Cat People (1982)
In 1942 RKO Studios hired Val Lewton, (1904-1951), to produce a series of low- budget horror films, hoping to replicate the financial success that Universal Studios was having with their monster movies. His first effort was “Cat People,” directed by Jacques Tourneur, (1904-1977), and written by DeWitt Bodeen, (1908-1988). The picture was a big box office success for the studio. Yet this film was very different than the product being produced at Universal. Lewton’s movie created horror not by showing it, but by suggesting it.
Over the years RKO declined, but Universal thrived. Eventually the two companies joined forces to create a remake of Lewton’s classic. Alan Ormsby authored a screenplay. After approaching several directors the project was given to Paul Schrader, who was considered a rising talent following the success of his 1980 hit “American Gigolo.” Schrader thought it would be interesting to direct a genre picture for a change, rather than the very personal movies that he was known for. It didn’t take long for this new movie to become something very personal for Schrader as well. He brought in people he had worked with before and had learned to trust. Chief among these was Ferdinando Scarfiotti as the production designer, (credited as a “visual consultant” since he wasn’t a member of the union). Josh Bailey would serve as the cinematographer, and the great Albert Whitlock was tasked with the visual effects. Giorgio Moroder would compose the soundtrack, while David Bowie would write and sing the lyrics for the theme song “Putting Out Fire.” Tom Burman would create the striking and often gruesome makeup effects.
If Lewton showed little but suggested a lot, then Schrader would go the opposite route. He showed everything!
This week’s movie was “Cat People” from Universal in 1982. The movie opens in the distant past with a tribe of primitives who worship a race of black leopards, who mate with their women. In present day New Orleans we meet “Irina Gallier,” (Nastassja Kinski), a sensuous young woman who is being reunited with her long-lost brother “Paul Gallier,” (Malcolm McDowell). They were separated as children following the suicides of their parents, (who were a brother and sister in an incestuous relationship). Paul’s housekeeper is “Female,” (pronounced “Fee-mah-lee” and played by Ruby Dee). Paul goes to a local house of ill repute where he transforms into a leopard before mauling a prostitute. The police summon the curator of the local zoo “Oliver Yates,” (John Heard), and his assistants “Alice Perrin,” (Annette O’Toole), and “Joe Creigh,” (Ed Begley, Jr.). They capture the cat and put him on display at the zoo. Irina is drawn to the zoo and starts sketching the leopard, not realizing it is her brother. Oliver meets Irina and is instantly smitten with the girl. The leopard manages to get a grip on Joe Creigh and rips his arm out of its socket, killing the young man. This allows him to return to human form and escape. He approaches his sister to explain their nature as cat people. If they have sex with a human then they transform. Then they must kill to return to human shape. Only by mating with their own kind can they control the cycle. But Irina is in love with Oliver, and is revolted by the thought of sleeping with her brother. What will she do?
Schrader creates a masterpiece of erotic horror. The cast is uniformly excellent and the story finds some unexpected twists as it makes its way to a surprising conclusion. The music is awesome and the stylish imagery is utterly striking. I like everything about this picture.
Unfortunately the film didn’t catch on with the audiences of the day. There was a lot of competition in the theaters that year including “E.T. The Extraterrestrial,” “Tootsie,” and “Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan.” Several great movies got shut out including “The Thing” and “Cat People.” Fortunately these movies found audiences on cable television and home video. Now they can be appreciated for the quality motion pictures that they are.
Actress Berry Berenson has a small role in “Cat People” playing “Sandra,” the pool attendant at the YWCA. Berenson was the wife of actor Anthony Perkins and the mother of his two sons. She was a passenger on American Airlines Flight 11 which was crashed by terrorists into the North Tower of the World Trade Center on September 11, 2001.