The Undead (1957)

by Brian H

Directed by: Roger Corman

Cat Out of the Bag Alert! This review contains some spoilers for this film!

Synopsis: Quintus (Val Dufour) is a researcher into reincarnation who hires Diana Love (Pamela Duncan) to be his test subject. He hypnotizes her and finds that sometime in the Middle Ages she was a woman named Helene (also Pamela Duncan) who was falsely condemned to death as a witch. A real witch named Livia (Allison Hayes) wants to eliminate Helene as she yearns to have Helene’s lover Pendragon (Richard Garland) for herself.

Cat Burglar (Scene Stealer): Livia can turn herself into a black cat which she does several times. She shares this power of transfiguration with The Imp (Billy Barty) although he seems to be able to turn into everything but a cat.

The Undead - black cat Livia in tree with the Imp Billy Barty

Livia changes to a cat and jumps down from a tree to confront Pendragon. At the end of their conversation she changes to the cat and jumps back into the tree.

The Undead - black cat Livia standing on rock
The Undead - Livia Allison Hayes with Imp Billy Barty changing into black cat and jumping from tree toward Pendragon Richard Gardland animated gif

Approaching an inn, Livia changes from a cat to herself again.

The Undead - black cat Livia standing
The Undead - black cat changing into Livia Allison Hayes animated gif

She is once again a cat when another witch, Meg Maud (Dorothy Neumann) knocks on her door at the inn.

The Undead - black cat Livia standing on bed

Livia is in the form of a mouse when she is caught under a tankard. She transforms into the cat again to escape the prison.

The Undead - black cat Livia standing beside tankard

Finally Livia converts one more time before confronting everyone.

The Undead - black cat Livia standing on rock
The Undead - black cat changing into Livia Allison Hayes animated gif

Final Mewsings: If you could turn into a cat, why would you ever be anything else?

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