The former journalist Franco Arno (Karl Malden) is a retired blind man that likes crosswords and lives with his orphan niece Lori (Cinzia De Carolis) nearby the Terzi Institute. While walking with Lori on the street, he overhears a strange conversation of two men in a car parked in front of the institute and he asks Lori to watch their faces. In the same night, there is a break in the institute with an attempt of heist. On the next morning, the researcher Dr. Calabresi (Carlo Alighiero) dies in the train station and the police believe that it was an accident. However, Lori recognizes the picture of the scientist in the newspaper as one of the men in the car. Franco contacts the snoopy reporter Carlo Giordano (James Franciscus) and asks him to blow up the picture and examine the details. The photographer discovers that Dr. Calabresi was pushed off from the platform but he is also killed and the photograph vanishes. After their preliminary investigation, they find that the scientists are researching a revolutionary drug and a genetic experiment of XYY chromosomes associated to delinquency for the government and they conclude that there are nine leads to be followed: each of the five assistants of the institute (Dr. Calabresi; Dr. Esson; Dr. Mobelli; Dr. Casoni; and the gay Dr. Braun); the stepdaughter of Prof. Fulvio Terzi, Anna Terzi; the fiancée of Dr. Calabresi, Bianca Merusi; the missing photograph; and the robbery of the institute.

The suspenseful "Il Gatto a Nove Code" is the second film in the career of the director Dario Argento and despite the flaws, it is an entertaining conventional thriller. The association of Giordano with Arno is implausible; the unethical way that Giordano works, breaking in the residences is unacceptable for an experienced reporter; the one night stand of Giordano and Anna has no chemistry or eroticism; the car race of Anna is pointless; the edition of the accident of Dr. Calabresi is poor. But there are good moments, like the angles of camera in the stairways, or when Giordano brings two glasses of milk toward Anna. The deduction of Arno that Bianca has hiding the note in the watch in the necklace is unconvincing. My vote is seven.

Title (Brazil) "O Gato de Nove Caudas" ("The Cat of Nine Tails")

Note: On 12 March 2016 I saw this film again.

This is a pretty good suspense thriller. It is set up well with the blind Karl Malden and his little niece, minding their own business, soon to be embroiled in a series of murders. The reason is not known but the plot is picked up by a reporter played by James Franciscus. There are a series of twists and turns. Malden, does a nice job playing the blind man although his abilities seem a little more than is normally fathomable. The two men forge a relationship in hopes of finding, first, why the murders were being committed, then who the killer was. There are sidetracks and red herrings along the way. A mob like figure seems to be withholding information. There is the Sophia Loren look-alike. She serves more as a distraction. But, to be honest, she is what she is. There are so many avenues to explore. Some scientific research into predisposition to violence is at the center of everything. The conclusion is pretty satisfying. If there is a major criticism, it is about half and hour too long. Some good editing could have helped. But, still, it works very well, is pleasant to look at, and has plenty of excitement to keep ones attention .

Franco Arno (Karl Malden) is blind and lives with his young niece. He overhears a weird conversation while walking the street. The next day, he bumps into reporter Carlo Giordani while walking the same street. There had been a break-in at a genetics research facility but nothing seems to have been stolen. Franco starts investigating with Carlo.

The initial hit of the train actually looks hilarious. I expect a little more from Dario Argento. Getting run over looks perfectly fine but that initial hit looks weirdly funny. Arno disappears in the middle of the movie and that's a shame. He's the more interesting character. Karl Malden is the best actor in the cast. He should be side by side in the investigating. Quite frankly, he should be the lead although I would not have the blade.