The Leopard Man (1943)

User Rating:

6.9/10   

Director:

Jacques Tourneur

Writers:

Cornell Woolrich (novel)
Ardel Wray (screenplay)
(more)

Release Date:

8 May 1943 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | Mystery | Thriller

Tagline:

Women Alone the Victims of Strange, Savage Killer!

Plot:

At the encouragement of her manager, a nightclub performer in New Mexico (Kiki Walker) takes a leashed leopard into the club as a publicity gimmick...

Plot Keywords:

Leopard | New Mexico | Nightclub | Coroner | Gunfire

Awards:

1 nomination

Cast

Dennis O'Keefe	...	Jerry Manning
Margo	...	Clo-Clo
Jean Brooks	...	Kiki Walker
Isabel Jewell	...	Maria - Fortune Teller
James Bell	...	Dr. Galbraith
Margaret Landry	...	Teresa Delgado
Abner Biberman	...	Charlie How-Come
Tuulikki Paananen	...	Consuelo Contreras (as Tula Parma)
Ben Bard	...	Roblos - the Police Chief
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Ed Agresti	...	Mexican Police Officer (uncredited)
Robert Anderson	...	Dwight Brunton (uncredited)
Jack Chefe	...	Nightclub Waiter (uncredited)
David Cota	...	Boy Singer (uncredited)
Sidney D'Albrook	...	Waiter Serving Helene and Dwight (uncredited)
Rosita Delva	...	Young Lover (uncredited)
Jacqueline deWit	...	Helene (uncredited)
John Dilson	...	Coroner (uncredited)
Joe Dominguez	...	Police Officer (uncredited)
Dynamite	...	The Leopard (uncredited)
John Eberts	...	Nightclub Waiter (uncredited)
Fely Franquelli	...	Rosita (uncredited)
Eliso Gamboa	...	Señor Delgado (uncredited)
William Halligan	...	Brunton - the Rich Man (uncredited)
Ariel Heath	...	Eloise (uncredited)
Rose Higgins	...	Indian Weaver (uncredited)
Brandon Hurst	...	Cemetery Gatekeeper (uncredited)
Robert Karnes	...	Nightclub Customer (uncredited)
Colin Kenny	...	Nightclub Customer (uncredited)
Kate Drain Lawson	...	Señora Delgado (uncredited)
Dora Leyva	...	Nightclub Customer (uncredited)
Jacques Lory	...	Philippe (uncredited)
Charles Lung	...	Manuel - the Grocer (uncredited)
Mary MacLaren	...	Nun (uncredited)
Richard Martin	...	Raoul Belmonte (uncredited)
Belle Mitchell	...	Señora Calderon (uncredited)
Ottola Nesmith	...	Señora Contreras (uncredited)
William H. O'Brien	...	Bartender (uncredited)
Bob O'Connor	...	Mexican Police Officer (uncredited)
Tom Orosco	...	Window Cleaner (uncredited)
Juan Ortiz	...	Plainclothesman (uncredited)
Manuel París	...	Man Blowing Smoke (uncredited)
Rene Pedrini	...	Frightened Waiter (uncredited)
John Piffle	...	Flower Vendor (uncredited)
Jose Portugal	...	Young Lover (uncredited)
Betty Roadman	...	Clo-Clo's Mother (uncredited)
George Sherwood	...	Police Lieutenant (uncredited)
Bobby Spindola	...	Pedro Delgado (uncredited)
Marguerita Sylva	...	Marta (uncredited)
John Tettener	...	Minister (uncredited)
Rosa Rita Varella	...	Clo-Clo's Sister (uncredited)
Russell Wade	...	Man in Car (uncredited)

Directed by
Jacques Tourneur

Writing credits
Cornell Woolrich		(novel "Black Alibi")
Ardel Wray		(screenplay)
Edward Dein		(additional dialogue)

Produced by
Val Lewton	....	producer

Original Music by
Roy Webb

Cinematography by
Robert De Grasse		(director of photography) (as Robert de Grasse)

Film Editing by
Mark Robson

Art Direction by
Albert S. D'Agostino
Walter E. Keller

Set Decoration by
A. Roland Fields		(as Al Fields)
Darrell Silvera

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
William Dorfman	....	assistant director

Sound Department
John C. Grubb	....	sound recordist (as J.C. Grubb)
Terry Kellum	....	sound (uncredited)
James G. Stewart	....	sound (uncredited)

Music Department
C. Bakaleinikoff	....	musical director

Other crew
Lou L. Ostrow	....	supervisor (uncredited)

Production Companies

• RKO Radio Pictures (presents)

Distributors

• RKO Radio Pictures (1943) (USA) (theatrical)
• RKO Radio Pictures (1952) (USA) (theatrical) (re-release)
• C&C Television Corporation (1955) (USA) (TV)
• RKO Radio Pictures (1957) (USA) (theatrical) (re-release)
• Fox Hill (video)
• Fox Hills Video (USA) (VHS)
• Image Entertainment (1991) (USA) (video) (laserdisc)
• Media Home Entertainment (198?) (USA) (VHS) (as Nostalgia Merchant)
• R&B Video (2004) (USA) (DVD)
• R&B Video (2004) (USA) (VHS)
• Turner Home Entertainment (1991) (USA) (VHS)
• Turner Home Entertainment (2005) (USA) (DVD)

Runtime:

66 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English | Spanish

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA Sound System)

Certification:

USA:TV-PG (TV rating) | USA:Approved (PCA #9179)

Filming Locations:

Santa Fe, New Mexico, USA

Company:

RKO Radio Pictures

Trivia:

There are several unidentified musical pieces used during the film including an unusual birthday song sung acapella to Consuela,

Goofs:

Miscellaneous: Galbraith refers tells Kiki a story about Mrs. Leslie Carter, only refers to her as 'Miss' which is incorrect. Kiki professes not to know who she is, but somehow manages to use the correct 'Mrs' salutation.

Quotes:

[first lines]
Kiki Walker: It may sound like music to her. I can do better with my teeth in a cold shower.

Movie Connections:

Featured in Monsterama Sci-Fi Late Night Creature Feature Show Vol. 1 (1996) (V)

Taut little B-movie

Slimly-plotted but handsomely-produced second-biller about an escaped leopard in a small dirt town in New Mexico apparently the cause behind several deaths...or is it? Intriguing premise given stylish film-noir treatment. Performances are solid, and Jacques Tourneur's crafty direction lets you see just enough before fading to black. Val Lewton produced, and he gives the proceedings his customary spooky polish. Film tails off near the end, but is still a minor gem. Fantastically atmospheric and fun. Based on the book "Black Alibi" by Cornell Woolrich.

*** from ****