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Peter Bogdanovich helms this picture, which looks to answer the real-life mystery of just who killed a Hollywood film producer on the yacht of William Randolph Hearst. Kirstin Dunst stars as Hearst's paramour, Marion Davies, and she is joined by Cary Elwes, playing the doomed producer Thomas Ince, and Edward Hermann as Hearst.

The movie was set to bow in October and then November of 2001 to qualify it for Oscar consideration. In September, the decision was made to push its limited release run back to April of 2002, a sign which does not speak well to the studio's confidence in its ability to attract critics.

As for the film's ability to attract an audience, history shows that this type of movie does not do big box office business. Movies such as Chaplin, Gods and Monsters, Shadow of the Vampire and Cradle Will Rock - all which presented real-life characters in what may or may not have been fictionalized events - have not attracted sizable audiences. At least those films, besides Cradle Will Rock, had the distinction of Oscar buzz behind them. Of course, Cradle Will Rock made the least amount of money of those that are mentioned. Unless Bogdanovich's film can generate critical acclaim and thereby build a core audience, do not expect a lot from The Cat's Meow in terms of its box office numbers. (Calvin Trager/BOP)

Vital statistics for The Cat's Meow Main Cast Kirsten Dunst, Edward Herrmann, Eddie Izzard Supporting Cast Cary Elwes, Joanna Lumley, Jennifer Tilly, Claudia Harrison, Victor Slezak Director Peter Bogdanovich Screenwriter Steven Peros Distributor Lions Gate Trailer Click Here for Trailer Rating PG-13 Running Time 114 minutes Screen Count 153 Awards Awards page for The Cat's Meow Talent in red has entry in The Big Picture

Comparison films for The Cat's Meow
Title	Date	Opening	Adjusted Opening	Screens	PSA	Adj PSA	Total BO	Adjusted Total	Mult
Chaplin	1/8/93	3.26	4.74	1066	3058.00	4284.2	9.29	13.53	2.75
Shadow of the Vampire	1/26/01	1.89	2.01	513	3682.00	3779.8	8.28	8.83	4.08
Cradle Will Rock	1/21/00	0.59	0.66	506	1166.00	1254.7	2.90	3.24	2.78