The Curse of the Cat People – 1944 Wise, von Fritsch
Another in a string of strong atmospheric Val Lewton 1940’s “horror” films that aren’t really horror films
Tight 70 minutes, a sequel to 1942’s Cat People. Kent Smith is as stiff as he was on the first one, and sadly Simone Simon (first billing here) is only in a few minutes of the film as the Ghost of Irena. The young Ann Carter is the main protagonist- she’s good
Lulls you in—takes its time (despite being 70 mins) building up the character and putting you in her psychological headspace- she’s a loner, has an imagination, there’s cruelty in the world in the form of her friends at school
A great frame at the 18 minute mark- “I wish for a friend” and then the lights go down at her garden, another nice one of the girl looking out the window of her bedroom at the 58 minute mark—a wide shot
A nice décor in the big living room of the old lady’s gothic mansion
It is Robert’s Wise’s debut (he shares directing credit) after working on part of Magnificent Ambersons but this is Lewton’s film- producer as auteur here
[…] The Curse of the Cat People – Wise, von Fritsch […]
This and the first one have to be candidates for the worst film titles of all time, right?
The Curse of the Cat People is certainly not a great title, but it seems like masterful prose when compared with Freddy Got Fingered.