The Shadow of the Cat

The Shadow of the Cat is a 1961 British Hammer horror film directed by John Gilling and starring André Morell, Barbara Shelley, Freda Jackson and Kynaston Reeves. It was written by George Baxt and photographed in black-and-white by Arthur Grant and Len Harris. Produced by Hammer Film Productions, it was released in May 1961 on a double feature bill with Curse of the Werewolf. Don Mingaye was Art Director, Bernard Robinson was Production Designer,Les Bowie did Special Effects and Roy Ashton handled Makeup.

Although the name Hammer doesn't appear in the credits, the film was indeed a Hammer production, according to its writer George Baxt. Baxt initially formed a production company with Jon Pennington and Richard Hatton called BHP Productions to produce the film, but at the last minute, Hammer decided to co-produce it with them, to release it on a double bill with their Curse of the Werewolf. It was shot between November 14, 1960 and December 24, 1960. Baxt initially intended for the cat to exist only in the minds of the film's villains, but Gilling insisted that there be a real cat in the story.

The story is about Tabitha, the house cat of a wealthy lady Ella Venable, who witnesses the murder of her owner by her owner's husband Walter and two servants Andrew and Clarlleda. The cat becomes bent on revenge while the murderers try to kill her, as she is the only witness.