Frequently Bought Together
What Other Items Do Customers Buy After Viewing This Item?
Product details
|
Reviews
Amazon.co.uk Review
A Hollywood scandal springs to life in Peter Bogdanovich's lively Cat's Meow. In 1924 the immensely powerful publishing magnate William Randolph Hearst held a yacht party that ended with a gunshot. Between Hearst's influence and that of his glitterati guests (including Louella Parsons and Charlie Chaplin), no satisfying account of what happened ever made it to the public. The Cat's Meow reconstructs one of the more whispered-about possible scenarios and has quite a bit of fun doing so. Cast and crew alike skewer 1920s Hollywood decadence and, by extension, today's. Eddie Izzard is a boldly odd casting choice as Chaplin, but he succeeds, refusing to fall back on Little Tramp mannerisms. There are several other good performances, but best of all is the cool-as-sherbet Joanna Lumley as the deliciously jaded Elinor Glyn. The script is a strong one, never stooping to the excesses of its characters--Bogdanovich's take is far from the most lurid allegations of what happened that weekend. --Ali Davis
Tags Customers Associate with This Product(What's this?)Click on a tag to find related items, discussions, and people.
|
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
8 of 8 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
A very 'pretty' film, with lots of 1920s features - Charlestons, jazz, Prohibition, black musicians etc etc. And some truly outstanding performances: Kirsten Dunst's Marion (whose face expresses so many emotions) and the truly repellent - but right after the crime is committed surprisingly vulnerable - Hearst of Herrman. The hypocrisy that underlay so much of the 1920s, sent up by Grosz and Bertolt Brecht in the contemporary Weimar republic, is beautifully caught in this jewel of a movie. But there are flaws: Eddie Izzard, a genius in the field of stand-up comedy, is far too 'big' to be Chaplin (as the short provided as an extra demonstrates) and it was just as well that we were constantly reminded that he was Chaplin. And there was a tendency - common to many US actors - to mumble, forcing viewers to use subtitles. The truly excellent Joanna Lumley, as the iconic Elinor Glyn, shows how lines should be delivered.
Not quite the cat's whiskers, but an enjoyable film.
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
This is a delightful film. It is based on the imagined solution to a real mystery set in California in the 1920's and is full of fine actors doing great character roles, but cast against their usual types. A stylish look at the self indulgent world of William Randolph Hearst and his mistress Marion Davies, this film manages to be sympathetic to the best in everyone and remorseless in exposing the worst. Thw twenties look great the yacht and the settings are well realised. This is a dark social comedy and well worth seeing.
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
I must say this is truly splendid. If you are a sucker for anything set in the 20's then this will satisfy your every whim. Here we have power, money & jelousy. Trouble soon follows.
The acting, especially from Eddie Izzard (Charlie Chaplin), Joanna Lumley (Elinor Glyn) & Kirsten Dunst (Marion Davies) is spot on. The costumes are to die for & the setting, which is mostly on media tycoon William Randolph Hearst's private yatch, is fantastic.
This film has brought to the screen what is a difficult subject as no real explaination has ever been given to the shooting & death during the celebrity party in November 1924.
I was surprised to find this film was not a UK production as it feels so British.
A special mention must go to the music which is quite simply brilliant!
IMMERSE YOURSELF!
The acting, especially from Eddie Izzard (Charlie Chaplin), Joanna Lumley (Elinor Glyn) & Kirsten Dunst (Marion Davies) is spot on. The costumes are to die for & the setting, which is mostly on media tycoon William Randolph Hearst's private yatch, is fantastic.
This film has brought to the screen what is a difficult subject as no real explaination has ever been given to the shooting & death during the celebrity party in November 1924.
I was surprised to find this film was not a UK production as it feels so British.
A special mention must go to the music which is quite simply brilliant!
IMMERSE YOURSELF!
Would you like to see more reviews about this item?
Were these reviews helpful?
Let us know
Most Recent Customer Reviews
Very appropriate
Film was very good and very relevant as our Theatre Group are performing our version of the Cat's Meow in May this year
Published 16 months ago by Mr. Peter Cooke
Great Film!
I was keen to watch this film when I discovered it was to be shown on terrestial television earlier this year, but extremely disappointed to find out it was being shown on a... Read more
Published on 7 Dec 2009 by C. Fontenelle
And the Bees Knees!
In "The Cat's Meow," Peter Bogdonovich performs movie magic, recreating the 1920s, when the screens were silent and the stars' lives were private (or, at least, hushed up). Read more
Published on 30 Nov 2009 by F. S. L'hoir
And the Bees Knees!
In "The Cat's Meow," Peter Bogdonovich performs movie magic, recreating the 1920s, when the screens were silent and the stars' lives were private (or, at least, hushed up). Read more
Published on 30 Nov 2009 by F. S. L'hoir
Well recommended.
Bought this video on the recommendation of friends. Can't wait to see it this weekend.
Published on 25 Mar 2009 by ConnieRN
20s!
i did like this! I really did, i bought it specifically because the 1920s is the era that interests me the most and was expecting...well.. something else. Read more
Published on 16 April 2008 by Ms. F. I. Macdonald
Not as haunting as Kane
The basis of this film is that a death associated with a weekend cruise on William Randolph Hearst's yacht was a murder that was hushed up. Read more
Published on 23 Mar 2008 by Ivon of Windermere
The Cats Meow Indeed!
I LOVED this film! The detail is fantastic as is the acting. I was first interested in this film for Eddie Izzard, who definately gets to show off his acting ability and stays sexy... Read more
Published on 6 July 2007 by H. Thomas
Brilliant Film!
I LOVED it! I enjoyed watching great actors, a good plot, fabulous costume and attention to detail and witty script. Read more
Published on 24 Jun 2005 by "eileenanitam"
Is the Cat sea sick or Meowing to get off?
I found this film rather boring. Even with a sound cast it didn't even get to the level of an Agatha Cristie who done it. Read more
Published on 16 April 2005 by Ms. E. S. J. Webb
Customer Discussions
|
This product's forum
Active discussions in related forums
Search Customer Discussions
|
Related forums
|
Listmania!
|
|
Look for similar items by subject
Feedback
- Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?
|
