Cat People (1942):

I think that the story and events to this film are focused solely on views of female sexuality within this time period. Maybe smaller points could be made about race, since Irena is from Serbia, and this is in the middle of World War II, but I will focus on what it has to say about women. Cat People portrays its main character as a helpless women, doomed by her own sexuality. She falls for Oliver, a man she knows she cannot love, but says she couldn't help it. This ties in with the thoughts discussed in class that women are controlled by emotion and not by rational thought. It takes that to the next level and makes the things that really dooms her, not just her emotions, but the sexual pleasure she wants to follow those emotions. In this movie even something as innocent as a kiss can turn her into a monster. This carries on the notion that females' sexuality needs to be contained and controlled, because when left unchecked it can destroy people (ideas of the monstrous-feminine; Creed-1). Not only the men involved, like the poor psychiatrist, but also the woman herself, showcased when Irena is being chased down after killing Dr. Judd and is (suicidally) mauled by the panther. From first glance, I would say that from the narrative this original film is trying to be reductive and keep women in the conservative status quo as docile housekeepers. However, in the next page (always giving y'all a reason to keep reading) I'll say why I don't think that is true.

Cat People (1982):

The remake had a completely different spin on the originals, and a completely different set of meanings in my opinion. With the addition of the crazy, cat brother as the main antagonist, Cat People becomes reductive of unchecked male sexuality. It tries to show that men are just as capable of becoming this monster that we paint sexually active women out to be. This is also shown when Oliver basically forces himself on Irena towards the end of the movie. This version of Cat People also had a view of a stronger woman than in the first film. Irena has sex with Oliver, but even in her cat state has the mental capacity not to kill him but rather to flee. This symbolized a woman's ability to control her own mind, emotions, and sexuality, unlike the views of previous generations. This is significant because it came at a time women were fighting for a new public image (as will be discussed in the next section). The film does end on a bad note, with Irena like man's pet in a cage at the zoo (Paige) that Oliver works at, perhaps relieving viewers who support the control of women's sexuality from fear of their systems collapse (Essortment). However, I think this is not a reinstitution of the stereotype for male and female roles, but a progressive look at males as monsters for creating this system in the first place.