★ 5 / 10
The Cat Creeps (1946) Whodunit? (12,236 – 27
Claudio C
The Cat Creeps (1946) Whodunit? (12,236 – 27 Jan 2026) The reporter Terry Nichols is assigned by his boss to review a cold case based on a letter received by…
The Cat Creeps (1946)
Whodunit?
(12,236 – 27 Jan 2026)
The reporter Terry Nichols is assigned by his boss to review a cold case based on a letter received by his newspaper from Cora Williams. She writes that she found US$ 200,000 hidden in her house and it would be a proof that Eric Goran was murdered and did not commit suicide as sentenced by the justice fifteen years ago. Walter Elliot, who was suspected of the murder, and his daughter Gay go to Cora’s house in an island with his lawyer Tom McGalvey and his assistant Connie Palmer; detective Ken Grady. Terry’s photographer Pidge also goes. When they arrive, they find Cora’s unconscious babbling that the money is hidden in the little house.
"The Cat Creeps" (1946) is a mystery-comedy in the subgenre "whodunit" that does work very well, since neither the horror nor the attempt of comedy work. The cast is weak and the plot is silly, forgettable and laughable. My vote is five.
Title (Brazil): "Vingança Felina" ("Feline Revenge")
★ 5 / 10
An average mystery-comedy.
Hey_Sweden
Reporter Terry Nichols (Frederick Brady, "Slightly Scandalous") is assigned to investigate the accusations made by a reputed crazy woman that a 15 year old…
Reporter Terry Nichols (Frederick Brady, "Slightly Scandalous") is assigned to investigate the accusations made by a reputed crazy woman that a 15 year old "suicide" was actually a murder. He, his photographer (Noah Beery Jr., 'The Rockford Files'), and a boatload of suspects travel to the womans' island residence, and experience an eventful night as the attempts to unmask the killer are underway.
"The Cat Creeps" is moderately entertaining, mostly due to the supporting cast, although the comedy and the patter really aren't that funny and the "mystery" is rather obvious from the get-go. In lieu of a more fully fleshed-out plot and longer run time, we get a healthy amount of exposition laid out for us once the killer is revealed. Overall, the movie is competently made, capably directed by Erle C. Kenton ("Island of Lost Souls"), and reasonably paced, clocking in at just 58 minutes. The cat mentioned in the title figures into the story in that it is hoped that the feline will lead the characters straight to the evildoer.
Brady is unfortunately an annoying stereotype, overly obnoxious at first although also smarter and more savvy than anyone else in the room. Beery doesn't fare much better as the most blatant comedy-relief character. The other cast members are fine, though, treating the material with straight faces: the pretty Lois Collier ("A Night in Casablanca"), Paul Kelly ("Crossfire"), Douglass Dumbrille ("Mr. Deeds Goes to Town"), Rose Hobart ("Conflict"), Jonathan Hale (Inspector Fernack in the "Saint" series), Iris Lancaster ("West of the Alamo"), and Vera Lewis ("The Roaring Twenties").
"The Cat Creeps" may be nothing special as a movie, but it IS historically significant, seeing that it was the final genre feature film made by Universal after their decade and a half-long horror cycle. It was issued as a double feature with "She-Wolf of London", and after this, Universal wouldn't make another horror film for about five years (if you don't count the Abbott & Costello horror spoofs), starting fresh with "The Strange Door" in 1951.
Five out of 10.
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!!!BOO!!! Scared ya, huh?