The Cat's Meow Movie Review 2001

Bogdanovich takes on an old Hollywood scandal in this period drama. In 1924 publishing tycoon William Randolph Hearst (Herrmann) and his much-younger mistress, actress Marion Davies (Dunst), invite a group of partygoers aboard Hearst's yacht for a weekend. Producer/director Thomas Ince (Elwes) dies--but how is in question (heart attack? murder?)--and there's a coverup. Did Hearst mistakenly kill Ince while aiming for guest Charlie Chaplin (Izzard), whom Hearst suspected of carrying on with Davies? Film looks terrific, has a talented cast, and the story shows that little has changed in Hollywood regarding sex, scandal, ambition, and power.

Distribution

CinemaNow, 4553 Glencoe Ave., Ste. 200, Marina Del Rey, CA 90292, URL: http://www.cinemanow.com, Remarks: Formerly known as Lions Gate Home Entertainment

Available on VHS, DVD
Running time 112 minutes.
Originally from British, German.

Cast and Crew

Genres

Showbiz Dramas, True Crime, Period Piece: 1920s, Sail Away, Adapted from a Play, Film History, Homicide, May-December Romance, Biopics: Showbiz, San Diego

Screenplay

Steven Peros

Cast

Edward Herrmann, Kirsten Dunst, Cary Elwes, Eddie Izzard, Joanna Lumley, Jennifer Tilly, Victor Slezak, James Laurenson, Ronan Vibert, Claudia Harrison

Cinematography

Bruno Delbonnel

Director

Peter Bogdanovich

Other

Paul Oberle, Edward Norris, Christian Eisele, Caroline De Vivaise, Jean-Vincent Puzos

Producer

Julie Baines, Kim Bieber, Carol Lewis, Dieter Meyer, Dan Films, CP Medien, Lions Gate Films