THE CATMAN OF PARIS

Who is the Catman?

THE CATMAN OF PARIS (1946). Director: Lesley Selander. 

Charles Regnier (Carl Esmond) is a well-regarded French writer who has come out with a controversial novel based on a famous murder case, a book that has the authorities nervous. Therefore, he is not that surprised when he becomes the suspect in a series of strangulations where the victims are clawed as if by a cat. Inspector Severen (Gerald Mohr) is convinced the murders are the work of a man and not an animal. Charles' friend Henry (Douglass Dumbrille) suggests that Charles should get out of Paris and take his lady love, Marie (Lenore Aubert) with him. Then the Catman strikes again. 

Fritz Feld and Gerald Mohr

The Catman of Paris is a low-budget horror flick from Republic studios, and it does boast some period atmosphere and interesting settings. Carl Esmond, in a rare starring role, is okay as the author, but the picture is stolen by Dumbrille. Fritz Feld plays a dramatic part for a change as the Prefect of Police, and is as good as ever. Aubert and Adele Mara as Charles' cast-off fiancee are perfectly decorative and adept and even Mohr makes his mark as a French policeman (!). Charles shows little concern over the victims in the story. The Catman's make up is well-done, but the movie itself is completely unexceptional. Once you find out who the Catman really is, a sequence concerning a murder in a coach is utterly impossible the way it's played. 

Verdict: Fair to middling Republic horror. **1/4.