What's New Pussycat?

What's New Pussycat?
Theatrical release poster by Frank Frazetta
Directed byClive Donner
Screenplay byWoody Allen
Produced byCharles K. Feldman
Starring
CinematographyJean Badal
Edited byFergus McDonell
Music byBurt Bacharach
Production
companies
  • Famous Artists Productions
  • Famartists Productions S.A.
Distributed byUnited Artists
Release dates
  • June 22, 1965 (1965-06-22) (United States)
  • January 28, 1966 (1966-01-28) (France)
Running time
108 minutes
Countries
  • United States
  • France
LanguageEnglish
Box office$18.8 million[1]

What's New Pussycat? is a 1965 screwball comedy film directed by Clive Donner, written by Woody Allen in his first produced screenplay, and starring Allen in his acting debut, along with Peter Sellers, Peter O'Toole, Romy Schneider, Capucine, Paula Prentiss, and Ursula Andress.

The Academy Award-nominated title song by Burt Bacharach (music) and Hal David (lyrics) is sung by Tom Jones.[2] The film poster was painted by Frank Frazetta, and the animated title sequence was directed by Richard Williams.

The expression "what's new pussycat?" arose from Charles K. Feldman, the producer, overhearing Warren Beatty, who was original choice for the lead role, answering the phone to a girlfriend and saying "what's up pussycat". In the film, Michael (O'Toole) calls all women "Pussycat" to avoid having to remember their names.

  1. ^ "What's New Pussycat (1965) – Financial Information". The Numbers. Retrieved July 29, 2024.
  2. ^ McEvoy, Colin (February 9, 2023). "What It Was Like to Work with Burt Bacharach, in the Words of his Collaborators". Biography. Retrieved February 11, 2023.