Opening Today: “What’s New, Pussycat?”

June 2, 1965 - Opening today is “What’s New, Pussycat?,” a 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 (left), Peter O’Toole, Romy Schneider, Capucine (right), Paula Prentiss, and Ursula Andress. 

The film’s title song of the same name was composed by Burt Bacharach and Hal David and is sung by Welsh singer Tom Jones. In addition to the title theme, songs featured are “Here I Am” by Dionne Warwick and “My Little Red Book,” performed by Manfred Mann.

In the film’s story, a playboy (O’Toole) who refuses to give up his hedonistic lifestyle to settle down and marry his true love seeks help from a demented psychoanalyst (Sellers) who is having romantic problems of his own.

The expression “What’s new, pussycat?” arose from Charles Feldman, the producer, overhearing Warren Beatty, who was the original choice for the lead role, answering a phone call from a girlfriend and saying, “What’s up, pussycat?” In the film, the playboy calls all women “Pussycat” to avoid having to remember their names.

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