Schatten einer Katze (1961)

Schatten einer Katze: Directed by John Gilling. With André Morell, Barbara Shelley, William Lucas, Freda Jackson. A house cat sees her mistress murdered by two servants under orders from her husband , and becomes ferociously bent on revenge.

“This Hammer film has a unique story while boasting the typically good to great Hammer assets of editing (which is especially well done this time) and production and of course acting. The copy I saw was a very poor dub of a dub and a good version would rate higher. Iu0026#39;m not sure if this was a Scope movie or not, though many of Hammeru0026#39;s Black and White films were and the full frame version I saw looked cropped. Originally the cat was supposed to be shown only as a shadow, this might have in the long run been more effective, or at least explained the title, though itu0026#39;s the shadow of guilt it still refers too. I canu0026#39;t think of another Hammer film quite like this as far as plot or structure. It starts with a very good longish pre-credit sequence and has typically effective music throughout. Director John Gilling is under-appreciated and this film is unique in his output.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eIt is fast paced, stylish and fun, actor Andre Morell does a great freak out job. It can be a problem with films where most of the characters are bad guys to keep interest, but this group sweats in fear and celebrates their own misdeeds in a way that makes them engaging. You want them to die but you also somehow sympathize with the inevitable cruel nature of their fate.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eSome nice shots of catu0026#39;s glowing eyes by the way as well.”