1942
Directed by Jacques Tourneur
We have entered the next stage of horror films, I believe. In the thirties we had a lot of cheesy monster films. Now, we are getting something a lot more subtle. As hokey as the movie poster looked, this film relied on mounting tension rather than gore.
This movie is about a Serbian woman who may or may not be a cat. Her cattiness actually might just ruin her marriage! Anyway, that part of the movie isn't really what is important. What is important is the way Tourneur skillfully makes you like the main character and sympathize with her. There also is another really intriguing story line about another love interest of the hubbie.
This film isn't even remotely frightening but it is exciting so definitely check it out.
RATING: ****-
Interesting Facts:
Major hit in the box office which led many critics to retract their formally scathing reviews.
Took 18 days to film.
Used sets from The Magnificent Ambersons (which I will be reviewing next).
Thank you for giving one of my favourite films 4*. Ha, take that Andrew*.
ReplyDeleteI don't really know why.. It would be very easy to give reasons why not.. A rather creaky premise and some not overly well thought out plot devises. Tom Conway as the well dodggy psychiatrist, who thinks he's on to a good thing and can 'cure' her of frigidity by.. well, lets not go... and some poor sets.
BUT.. But, but but.. Oh boy, all that atmosphere, and the shocks. Even n umpteenth viewing, that bus gets you.
Not at all scary? You have never been even a little scared by the swimming pool bit?
I've never known for sure if it really was 'altered' by the studio from Irena having a genuine psychological issue to the more box office friendly 'Werecat' one. An intriguing thought as just what we would have had otherwise...
Ray
* Footnote. My apologies to other readers for an 'in joke between Amanda and I.. It refers to another blog on the subject of 1001 MYMSBYD by the mentioned Andrew who strongly dislikes this film.
Ooo what else can we team up against Andrew for? I think we should take him down for liking A Clockwork Orange; I freaking hated that movie.
DeleteYes, this was back when horror movie directors had to be clever about scaring people and couldn't just rely on having body parts flying all over the place.
In fairness and in retrospect, I'd probably give it a '4' too....Of course, my scale is a 1 - 10 scale. To each their own...
DeleteOkay, I respect all film opinions and will NEVER EVER try to force mine on anyone. But a debate certainly isn't out of the question.
DeleteThere are films you personally enjoy and there are films you just come to a realization about. You realize that they're something special and even if you didn't enjoy them to the fullest, you can't help but see this beautiful moving picture in front of your face and praise it for everything that it just showed you. You realize what a classic looks like, sounds like, feels like and the images that a classic can show you; images that don't exist in the realm of any other film and cannot be conjured by any other filmmakers. Now, that sounds like someone who freaking LOVES "A Clockwork Orange" and even I'll be the first to say that it isn't a '10', but that it does give me all those feelings.
I've seen Citizen Kane and it doesn't FEEL like a classic to me.
I've seen Casablanca and it doesn't LOOK like a classic to me.
And I've seen about a dozen other so called classics that just looked and felt like any other movie that Joe Schmo put out, but "A Clockwork Orange" DOES look and feel like something really special, at least through my eyes. If your eyes aren't showing you the same picture, well that's totally fine and to each their own.......
Anyway....this is a Cat People review, but Ray came to my blog and brought up the topic, so I felt I should reply here too.
As always, great work Amanda! Keep it up!!!
Thanks Andrew!
DeleteI actually just finished reading A Clockwork Orange and so I have had it on my mind. I actually think the concept is super interesting. What I didn't like was Kubrick's handling of the material. For example, I felt like the rape scene was directed in a silly way, almost the way you would direct a screwball comedy. Now, you could of course say that in this futuristic violent world, that is how rape is handled. But it just made me feel disgusted. So, hey the film got a reaction from me which I guess is a good thing, but I still hate it and I would have done it completely different (a person on the internet who thinks they could do better than someone who is a master in their field; how refreshing, right?). Not to mention the fact the movie completely ruined Singin' In The Rain for me.
I'd forgotten about that.. I may well dash over to his blog for a look.
ReplyDeleteHey, hello there.. we seem to be on line at the same time. It's the start of sunset here, at the end of a stunningly beautiful autumn day.. I popped into the nearest town for provisions for a quiz team social evening I am holding on Thursday, and there was the first substantial snow on the mountains a few miles away.
I'm watching 'Le Havre' (Kaurismaki), and fancied a coffee, and got distracted by your blog.. Aki Kaurismaki is, to me, one of the discoveries. His one film (in my edition) Ariel, put me on to him. Not quite sure what you will make of another gloomy Scandinavian... His best known film, certainly most easily enjoyed, as it's funny, is 'Leningrad Cowboys do America' Now that is something very much missing from 'The book'.
Ray
Ah, man. What I would give to be in England right now. With you backing the "gloomy Scandinavian" movies , I will certainly try my best to get behind them as well. It will just take maybe like fifteen more before I am ready to praise them:) I will check out Leningrad Cowboys do America!
Delete..If I can talk across Andrew to You Amanda, on his blog, please excuse me saying..
ReplyDeleteWell Hello Andrew, fancy meeting you here. And hey, 4/10 is a decided improvement for cat people. My thanks.
Ray
Haha wow we have come full circle! No problem!
DeleteI loved this movie. So unbelievably stylish. But are you sympathetic to Irina? I am more sympathetic to the friend-zoned woman! Anyway I loved this movie. And that was a good observation about a new stage in horror films!
ReplyDeleteI was a bit sympathetic to Irina but I always feel bad for friend zoned people, since I have been there. Glad you loved it! I know someone else who will be happy that you loved it...
DeleteAnother quick thanks to Rachel for bumping this one up the list of mentioned films..
ReplyDelete(This must be doing well for a title of 'most commented on' entry)
Always happy to have a chat about 'Cat People', and equally delighted to see someone else agree with me. Thanks.
It probably is the most commented post, which is a shame since I don't think my reviews were that good at the beginning...
DeleteThis is a movie I loved for the style and ambience more than anything else. The walk in on the dark street and the pool scenes are magnificent. The rest... Conway was outright creepy.
ReplyDeleteGood thing you liked it. I don't think Ray would let you say anything bad about it.
DeleteThank you Amanda!
ReplyDeleteWell, except that sort of makes me sound a bit dictatorial.. Hey, I allow anyone to dislike any film. I've even been known to allow people to like some films, though Sound of music and Forest Gump do push my tolerance limits..
It's just that I feel a bit .. protective .. towards cat people..
I feel the same way about Grease.
Delete