The Cat o' Nine Tails 4K Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		3.5
Video		4.5
Audio		3.5
Extras		5.0
Overall		4.0

The Cat o' Nine Tails 4K Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Jeffrey Kauffman August 24, 2021

Note: This is the latest 4K UHD release from Arrow which revisits a previous 1080 release from the label, but which does not include a 1080 disc in the package. Elements of this review repeat relevant content from my original review of Arrow's 1080 release.

In our recent The Swordsman Blu-ray review, I mentioned a little remembered, relatively short lived television series called Longstreet, which featured James Franciscus as a blind detective, in a show that was obviously modeled on other "handicapped sleuth" outings like Ironside, albeit without the success of the Raymond Burr vehicle. In my continuing adventures with a universe that seems to be have some kind of a sense of humor (despite manifest appearances to the contrary), James Franciscus has now shown up in my review queue in The Cat o' Nine Tales, in this case as an investigative journalist who partners with a blind detective-ish type played by Karl Malden. The Cat o' Nine Tails was the second in the so-called "animal trilogy" of gialli made by Dario Argento, following The Bird with the Crystal Plumage, and presaging Four Flies on Grey Velvet. Argento is on record, including in an interview included on this disc as a supplemental feature, as not being especially fond of The Cat o' Nine Tails, suggesting that it was not entirely successful on a number of levels and that it may have aped "American cinema" too much for its own good. As commentators Alan Jones and Kim Newman mention in their engaging conversation about the film also included on this Blu- ray disc as a bonus feature, The Cat o' Nine Tails was arguably rushed into production after the overwhelming success of The Bird with the Crystal Plumage, which may have played into both the final product and Argento's assessment of the results. Argento may have had at least some regrets about the production, but seeing it now from the vantage point of the passage of several decades since its original release, it's reasonably intriguing, if, as Argento himself seems to suggest, a bit too rote at times.

The Cat O' Nine Tails received a previous Blu-ray release from Blue Underground almost ten years ago, and for those interested in a plot summary, I refer you to my colleague Martin Liebman's The Cat o' Nine Tails of that version. Marty's review is also a good resource for screenshot comparisons between the two releases, as well as looking at the supplemental features each release offers (in my estimation, Arrow's version is the clear winner in that regard).

The Cat o' Nine Tails 4K Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Note: Screenshots are sourced from the 1080 Blu-ray. As mentioned above, this release does not include a 1080 disc.

The Cat o' Nine Tales is presented in 4K UHD courtesy of Arrow Video with a 2160p transfer in 2.35:1. Arrow's insert booklet contains the following information on the restoration:

The Cat o' Nine Tales / Il gatto a nove code is presented in its original aspect ratio of 2.35:1 with Italian and English mono sound.

The original 35 mm two-perf Techniscope negative was scanned and restored in 4K resolution at L'Immagine Ritrovata, Bologna. The film was graded in 4K HDR / Dolby Vision at Silver Salt Restoration, London.

The mono mixes were remastered from the original sound negatives at L'Immagine Ritrovata. The audio sync will appear slightly loose against the picture, due to the fact that the dialogue was recorded entirely in post production, as per the production standards of the period.

This 4K UHD presentation offers what to my eyes looks like a slightly different grade than Arrow's 1080 version, though the tendency toward slightly purplish flesh tones can still be in evidence. HDR and/or Dolby Vision have introduced some really interesting new highlights in any case, though, and things like the red dress worn by the little girl in the opening, Karl Malden's blue-gray sweater or especially the garishly lit green darkroom sequence pop with some noticeably more nuanced hues. Detail levels are generally improved again, though some might wish that a bit more shadow detail had become evident with this new version. That said, there are moments where there's better information available in this version in some of the dark scenes, notably in the cutaways to the mayhem outside of Malden's window early in the film. As was the case with Arrow's 1080 version, grain is quite thick throughout large swaths of this presentation, but I found resolution to be perhaps surprisingly tight, even in some of the very dark scenes that populate the film.

The Cat o' Nine Tails 4K Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The Cat o' Nine Tails features DTS-HD Master Audio Mono tracks in either English or Italian. This is another case where no matter which language you choose, you're going to get some dubbing, but with Malden and Franciscus in the leading roles, my hunch is most will opt for the English language track, which sounds fine. In fact there's a noticeably thinner sound and lower general amplitude on the Italian language track in any case, which may make the English track preferable for other reasons. The English track does show a bit of high end brashness just verging on distortion, as evidenced perhaps most noticeably in some of the flute and harpsichord cues in the nice score by Ennio Morricone. Dialogue and sound effects resonate with good clarity and no signs of damage. Optional English subtitles are available.

The Cat o' Nine Tails 4K Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

While Arrow has not included their 1080 disc in this release, per my comments above, they have seen fit to commendably port over all of the excellent supplements from that version to this 4K disc:

• Audio Commentary by Critics Alan Jones and Kim Newman


• Nine Lives (1080p; 15:57) is a 2017 interview with Dario Argento, who is completely forthcoming about his perceived failures with the film, as well as offering tidbits about the relative friendliness of Karl Malden and James Franciscus. In Italian with English subtitles.


• The Writer O' Many Tales (1080p; 34:46) is a 2017 interview with co-scenarist Dardano Sacchetti, whose first film this was. In Italian with English subtitles.


• Child Star (1080p; 11:02) is a 2017 interview with Cinzia De Carolis, who portrays Lori in the film. In Italian with English subtitles.


• Giallo in Turin (1080p; 15:11) is a 2017 interview with production manager Angelo Iacono. In Italian with English subtitles.


• Original Ending (1080p; 3:09) begins with some introductory text describing the original conception for the ending, which Argento then deemed "too American". The original footage is lost, but this supplements presents the printed script overlaying rather well edited stills from other parts of the film meant to "illustrate" what's going on.


• Trailers

  Italian Theatrical Trailer (1080p; 1:48)

  
  

  International Theatrical Trailer (1080p; 1:54)

  
  

  US Domestic Theatrical Trailer (1080p; 1:39)

In a follow-up to the strategy they employed on their recent release of The Bird with the Crystal Plumage 4K, Arrow also offers image galleries on this UHD release that were not included on a previously released Arrow 1080 disc. My Oppo is reporting them all in native 2160p:

• Image Galleries (2160p)

  Posters

  
  

  Italian Lobby Cards

  
  

  German Promotional Material

  
  

  US Promotional Material

  
  

  US Pressbook

  
  

  Soundtracks

Additionally, this is another handsomely packaged release from Arrow which comes in an illustrated slipbox, and which also includes an illustrated collector's booklet featuring an original essay by Dario Argento in addition to writing by Barry Forshaw, Troy Howarth and Howard Huges. A fold-out double sided poster featuring original and newly commissioned artwork, six double sided postcard sized lobby card reproduction artcards and a reversible sleeve insert for the keepcase round out the non disc supplements.

The Cat o' Nine Tails 4K Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Dario Argento may not have been especially fond of The Cat o' Nine Tails, but it's reasonably entertaining, even if it's undeniably weird at times. Fans have their choice of versions now, with two 1080 releases (one by Blue Underground, one by Arrow) and this new 2160 outing from Arrow, and I'm sure opinions will vary, but I personally found the color timing to the most generally pleasing on this version, and detail levels are also improved on this version. As tends to be the case with Arrow, the supplementary package is outstanding. Recommended.