CATMAN IN PARIS

US, 1946, 65 minutes, Black-and-white.
Carl Desmond, Lenore Aubert, Douglass Dumbrille, Adele Mara, Gerald Mohr, Fritz Feld.
Directed by Lesley Selander.

A mid 1940s thriller set in Paris at the end of the 19th century, some interesting recreations of the period, interiors and decor, lavish costumes, a Moulin Rouge type of club, a mansion, the countryside.

In the background is a superstitious tradition about a killer, transformed into a Catman, with some murders in the early part of the century and the hero of this film, Charles Regnier (Carl Esmond) has written a book about it. He suffers headaches, bouts of amnesia, the police suspecting him of being the Catman and he himself fearing that this is true. He is supported by his good friend, Henry, played by Douglass Dumbrille. There is also some political background to the government condemning Charles’s book and wanting to arrest him.

Of course, there is a charming leading lady, Lenore Aubert, who believes in Charles, no matter what.

There is the murder of an archivist of the public library, of a society woman.

Ultimately, the police come to arrest Charles, he is defended by the young lady, when suddenly, the real Catman appears, threatens the lady, but he is shot by the police. Charles is vindicated. And, the Catman is revealed as Henry, Charles’s friend and supporter.

The film has the atmosphere of similar kinds of thrillers during the 1930s. Direction is by Lesley Selander, who directed quite a number of supporting features in the 1940s and 1950s, moving into television series in the 1950s, with 145 credits.

Familiar material – and exotic touches.