The Catman of Paris (1946)

by Mark Murton and Linda Kay

Directed by: Lesley Selander

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

Synopsis: Paris, 1896. Author Charles Regnier (Carl Esmond) returns from his travels in the tropics and is feted for the success of his latest book, a work which the Ministry of Justice would like to ban. When an official from the Ministry is murdered — “clawed to ribbons, as if by a cat” — suspicion falls on Regnier who denies involvement despite the fact that he was suffering a hallucinatory blackout at the time. Another blackout prior to a second killing increases Regnier’s fear that he really is the murderous catman.

Cat Burglars (Scene Stealers): The film opens with a strange shot of a black kitten making its way toward the camera through a scale model of a Paris street as the opening title comes up. This odd opening would be explained later in the film.

The Catman of Paris - black kitten walking through miniature Paris street

While attending a meal with his mentor and friend Henri Bouchard (Douglass Dumbrille), Charles develops a headache and decides to walk home to clear his head. As he stops to rest by a wall a nearby black cat scurries away.

The Catman of Paris - black cat lying against wall on street

The Catman of Paris - Charles Carl Edmond leaning against wall where black cat scurries away animated gif

Charles now experiences his first hallucinatory blackout of the film, a series of bizarre, disparate images culminating in a shot of a black cat. Soon after this the librarian from the Ministry of Justice becomes the catman’s first victim.

The Catman of Paris - dark close up of black cat face

As the scene changes we get another take of the black kitten walking through the miniature street, only to be urged out of shot by a pointer. The pointer, it turns out, belongs to the Inspector Severen (Gerald Mohr), who explains to the prefect of police (Fritz Feld) that he had the model constructed overnight of the street where the librarian was killed. He is shooing the intrusive kitten out of the display with his pointer (although it’s clear the kitten and the actors were shot in separate takes).

The Catman of Paris - black kitten walking through miniature Paris street prodded away with pointer by Severen Gerald Mohr with prefect Fritz Feld animated gif

Despite being their chief suspect, the police have no grounds to hold Regnier and he continues with his life, attending a party held by the family of his fiancée, Marguerite Duval (Adele Mara). When they are alone, Regnier expresses his desire to be released from the engagement and then takes his leave. Marguerite is now joined by Henri who explains Charles is ill with a tropical fever he contracted on his travels which lead to bouts of amnesia. As they talk, a black cat descends from a tree.

The Catman of Paris - black cat climbing down from tree

The Catman of Paris - black cat climbing down from tree animated gif

Soon after, Charles experiences a second hallucinatory blackout featuring the same series of images followed by a second killing.

Much later in the film, Charles is being sheltered in the home of his publisher Audet (Francis Pierlot) and Audet’s daughter, not to mention Charles’ true love, Marie (Lenore Aubert). Charles retires to bed while Marie, refusing to believe that Charles could be the catman, plots with Henri to smuggle him out of the country. As they talk, Marie is frightened by the shadow of a cat on the wall.

The Catman of Paris - cat shadow on wall

Purr Blur: The camera then pans around to show a harmless domestic longhair calico cat standing on a table. Audet shouts at the cat to shoo but the cat simply crouches down behind an ornate box.

The Catman of Paris - longhair calico cat standing on table

The Catman of Paris - Marie Lenore Aubert and Audet Francis Pierlot startled by shadow of cat on wall cast by longhair calico cat on table animated gif

Apart from yet another repeat of the strange imagery cycle including the now familiar black cat close up, no other actual cats appear in the film. Angry cats were featured prominently in artwork for the film even though the cats in the movie were quite calm.