The Curse of the Cat People

What burst of rebellious inspiration led producer Lewton and writer Bodeen to follow Cat People with this delicate rumination on the fantasy life of a child. I can't imagine the studio was pleased. War-time audiences sought escape, not introspection. Yet, I've seen nothing like it before or since.

Only-child Amy Read (Ann Carter) is lonely and imaginative, trusting in others probably to a fault. Daddy tells her there's a magic mail-drop in a tree and she believes him, with unfortunate consequences. Other kids shun her because while they play, she chases butterflies. Daddy is sympathetic but uncomprehending. What Amy wants more than anything is a friend, and in desperation she makes up an imaginary one-- enter Irina (Simone Simon) from the Cat People in a rather revealing princess gown. But is Irina simply imaginary-- after all, she does cast a visible shadow. This theme of a lonely child, along with that of Irina and the spooky old house are ultimately woven into a somewhat awkward, yet memorable, balance.

Notice how magically Amy's back yard transforms into a fairy-tale wonderland when Irina appears. I expect this is a common wish for many lonely little girls who find a better world in their imagination than the one they live in. Here that fantasy world comes alive in a glittering fashion where Amy can at last be happy. Contrast that magical world with the hum-drum one of the family's and the truly spooky one of the old lady's and her neglected daughter. Of course, no one can survive in an unreal world, but an unreal world can help little ones survive, as it does for Amy.

Little Ann Carter is not much of a child actress, rather wooden and expressionless, suggesting an underlying element of stage fright. Yet it's just these qualities that suggest the deeper unhappiness her character Amy must feel in her loneliness. A more expressive little actress might have had the unfortunate effect of drowning the part in tearful emotion. I may be mistaken, but I don't believe Amy smiles more than once or twice during the entire production.

With her scary feline features, I expect Elizabeth Russell's "Barbara" was added to connect with the Cat People. Whatever the reason, it's one of the oddest parts in the entire Lewton series. Disowned by her mother, Barbara has little more to do than skulk around the Gothic mansion like a wild woman nourishing hatred against batty old Mom. I bet a collective shudder passed through war-time audiences whenever Russell put in a sudden appearance. Anyway, scary or not, the climax in the old house is one of the most touching and unexpected of any horror film, even though the very last scene remains predictably conventional and much too pat as was required of movies of the day.

Nonetheless, this is a one-of-a-kind and only qualifies as a horror story in the most extended sense. And ironically, when you think about it, Amy is saved only because her imagination projects past Russell's scary adult appearance to the injured child and wounded adult beneath. Without that profoundly child-like ability both she and Russell would have been lost. And what a good thing film-maker Lewton tried to follow his own drummer as best he could, even in a studio industry where imagination was valued only so long as it followed orders.

Never mind the lurid title; this is a charming fantasy involving a little girl and a lonely retired actress. Julia Dean actually hadn't done a film for a quarter of a century, and is terrific in her comeback role of the secluded actress who is delighted to befriend the child. Recommended to all.

In "Curse of the Cat People," the beautiful child, Ann Carter, who looked so much like Veronica Lake, plays Amy, the daughter of the now-married Oliver (Kent Smith) and Alice (Jane Randolph) from the film's predecessor, "The Cat People." This is a sweet film about a lonely young girl's fantasy life, showing her to be a highly imaginative and creative child. Unfortunately for Amy, she's the child of two complete duds. Her father, former husband of Irena, sees in his daughter an eerie mental and emotional resemblance to his late wife, and it makes him nervous. He gets even more nervous when Amy sees a photo of Irena and claims Irena is her "friend" who has been meeting her. He has burned all the photos of Irena except for one photo that shows him and Irena together, looking happy, though one wonders a) why he kept it since he told Irena he was in love with Alice and was thinking of having her, Irena, committed; and b) when exactly were they happy? They couldn't even consummate the marriage because she was afraid of turning into a vicious cat.

Irena's appearances are interesting but to my mind, it's left open as to whether Irena was actually talking to the child or not. We probably are supposed to think it's Amy's imagination, but I like to keep an open mind. After all, Amy gives her a pin and Irena puts it on her cloak - anyone ever find said pin? It is strange, though, that now she's singing in French instead of Serbian, and there is no sign of the cat stuff.

If you remember "The Cat People," there was a scene at the wedding celebration where the exotic, cat-eyed actress Elizabeth Russell greets Irena in Serbian as "sister." (Actually, Simone Simon dubbed the Serbian.) In "Curse of the Cat People," Russell plays Barbara, the daughter of an old actress whom Amy visits. It doesn't seem like Russell is playing the same character because her mother is not Serbian. Nice to see her, though, and at least in this film, she receives a credit.

"Curse of the Cat People" is a good film, but you'll be disappointed if you go in expecting another "Cat People." Take this lovely movie on its own merits, and feel sorry for Amy - with Oliver and Jane as parents, she's going to need all the help she can get.

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.

Robert Wise directed this sequel to "Cat People", set several years later. Oliver Reed(played by Kent Smith) and Alice(played by Jane Randolph) are now married with a six-year old daughter named Amy(played by Ann Carter). Amy is a lonely child who has a hard time making friends, and seems to prefer living in her fantasy world, visited by the ghost of Irina(played by Simone Simon) Irina looks after Amy, but Oliver wants nothing to do with this, insisting that Amy must be socialized. Amy does befriend an elderly woman in her "haunted" house, though her daughter(played by Elizabeth Russell, though not as her cat lady character from the first) is resentful. Amy will later run away from home, becoming lost, though she is far from being alone... Unique and thoughtful sequel builds on the story from Part I, rather than repeating it, and result is most satisfying. (No third film was made however!)