The Book, Cat, & Cat Book Lovers Almanac

of historical trivia regarding books, cats, and other animals. Actually this blog has evolved so that it is described better as a blog about cats in history and culture. And we take as a theme the advice of Aldous Huxley: If you want to be a writer, get some cats. Don't forget to see the archived articles linked at the bottom of the page.

August 15, 2014

August 15, 1928

Nicolas Roeg (August 15, 1928) is an English film director. The Man Who Fell to Earth (1976) is one of his famous films. This director often uses a disjunctive narrative presentation on screen. One of his films is Don't Look Now (1973). When I saw this movie, I found it so gory as to be off-putting. Then I read up on the story (from a Daphne DuMaurier novel) and found out Roeg's film is considered a major classic. Now that I read that, I find my assessment has changed.

There is a meowing on the soundtrack. It grows throughout the film though this sound is always a minor detail. Finally it is explained, in the scene where Donald Sutherland walks an old lady, purported to have psychic abilities, home to her Venice apartment. He, I believe, is the one who comments that she takes care of the cats but they don't stay. She says, "Do you like cats Mr. Baxter." He says, "Yes, but they often don't like me."

Nicolas Roeg and Julie Christie, the star, are reported to have attended seances together, before filming started, in order to get certain scenes in 
Don't Look Now right.

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