Basil Rathbone would of course go on to be best known for his role as the classic London detective Sherlock Holmes; but in-between making the films for Universal studios, he had a starring role in this little mystery flick; which could well have been a part of the classic Holmes series and indeed is very similar to plot featured in 1945's Sherlock Holmes and the House of Fear. The title would lead most people to believe that this film is based on the classic Edgar Allen Poe story of the same title; and while the film does give a "suggested by" credit to the great writer, the links between this film and Poe's story are flimsy at best. The plot takes the familiar base of having a family gather together upon the death of a wealthy relative for the will reading. Henrietta Winslow gathers her family and lets them know how they will benefit from her death before she is dead, and naturally her death follows on quickly from that. However, the elderly woman - who happens to live in a big house full of cats - has added another clause into the will.
The film is often considered a part of the horror genre, and while it does make a claim to the genre via the "suggested by" subject material as well as the atmosphere surrounding the house and number of cats inhabiting it; the film is mostly a mystery thriller. The cast is good however, although the two main names are underused. Basil Rathbone gives an understated performance in one of the lead roles, while horror star Bela Lugosi doesn't get a lot of screen time. Alan Ladd, however, is given more to do and provides most of the entertainment. The film has some comedy elements to it also and to me they bring it down somewhat and I'd have preferred it had the film have been a bit straighter. There are plenty of films called 'The Black Cat' and while this one doesn't take a lot of influence from the classic story; I would have to say it stands up against some others, although Edgar G. Ulmer's 1934 film is superior. The mystery does play out well throughout the film and the director uses the setting well. It all boils down to a satisfying conclusion and the identity of the murderer comes as a surprise. All in all, this is certainly very much worth watching and I would recommend it to mystery fans.
The film is often considered a part of the horror genre, and while it does make a claim to the genre via the "suggested by" subject material as well as the atmosphere surrounding the house and number of cats inhabiting it; the film is mostly a mystery thriller. The cast is good however, although the two main names are underused. Basil Rathbone gives an understated performance in one of the lead roles, while horror star Bela Lugosi doesn't get a lot of screen time. Alan Ladd, however, is given more to do and provides most of the entertainment. The film has some comedy elements to it also and to me they bring it down somewhat and I'd have preferred it had the film have been a bit straighter. There are plenty of films called 'The Black Cat' and while this one doesn't take a lot of influence from the classic story; I would have to say it stands up against some others, although Edgar G. Ulmer's 1934 film is superior. The mystery does play out well throughout the film and the director uses the setting well. It all boils down to a satisfying conclusion and the identity of the murderer comes as a surprise. All in all, this is certainly very much worth watching and I would recommend it to mystery fans.