The Curse of the Cat People (1944)

User Rating:

7.0/10   

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:

Actress | Sequel | Cat | Imaginary Friend | Photograph

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
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Charles Bates	...	Jack (uncredited)
Linda Bieber	...	Little Girl (uncredited)
Joel Davis	...	Donald Miller (uncredited)
Gloria Donovan	...	Little Girl (uncredited)
Edmund Glover	...	Card Playing Guest (uncredited)
Nita Hunter	...	Lois Huggins (uncredited)
Sarah Selby	...	Miss Plumett, Caroler (uncredited)
Mel Sternlight	...	State Trooper (uncredited)
Ginny Wren	...	Little Girl (uncredited)

Directed by
Gunther von Fritsch		(as Gunther V. Fritsch)
Robert Wise

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
DeWitt Bodeen		screenplay

Produced by
Val Lewton	....	producer

Original Music by
Roy Webb

Cinematography by
Nicholas Musuraca

Film Editing by
J.R. Whittredge

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

Set Decoration by
Darrell Silvera
William Stevens

Costume Design by
Edward Stevenson		(gowns)

Makeup Department
Mel Berns	....	makeup artist

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Harry D'Arcy	....	assistant director

Sound Department
Francis M. Sarver	....	sound recordist
James G. Stewart	....	sound re-recordist

Music Department
C. Bakaleinikoff	....	musical director

Production Companies

• RKO Radio Pictures (presents)

Distributors

• RKO Radio Pictures (1944) (USA) (theatrical)
• C&C Television Corporation (1955) (USA) (TV)
• Image Entertainment (1995) (USA) (video) (laserdisc)
• RKO Home Video (video)
• Turner Home Video (video)

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:

Miss Callahan, Amy's teacher, refers to a book, The Inner World of Childhood, written by American psychologist Frances Wickes and published in 1927.

Goofs:

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

Movie Connections:

Referenced in The Bad and the Beautiful (1952)

Soundtrack:

Il Est Ne Le Divin Enfant

Intriguing and haunting

Curse of the Cat People is an intriguing tale, beautifully filmed in a style that bears more resemblance to a Grimms fairytale than horror, with a mesmerizing performance from Ann Carter. This is her film and she is strong and convincing in the role. The exploration of the insecurity of the child coupled with a troubled relationship with her father is fascinating. I have not seen Cat People and, possibly, aspects of the history of the demise of Irena would be clearer having seen the original. The expectation of a "horror" film with the suggestive title is also misleading. If you are looking for horror you will need to look elswhere. This is ultimately a surprisingly sensitive and uniquely haunting film that would appeal on many levels.