''The Shadow of the Cat'' is a 1961 British

horror film Horror is a film genre that seeks to elicit fear or disgust in its audience for entertainment purposes. Horror films often explore dark subject matter and may deal with transgressive topics or themes. Broad elements include monsters, apoca ...

directed by

John Gilling John Gilling (29 May 1912 – 22 November 1984) was an English film director and screenwriter, born in London. He was known for his horror film, horror movies, especially those he made for Hammer Films, for whom he directed ''The Shadow of the ...

for

Hammer Film Productions Hammer Film Productions Ltd. is a British film production company based in London. Founded in 1934, the company is best known for a series of Gothic horror and fantasy films made from the mid-1950s until the 1970s. Many of these involve clas ...

. It stars

André Morell Cecil André Mesritz (20 August 1909 – 28 November 1978), known professionally as André Morell, was an English actor. He appeared frequently in theatre, film and on television from the 1930s to the 1970s. His best known screen roles were as ...

and

Barbara Shelley Barbara Shelley (born Barbara Teresa Kowin; 13 February 1932 – 3 January 2021) was an English film and television actress. She appeared in more than a hundred films and television series. She was particularly known for her work in horror film ...

. It was photographed in

black-and-white Black-and-white (B&W or B/W) images combine black and white in a continuous spectrum, producing a range of shades of grey. Media The history of various visual media began with black and white, and as technology improved, altered to color. ...

by Arthur Grant. It was released in May 1961 on a double feature bill with ''

Curse of the Werewolf ''The Curse of the Werewolf'' is a 1961 British horror film based on the novel '' The Werewolf of Paris'' by Guy Endore. The film was made by the British company Hammer Film Productions and was shot at Bray Studios on sets that were constructe ...

''. The story is about Tabitha, the house cat of a wealthy lady, who witnesses the murder of her owner by her owner's husband and two servants. The cat becomes bent on revenge while the murderers try to kill her, the only witness.

Plot

Late at night in early 1900s England, wealthy and elderly Ella Venable is murdered in her manor house by Andrew the butler, and her body is buried on the grounds of the estate by Andrew in collusion with Ella's husband, Walter Venable, and Clara the maid. Tabitha, Ella's tabby cat, is the only witness to the murder and burial, and instinctively understands that her mistress’s death was a crime. The murderers realize the cat's comprehension and resolve to kill her. Before he had her killed, Walter forced Ella to sign a will that left everything to him. However, her original will — which left Walter nothing — remains hidden in the attic. Walter needs to find and destroy this original to ensure his inheritance. Inspector Rowles and newspaper man Michael Latimer are called to the house to investigate what Walter maintains is Ella's "disappearance." Walter invites Ella's favorite niece, Elizabeth "Beth" Venable, to stay at the house. He worries that she might question the illegitimate will and wants to "deal with her" in person. Beth and Michael are old friends from when she used to live with her Aunt Ella, and as the story progresses they become increasingly close. While searching for the will, Walter has an accident in the structurally unsound attic, followed by an encounter with Tabitha which causes him to have a heart attack. Bedridden and unable to continue the search for the will, he invites his criminal nephew, Jacob Venable; Jacob's father, Edgar Venable who is Walter's brother; and Jacob's wife, Louise Venable, to the house. He promises them a share of Ella's money if they find her original will and kill Tabitha. The cat witnesses their conspiracy. There are several unsuccessful attempts to capture and kill Tabitha. One such attempt results in Andrew and Clara's deaths by cat-related accidents. Based on Tabitha's behavior and other clues, Beth, Michael and Inspector Rowles correctly suspect Ella's murder but have no firm supporting evidence. Jacob continues to search the attic for Ella's will but, fearing "too much depends on Walter," turns on his uncle. He lets Tabitha into Walter's bedroom. When Walter sees the cat, he has a second, fatal heart attack. His will leaves everything to Edgar. Beth, Michael and Inspector Rowles accuse the remaining villains of conspiracy but without the original will they have no proof. Edgar, now owner of the manor, orders them out of the house. As they're leaving, Jacob sees Tabitha and pursues the cat onto the roof with everyone watching. Edgar uses the distraction to go to the attic and continue searching for the will. Jacob slips off the roof and falls to his death. Edgar finds the original will hidden in the attic wall behind a painting of Tabitha. Then the cat herself appears and Edgar tries frantically to kill her. His efforts wreck the attic and he is struck and killed by a falling beam. Tabitha leads the police to Ella's body. The original will leaves everything to Beth but she tells Michael that she never wants to see the house again and asks him to take her away. The house is sold and Tabitha watches from the courtyard as a new family — husband, wife, daughter and grandfather — move in. The grandfather complains that he'll probably die of boredom living there, while the husband and wife talk of convincing the old man to change his will.

Cast

as Walter Venable *

as Beth Venable * William Lucas as Jacob Venable *

Freda Jackson Freda Maud Jackson (29 December 1907 – 20 October 1990) was an English stage actress who also worked in film and television. Early life and career Jackson was born in Nottingham in 1907. She made her stage debut on 1 January 1934 at the ...

as Clara, the maid *

Conrad Phillips Conrad Philip Havord (13 April 1925 – 13 January 2016), known professionally as Conrad Phillips, was an English television and film actor. He is best known for playing William Tell in the adventure series ''The Adventures of William Tell'' (1 ...

as Michael Latimer * Richard Warner as Edgar Venable *

Vanda Godsell Vanda Godsell (17 November 1922 – 2 April 1990) was an English actress. Hal Erickson writes in Allmovie, "Vanda Godsell specialised in playing disheveled housewives, busybody landladies and blowsy domestics." She appeared as Mrs Weaver in ...

as Louise Venable *

Alan Wheatley Alan Wheatley (19 April 1907 – 30 August 1991) was an English actor. He was a well known stage actor in the 1930s, 1940s and 1950s, appeared in forty films between 1931 and 1965 and was a frequent broadcaster on radio from the 1930s to the ...

as Inspector Rowles * Andrew Crawford as Andrew, the butler *

Kynaston Reeves Philip Arthur Reeves (29 May 18935 December 1971), known professionally as Kynaston Reeves, was an English character actor who appeared in numerous films and many television plays and series. Early life Reeves was born in London on 29 May 189 ...

as The Grandfather (new family) *

Catherine Lacey Catherine Lacey (6 May 1904 – 23 September 1979) was an English actress of stage and screen. Stage Lacey made her stage debut, performing with Mrs Patrick Campbell, in ''The Thirteenth Chair'' at the West Pier Brighton on 13 April 1925. Her ...

as Ella Venable * Henry Kendall as The Doctor * Bunkie as Tabitha (uncredited
IMDB

References

External links

* * * {{DEFAULTSORT:Shadow of the Cat 1961 films Films about cats Hammer Film Productions horror films British black-and-white films 1961 horror films Films directed by John Gilling Universal Pictures films Films scored by Mikis Theodorakis Films set in country houses Films shot at Bray Studios 1960s historical horror films British historical horror films Films set in the 1900s 1960s English-language films 1960s British films