A Serbian émigré in Manhattan believes that, because of an ancient curse, any physical intimacy with the man she loves will turn her into a feline predator.
Direction
Tourneur's shadows suggest terror you never actually see.
Sound
Busby's hissing score replaces every cheap jump scare.
Production
Val Lewton's B-movie genius: terror through implication alone.
Director
Jacques Tourneur
Simone Simon
Irena Dubrovna Reed
Kent Smith
Oliver Reed
Tom Conway
Dr. Louis Judd
Jane Randolph
Alice Moore
Jack Holt
The Commodore
Alec Craig
Zookeeper (uncredited)
Eddie Dew
Street Policeman (uncredited)
Dot Farley
Mrs. Agnew (uncredited)
Theresa Harris
Minnie (uncredited)
Charles Jordan
Bus Driver (uncredited)
Donald Kerr
Taxi Driver (uncredited)
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
RKO forced Lewton to use the title 'Cat People'; he had to invent the entire plot around studio-mandated nonsense.
The film's 'Lewton Bus' technique—building tension then releasing with a harmless sound—was born here when a bus horn replaced the expected cat attack.
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