The Curse of the Cat People 
Directed by Gunther von Fritsch and Robert Wise
Written by DeWitt Bodeen
1944/USA
RKO Radio Pictures
First viewing/Netflix rental
“He was everything I needed because his entire character had been molded by my deepest wants and desires. He was my rock when I cried, my playmate when I laughed, and my hero when I needed to imagine that one existed for me.” ― Richelle E. Goodrich, Dandelions: The Disappearance of Annabelle Fancher
The bigwigs at RKO decided The Curse of the Cat People would be a dandy title for the sequel to 1942’s hit Cat People. Once again, auteur-producer Val Lewton subverts all expectations by giving us a fantasy about a lonely little girl’s imaginary friend. Not a cat person in sight.
Oliver Reed (Kent Smith) married his secretary Alice (Jane Randolph) after his wife Irena’s suicide in Cat People. They gave birth to a daughter named Amy (Ann Carter), who is six years old as our story begins. They live in Sleepy Hollow, New York.
Amy is a dreamy child, who as a result has a hard time making friends with other children. Her father thinks she takes after his first wife instead of her actual mother. Oliver is trying his best to browbeat Amy into living in the real world. One day, Amy innocently goes to an infamously “haunted” house and makes the acquaintance of batty old actress Julia Farran. Julia lives with the obviously disturbed Barbara whom Julia believes is impersonating her dead daughter.
Julia delights in acting out “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow” in the creepiest of ways for the little girl. She also gives her a ring. The Reed’s Trinidadian butler Edward (Sir Lancelot) tells Amy it might be a magic ring and how she can make a wish on it.
Amy’s dearest wish is for a friend. It is granted in the form of Irena (Simon Simone) dressed as a beautiful princess. Irena plays with her and treats her tenderly, warning Amy to reveal her presence to no one. But naturally the child spills the beans, worrying her parents even more. Things build to a climax when Irena says goodbye and Amy runs out into the night to catch her.
There are a couple of thrills and a foreboding atmosphere, largely thanks to the beautiful low key cinematography by noir great Nicholas Musuraca, but precious little horror. The film rests on the shoulders of child actress Ann Carter and fortunately she plays it exactly right. There is a touching sadness to her Amy. Simone Simon is appropriately magical. There is some period-type corn on the margins but mostly this is an enchanting film. Recommended.
This was Robert Wise’s directorial debut. He took over when director Gunter von Fritsch got seriously behind schedule.
I have not mentioned this before but the films on the DVDs in the Val Lewton Horror Collection all have excellent commentaries. This one is by film historian and horror guru Greg Mank with brief input from Simone Simon. Mank considers this film one of Lewton’s most autobiographic works and relates various incidents to the producer’s life.
Clip – Christmas scene
