Episode 88 - Val Lewton Part 2

The Leopard Man (1943), The Seventh Victim (1943), Isle of the Dead (1945)

Back in episode 23, we covered producer Val Lewton and three of his films. While Lewton only produced about a dozen films—and only a handful of them horror—his work made a huge impact on the genre. That’s why we’ve decided to discuss three more of his films, hoping to inspire other fans to seek out not only the ones we’ve covered but his other titles as well.

With the help of a talented group of craftsmen—including directors Jacques Tourneur and Mark Robson, screenwriter Ardel Wray, and a skilled cast of actors he worked with repeatedly—Lewton created films that stood apart. They weren’t just different from what he was hired to produce; they defied the expectations of most horror fans at the time. His films had style, compelling stories, and uniquely well-developed characters. They’re a testament to how effective something as simple as a walk down the street can be when crafted by the right people.

Films mentioned in this episode:

The Body Snatcher (1945), Cat People (1942), The Curse the Cat People (1944), Curse of the Demon (1957), The Day After (1983), Isle of the Dead (1945), I Walked with a Zombie (1943), The Leopard Man (1943), Old Dark House (1932), The Seventh Victim (1943)