Cat People / Curse of the Cat People (1942)

Commentary on both movies by Historian Greg Mank, with audio interview excerpts of Simone Simon

Theatrical Trailers

In Cat People Irena Dubrovna, a beautiful and mysterious Serbian-born fashion artist living in New York City, falls in love with and marries average-Joe American Oliver Reed. Their marriage suffers though, as Irena believes that she suffers from an ancient curse- whenever emotionally aroused, she will turn into a panther and kill. Oliver thinks that is absurd and childish, so he sends her to psychiatrist Dr. Judd to cure her. Easier said than done…

cast: Simone Simon, Kent Smith, Tom Conway, Jane Randolph

73 minutes, B&W, 1942

The Curse of the Cat People (1944), a sequel that is not quite a sequel, a pretend-horror movie that’s really a contemplation of the fragility of childhood