Corridor of Mirrors (1948)

by Ted Davis

Directed by: Terence Young

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

Synopsis: In the England of 1938, society playgirl and purported beauty Mifanwy Conway (Edana Romney) becomes romantically involved with enigmatic artist and aesthete Paul Mangin (Eric Portman), who is either a self-deceiving mountebank or the genuine reincarnation of a personage from the age of the Borgias in the 15th century. Paul’s obsession with recreating a past lost love in the modern form of Mifanwy precipitates a tragedy, and the lovers are parted. Years later, after the war, Mifanwy’s marriage to steadfast Owen (Hugh Sinclair) is threatened by a series of blackmail letters from an unknown extortionist, and she returns to London to solve the mystery.

Cat Burglar (Scene Stealer): During Mifanwy’s first visit to Paul’s magnificent and expansive domicile, he presses the gift of a centuries old mirror upon her, in which she immediately sees the reflection of a long haired white cat (unseen by the movie audience). She turns and steps toward the cat which is on the door sill, but Paul loses his composure for an unknown reason and scats the animal away from them.

Corridor of Mirrors - longhair white cat Blanche in doorway

Corridor of Mirrors - longhair white cat Blanche moving from doorway

During her second visit, Mifanwy explores Paul’s grand corridor of mirrors. Behind the mirror-doors she finds cupboards containing female mannequins with strangely unfinished faces garbed in luxurious costumes from a past age. She opens a last door which reveals a wealth of expensive clothes and the white cat at the base of the closet. Mifanwy reaches down to stroke the cat, but it scoots away.

Corridor of Mirrors - longhair white cat Blanche on doorway floor

Corridor of Mirrors - longhair white cat Blanche moving away from Mifanwy Edana Romney

Corridor of Mirrors - longhair white cat Blanche moving away from Mifanwy Edana Romney animated gif

After spending the night in Paul’s lavishly appointed guest room, Mifanwy wakes up to the white cat sharing her bed.

Corridor of Mirrors - longhair white cat Blanche close

Corridor of Mirrors - longhair white cat Blanche on bed with Mifanwy Edana Romney animated gif

She then notices a shadowy figure on the other side of the canopy bed awning, and rises to confront the distaff intruder, who flees from the room, followed by the cat and Mifanwy.

Corridor of Mirrors - longhair white cat Blanche on bed with Mifanwy Edana Romney

Corridor of Mirrors - longhair white cat Blanche leaving room

They move through corridors and curtains and down stairwells, eventually reaching a downstairs kitchen-apartment where the cat hops into a chair. The seemingly aged intruder introduces herself as Veronica (Barbara Mullen), who gently scolds the cat for giving her away, naming her as Blanche.

Corridor of Mirrors - longhair white cat Blanche being chased from room and down hall by Mifanwy Edana Romney animated gif

Corridor of Mirrors - longhair white cat Blanche moving toward curtains

Corridor of Mirrors - longhair white cat Blanche moving down stairs

Corridor of Mirrors - longhair white cat Blanche Blanche climbing onto rocking chair behind Mifanwy Edana Romney and Veronica Barbara Mullen

Corridor of Mirrors - longhair white cat Blanche on rocking chair being scolded by Veronica Barbara Mullen

Later in the movie, the morning after throwing an expansive Venetian Carnival party, replete with fireworks, an accepting resigned Paul is arrested in his house for a capital crime and is escorted past the white cat, its long tail twitching.