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I love Cat People , it's probably my favourite Val Lewton/ Jacques Tourneur work. On this viewing, I found it to be as sad as it is scary. Actually, it's more eerie than scary, since "eerie" is what these two specialized in, unseen dangers, the creepy threat, whether supernatural or something else, implied rather than shown. I love that, that to me is the best kind of scary movie. But it's also very sad. The Irena character is not evil or menacing so much as frightened and confused and sad. She so desperately wants to be a "normal" wife, but she's so terrified of what will happen if she and Oliver consummate their marriage. Of course this can be interpreted as a fear of sex, that's just one of several ways to view this film. When there's a suggestion of the supernatural in a movie, I tend to take it at face value, to accept the supernatural elements and not explain them away. And you could make a strong case for the existence of the "cat people curse" in Cat People. I think one reason why Irena is so sympathetic is how she's played by French actress Simone Simon. Simon is perfect for the role; she's exceptionally pretty, and yes, rather cat-like in her appearance. But she also captures the vulnerability and desperation that Irena's feeling. There are two scenes in particular in which you almost want to cry for her: the one where Oliver, Irena, and Alice are looking at a ship model in some museum, and Oliver tells Irena to go somewhere else, that he knows she's just "bored" looking at the ships. When Irena protests that she likes the ship models and that she wants to be with him, he ignores her pleas and practically orders her to go away. How hurtful is that, coming from a new husband, and one who's obviously quite happy to spend his time with his female co-worker? The other really pathetic scene is when Irena decides she's going to try to be more "normal", she prepares a candlelight dinner for her husband , only to be told by him that it's too late, he's in love with Alice and wants a divorce. It's heart-breaking. What Irena really needs is not a shrink (although ya gotta love Tom Conway's performance, so George Sanders-like ), but a priest, preferably a Serbian priest (would that be Eastern Orthodox? not sure....) she needs to talk to a priest, tell him the whole story, and get him to somehow exorcise her tormented spirit, lift the curse. But probably Serbian priests were few and far between in New York City in 1942. The "sequel"-- although it's not really a sequel, more just a connected story -- Curse of the Cat People -- is also quite sad, although in a different way. In some ways it's even stranger than the original. And the woman who "looks like a cat" and who speaks in Serbian to Irena at her wedding party ( calling her "sister" ), appears in Curse of the Cat People too. I think the actress's name was Elizabeth Russell.

I like the style and visual aspects of The Cat People more than the story, which has always seemed kind of silly, something that doesn't improve after further viewings. There are some truly spooky moments no doubt about it. I also enjoy the cozy feeling of the movie. Even though it takes place in the big city, there is an intimate feeling there due to the fairly restricted number of locations and the small number of characters. If I happen to be in the mood I will watch it, and the fact that it's so short helps. I got to wondering after this viewing what does Irina do with her clothes when she turns into a panther? Likely takes them off, puts them in a stylish tote bag, hides it in a dark corner of the zoo, and then comes back after she's turned back into a human being and goes on her merry way. Even the mystic and exalted order of cat people have to live most of their time in the real world.

Apparently Ben and Eddie Mueller are no longer talking to one another and, on at least one occasion, had to be pulled apart before things turned physical. They now only communicate remotely. It's all over Alicia's accent. Ben likes it and Eddie doesn't. They get very passionate about things other than just movies in TCM Land. Actually I'm bored and I just made that up. Would make a pretty feeble plot for a lousy movie, though, wouldn't it? "It's good." "It's no good." "No, you're no good." "Say that to my face, why don't ya?" Sorry, I got caught up in it again. I'm still bored.

I loved Mackenna's Gold when I saw it in 1968. (I was one of about ten people sitting in the theatre that day). That all star cast, Jose Feliciano singing "Old Turkey Buzzard," Julie Newmar as a hot blooded Indian (oops, indigenous lady) with the hots for Greg Peck. I mean, who's to question the credibility of any film in which Omar Sharif is an outlaw called Colorado? But the critics have never been too fond of this western and no one ever lists it as one of the great ones of the genre. Okay, maybe it shouldn't be but I still think this oater has a considerable amount of hokey entertainment value.

I couldn't think of any more wing titles, so... actress Toby Wing and the buck and wing tap of the Nicholas Brothers

Everybody knows her as Mrs. "Luvy" Howell from Gilligan's Island Secret Beyond the Door 1947 Noir Repeat Performance 1947 Noir The Snake Pit 1948 Caught 1949 Noir Payment on Demand 1951 Female on the Beach 1955 Noir The Day of the Locust 1975

He's in 12 Angry Men 1957 Al Capone 1959 Middle of the Night 1959 Breakfast at Tiffany's 1961 Cape Fear 1962 Seven Days in May 1964 After the Fox 1966 Hombre 1967 Catch-22 1970 Little Big Man 1970 All the President's Men 1976

I had to do some looking up myself: Stag!

I can't think of a single Val Lewton film that I find completely satisfactory (perhaps that study of childhood innocence, Curse of the Cat People comes the closest). Having said that there are creepy, unsettling moments that stay with you in so many of them. The leopard attack and the blood seeping under the door in Leopard Man, Jane Randolph's dip in the swimming pool with some cat like creature seeming to prowl around it in the dark in Cat People, the walk through the bamboo stalks at night, with the rustle of wind through them, in I Walked With A Zombie, the drip of water followed by a scream from the coffin in Isle of the Dead. That suggestion of evil, the unearthly, leaving so much to the audience's imagination, can be far more terrifying than a thousand vampires or werewolves jumping out at us from the screen.

I know what I'll be spending my Christmas money on........

The Other Side of Hell (1978)

Oh, I'm So Sorry! This will teach me to look at my notes (or cut and paste..) My notes on tablet were.. Burgess meredith Julie newmar Sebastian cabot...were devil on tzone but I used another computer to input, and relied on my memory... you're right Peebs! I screwed up this one! Peebs and Cinemaman tied with 3 each...you can flip a coin, arm wrestle, whatever for the honor of posting next 🙂 thanks everyone for playing!

I Want to Live! (1958) Birdman of Alcatraz (1962) Cry Freedom (1987) The Last Hangman (2005) The Baader Meinhof Complex (2008)

Cool hair from some 1920s ladies: Theda Bara: Josephine Baker: Alla Nazimova: Lillian Gish: Janet Gaynor:

Yeh but what did Gregory Peck know? He probably thought To Kill A Mockingbird was better. Well, okay, maybe he had a point at that. Still, ludicrous or not, I got a kick out of Mackenna. The film bombed at the box office. I once thought of sending a letter to Gregory Peck which would have begun . . . "Dear Mr. Peck, I was the one who saw Mackenna's Gold at the show." But then I had second thoughts about it and decided not to.

You've missed listing one of my favorites of Balsam's roles, CG: The Taking of Pelham One Two Three 1974 (...gesundheit)

Madline Kahn was a genius. Boy, she was great in everything I ever saw her in.

Cuadecuc, Vampir (1971) Spain/Dir: Pere Portabella - What was initially planned as a simple behind-the-scenes documentary on the making of Jess Franco's Count Dracula (1970) is instead presented as an arthouse exercise. The cinematography is very grainy B&W and there is no live sound, the soundtrack consisting instead of various classic music snippets and atonal sound effects. The footage ranges from actual shots from Franco's film to backstage prep work and rehearsals of the actors. Christopher Lee, Herbert Lom, Maria Rohm, Soledad Miranda, and Jack Taylor all appear. I honestly didn't get the point of the whole thing, but maybe if I was really high i would have found it profound. (5/10)

April Love Next: Reading to a child

The Case of the Scorpion's Tail (1971) Italy/Dir: Sergio Martino - A mystery about a series of murders connected to an inheritance after a man dies in an aviation accident. An insurance investigator (George Hilton) and his girlfriend (Anita Strindberg) look into the case. Also with Evelyn Stewart, Luigi Pistilli, Alberto de Mendoza, Janice Reynaud, Luis Barboo, Tom Felleghy, Tomas Pico, and Lisa Leonardi. Classic giallo with beautiful women, lush locations (Greece is heavily featured), and bloody violence. (7/10)

Watching The Leopard Man again reminded me of the documentary TCM plays from time to time- the one narrated by Martin Scorsese. Val Lewton: The Man in the Shadows I could listen all day to Scorsese talking about film.

Blue-eyed Jeffrey Hunter as Jesus Christ here is now asking... "Whaddaya mean by this?"

Ivanhoe 1982. Columbia Pictures for television. Directed by Douglas Camfield. James Mason (top billed) Anthony Andrews (Ivanhoe) Sam Neill Olivia Hussey. Made for tv this could have been released in theatres,well done ,closer to the real story by Walter Scott. Excellent acting by everybody,Neill is such a great villain ! Hussey at 31 is extremely beautiful, a natural beauty.The anti semitism in 1194's England is clearly depicted in this film. In Sweden apparently it is showed every year between Christmas and NewYear's. Nice UK scenery. 142 minutes 8/10

The intros and outros have become a real challenge for me. I just hate the drifting camera. It makes me queasy and also angry at the needlessness of it. The drifting camera and all the background squiggles and other colorful graphics remind me of a sports channel. Yesterday, while watching football with my husband, I noticed the same effects sliding behind the sports guys. I would say it's appropriate for a sports channel, but only distracting and awful on TCM.

My movie buddy slipped me a surprise in the pile of disks we exchange per month. It was Mister 880 from 1950, starring Burt Lancaster, Dorothy McGuire & Edmund Gwenn. Wiki has this listed as a comedy, but I'd describe it more a lighthearted mystery drama. It's the story of a Secret Service agent (Burt) hired to solve a counterfeiter (Gwenn) who's gone uncaught for over a decade. This is based upon a true story and is delightful in so many ways, I'm surprised I've never heard of it before. The opening credits are great too, cluing me in to what this movie was going to be about-remember this disk was a surprise! All performances were stellar, I especially liked McGuire, the first time seeing her as a regular, modern woman. She has a power job too- working at the League of Nations as an interpreter. She takes Burt for a fun ride when they first meet-it was diabolical & I loved it! One scene takes place in an Automat, but I think it's just a set. Burt is determined to crack this case and as with all detective work in movies, makes a fascinating, winding tale. Apparently it's relatively easy to find a counterfeiter, but not this time. I can't reveal anything more or it will ruin it. But a really nice enjoyable movie. You know, the kind they used to make.

Due to the ridiculous drifting camera, I don't watch that stuff anymore. Actually, it's turned out to be a blessing in disguise. I haven't heard Ben Mankiewicz's babbling in quite some time. 😁

As I recall, in the original thread there was a concern expressed that Cantone would make fun of some of the greatest classic horror movies. This hasn't happened. He's clearly really enthusiastic about the films he's introducing, I enjoy his film choices and he's entertaining.

You're a great looker-upper!

How about a scene in which Eddie gets tied down, rolled over and then given an atomic w e d g i e by Alicia? "Don't like my accent, eh, mate?" she beams, "This is what we do with punks where I come from. Welcome to our Noir Alley,"

Swithin, I'm a Valentine Dyall fan too. He's got a sort of creepy presence in what little I've seen him in, lol.

The Best Man (1964) Next: happy family

And now for the top actresses of the zeroes. 10. Juliette Binoche 9. Jodie Foster 8. Nicole Kidman 7. Sally Hawkins 6. Helen Mirren 5, Catherine Denueve 4. Zhao Tao 3, Meryl Streep 2. Naomi Watts 1. Samantha Morton

LAKE PLACID SERENADE (1944)

Anthony Zerbe next: played college football

I think The Invisible Ray is a fine film. Perhaps in terms of the Karloff/Lugosi pairings The Black Cat is better, but The Invisible Ray is an excellent, important movie, perhaps one of the first about the ethics of atomic energy. As the brilliant Violent Kemble Cooper (Mother Rukh) says to her Boris Karloff (Janos Rukh) at the end: "My son, you have broken the first rule of science."

Lovers Courageous 1932 Made on Broadway 1933 Hell Below 1933 next: Joel McCrea and Andrea Leeds

Oh yes, Mr.G. There certainly are. (...and it seems especially so and ironically or coincidentally in THIS case, movies made starting around 1981...and directed by that ripoff artist Brian DePalma)

I didn't care for most of Mr. Cantone's Halloween selections, particularly the 2 movies on Halloween itself--Blow Out and Psycho. For me, these are not really Halloween movies. And also, I find the Brian DePalma movie too creepy and murdery to enjoy. A lot of DePalma's movies seem on the misogynistic side, in my opinion. Though I love Carrie! But for Halloween, I would have preferred the TCM selections to have more witches, ghosts, etc. and also an implied sense of justice in the storylines. I enjoy when a villain is defeated. It can be a thrilling battle but with an end that doesn't leave you feeling depressed, as Blow Out does for me.

@KATIE_G: Since you like TOBACCO ROAD may I suggest you head for YouTube and watch the trailer for another similar type of film? Heh heh. 😜 The theatrical trailer on YouTube for SCUM OF THE EARTH is 2m 7 secs for your viewing 'pleasure'. This 1974 movie is also better known as "Poor White Trash II", but "Scum Of The Earth" was the original theatrical title. An S.F. BROWNRIGG presentation. Sherald Brownrigg made a few low-budget movies in Texas, USA. This is one of them. TCM has aired at least 1 other of S.F. BROWNRIGG's movies: Don't Open the Door. But I don't think TCM has aired "Poor White Trash II/Scum of the Earth" as of yet. If you have a watch of the trailer you'll notice the narrator makes mention of "what happens below Tobacco Road". An' it's sleeeeeezy and sweaty and vile! ENJOY.

The Bride of the Monster 1955 Rolling M Productions. Directed by Edward D. Wood Jr. Bela Lugosi Tor Johnson as' Lobo'. Not as good as his 'masterpiece' Plan 9 from Outer Space. This is another inept film by Wood. Lugosi has a full lead as a mad scientist with his 'Igor' Tor Johnson. Lugosi is quite good in it,considering his age ,his health & his addictions. Now for the special effects. The victims are strapped to a table with a upside down salad bowl in sort of stainless steel on their head with 3 big sparks plugs on it, whatever it is...The monster is a giant rubber octopus but the mechanism does not work so the victims must move the tentacles themselves to create movement......This is the only film by Wood to have made a profit (!) surely it did not need much to cover its cost. I could go on but you get the idea. 69 minutes. 4/10

Vickery, John - Ralph Bellamy in The Final Hour

Uncas, played by Eric Schweig in "Last of the Mohicans"

Shadow of Illusion (1970) Italy/Dir: Mario Caiano - Gail Bland (Daniela Giordano) is a model and the face of a new cosmetics company called Isis. When she is sent to Egypt on a promotional assignment, she gets entangled with a cult that wants to reestablish the worship of the ancient Egyptian gods. Also featuring William Berger, Krista Nell, Antonio Cantafora, Mirella Pamphili, and Enzo Maggio. The only highlight here is the Egyptian location shooting, with many fine vistas on display. The story and acting are both bland, like the last name of Giordano's character. (5/10)

Santo and Blue Demon vs. the Monsters (1970) Mexico/Dir: Gilberto Martinez Solares - This incredible mash-up teams veteran masked wrestler Santo (Santo) with Blue Demon (Blue Demon) as they face an unholy alliance of supernatural horror-meets-science run amok! After noted evil scientist Dr. Bruno Halder (Carlos Ancira) dies, he is revived by his dwarf brother Otto (Ivan J. Rado). They use their squad of revived, green-skinned henchmen to assemble a rogue's gallery of fiendish horror: Frankenstein's Monster, The Vampire, The Vampire Woman, The Mummy, The Cyclops, and the Wolf Man. This epic clash between the forces of darkness and the masters of the squared circle is one of the greatest spectacles in screen history. This movie is amazing. Nonsense plot, oddball characters, ridiculous special effects, lengthy diversions into musical stage performances and wrestling matches. Some of the creatures use costumes from The Ship of Monsters (1961). During the lengthy opening credits, where each character is introduced, Frankenstein is listed on screen as "Franquestain". Needless to say, this is a must-see for fans of bizarre cinema. (7/10)

A Quiet Place to Kill (1970) Italy/Dir: Umberto Lenzi - Carroll Baker stars as a down-on-her-luck model/racecar driver (!!!) who gets involved with her ex (Jean Sorel) and his new wife (Anna Proclemer) and their plots to do away with each other. Also featuring Luis Davila, Alberto Dalbes, Hugo Blanco, Lisa Halvorsen, and Marina Coffa. The third in the Baker/Lenzi Trilogy, this one has less emphasis on sex and nudity, although there still is a bit of that. Sorel is a bit of a bore, but the other performances are fine. This is also the least outrageous of the three films, but it's still a decent suspense/thriller. As previously mentioned, this was also released as Paranoia. (6/10)

Needs a dentist.😊