Cat People (1942)

Judging from the title, you'd think this would be a movie about all of these people who are also cats. In reality, this isn't featured that much in the movie at all. This isn't a fault. It's just something to take note of. It's a pretty weird movie because it tells the story about this woman who apparently turns into a panther whenever someone kisses her. Now, there is one thing that's really weird about this. It's already been established that she married this guy. So...they went through their whole marriage without ever kissing once? That's dumb. Still, I do like this movie.It's probably because of how ambiguous it is. It never actually shows the woman transform into a panther, but it's certainly implied she does. Wait, maybe she never did. That would explain the whole kissing thing! I just think the pacing is very well done and I really do like these characters. I like how it's hard to tell for even the audience as to what's happening. The romance in this is quite well written too. It's hard to really even know who you're supposed to feel sorry for. ***

Nice guy marine engineer Oliver Reed (handsome Kent Smith) meets a very intriguing woman one day in the zoo. She's Irena Dubrovna (absolutely gorgeous Simone Simon), a Serbian émigré who's come to NYC and works as a sketch artist. In no time, they're married, although she does trouble him. She's afraid to get intimate, because she suspects that it will unleash the feline within her. Also, she places a lot of stock in the legends of her homeland. Jealousy rears its ugly head when Irena realizes that Olivers' co-worker Alice Moore (Jane Randolph) is in love with him."Cat People" was the first in a line of low budget black & white horror films produced by Val Lewton for RKO Studios. They gave him the pre-selected titles, and from there he and his regular collaborators came up with some generally interesting stories. They wouldn't appeal to some of the genre fans of today, because they mainly dealt with horrors of the mind, and were never very explicit. But they hold up quite nicely over 70 years later, because Lewton and his stable of directors - Jacques Tourneur guided this film - crafted some intoxicating atmosphere.There are two "stalking" sequences that are now legendary, and for good reason. Lewton and Tourneur do impressive things with sound, completely putting you on edge. Another individual who plays an important part is the cinematographer Nicholas Musuraca, whose use of light and shadow is excellent.The acting is sincere and believable. Rounding out the quintet of main players are Tom Conway as the skeptical psychiatrist Dr. Louis Judd, and Jack Holt as The Commodore. Appearing uncredited are Theresa Harris as Minnie, Alan Napier as Doc Carver, and Elizabeth Russell as "the cat woman".Written by DeWitt Bodeen, this is a good tale about the power of belief. And like all of these Lewton productions, it wraps up in a reasonable amount of time, running a scant 73 minutes.Eight out of 10.

Yes, it is atmospheric, and the famous moments (the chase, the swimming pool) really are that good. I've just watched it again and find my memory had distorted some details: I pictured Anne in the pool in an unflattering cap, and the hotel receptionist with a twangy Brooklyn accent - which she doesn't have, she just calls everybody "Honey" or "Dearie". She is good in her small role, as is the waitress (a black character with a character, even if she does have to make a "characteristic" remark about nobody liking gumbo).What struck me this time around: there are subtle clues. Irena's fur coat, the way she stalks Oliver and Anne, fading behind conveniently placed potted palms (jungle). The shadow of a chair behind her head giving her "ears". The cleaning lady who is first seen crawling on all fours through the revolving door, animal-like until she raises her head and is revealed as an ordinary woman who collects matchbooks.Another point: until well into the story, the spectral panther could have been the real panther from the zoo, released by Irena (who has stolen the key to his cage). But then you realise that this is misdirection: the panther could not have walked unnoticed into the hotel! And it could not have broken into Anne and Oliver's office - or could it? Did it come through that revolving door? But surely if it had got loose we would have heard about it.The script by the wonderfully named De Witt Bodeen deserves a mention - especially the scene where Anne confesses to Oliver that she is in love with him.The music adds a lot, too. The lullaby Irena sings, that the characters later play on the gramophone. The Irish song the zookeeper is always singing, that Irena picks up.Oh, and the Other Catwoman is sitting in the background at the restaurant when Oliver goes there on his own.If you liked this, you will like The Seventh Victim, which features Dr Judd, mysteriously resurrected.

American Oliver Reed (Kent Smith) falls in love with a pretty but strange Serbian woman named Irena (Simone Simon). Irena believes she is cursed to turn into a leopard when she becomes highly emotional. The two marry but don't consummate their relationship due to Irena's fears. As Oliver turns to an attractive co-worker (Jane Randolph) for consolation, a series of strange occurrences leaves them wondering if Irena's curse is real or if she is just mentally ill.Cat People is a classic. The first of producer Val Lewton's now-legendary psychological horror films at RKO. Filmed on a modest budget, it completely alters the approach to the horror film. Up until that point, with few exceptions, horror films were mostly "in your face" endeavors. Lewton's approach, here under the master direction of Jacques Tourneur, is one of misdirection, ambiguity, and imagination. The power of suggestion was never stronger in horror films than in Lewton's masterpieces.The actors were all great. Simone is perfectly cast. I can't imagine another actress from the period being able to capture both the relative innocence of Irena and the alluring sex appeal. Smith is very good in what could easily be a mishandled role for many other actors. Randolph is solid as well. Tom Conway, an actor I've always enjoyed, is excellent as the sophisticated psychiatrist who may have less-than-honorable intentions toward his patient. Terrific direction from Tourneur and a first-rate script by DeWitt Bodeen. It's an effective, subtle film full of shadows and a haunted, eerie atmosphere. Followed by a 1944 sequel, The Curse of the Cat People, and an inferior remake in 1982.