The Cat o' Nine Tails



The Cat o' Nine Tails is a Giallo film by Dario Argento which was released in the year 1971. It is the second film in his "animal trilogy".

Blind former reporter Franco Arno and his niece Lori are walking home one night, when he overhears a conversation between two men in a car about blackmail. Later on a breaking-and-entering happens at a nearby biology research institute. He deduces that these two instances are connected, and joins up with reporter Carlo Giordani to investigate. As the two snoop around, string of murders occur, all connected to the research institute.


 * Absolute Cleavage: Anna's outfit when Giordani questions her about involvement in the institute business.
 * Amateur Sleuth: Arno.
 * Blatant Lies: The killer lies to Arno that his niece is dead before dying.
 * Blue Eyes: Giordani's "beautiful blue eyes, with a touch of red" are brought up by Prof. Braun when Giordani is asking him some questions at the St. Peter's gay club.
 * Bound and Gagged
 * Car Chase: Police try to tail Giordani and Anna Terzi, but she shakes them off.
 * Damsel in Distress: Lori is kidnapped by the killer near the end.
 * Death by Falling Over: Dr. Calabresi dies when he is pushed on front of an oncoming train.
 * Destination Defenestration
 * Disney Villain Death: The killer dies when pushed into an elevator shaft.
 * Diary: Prof. Fulvio Terzi's diary provides some information regarding his relationships with his foster daughter.
 * Extra Y, Extra Violent: One of the things that the biology research institute is studying on.
 * Friend on the Force: Spimi for Giordani.
 * Good Smoking, Evil Smoking: Both Giordani and the killer smoke cigarettes.
 * Grave Robbing: When Arno realizes that Bianca still has a vital clue on her, he and Giordani are forced to open up her coffin.
 * Hidden Weapons: Arno has a retractable blade on his cane.
 * I Have Your Wife: Niece, in this case.
 * In-Series Nickname: Lori has given her uncle the nickname "Cookie".
 * Intrepid Reporter: Giordani.
 * Manly Gay: Prof. Braun's lover Manuel.
 * Rain of Blood: Giordani is able to track the killer at the institute when some blood drops on him.
 * Red Herring Mole:
 * Tampering with Food and Drink: The killer tries to off Giordani with poisoned milk.
 * Title Drop: Done when Arno and Giordani are going through the leads and note that there are nine of them. This is followed by an allusion to a "cat o' nine tails", a navy whip.
 * Trailers Always Spoil: The trailer prominently displays the killer's death.