Hearst's party was hushed up by all the guests, so there is only conjecture but no real clarity. This, of course, works to the story's advantage, as it allows for some lively speculation while juggling quite a few Hollywood clichés.

To capture the feel of 1920s Hollywood, Bogdanovich actually wanted to shoot the film entirely in black and white. However, his studio objected, so he left it at shooting only the introductory and final scenes in black and white, but the rest in color. As a small compromise, the actors were dressed entirely in light and dark tones, so at least in the form of the costumes, tribute can be paid to this particular era of film.

"The Cat`s Meow" is thus primarily a little treat for lovers of classic Hollywood cinema, with a dash of Agatha Christie and plenty of hijinks with the vanities and quirks of high society and those who think they belong. Certainly not Bogdanovich's best film, but still an asset to the DVD shelf. Recommended!

Picture + Sound: The fact that "The Cat`s Meow" is a ten-year-old production with a budget that isn`t exactly mind-blowing is noticeable in the technical realization of the DVD. However, the shortcomings in the sharpness of detail, in the contrasts, but also in the sound are within limits. Only the fact that the German sound sounds much more front-heavy, than the more harmoniously mixed English soundtrack, does not really stand out positively. Overall, a deserved "Gut", no more, but also no less!

Extras: Unfortunately, there is not much to discover in terms of bonus. Trailers, biographies, and an image gallery are all that are offered to the interested viewer here. Too bad.

Conclusion: After ten years, Peter Bogdanovichs "The Cat`s Meow" has finally made it to Germany. The mixture of thriller, drama and comedy can not deny its theatrical background, but manages thanks to the good-humored actors, the beautiful decor and the good script despite minor weaknesses to entertain the viewer well. Picture and sound quality are on a good level, only with the bonus material the disc disappoints completely. Nevertheless, the bottom line is still a: recommendable!

An article by Frankfurt-Tipp