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Film released in the US on 12th April 2002

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The Cat's Meow

Eddie Izzard is taking a year off from the comedy circuit after landing the role of the young Charlie Chaplin in a new movie called The Cat's Meow. The film is about the 1924 scandal aboard the yacht owned by newspaper tycoon William Randolph Hearst. He suspected Chaplin was having an affair with this young girlfriend and planned to take his revenge.

But, instead of shooting Chaplin, it's alleged that Hearst mistakenly shot a young film maker called Thomas Ince and then tried to pass off his death as liver failure.

Kirsten Dunst plays Marion Davies Hearst's mistress.

Gossip columnist Louella Parsons, played by Jennifer Tilly, heard of the scandal and is said to have threatened Hearst with blackmail unless he employed her.

Stil convinced that Chaplin was sleeping with his girlfriend, Hearst made digs at the movie star in his papers by suggesting he had a fondness for under-age actresses.

The film is directed by Peter Bogdanovich - his first work in seven years - with shooting due to start next month in Germany and Greece.

-From NOW magazine 21st November 2000

EDDIE HAUNTED?
From Ananova 13th December 2000

Eddie Izzard thinks he has put his new career on the line by playing Charlie Chaplin in a new movie.

"I feel as though I have this angry spectre following me everywhere," he said in a break from making The Cat's Meow.

"It's as though I am being told 'How dare you?' Nothing, absolutely nothing comes harder than this.

"I knew from the second I put my name on the dotted line that I could be blowing everything that was going so well. But I just couldn't resist the opportunity."

Peter Bogdanovich is making his movie comeback directing the £10 million drama in Berlin and the Greek Islands.

The story centres on a cruise on a fabulous motor launch owned by the media mogul William Randolph Hearst where guest businessman Thomas Ince is accidentally shot dead.

Hearst, portrayed by Edward Hermann, fires the bullet meant for Chaplin, who was allegedly having a fling with the billionaire's mistress Marion Davis, played by Kirsten Dunst.

Izzard got his screen acting career under way in Velvet Goldmine and The Avengers. He will also be seen in the much-talked-about Shadow Of The Vampire with John Malkovich. 

Robert Downey Jr was the last actor to play the late, great silent movie star in Richard Attenborough's Chaplin. The performance won him an Oscar nomination.

" If I got anywhere near that I would be very proud," said Izzard. "I have done my research. I just hope I get it somewhere near right. This is one time I don't want to be seen as a clown."

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Izzard, as Charlie Chaplin, portrays the difficult complexities of his character perfectly. Chaplin seemed like a fun person to the public in his movies ("The Tramp"), but in reality he was a narcissistic womanizer. Izzard captures the dual nature of Chaplin, showing his shady character but also charming Marion into falling in love with him. The chemistry between Chaplin and Marion especially stands out while playing a game of mirrors, where Marion is supposed to mimic Chaplin's movements. He moves closer and closer to her and she moves just as much towards him, until their lips are centimeters apart and they kiss.