The Cat's Meow

The Cat's Meow
Theatrical release poster
Directed by	Peter Bogdanovich
Screenplay by	Steven Peros
Based on	The Cat's Meow by Steven Peros
Produced by	Julie Baines Kim Bieber Carol Lewis Dieter Meyer
Starring	Kirsten Dunst Cary Elwes Edward Herrmann Eddie Izzard Joanna Lumley Jennifer Tilly
Cinematography	Bruno Delbonnel
Edited by	Edward G. Norris
Music by	Ian Whitcomb
Production companies	Dan Films CP Medien
Distributed by	Swipe Films (United Kingdom) Lions Gate Films (United States)
Release dates	August 3, 2001 (2001-08-03) (LIFF) April 12, 2002 (2002-04-12) (U.S.) June 4, 2004 (2004-06-04) (U.K.)
Running time	114 minutes[1]
Countries	United States Germany United Kingdom
Language	English
Budget	$7 million
Box office	$3.7 million[2]

The Cat's Meow is a 2001 historical drama film directed by Peter Bogdanovich, and starring Kirsten Dunst, Eddie Izzard, Edward Herrmann, Cary Elwes, Joanna Lumley, Jennifer Tilly, and Ronan Vibert. The screenplay by Steven Peros is based on his 1997 play of the same title, which was inspired by the mysterious death of film mogul Thomas H. Ince that occurred on William Randolph Hearst's yacht during a weekend cruise celebrating Ince's birthday in November 1924. Among those in attendance were Hearst's longtime companion and film actress Marion Davies, fellow actor Charlie Chaplin, writer Elinor Glyn, columnist Louella Parsons, and actress Margaret Livingston. The film provides a speculative assessment on the unclear manner of Ince's death.

An international co-production between the United States, the United Kingdom, and Germany, The Cat's Meow was primarily shot in Greece, which served as a stand-in for coastal Southern California. The film premiered at the Locarno International Film Festival in 2001, and was released theatrically in the United States by Lionsgate in April 2002. It grossed $3.6 million worldwide, and received largely favorable reviews from film critics.