Our Movie of the Week: Cat People (1942)

We must confess to you, dearly readers, we did not kno what Cat People was about until we watched it—we expected a film bout lovey humans and their charming feline families. In other words, a sweet happy comedy. Well, it’s not! It about a human lady under an ages-old curse that might turn her into a panther in times of stress. In this case, stress includes love stuff.

It not always easy to recognize cat DNA in French star Simone Simon, but you kno she is cat when she says, “I like the dark—it’s friendly.” And she do really good melancholy. When her character will not mate with her new husband, you kno there will be trouble. But he reacts to her (at least for a while) like a devoted cat parent: “I have to watch her when she’s in the room—I have to touch her when she’s near.” We so sorry to say this does not end happily. (Eah!)

This movie reinforces negative ideas about black cats, and this is teddible. But it features xlnt performances by the pet store kitten, John Paul the office cat, and of course, the panther! We rate it three crying cat emojis.

One of these weeks, we will review something in color n later than the 1940s. But not next week!

Our Movie of the Week: Citizen Kane (1941)

Lots of humans say Citizen Kane is one of the bestest movies ever made, n we must go along with them. It not noir, but it comes veti close with the cool black-n-white angles n shadows, and the looming presence of Orson Welles and his canine DNA. (We love looming and do it ourselves sometimes. Okeh, often.) The character Kane talks a lot, v loud. He grows up to be rich n famous in New York. His love life is quite messy, n he demands 100% loyalties from anyone who works for him or else. He reminds us of someone veti famous n scary right now. (Eah!)

Best thing about the movie: Kane collected all sorts of things. (Some humans call this “hoarding.”) The only thing he didn’t collect is fur babies, which is sad. Cats, especially, would have a super time in his mansion with all its many places for hiding, nesting, playing, and knocking stuff over. We would sit on his big lap and cheer him up. And with all his money and staff, no one would ever be without foods. Five paws!

PS: We thinks Citizen would make a charming cat name, male or female. Keep in mind when you’re naming your next litter.

Our Movie of the Week: The Asphalt Jungle (1950)

The Asphalt Jungle is not about a real jungle, but about humans doing crime stuff in a little city. (Human Dad called it the underworld, but he didn’t explain what it was under.) A fella with a fancy accent is out to steal a bunch of sparkling jewelries and rounds up a gang to help him commit the deed just so. This picture features all the good stuff: drinking, smoking, gambling, dancing, crooked cops, and lovey ladies. (One is Marilyn Monroe—major feline DNA!)

Best of all, the movie has first-rate cat content. The character Gus is feeding his handsome kitteh on the counter in his diner. A nasty customer insults this innocent fur and brags about running over cats with his car. Gus stands up for all felinekind n tosses the creep out the door. (Yay!) Kitteh returns the favor a little later when his human calls his friends to say he’s in on the robbery, by saying “AREHH,” which translates to “Gus! Don’t do this! Be nice!” Of course, if Gus listened, there’d be no movie! Five paws.