SOURCE: Classics of the Horror Film, The Citadel Press, 1974, pp. 179-87.

Everson was an eminent film historian, collector, and educator. In addition to the work excerpted here, his other scrupulously researched and enthusiastically written books include A Pictorial History of the Western Film (1969), The Detective in Film (1972), and American Silent Film (1978). In the following excerpt, he discusses The Body Snatcher, Cat People, Night of the Demon (which, though directed by Jacques Tourneur—arguably Lewton's most distinguished collaborator—was neither produced nor written by Lewton), and The Curse of the Cat People.

Val Lewton produced nine horror films for RKO Radio, all of them aiming at horror by suggestion, rather than statement, and employing intelligent writers (DeWitt Bodeen in particular) and new, young directors, still fresh and full of enthusiasm. Cat People was the first, and probably the best, even though it has been so acclaimed in later years...