Review of Cat People (1942) by Archibald T — 22 Mar 2011

Irena draws a picture of a black panther at the local zoo where she meets a man named Oliver Reed who is smitten with her. While taking her back to her apartment, he's let into hers where he starts to get to know her. She talks of a story about how she may be one of the descendants of devil worshipers who fled from King John. Oliver doesn't believe such nonsense and thinks that it's just a stupid superstition.

They get married and all seems well until after the ceremony she's confronted by a woman who's dressed like a 40s version of Catwoman. She approaches their table and speaks in Irena's native Serbian tongue by calling her 'My Sister'. It frightens her and her beliefs that she may very well turn into a cat have just been ratcheted up a notch. However, her jealousy and envy of other women may have something more to do with her changing once she's married to Oliver.

Alice Moore is Oliver's assistant and she loves Oliver which only gives even more jealous rage to Irena. Looks like the cat is slowly coming out of the bag. Sexuality presented through metaphors with Irena's cat-like tendencies proving her to be frigid and for Oliver, who is unhappy in his marriage, to seek another woman in Alice who loves him.

Irena's suspicion of Oliver and Alice seeing each other proves her right when she sees them together. She follows Alice who boards a bus after getting spooked by it. It's one of the famous jump scenes when what you think you're hearing is the sound of a cat only to turn out to be a bus. The way it was shot is nothing short of genius because it actually made me jump out of my seat a little.

Irena's transformation may be very real when she corners Alice in a Swimming Pool. Her robe scratched up like as if a cat had clawed it. We're never certain if Irena is the cat. There never is a transformation scene of her changing into one which leads the viewer ever more uncomfortable.

The use of sounds and shadows are beautifully sinister when you can't see what's there. If gave me the creeps. The story is very metaphoric about sexuality and infidelity. Irena turning into a cat if she makes love sounds intriguing if Oliver was into Beastiality. To be torn to shreds or to be not torn to shreds that is the question. Who knows? Maybe having sex with Irena may very well be the best sex he's ever had that is of course he's okay to be dead afterwards.

Smile Oliver!