The earliest of my viewing choices, influenced by the fact that this classic and it's sequel happen to be on the BBC iPlayer - so, if you can access it from where you are, you can watch it. It's another short feature, too, running at just 70 mins. Director Jacques Tourneur certainly packs enough into this one to make you feel you've had a genuine odyssey into another, parallel world.
Kent Smith as Oliver Reed (!) provides the anchor here, playing a very sensible and clean-cut American naval architect. At the zoo, by the black panther cage, her meets and flirts with fashion artist Irena, a Serbian who seems alone in New York. Irena lives in an extraordinary apartment building, thanks to sets left over from Orson Welles' abortive project, The Magnificent Ambersons.
Soon the young couple are married. But Irena had already confided in Oliver that in her village there is a legend of a tribe of witches who, in the throes of anger or passion, transformed into cats. She fears that she might kill him if their marriage is consummated. This naturally puts a strain on their relationship, though Oliver strives to be understanding. On the advice of his colleague Alice, Oliver asks Irena to see a psychiatrist, Doctor Judd. The latter provides a thoroughly Freudian explanation for it all.
Unfortunately for all concerned, Judd is very wrong. Alice reveals she has always loved Oliver. Irena is jealous, and in a famous scene pursues Alice to a bus-stop in the dark. We never see Irena transform, but in a second attempt on Alice's life the carefully-rationed details are clear enough. The use of bloody footprints is truly chilling, and thrilling. It's also surprising (i.e. I'd forgotten) how Judd abandons his medical ethics to try his luck with Irena.
Cat People is at triumph of style over budget. RKO was in financial crisis before Val Lewton produced this compact classic, which took a fortune at the box office and saved the studio. It is one of the best examples of a subtle, black and white horror movie. It sets a standard that has seldom been equalled for economical, stylish visuals that make simple light and shadow far more powerful than any effects work. Every frame a potential poster, every shot a work of art.
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