The Cats (1968 film)

The Cats (I bastardi) is a 1968 crime film directed by Duccio Tessari, starring Rita Hayworth and Klaus Kinski.

Cast

 * Giuliano Gemma as Jason
 * Klaus Kinski as Adam
 * Margaret Lee as Karen
 * Rita Hayworth as Martha
 * Claudine Auger as Barbara
 * Serge Marquand as Jimmy
 * Umberto Raho as Doctor

Production
The film had the working title of The Cats. The credits of the film state that the film is an Italian, French and West German co-production. Actor Dan van Husen stated that the film is actually an Italian-Spanish co-production with the initial title being Los Gatos. The film was predominantly shot in Spain, with opening sequences shot in the United States.

Release
The Cats was released in Italy as I bastardi on 30 October 1968 where it was distributed by Warner Bros.-Seven Arts. The film grossed a total of 702,781,000 Italian lire on its theatrical run in Italy. In 1969 it was released in France and West Germany on 25 May and 6 June respectively. The film was released on the Warner Archive Collection on DVD under the title The Cats.

Reception
A contemporary review in the Monthly Film Bulletin commented that the film was "no more than an updated Italian Western with all the familiar sadistic ingredients" and that "apart from a quite competently staged desert car chase, Duccio Tessari (who showed real flair in A Pistol for Ringo) directs as though he had never been behind the camera before"