The Horrible Dr. Hichcock (1962)

by Mark Murton and Linda Kay

Original Title: L’orribile segreto del Dr. Hichcock (translates to The Horrible Secret of Dr. Hichcock)

Directed by: Riccardo Freda

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

Synopsis: In 1897 London, necrophiliac Dr. Hichcock (Robert Flemyng), whose first wife Margaretha (Maria Teresa Vianello) died twelve years previously under mysterious circumstances, weds again. He returns to his former home along with his new bride Cynthia (Barbara Steele) who starts to believe she is being haunted by Margaretha.

Cat Burglar (Scene Stealer): After preparing the serum that will render Margaretha lifeless without actually dying, Dr. Hichcock proceeds to her bedroom, stopping along the way to pet her black cat Jezebel who is sitting outside the door. It would appear the cat actor is somehow tethered to the door, as the cat appears to want to move off several times but doesn’t get far.

The Horrible Dr. Hichcock - black cat Jezebel outside door

The Horrible Dr. Hichcock - Robert Flemyng with black cat Jezebel outside door

The Horrible Dr. Hichcock - Robert Flemyng with black cat Jezebel outside door animated gif

With Hichcock having accidentally administered a fatal dose, Margaretha’s body is interred in the family vault. After the coffin bearers leave, Jezebel jumps (is actually catapulted) onto the lid of the coffin. Accompanied by dubbed-on cat cries the confused Jezebel circles around on the coffin looking for a way down!

The Horrible Dr. Hichcock - black cat Jezebel on coffin

The Horrible Dr. Hichcock - black cat Jezebel catapulted onto coffin animated gif

The trauma of the incident drives Hichcock from the house. As he is leaving, he asks his housekeeper Martha (Harriet Medin) what has become of the cat. “Jezebel? She’s disappeared,” Martha explains. Returning to the house with his new bride after being away for twelve years (at night and during a storm, naturally) a flash of lightning illuminates a portrait of Margaretha standing beside her beloved piano upon which Jezebel is sitting. As the storm continues the poor cat is once again catapulted into the scene, this time landing on a dusty table behind them.

The Horrible Dr. Hichcock - Robert Flemyng and Cynthia Barbara Steele startled by black cat Jezebel catapulted onto dusty table animated gif

Jezebel stares at them wide-eyed before running off. Dr. Hichcock tries to entice Jezebel back without success and concludes “she must have grown quite wild.” While she may have grown wild but she certainly hasn’t grown old as she looks no different than in the earlier scenes (apart from the fact throughout the movie she sometimes has a white spot on her chest and sometimes doesn’t.)

The Horrible Dr. Hichcock - black cat Jezebel sitting on table

As the doctor comes down stairs after showing Cynthia to her room, Martha is holding Jezebel as she stares at the portrait of Margaretha.

The Horrible Dr. Hichcock - Martha Harriet Medin holding black cat Jezebel on front of portrait

Hichcock and Martha exchange intense glances without speaking.

The Horrible Dr. Hichcock - Martha Harriet Medin with black cat Jezebel

As Cynthia enters the house after an evening out, the cat runs across the fore-frame with the painting in the background. Jezebel can also barely be seen on the floor between Martha and Cynthia leaving the room ahead of them. The women must not notice because Cynthia tells Martha she can go, “And please take the cat with you.”

Cynthia is concerned when Dr. Hichcock has to leave one night and asks him not to stay away too long. Dr. Hichcock asks if she would like Martha to stay in her room with her, which is about the last thing Cynthia wants. As the doctor leaves, Cynthia notices Martha is standing in the doorway behind her. As Cynthia scurries from the room, Martha moves behind a chair where Jezebel is sitting.

The Horrible Dr. Hichcock - Martha Harriet Medin with black cat Jezebel in chair

Late one night, Hichcock hears his former wife’s piano playing and descending the stairs, briefly seeing what appears to be Margaretha at the piano but when he rushes downstairs he finds only Jezebel who beats a hasty retreat from the room.

The Horrible Dr. Hichcock - black cat Jezebel on piano

Later the doctor goes to his room to fetch a syringe of the serum used on his former wife. As he hurries from the room, Jezebel is catapalted onto the bed accompanied by a dubbed meow. Later when a colleague spots scratches on the doctor’s neck, he blames it on the cat, although they were actually caused by Cynthia fighting back.

The Horrible Dr. Hichcock - black cat Jezebel being catapulted onto bed animated gif

Later, after drugging Cynthia’s milk, Hichcock steps outside of her room where he encounters Martha coming up the stairs holding Jezebel.

The Horrible Dr. Hichcock - Martha Harriet Medin holding black cat Jezebel with Robert Flemyng

After telling Martha she can take the next few days off he takes Jezebel from her and cradles the cat to his chest as he descends the stairs.

The Horrible Dr. Hichcock - Martha Harriet Medin giving black cat Jezebel to Robert Flemyng

The Horrible Dr. Hichcock - Robert Flemyng holding black cat Jezebel

Convinced her life is in danger Cynthia packs a bag and makes to leave the house. As she heads for the door she passes Jezebel sitting on a small table near the piano. The cat watches Cynthia run back and forth across the room several times trying various doors and windows which are all locked. Somehow Jezebel manages to get out because she is not seen again and it’s not clear if she survives the finale’s conflagration.