The Curse of the Cat People (1944)

User Rating:

6.9/10   

Directors:

Gunther von Fritsch
Robert Wise

Writer:

DeWitt Bodeen (screenplay)

Genre:

Drama | Fantasy | Horror

Tagline:

The Black Menace Creeps Again !

Plot:

This mostly unrelated sequel to Cat People (1942) has Amy, the young daughter of Oliver and Alice Reed...

Plot Keywords:

Friend | Child | Sequel | Spanking | Dysfunctional

Awards:

1 nomination

Cast

Simone Simon	...	Ghost of Irena
Kent Smith	...	Oliver 'Ollie' Reed
Jane Randolph	...	Alice Reed
Ann Carter	...	Amy Reed
Eve March	...	Miss Callahan, Amy's teacher
Julia Dean	...	Mrs. Julia Farren
Elizabeth Russell	...	Barbara Farren
Erford Gage	...	Police Captain
Sir Lancelot	...	Edward, Reed's Butler / Cook

Runtime:

70 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA Sound System)

Certification:

Canada:PG (Ontario) | USA:Approved (PCA #9618) | Australia:PG | UK:A (original rating) | UK:U (video rating) (1987)

Filming Locations:

Malibu Lake, California, USA

Company:

RKO Radio Pictures

Trivia:

Irena is Serbian in origin (as shown on the precursor 'Cat People') yet sings a traditional French Christmas carol 'Il Est Ne, Le Divin Enfant' to Amy.

Goofs:

Continuity: The vehicle that passes Amy on the bridge leaves no tracks in the snow next to her.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in The Odd Couple (1968)

Soundtrack:

Il Est Ne Le Divin Enfant

One enchanting film

One of my all time favorite films which captures the innocence and free imagination of youth set against the pragmatism of adulthood(as portrayed by the young girl and her father respectively). Only the little girls schoolteacher is supportive of the girls rich imagination, as even the old woman she befriends is caught up in irrational personal demons that have none of the simple beauty and longing that the girl carries in her soul. The direction, by the great director Robert Wise and Gunther Von Fritsch is perfect, the musical score haunting and expressive of the girl's altering state of mind and the screenplay by Dewitt Bodeen, gentle, observed and haunting. Bodeen also wrote the screenplay for the film The Enchanted Cottage which has a similar feeling about it and also focuses on the power and healing of a rich imagination and love.Enchantment is the perfect word to describe the whole essence of Curse and the magical moments when Simone Simon(as the spirit of the little girls mother) appears to her. These two movies would actually make a perfect double feature. An absolutely captivating film that is enchanting and does indeed call to mind glimpses of the open minded acceptance and wonder of a childs mind.There is even one scene towards the end that IS frightening and shows how a childs accepting attitude can sometimes put them in harm's way. This scene, however, turns its attention to the enchantment that the rest of the movie shares. Simone Simon is also flawless and equally mysterious, alluring and sympathetic at the same time. Some of the images in this film will stay with you. A must see.