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.

Director: ERLE C. KENTON. Screenplay allegedly by Edward Dein, Jerry Warner. Allegedly based on an "original story" by Gerald Geraghty. Photography: George Robinson. Film editor: Russell Schoengarth. Art directors: Jack Otterson, Abraham Grossman. Set decorators: Russell A. Gausman and T.F. Offenbecker. Music director: Paul Sawtell. Costumes designed by Vera West. Make-up: Jack P. Pierce. Hair styles: Carmen Dirigo. Sound recording: Bernard B. Brown, William Hedgcock. Associate producer: Will Cowan. Producer: Howard Welsch.

Copyright 11 April 1946 by Universal Pictures Co., Inc. New York opening at the Rialto: 17 May 1946. U.S. release: 17 May 1946. U.K. release through General Film Distributors: 18 August 1947 (sic). Australian release: 21 November 1946. 5,197 feet. 58 minutes.

SYNOPSIS: A reporter believes a long-buried suicide victim was actually murdered. NOTES: Gerald Geraghty's "original story" previously formed the basis of George Waggner's finely tuned, fast-paced "Horror Island" (1941), a much superior movie in every respect.

COMMENT: A pallid, indifferently directed re-make with only one claim to fame-namely, it will certainly spoil your enjoyment of the far more exciting and suspenseful original if you're unlucky enough to sit through this one first. Every department (including acting, script, sets and photography) manages to score lower on any scale of artistry or entertainment. Admittedly, on its own inferior level (solely thanks to its resiliently punchy plot) it still packs a sufficient wallop to raise a few tense moments.