CAT GIRL
UK, 1957, 69 minutes, Black and white.
Barbara Shelley, Robert Ayers, Kay Kellard, Ernest Milton, Lily Kann, Jack May.
Directed by Alfred Shaughnessy.
Cat Girl is a rather trivial name for an above-average horror thriller. It was released in the same year as Hammer’s The Curse of Frankenstein and its star, Barbara Shelley, who had appeared in some Italian films, became a star at Hammer during the 1970s. The supporting cast includes an American, Robert Ayers, a Canadian, Kay Kellard, and the German-born Lily Kann.
The film owes a great deal to the Cat People films. However, it is quite straightforwardly done, relying on atmosphere rather than special effects or even graphic visuals. It creates a strong black and white atmosphere.
1.The variation on the Cat People theme? The popularity of this kind of theme? Humans being linked with the cat family? In personality, in seeking prey, in killing?
2.The black and white photography, the British settings? The stronger dialogue – British style? The musical score?
3.The mythology of Cat People? Edmund and his inheriting the family curse, living and identifying with the leopard, the destructive nature of the leopard? Anna as the housekeeper and keeping guard? His decision to end his life? To pass on his inheritance to Leonora?
4.The introduction to Leonora, her being silent, serious? Her marriage to Richard? Not loving him? The encounter with Brian Marlowe, the memories of the past? Her uncle summoning her, her memories of her childhood at the house, her decision to invite her friends? Travelling to the house, their arrival, Anna and her surprise, Edmund and his reaction to them?
5.Leonora, listening to Edmund, his explanation of the family curse? Identifying with the leopard? Allowing the leopard to kill him? Anna and her presence, knowing the secrets?
6.The friends, casual, drinking, at the club, piano playing, dancing? The disturbance in the night? The death of Edmund? Their leaving?
7.Richard and Kathy, the liaison, Leonora seeing them? The resultant death? Kathy and her fears?
8.Leonora identifying with the leopard? Her not wanting to, her discounting the curse? Her inner feelings, the leopard itself? Going out into the night, encountering Richard and Kathy, Richard’s death?
9.Her friendship with Brian, his coming to help her, trying to explain everything rationally? The sedatives? Introducing her to Dorothy?
10.Going to the institution, the treatment? Her transformations? Her being afraid of light shining in her eyes?
11.Her going for the day with Dorothy, enjoying it, ordinary things? The night? Dorothy, her love for her husband? Her tension? The phone calls? Leonora not giving the message? Going to a rendezvous?
12.Leonora, stalking Dorothy, as the leopard? Brian and his confusion, his hurrying to the rendezvous? The car, hitting the leopard? Leonora’s death?
13.The scientific explanations? The psychological explanations? Superstition and curses? The final puzzle of the policeman and Brian and Dorothy going home?
