IMDb RATING
6.8/10
5.3K
YOUR RATING
A seemingly tame leopard used for a publicity stunt escapes and kills a young girl, spreading panic throughout a sleepy New Mexico town.A seemingly tame leopard used for a publicity stunt escapes and kills a young girl, spreading panic throughout a sleepy New Mexico town.A seemingly tame leopard used for a publicity stunt escapes and kills a young girl, spreading panic throughout a sleepy New Mexico town.
IMDb RATING
6.8/10
5.3K
YOUR RATING
- Director
- Writers
- Ardel Wray(screenplay)
- Edward Dein(additional dialogue)
- Cornell Woolrich(novel "Black Alibi")
- Stars
Top credits
- Director
- Writers
- Ardel Wray(screenplay)
- Edward Dein(additional dialogue)
- Cornell Woolrich(novel "Black Alibi")
- Stars
- Awards
- 2 nominations
Videos1
Tuulikki Paananen
- Consuelo Contrerasas Consuelo Contreras
- (as Tula Parma)
Robert Andersen
- Dwight Bruntonas Dwight Brunton
- (uncredited)
Jack Chefe
- Nightclub Waiteras Nightclub Waiter
- (uncredited)
David Cota
- Boy Singeras Boy Singer
- (uncredited)
Rosita Delva
- Young Loveras Young Lover
- (uncredited)
Jacqueline deWit
- Heleneas Helene
- (uncredited)
John Dilson
- Coroneras Coroner
- (uncredited)
- Director
- Writers
- Ardel Wray(screenplay)
- Edward Dein(additional dialogue)
- Cornell Woolrich(novel "Black Alibi")
- All cast & crew
- See more cast details at IMDbPro
Storyline
At the encouragement of her manager, a nightclub performer in New Mexico (Kiki Walker) takes a leashed leopard into the club as a publicity gimmick. But her rival, angered by the attempt to upstage, scares the animal and it bolts. In the days that follow, people are mauled and the countryside is combed for the loose creature. But Kiki and her manager begin to wonder if maybe the leopard is not responsible for the killings. —Ken Yousten <kyousten@bev.net>
- Taglines
- WOMEN RIPPED BY FANG AND CLAW BY SAVAGE MONSTER Death strikes from lonely dark place-who or what is the thrill-killer? (Print Ad-Vancouver Sun,((Vancouver, BC)) 17 July 1943)
- Genres
- Certificate
- Approved
- Parents guide
Did you know
- TriviaIn the Summer of 1952, RKO reissued this film as a double feature with King Kong (1933). RKO "cashed in", as young theatergoers, due to this film's title, were expecting to see a second "creature" film.
- GoofsAt the nightclub, Kiki is seated at a table with Jerry and Galbraith. As she asks Galbraith why he gave up teaching, a slim dark-haired woman wearing a matching suit and hat walks past their table. The shot cuts to Galbraith saying 'Various reasons', and the woman can be seen behind him (just over his shoulder on the far left of the screen), already seated at a nearby table.
- Quotes
Charlie How-Come: You don't get the idea, mister. These cops banging those pans, flashing those lights, they're gonna scare that poor cat of mine. Cats are funny, mister. They don't want to hurt you, but if you scare them they go crazy. These cops, they don't know what they're doing.
- Alternate versionsSome older TV prints of "The Leopard Man" run 59 minutes.
- ConnectionsFeatured in Aweful Movies with Deadly Earnest: The Leopard Man (1969)
- SoundtracksLas Mañanitas
(uncredited)
Traditional Mexican birthday song
Performed by Fely Franquelli and Ottola Nesmith
Top review
Another huge success from that genius Val Lewton!
After their success in 1942 with the fabulous 'Cat People', the star team of producer Val Lewton and director Jacques Tourneur would team up twice the year later. First for the compelling and brilliant 'I Walked With a Zombie', and second for this film; The Leopard Man. For the movie, the two filmmakers re-cast the star of their first success, the big black leopard, in this movie, who once again plays a big black leopard. The screenplay this time round makes far better use of the animal at the centre of the film, which allows the impressive creature to make a much bigger impression on the movie, and it also gives the film a unique edge over other horror movies, as there aren't a great deal that can build around a leopard. In fact, one thing that struck me about this movie was it's similarity to the 1980's remake of Cat People, and I wonder just how much influence that film took from this production. Anyway, the story here is deliriously simple and it follows a leopard that has escaped from a nightclub. After a few deaths, the cat is blamed...but is there more to this scenario than meets the eye?
Just like Val Lewton's earlier and later productions, The Leopard Man is notable for it's breathtaking atmosphere, which is once again up there with the greatest ever seen in cinema. The use of shadows and lighting is impressive, and when you combine this with Jacques Tourneur's incredible ability to stage a scene amidst this atmosphere; you've got a recipe for a truly great horror movie. This movie isn't as full of great scenes as Cat People was, but there is still some really good stuff on display, including my favourite scene which sees someone mauled behind a closed door. I'm not a big subscriber to the idea of 'less is more', but the scene I just mentioned goes to show just how well it can work if utilised properly. If the film had directly shown the killing, it would have uprooted the atmosphere and the terror of the movie on the whole wouldn't have been as astute. As it happens, The Leopard Man has got it spot on. But then again, would you expect anything less from a Val Lewton production?
Just like Val Lewton's earlier and later productions, The Leopard Man is notable for it's breathtaking atmosphere, which is once again up there with the greatest ever seen in cinema. The use of shadows and lighting is impressive, and when you combine this with Jacques Tourneur's incredible ability to stage a scene amidst this atmosphere; you've got a recipe for a truly great horror movie. This movie isn't as full of great scenes as Cat People was, but there is still some really good stuff on display, including my favourite scene which sees someone mauled behind a closed door. I'm not a big subscriber to the idea of 'less is more', but the scene I just mentioned goes to show just how well it can work if utilised properly. If the film had directly shown the killing, it would have uprooted the atmosphere and the terror of the movie on the whole wouldn't have been as astute. As it happens, The Leopard Man has got it spot on. But then again, would you expect anything less from a Val Lewton production?
helpful•304
- The_Void
- May 18, 2005
Details
- Runtime1 hour 6 minutes
- Color
- Aspect ratio
- 1.37 : 1
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