MovieChat Forums > Il gatto a nove code (1971) Discussion > Rated PG?

Rated PG?

posted 19 years ago by AlbertTheFlasher
12 replies | jump to latest

I think the real mystery of Cat O' Nine Tails is how the hell it got rated PG (or "GP" as it was known back then in the U.S.). The violence is not nearly as graphic as Argento's later work, but it does have a couple of gruesome scenes just the same. Most notably are the murders of Dr. Calabresi and Bianca Merusi. When Calabresi is pushed into the train, blood spews from his mouth. When Bianca is strangled, she vomits. Not exactly the kind of movie I would let a young child to see, that's for sure.

Now, it does say in the "alternate versions" page that Cat O' Nine Tails was shortened by 20 minutes for the original theatrical release in the U.S., so it's possible that these scenes in particular were trimmed in order to achieve the GP rating. If anybody out there can shead some light on this, that would be helpful.

[–] 19 years ago

[deleted]

[–] AlbertTheFlasher 18 years ago

That's a good point. I'm sure that if Cat O' Nine Tails was rated today, it would likely get a PG-13 rating. Or possibly an R. I'm guessing that the MPAA took a more liberal approach when rating movies back in the early 70s.

But I'm definitely curious as to which scenes were cut out to shorten it by twenty minutes. As you say, it could be unnecessary scenes to speed up the pace. One scene in particular I thought was unnecessary was the car chase scene. I think it would have been better instead if they showed Arno having a conversation with Bianca when he paid her a visit. That way, his theory of Calebresi leaving a blackmail note behind would have been more firmly established. I wonder if such a scene was actually filmed, but maybe Argento decided to leave it out for some reason.

[–] filmo70 18 years ago

The original review from the NY Times states that the movie was 112 minutes and still rated GP.

[–] AlbertTheFlasher 18 years ago

112 minutes is definitely the complete uncut version, so there's no way that Cat could have been shortened by 20 minutes upon its original North American release. It appears somebody got their facts wrong in the Alternate Versions link.

By the way, what kind of a review did the NY Times give it? Did they like it or hate it?

[–] filmo70 18 years ago

May 27, 1971
' Cat O'Nine Tails'
A. H. WEILER.

Only blindly abject devotees of the whodunit should discover catnip in "The Cat O'Nine Tails," which whipped into local theaters yesterday from Italy, complete with English dialogue, color and James Franciscus and Karl Malden to make this "Cat" hop sporadically. Any simple souls who expect large dollops of probability and authentic excitement are cautioned that they're in short supply in the concoction of slayings and sleuthing that is dished up here.

It isn't ungallant to note that the title refers to the number of clues Mr. Franciscus, as an over-inquisitive reporter, and Mr. Malden, as an unlikely blind crossword puzzle expert, have to solve the four murders committed by someone in the posh Terzi Research Institute. It all stems from the fact that Professor Terzi and his associates are about to come up with a wonder heredity drug and shed new light on the criminal factor in chromosomes.

Unfortunately, Dario and Salvatore Argento, the producer and director-writer, who previously were represented here by another sample of the genre, "The Bird With the Crystal Plumage," have drawn mere surface portrayals from a scurrying cast, who only occasionally generate some tension. They're just workman-like, much like Mr. Malden, who simply quips at one point:

"I like solving puzzles." You'd have to be dedicated to puzzles to love this "Cat."

THE CAT O'NINE TAILS, directed by Dario Argento; screenplay by Mr. Argento, based on a story by Mr. Argento, Luigi Collo and Dardano Sacchetti; director of photography, Erico Menczer; music by Ennio Morricone; produced by Salvatore Argento; released by National General Pictures. At neighborhood theaters. Running time: 112 minutes. (The Motion Picture Association of America's Production Code and Rating Administration classifies this film: "GP—all ages admitted, parental guidance suggested.")
Franco Arno . . . . . Karl Malden
Carlo Giordani . . . . . James Franciscus
Anna Terzi . . . . . Catherine Spaak
Lori . . . . . Cinzia De Carolis
Dr. Calabresi . . . . . Carlo Alighiero
Cameraman Righetto . . . . . Vittorio Congia
Police Supt. Spimi . . . . . Pier Paolo Capponi
Bianca Merusi . . . . . Rada Rassimov
Dr. Braun . . . . . Horst Frank
Professor Terzi . . . . . Tino Carraro

[–] Mother_of_Tears 18 years ago

I too am surprised at the PG rating. I guess in terms of actual bloodletting, Cat o' Nine Tails is much tamer than some of his later works, but the murder sequences are pretty nasty in what they imply happens. Especially Bianca's long-drawn-out strangulation scene where she vomits as she dies. Nice touch Dario! Lol.

[–] paul_johnr 15 years ago

I have the Anchor Bay DVD and when I first opened up the case, there is a small reproduction of the poster for its U.S. release. I thought to myself "GP?"

Ratings seem to have been looser then, but I'm surprised myself that it wasn't R.

http://rovingreviewer.blogspot.com

[–] preppy-3 14 years ago

I saw the 90 min and 112 min version of theis film. None of the violence was cut out and they even kept in Spaak showing her breasts! But the violence isn't THAT bad--most of the murders are fairly non-bloody. Back then thratings board was VERY lenient on horror films. The 1968 film "Dracula Has Risen from the Grave" which has tons of graphic violence and plenty of blood (and ends with Dracula impaled on a giant cross!) was given a G! The only parts cut out were dialogue.

[–] ToMakeEachDayCount 11 years ago

"I saw the 90 min and 112 min version of theis film. None of the violence was cut out and they even kept in Spaak showing her breasts!"

I saw a 90 minute cut as well and the violence indeed was cut out. It was a Netflix rental version. It wasn't until I checked the reviews on that site that I realized it was edited, and not even the right composition!! One notable thing that I know for sure was cut out was the shot of the hands sliding down the elevator shaft cables. On the Netflix disc it pretty much just cuts from him falling through the window to the final shot of the film.

[–] preppy-3 11 years ago

Interesting. The first time I saw it was was on late night TV and trust me--all the violence was left in and it only ran 90 minutes. However the video version had it cut out! Go figure! When I finally saw it completely uncut on DVD I realized the TV version just cut out dialogue (probably for time).

[–] orchidclub 15 years ago

It's funny, as much as people say the MPAA has become more tolerant over the years, in many ways they have become more strict. A lot of horror movies were rated PG back then, because there was no PG-13 and they weren't strong enough to be rated R.

[–] westsalemcongress 13 years ago

This film would never be rated PG or even PG-13 today, because bare breasts pretty much equals an instant R rating.