The Cat's Meow

The Cat's Meow is a 2001 American historical drama directed by Peter Bogdanovich, showcasing the lives of Hollywood's elite against a backdrop of mystery and scandal in the early 1920s. The movie is ostensibly based on the unconfirmed but famous whispers of a shocking cover-up that took place on media mogul William Randolph Hearst's yacht during a weekend getaway. While the incident has been shrouded in secrecy, Bogdanovich's film steps into the realm of conjecture to offer us a compelling narrative full of secrets, suspicions, and intrigue.

The film features a stellar array of talents, with Kirsten Dunst in the role of Hollywood actress Marion Davies, Cary Elwes as renowned producer and director Thomas H. Ince, and Edward Herrmann playing media tycoon William Randolph Hearst. Supported by a cast that includes Jennifer Tilly and Joanna Lumley, the script stitches a tapestry of complex relationships and power dynamics that continually shift and test alliances.

The Cat's Meow presents Marion Davies (Kirsten Dunst) as a young, vivacious actress who becomes the centre of attention on Hearst's yacht, the Oneida. Dunst's performance portrays Marion as a free-spirited individual, battling with the realities of being Hearst's mistress while being smitten with the dashing Charlie Chaplin, played delicately by Eddie Izzard, causing a palpable tension that underlines the lead-up to the film's grave conclusion.

Cary Elwes impressively brings to life Thomas Ince's character – a fading producer-director desperate to strike a business deal with Hearst to save his ailing studio. His well-played desperation sets the stage for the driving force behind much of the film's intrigue and mystery. Elwes adeptly ventures into the whirlpool of wild parties, secret deals, and clandestine love affairs that epitomized Hollywood elite's clandestine escapades.

Edward Herrmann’s portrayal of William Randolph Hearst borrows heavily from the real inspirations. His Hearst is shown as a possessive lover, a powerful man grappling with his waning authority and the threat of younger, more energetic Chaplin stealing his beloved Marion.

Jennifer Tilly adds a dash of comic relief with her animated portrayal of sassy gossip columnist Louella Parsons. Joanna Lumley rounds off the main cast as a stately, tragic figure, Elinor Glyn, whose upper-crust British exterior disguises a keen, observational mind.

The Cat's Meow exquisitely brings to life the opulence of the roaring twenties and the excesses of Hollywood's wealthy elite. Beyond the veneer of their glitz and glamour, the script cleverly explores themes of love, ambition, jealousy, and the human tendencies that often lead the powerful astray. The film succeeds in blending historical authenticity with Hollywood conjecture and serves as a window into a world where personal and professional lines blur, where love, ambition, and treacherous schemes concoct a potentially lethal cocktail.

Bogdanovich's exquisite direction creates adequate suspense around the doom-laden voyage, while the movie's cinematography paints a vivid picture of the era's lavish costumes and settings. The narrative is nuanced and layered, with its dramatis persona authentically embodying their roles and delivering noteworthy performances.

The film does not shy away from looking at the ugliness that can lurk beneath opulence and power. It questions to what extent people are willing to go to maintain their stature or regain lost glory—making it thought-provoking and, at times, uneasy viewing. Yet, it does so in a way that is entertaining, engaging, and compelling from start to finish.

Overall, The Cat's Meow is a stylish and intelligent film that offers viewers an intriguing fictionalized account into one of early Hollywood's most speculated mysteries. It masterfully mixes historic figures and speculative storytelling to conjure a rich, complex portrayal of a historical event shrouded in mystery. The film is steeped in drama, lavished with period detail, and backed by an outstanding, emotive performance from its stellar cast—making it a must-see for history buffs and fans of classic Hollywood tales alike.