The Cat Creeps

You wouldn't know it by first glance but this cheap-looking borefest is one of the final Universal horror movies of the 1940s. It's a remake of the 1930 lost film of the same name, itself a remake of the silent classic The Cat and the Canary which was also remade as a Bob Hope comedy in 1939. So this is a worn-out plot that had been made into movie four times in nineteen years. Five if we count the also-lost Spanish version of the 1930 picture. To make matters worse this particular version stars Frederick Brady (who?) as one of those annoying "I'm a reportah baby" types that were all over movies in the 30s and 40s. He's so annoying I just wanted to reach through the screen and punch him. This is a very tired unimaginative movie that doesn't even benefit from the usual atmosphere Universal horror-thrillers had. You would be forgiven for thinking it was a Poverty Row production. Avoid unless you need to see all versions of this story. I'll stick with the silent one or even the Hope comedy.

I expected far more from the director of ISLAND OF LOST SOULS, GHOST OF FRANKENSTEIN, HOUSE OF DRACULA, HOUSE OF FRANKENSTEIN. This one is definitely a comedy, mystery comedy in the pure tradition for this period. THE CAT AND THE CANARY, the genuine material, was already far from being a masterpiece...But Erle C Kenton was in his last part of career, so let's try not be too harsh with him concerning this one. Many viewers, and especially gem diggers, will appreciate this movie. It is rare to purchase and only for this please try, despite the lame and predictable plot. Mystery and comedies were numerous during the thirties and forties.

Reporter Terry Nichols (Frederick Brady, "Slightly Scandalous") is assigned to investigate the accusations made by a reputed crazy woman that a 15 year old "suicide" was actually a murder. He, his photographer (Noah Beery Jr., 'The Rockford Files'), and a boatload of suspects travel to the womans' island residence, and experience an eventful night as the attempts to unmask the killer are underway.

"The Cat Creeps" is moderately entertaining, mostly due to the supporting cast, although the comedy and the patter really aren't that funny and the "mystery" is rather obvious from the get-go. In lieu of a more fully fleshed-out plot and longer run time, we get a healthy amount of exposition laid out for us once the killer is revealed. Overall, the movie is competently made, capably directed by Erle C. Kenton ("Island of Lost Souls"), and reasonably paced, clocking in at just 58 minutes. The cat mentioned in the title figures into the story in that it is hoped that the feline will lead the characters straight to the evildoer.

Brady is unfortunately an annoying stereotype, overly obnoxious at first although also smarter and more savvy than anyone else in the room. Beery doesn't fare much better as the most blatant comedy-relief character. The other cast members are fine, though, treating the material with straight faces: the pretty Lois Collier ("A Night in Casablanca"), Paul Kelly ("Crossfire"), Douglass Dumbrille ("Mr. Deeds Goes to Town"), Rose Hobart ("Conflict"), Jonathan Hale (Inspector Fernack in the "Saint" series), Iris Lancaster ("West of the Alamo"), and Vera Lewis ("The Roaring Twenties").

"The Cat Creeps" may be nothing special as a movie, but it IS historically significant, seeing that it was the final genre feature film made by Universal after their decade and a half-long horror cycle. It was issued as a double feature with "She-Wolf of London", and after this, Universal wouldn't make another horror film for about five years (if you don't count the Abbott & Costello horror spoofs), starting fresh with "The Strange Door" in 1951.

Five out of 10.

This is probably one of the lowest budgeted films on that old "Low-budget-list" that film-buffs mentally keep track of.

It's a spooky-house murder mystery, with some sturdy studio character actors.

The victim dies early in the film, (twice, no less). A strange woman appears to tell the group that's spending the night in this house, that the dead woman's spirit lives on in her cat --a black cat, of course. The strange woman hints that the cat, or rather the spirit in the cat, will reveal the killer.

The story is ludicrous, with dialog to match, but everyone chases one another around the place, and there's enough shootin' and spookin' going on to make this film delightful late-night fare.

Like "The Cat and the Canary", this story takes place in a gloomy old home that can only be reached by boat. Also like "Canary", all the action takes place during the course of one night, with the killer revealed by sunrise. However, the similarity between the two films ends there.

This film is short and it's fast. It's dumb and it's fun.

I enjoy this sort of nonsense, and have watched my copy of "The Cat Creeps" several times over the years.-- Because I love ALL spooky-house B-movie murder-mysteries, anyway, I couldn't bring myself to rate this film any lower than 7.

When a wealthy widow sends a one thousand dollar bill to the local newspaper claiming murder, blackmail, a corrupt politician and $200,000 fortune to be had, it's up to reporter Terry Nichols and photographer Pidge 'Flash' Laurie to figure out the nefarious plot and clear the politician's (who's Terry's soon-to-be father-in-law) name. But they won't be alone. Among the colorful cast of characters are Terry's beautiful fiancée, a lawyer with his feline phobic secretary, a very deceiving private detective, and finally a mysterious woman and her even stranger black cat, which maybe involved with the murders itself!

A black cat, a spooky house, a bunch of characters, one of them a murderer, and people getting bumped off - it's all here in this universal offering, and it's watchable enough. Keeps your attention, plus there's some witty dialogue, however, having said that, the fun is marred by that annoying reporter who is charmless and has that smug superiority- hence his wisecracks came across as insults, plus there were too many of them. There's something wholly unlikeable about him and one wishes he got bumped off fifteen minutes in, and have Noah Beery take over as the lead. Every time he opens his mouth he spoils the atmosphere. Also it could've been more eventful but a longer running time would be needed.