CAT
WOMEN OF THE MOON (1953)Director: Arthur Hilton
Image Entertainment
CAT
WOMEN OF THE MOON (1953)Originally released simultaneously in 3-D and 2-D (this DVD represents the standard 2-D version), CAT WOMEN OF THE MOON is the first film of its kind to present a deprived race of sexy alien women on another planet visited by American astronauts. Others include QUEEN OF OUTER SPACE and INVASION OF THE STAR CREATURES, but Richard Cunha's MISSILE TO THE MOON is the most similar and is sort of a remake made by the same studio, Astor.
Five astronauts embark on a trip to the moon in a very lame-looking rocket ship. Aboard are Sonny Tufts as the commander, Victor Jory as the copilot, Marie Windsor (who just recently passed away) as a navigator, and two other men. The inside of the rocket is furnished with some uncomfortable hammock-type beds, rolling office chairs and desks, a school principal's P.A. microphone, some Army surplus electronic equipment, and an empty 16mm film reel that hangs on the wall. After the swiftest landing in movie history, the five get out of the rocket to explore the moon, but not before tough guy Jory makes sure he's packing a pistol, and Windsor checks if she's got her pack of cigarettes.
When they exit the craft, the surroundings are unconvincing matte paintings of rocks and caves. They make way for a cave, light a match, and conclude that the moon has oxygen. Now the uncomfortable space helmets and tubing come off, and our friends feel right at home. While hanging out in the cave, they fight the laziest looking giant paper mache spiders that hang from a dozen or so clearly visible wires. Next stop on the tour is an Athens-style palace.
It is soon discovered that the moon is inhabited by "cat women" (well, about eight of them) that live in this palace (a leftover movie set). With widow's peek hair, Mr. Spock eyebrows, and skintight black leotards, the gals seem friendly at first, but they soon take control of Windsor's mind. These moon maidens haven't seen men in ages, and they have no use for them at this point. So, they exploit the only female member of the crew, but she is to willful to be overcome by their trickiness. Their master plan is to take the human's ship and pilot it back to earth.
In the meantime, as "Star Trek" would make famous years later, at least one disposable crew member has to perish. Here, it's a greedy guy (Douglas Fowley) who gets excited when a cat women tells of the moon's vast supply of gold, but she double crosses him and stabs in the back with a retractable knife. A younger astronaut (William Phipps) falls in love with one of them, but the romance is doomed as her superiors belittle her choice of mate ("She's fallen in love with a radio operator!"). When Tufts and Jury aren't busy making hammy expressions or fighting over Windsor, they come to the realization that the cat women are harmful and they have to get the hell back to earth.
Image has released this wonder as part of its marvelous "Wade Williams Collection," and the transfer looks very nice. Perhaps not as eye-catching as some of their other recent pristine releases (TEENAGE MONSTER, GIANT FROM THE UNKNOWN), the full frame black & white image still comes off very sharp and well-detailed, with only slight grain noticeable in the source material. The mono sound is also very impressive for a cheap film of this ilk. CAT WOMEN was also available as a headache-inducing 3-D VHS tape (complete with pairs of 3-D glasses), but if you still own it you'll want to trash it and buy this DVD instead.
The only extras are the original Astor theatrical trailer, and liner notes by author Tom Weaver, always a welcomed asset to these Wade Williams releases. Using some truly funny interview quotes (especially from star William Phipps), Weaver offers a perfect overview of the film's five-day production and its surprising longevity. (George R. Reis)