I’ve
always been a big fan of the original RKO version of CAT PEOPLE,
and to a lesser degree, the Paul Schrader remake that stars the very
beautiful and sometimes very naked Nastassja Kinski. Where as the original
CAT PEOPLE used only suggestion to imply that the film’s central
character was being transformed into a cat, the remake removes all doubt.
While the plot of CAT PEOPLE is utterly preposterous, the movie has
a sleek sense of style that engrosses the viewer as they watch the film.
In the Schrader version of CAT PEOPLE, Nastassja Kinski portrays
Irena Gallier, a beautiful young woman who is reunited with her brother
Paul (Malcolm McDowell), many years after the two were orphaned and
adopted into separate homes.
Right
after her arrival at her brother’s home, Irena notices something odd
about Paul, especially when he makes sexual advances towards her. Of
course, Irena is repelled by her brother's actions. However, after her
rejection, Paul reveals to Irena the lurid tale of their family’s
history- one that tells that they are descended from an odd fusing of
human souls and the black leopards. Due to this odd lineage, they are only
able to mate with their own kind- otherwise they are transformed into a
black leopard until they kill and eat a human victim- usually their lover.
Of course, as a virgin, Irena totally disbelieves Paul’s insane tale,
but things start to change when she finds herself sexually aroused by the
new man in her life. The cast of CAT PEOPLE also features John
Heard, Annette O'Toole, Ruby Dee, Ed Begley Jr., Scott Paulin, Frankie
Faison, Lynn Lowry, Ron Diamond and John Larroquette.
Universal
Studios Home Video has made CAT PEOPLE available on DVD in a 1.85:1
wide screen presentation that has been enhanced for 16:9 displays.
Overall, Universal has done a very nice job of transferring CAT PEOPLE
to the digital medium. Owing to the fact that CAT PEOPLE is a
product of the early 1980s, there are some limitations that the new
transfer is unable to overcome. A number of blemishes serve to remind one
of the film’s age, as does the noticeable grain structure the crops up
during the movie’s darker and more cinematically stylized moments.
Other
than these minor problems, the image appears sharp and rather well
defined. Color reproduction is a little unstable due to the filmmakers’
choice of hues, many of which are incredibly difficult to reproduce on
video. Some of the more intense warm colors display some chroma noise and
have a tendency to look a bit fuzzy. However, at other points in the film,
colors appear subdued, so there isn’t an overall consistency to the film’s
color scheme. Blacks appear solid, whites remain stable and contrast is a
bit variable, again do to the filmmakers’ stylistic choices. Shadow
detail is definitely dated, due to the low light sensitivity of film
stocks in use two decades ago. The cleanly authored DVD doesn’t display
any overtly noticeable instances of digital compression artifacts.
CAT
PEOPLE features a Dolby Digital 2.0
channel soundtrack that decodes to standard surround. For a two-decade-old
matrixed track, the sound is better than I expected. Surround usage is
lightweight by today’s standards, but is otherwise effective. A
respectable amount of sound effects have been directed to the rear
channels, along with ambient sounds and musical fill. Giorgio Moroder’s
musical score sounds quite good, even if the fidelity isn’t at today's
levels. Dialogue is clean sounding and reproduced with full
intelligibility. The bass channel is surprisingly punchy, even if it doesn’t
have that ground shaking quality that we have become used to in this age
of fully digital soundtracks. Subtitles have been provided on the DVD in
English, French and Spanish.
The
basic interactive menus provide access to the standard scene selection and
set up features, as well as a healthy complement of bonus materials.
Director Paul Schrader is featured on a detailed and entertaining running
audio commentary. Cat People: An Intimate Portrait by Paul Schrader
is a twenty-five minute interview program with the director, in which he
again talks about the film in extensive detail. Running about ten minutes
is On The Set with Director Paul Schrader, an interview from
the time of the film's theatrical release.
Cat
People: A Discussion With Effects Artist Tom Burman
is an eleven-minute program in which Burman talks about his work on the
film and gives the viewer a look behind the scenes at how many of the
film's effects were achieved. Clocking in at three minutes is Cat
People Matte Paintings, which offers a glimpse at the film's matte
and blue screen work. Filmmaker Robert Wise On Val Lewton is
a brief interview program in which the legendary director, who talks about
the producer of the original CAT PEOPLE. A theatrical trailer,
production photographs and production notes close out the bonus material
section.
While
not the classic that the original CAT PEOPLE has become, the Paul
Schrader remake certainly has its own charms, not the least of these is
the presence of Nastassja Kinski. Universal has done a good job with the
DVD, producing a nice looking disc that features solid supplements. If you
are a fan, you can’t go wrong in picking up the DVD. CAT PEOPLE
has a suggested retail price of $24.98.
I’ve
always been a big fan of the original RKO version of CAT PEOPLE,
and to a lesser degree, the Paul Schrader remake that stars the very
beautiful and sometimes very naked Nastassja Kinski. Where as the original
CAT PEOPLE used only suggestion to imply that the film’s central
character was being transformed into a cat, the remake removes all doubt.
While the plot of CAT PEOPLE is utterly preposterous, the movie has
a sleek sense of style that engrosses the viewer as they watch the film.
In the Schrader version of CAT PEOPLE, Nastassja Kinski portrays
Irena Gallier, a beautiful young woman who is reunited with her brother
Paul (Malcolm McDowell), many years after the two were orphaned and
adopted into separate homes.
Right
after her arrival at her brother’s home, Irena notices something odd
about Paul, especially when he makes sexual advances towards her. Of
course, Irena is repelled by her brother's actions. However, after her
rejection, Paul reveals to Irena the lurid tale of their family’s
history- one that tells that they are descended from an odd fusing of
human souls and the black leopards. Due to this odd lineage, they are only
able to mate with their own kind- otherwise they are transformed into a
black leopard until they kill and eat a human victim- usually their lover.
Of course, as a virgin, Irena totally disbelieves Paul’s insane tale,
but things start to change when she finds herself sexually aroused by the
new man in her life. The cast of CAT PEOPLE also features John
Heard, Annette O'Toole, Ruby Dee, Ed Begley Jr., Scott Paulin, Frankie
Faison, Lynn Lowry, Ron Diamond and John Larroquette.
Universal
Studios Home Video has made CAT PEOPLE available on DVD in a 1.85:1
wide screen presentation that has been enhanced for 16:9 displays.
Overall, Universal has done a very nice job of transferring CAT PEOPLE
to the digital medium. Owing to the fact that CAT PEOPLE is a
product of the early 1980s, there are some limitations that the new
transfer is unable to overcome. A number of blemishes serve to remind one
of the film’s age, as does the noticeable grain structure the crops up
during the movie’s darker and more cinematically stylized moments.
Other
than these minor problems, the image appears sharp and rather well
defined. Color reproduction is a little unstable due to the filmmakers’
choice of hues, many of which are incredibly difficult to reproduce on
video. Some of the more intense warm colors display some chroma noise and
have a tendency to look a bit fuzzy. However, at other points in the film,
colors appear subdued, so there isn’t an overall consistency to the film’s
color scheme. Blacks appear solid, whites remain stable and contrast is a
bit variable, again do to the filmmakers’ stylistic choices. Shadow
detail is definitely dated, due to the low light sensitivity of film
stocks in use two decades ago. The cleanly authored DVD doesn’t display
any overtly noticeable instances of digital compression artifacts.
CAT
PEOPLE features a Dolby Digital 2.0
channel soundtrack that decodes to standard surround. For a two-decade-old
matrixed track, the sound is better than I expected. Surround usage is
lightweight by today’s standards, but is otherwise effective. A
respectable amount of sound effects have been directed to the rear
channels, along with ambient sounds and musical fill. Giorgio Moroder’s
musical score sounds quite good, even if the fidelity isn’t at today's
levels. Dialogue is clean sounding and reproduced with full
intelligibility. The bass channel is surprisingly punchy, even if it doesn’t
have that ground shaking quality that we have become used to in this age
of fully digital soundtracks. Subtitles have been provided on the DVD in
English, French and Spanish.
The
basic interactive menus provide access to the standard scene selection and
set up features, as well as a healthy complement of bonus materials.
Director Paul Schrader is featured on a detailed and entertaining running
audio commentary. Cat People: An Intimate Portrait by Paul Schrader
is a twenty-five minute interview program with the director, in which he
again talks about the film in extensive detail. Running about ten minutes
is On The Set with Director Paul Schrader, an interview from
the time of the film's theatrical release.
Cat
People: A Discussion With Effects Artist Tom Burman
is an eleven-minute program in which Burman talks about his work on the
film and gives the viewer a look behind the scenes at how many of the
film's effects were achieved. Clocking in at three minutes is Cat
People Matte Paintings, which offers a glimpse at the film's matte
and blue screen work. Filmmaker Robert Wise On Val Lewton is
a brief interview program in which the legendary director, who talks about
the producer of the original CAT PEOPLE. A theatrical trailer,
production photographs and production notes close out the bonus material
section.
While
not the classic that the original CAT PEOPLE has become, the Paul
Schrader remake certainly has its own charms, not the least of these is
the presence of Nastassja Kinski. Universal has done a good job with the
DVD, producing a nice looking disc that features solid supplements. If you
are a fan, you can’t go wrong in picking up the DVD. CAT PEOPLE
has a suggested retail price of $24.98.
