Cat Chaser
Cat Chaser is a 1982 crime thriller novel by American author Elmore Leonard, first published by Arbor House.[1] The story follows George Moran, a former U.S. Marine and motel owner in South Florida, who risks everything by renewing a passionate affair with Mary de Boya, the wife of Andres de Boya, an exiled Dominican general and former secret police chief.[2] This entanglement pulls Moran into a high-stakes pursuit to help Mary claim her $2 million prenuptial settlement from her husband, whose fortune includes cash acquired during his escape amid the 1965 Dominican Civil War, amid threats from mobsters, drug dealers, and de Boya's ruthless enforcers.[2] Set against the gritty backdrop of Miami and the Dominican Republic, the novel exemplifies Leonard's hallmark style: sharp, minimalist prose, authentic dialogue, and a cast of eccentric yet believable characters navigating moral ambiguity and sudden violence.[3] Key figures include Moran's business partner, the opportunistic pimp Rafi Amado, and a corrupt cop, all converging in a web of double-crosses and betrayals that heightens the tension.[4] Leonard, known for his Westerns and crime fiction, drew from his experiences to craft this tale of obsession and redemption, blending romance with noir elements.[5] Cat Chaser received praise for its pacing and character depth but mixed reviews overall, with some critics noting its convoluted plot amid Leonard's typically lean storytelling.[6] It was adapted into a 1989 film of the same name, directed by Abel Ferrara and starring Peter Weller as Moran and Kelly McGillis as Mary, though the adaptation faced production troubles and received lukewarm reception.[7] The novel remains a notable entry in Leonard's bibliography, highlighting his shift toward contemporary thrillers in the 1980s.[5]Source material
Novel
Cat Chaser is a crime novel written by Elmore Leonard, first published in 1982 by Arbor House Publishing as a hardcover edition comprising 283 pages.[7] The book falls within the genre of contemporary crime fiction, prominently featuring elements of thriller and romance, and is set primarily in South Florida and the Dominican Republic.[8] Leonard, who had transitioned from writing Westerns in the 1950s and 1960s to crime novels in the 1970s, drew on his growing interest in Florida settings after relocating there in 1981; Cat Chaser marked one of his earlier works incorporating this backdrop, blending his signature terse dialogue and character-driven narratives with historical research into Dominican politics.[9] His researcher, Gregg Sutter, provided details on the Rafael Trujillo dictatorship, which informed the novel's expatriate characters and political undertones.[10] The story centers on protagonist George "Cat Chaser" Moran, a former U.S. Marine and veteran of the 1965 Dominican Republic intervention, who now owns and operates a modest beachfront motel in Miami.[11] Moran's past resurfaces when he returns to the Dominican Republic for a nostalgic visit, searching for Luci Palma, the sniper who wounded him during the intervention and gave him his nickname. Instead, he encounters Mary de Boya, a former acquaintance from Detroit, now married to Andres de Boya, an exiled Dominican general and former high-ranking official in Trujillo's regime known for his brutal secret police methods. Their encounter sparks a passionate affair fraught with danger.[8] The narrative escalates as Moran gets drawn into a scheme with Mary to steal $2 million in cash hidden in Andres' Miami mansion—a fortune amassed during his time in the Trujillo regime—pursued by opportunistic figures like the con artist Rafi Amado, a Dominican pimp with ambitions tied to the old regime's remnants, and mobster Jiggs Scully.[4][12] Unique to the novel are supporting characters such as Nolen Tyner, an alcoholic ex-Marine private eye, representing Leonard's penchant for eccentric side players in moral gray zones.[6] The book explores themes of post-war trauma through Moran's lingering memories of combat and loss during the Dominican intervention, highlighting the psychological scars of expatriate life among Trujillo loyalists in Florida.[13] Moral ambiguity permeates the heist elements, where characters navigate loyalty, greed, and redemption without clear heroes or villains, a hallmark of Leonard's later thrillers that fuse romance with criminal intrigue.[14] Unlike its 1989 film adaptation, which streamlines some plot elements for pacing while retaining core characters and the political backstory tied to the Trujillo regime, the novel delves deeper into the historical context of Trujillo's downfall and its ripple effects on personal relationships.Screenplay adaptation
The screenplay for the 1989 film Cat Chaser was co-written by Elmore Leonard, author of the source novel, and James Borelli.[15] Leonard's direct involvement in the adaptation process marked one of his earlier efforts to translate his own work to the screen, following previous self-adaptations like The Moonshine War (1970).[16] The script credits reflect collaborative revisions aimed at capturing the novel's essence while fitting the demands of cinematic storytelling.[17] Published in 1982, Leonard's novel Cat Chaser provided the foundation for the screenplay, which was acquired and developed in the mid-1980s by producers Peter S. Davis and William N. Panzer under Whiskers Productions.[15] Initial drafts emphasized the story's Miami locale and ties to Dominican exiles, central to the plot involving protagonist George Moran's past during the 1965 U.S. intervention. Leonard contributed to retaining the core heist narrative centered on $2 million in cash hidden by Andres de Boya, ensuring fidelity to key plot elements amid structural adjustments for film pacing. The adaptation process involved notable shifts to heighten dramatic tension, transforming the novel's blend of romance and thriller elements into a more action-driven narrative suitable for director Abel Ferrara's style.[15] Character backstories, such as Moran's military history, were reemphasized through visual flashbacks and confrontations not as prominent in the book, while additional violent sequences amplified the stakes of the heist and romantic entanglement. These alterations stemmed from Ferrara's vision to prioritize visual action and suspense over the novel's subtler interpersonal dynamics, with Leonard providing input during revisions to balance authenticity with cinematic appeal.[18] The final script, completed ahead of principal photography in late 1988, ran approximately 100 pages, reflecting Leonard's hands-on role in refining dialogue and plot progression.[15]Film overview
Plot
Set in 1980s Miami with flashbacks to the 1965 Dominican Republic civil war, Cat Chaser follows George Moran, a former paratrooper turned modest hotel owner, as he grapples with echoes of his military past.[19] Moran returns to the Dominican Republic seeking Luci Palma, the woman who once saved his life during the U.S. intervention (earning him the nickname "Cat Chaser"), only to unexpectedly reunite with Mary, the unhappy wife of exiled general Andres de Boya. Their chance encounter reignites old memories and sparks a passionate affair, drawing Moran into a web of intrigue tied to de Boya's shadowy history.[15] The central conflict emerges as Moran becomes entangled in a high-stakes heist involving de Boya's associates, including the sleazy Jiggs Scully, aimed at recovering over $2 million in cash hidden by de Boya from his time in the Dominican Republic. This scheme forces Moran to confront moral dilemmas, balancing his growing attachment to Mary against the escalating dangers posed by de Boya's loyal enforcers and the ruthless ambitions of those involved. The narrative explores how Moran's wartime experiences continue to haunt his present, blurring lines between personal redemption and perilous opportunism.[19] Key sequences build tension through intense romantic encounters between Moran and Mary, high-speed chases across Miami's sun-drenched streets, and volatile confrontations that highlight the volatile mix of loyalty, betrayal, and greed among the characters. These moments culminate in a suspenseful buildup to the heist's climax, underscoring themes of the past's inescapable grip on the present and the fragile nature of second chances.[20]Cast
The principal cast of Cat Chaser (1989) includes several notable actors portraying key figures in the film's thriller narrative, with roles adapted from Elmore Leonard's novel.[21]| Actor | Character | Role Significance |
|---|---|---|
| Peter Weller | George Moran | Protagonist, a former U.S. Marine veteran of the 1965 Dominican Republic intervention who now owns a modest Miami hotel and becomes entangled in past conflicts during a return trip. |
| Kelly McGillis | Mary DeBoya | The romantic lead and love interest, a woman George encounters again after two decades, now married to a powerful Dominican figure, driving the story's central affair and tension. |
| Charles Durning | Jiggs Scully | George's sleazy Miami associate and comic-relief sidekick, who joins him on the trip to collect a debt and provides opportunistic support amid the escalating dangers.[22] |
| Frederic Forrest | Nolen Tyner | A loyal ally to George, serving as a grounded counterpart with military ties, aiding in navigating the intrigue and confrontations in the Dominican Republic.[21] |
| Tomás Milián | Andres DeBoya | The primary antagonist, a deposed Dominican general and former secret police chief, whose volatile presence and hidden fortune propel the film's heist elements and threats.[23] |