The Curse Of The Cat People (1944)

A lonely child (Ann Carter) is "different" from other children and lives in a fantasy world of her own. When she wishes for a friend, a beautiful woman (Simone Simon) appears and fulfills the child's need for companionship. What she doesn't know is that the woman was her father's (Kent Smith) first wife and died under tragic circumstances. A sequel to the 1942 CAT PEOPLE and directed by Gunther Von Fritsch and Robert Wise, both in their feature film directorial debuts. Wise replaced Von Fritsch when he fell behind schedule. Often and inaccurately labeled a "horror" film. The 1942 film was but this is film is more of a fantasy with horror elements. It's one of the few films that captures the loneliness of childhood for certain children who "don't belong" and find it difficult to blend in with the so called normal status quo of childhood infrastructure. A parallel storyline of an old woman (Julia Dean) who cruelly refuses to acknowledge her daughter's (Elizabeth Russell) existence features prominently and one can see the parallel between the lonely child and the woman's daughter, grown bitter by the denial of a parents' affection. A lovely, almost poetic dream of a film. With Jane Randolph, Sir Lancelot, Eve March and Sarah Selby.