DVD: Network 7952517. time: 89 minutes plus extras. Price: £12.99 (UK) Rated: 15)stars: Peter Cushing and Ray Milland.

check out website: www.networkdvd.co.uk

I have a cat by the name of Tiddles. It has always been my assertion that he is an alien, the advance force of a huge fleet of spaceships waiting to invade our world. Cats watch and listen. They take down notes and store away the information for future retribution. Inwardly they laugh at us, amused at the fact that they are not related to a bunch of monkeys. I suppose in this, they are correct.

This film from 1977, which is released on DVD, tells a similar story. It is actually three stories bound together by an overall story which links them together. This was a common format for horror movies in the Sixties and Seventies.



The basis of the plot is that horror author Wilbur Gray, played by Peter Cushing, has discovered that cats are the real power on Earth. They secretly control everything and humans are in great danger from their supernatural powers. His mission is to tell the world, let the cat out of the bag so to speak.

His next step is to find a publisher (in 1977 perhaps but probably a useless exercise in 2006) to announce his findings. Ray Milland plays the part of Frank Richards. He is approached by Wilbur one evening with a large pile of documentary evidence. To illustrate his theory, three tales are told, all involving cats and their supernatural powers.

As you would expect, there is a twist to the cat's tale. While Wilbur was telling the stories, the publisher's cat was quietly looking on, observing the proceedings, taking everything in much like a HAL 9000 series computer. Watching this movie will make you reappraise your opinions of cats. Better to be kind to them, I say. Sorry, Rover, but you are on thin ice.

By modern standards, the horror displayed in this film is innocuous but there are disturbing, uncanny elements to the proceedings. There are plenty of cats out there and plenty of owners, good and bad. I think this release on DVD would have a niche with them and also others interested in classic British horror. As a bonus, there is material on Peter Cushing. Now, be an excellent fellow and purchase a copy of this...this disk device.

Rod MacDonald