The Curse of the Cat People
1944  NR  FANTASY  1h 10min
CAST— Simone Simon, Kent Smith, Jane Randolph, Elizabeth Russell, Ann Carter, Julia Dean
MUSIC— Roy Webb  DIRECTORS— Gunther von Fritsch, Robert Wise

     Ready for a good scare? Well, tough luck, because this follow up to Cat People (1942) offers little to chill the bones. However, if you’re in the mood for a dark fantasy brimming with stark shadows and beautiful set design, look no further. The story centers on a little girl with a colorful imagination, living in a world of her own. She soon begins an imaginary friendship with a woman who looks exactly like her father’s long dead first wife: Irena, the original Catwoman. She goes to Irena for solace and advice, until her father finds out about this little bond. With a dramatic flair, this fantasy plays out smoothly. Though entertaining enough, the film fails to leave the impact that its predecessor left. Then again, how do you compete with panthers stalking their human prey in the dead of night?
OUR RATING— ** ½
PRECEDED BY— Cat People (1942)