The Curse of the Cat People (1944)

Directors:

Gunther von Fritsch
Robert Wise

Writer:

DeWitt Bodeen (screenplay)

Release Date:

14 October 1944 (Mexico)

Genre:

Drama | Family

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:

Sequel | Cat | Imaginary Friend | Actress | Kiss On The Forehead

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
Julia Dean	...	Mrs. Julia Farren
Elizabeth Russell	...	Barbara Farren
Erford Gage	...	Police Captain
Sir Lancelot	...	Edward
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
DeWitt Bodeen		(screenplay)

Produced by
Val Lewton	....	producer

Original Music by
Roy Webb

Cinematography by
Nicholas Musuraca		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
J.R. Whittredge		(as J. R. Whittredge)

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

Set Decoration by
Darrell Silvera
William Stevens		(set decorations)

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	....	recordist
James G. Stewart	....	rerecordist

Music Department
C. Bakaleinikoff	....	musical director

Production Companies

• RKO Radio Pictures (presents) (as RKO Radio Pictures, Inc.)

Distributors

• RKO Radio Pictures (1944) (USA) (theatrical) (as An R K O Radio Picture)
• C&C Television Corporation (1955) (USA) (TV)
• Image Entertainment (1995) (USA) (video) (laserdisc)
• RKO Home Video (video)
• Turner Home Video (video)

Also Known As:

Runtime:

70 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA Sound System)

Certification:

Australia:PG | UK:A (original rating) | UK:U (video rating) (1987) (1998) (1999) | Canada:PG (Ontario) | USA:Approved (PCA #9618) | UK:U (tv rating)

Filming Locations:

900 West Adams Street, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

RKO Radio Pictures

Trivia:

The mummers' plays referred to by Alice and Miss Callahan are old folk plays performed by travelling groups of players called mummers or guisers. They were often performed in the street or in taverns/ public houses.

Goofs:

Continuity: In the Reeds' house, there is a small side table with two figurines and a vase near the closet where the coats are kept. This table varies from having a backboard on it (when the carolers some to the house) to lacking one (when Oliver takes Amy outside to look for Irena and later when Amy flees the house).

Movie Connections:

Referenced in The Bad and the Beautiful (1952)

Soundtrack:

Il Est Ne Le Divin Enfant

Much more than it appears to be

This film is so much more than it appears to be at first viewing. It is essentially an adult's view of a lonely child's fantasies and how those fantasies affect her relationships with the adults around her. The performances are uniformly excellent with Ann Carter as Amy, the lonely girl, a standout. Her angelic look is perfect for her character. Also excellent are Julia Dean as Mrs. Farren, the ex-stage actress living in her own fantasy world, and Elizabeth Russell as her daughter, Barbara. And to justify the title reference to "Cat People", Simone Simon appears as Amy's imaginary friend. This is a small film that deserves a much larger audience. Excellent in all respects.