The Cat's Meow is a 2001 film directed by Peter Bogdanovich and based on the events surrounding the mysterious death of film producer Thomas Ince, which occurred aboard William Randolph Hearst's yacht in 1924. The story is centered on the tension-filled weekend gathering of Hollywood's elite, including Hearst, his mistress Marion Davies, Charlie Chaplin, and journalist Louella Parsons.
The film suggests that Ince was shot and killed by Hearst, who mistook him for Chaplin, with whom Hearst alleged Davies was having an affair. However, the actual cause of Ince's death is still a matter of speculation and debate, with some suggesting he died from heart failure or pneumonia.
The Cat's Meow features an all-star cast, including Kirsten Dunst as Davies, Edward Herrmann as Hearst, Cary Elwes as Ince, and Joanna Lumley as Parsons. The film received mixed reviews upon its release but was praised for its depiction of the glitz and glamour of Hollywood during the Roaring Twenties.