MovieChat Forums > The Cat's Meow (2002) Discussion > reference to 'rules of the game'

reference to 'rules of the game'

posted 17 years ago by maestro-45
2 replies | jump to latest

in cat's meow, mistaken identity plays a part. as i recall somebody is wearing someone else's hat and consequently gets shot. in 'rules of the game' the lady in the cloak, another person's cloak, leads someone to mistake her for his wife, and ends up killing someone because of this mistaken identity. in the dvd release peter bogdanovich reads a film length commentary [written by someone else who's name escapes me], so pb knows rotg like the back of his hand. makes me wonder if conscientiously included this mistaken id element into cat's meow. [i have no doubt that pb knows exactly what he is doing.]

[–] Tekla-too 17 years ago

Since this movie is at least partly based on a true story, my guess is that the person who was there and claimed to know really reported that this is how Ince was killed.

Criticism is hard to take, particularly from a relative, friend, acquaintance or stranger.

[–] Lynxolita 17 years ago

Are you talking about the movie made in the 1930's?

Like you said Bogdanovitch didn't write the screenplay, it was based on a play written by the same man, Steven Peros. So where I'm sure Bogdanovich knows his history of film I wouldn't say he got this idea from that. We all know there was many myths behind what really happened on that boat and still noone can say for sure, this is merely the one which the writer believed and embelished a little more to make into a play.

So yeah my guess is the idea didn't stem from that film though I wouldn't doubt if it came up while shooting. Interesting post, something to think about!