The Panther Woman premiered on January 11, 1933
On this day, January 11, 1933 at the Realto Theater in New York City, the Panther Woman appeared.
Of course, this wasn't the films title that was shown that day...but audiences would not forget what they witnessed.
One of the most outrageous precode horror films, Paramount Pictures presents The Island of Lost Souls.
The opening credits are:
Charles Laughton
Richard Arlen
Leila Hyams
Bela Lugosi
and
The Panther Woman
The film is an adaption of the H.G. Wells novel The Island of Dr. Moreau.
Upon it's release, it was immediately banned in England, much to the delight of Wells, who repudiated it.
There's no need to discuss the film in detail here. Many of you who are fans of classic precode movies are well versed in the proceedings, as well as the book. The title has been available on VHS, Laser Disc, DVD, and Blu-ray for some time.
I do want to take a moment to give The Panther Woman her just due.
I'm speaking of Kathleen Burke, from Hammond, IN.
In searching for their female actor, Paramount had a nation wide "Panther Woman Contest." On September 30, 1932, the Los Angeles Examiner detailed the climax of one of Hollywood 's all-time shameless publicity stunts:
"Found.....The Panther Woman. Out of a field of some 60,000 aspirants throughout the nation, Kathleen Burke, 19 year old Chicago 'unknown' was yesterday pronounced the ideal type for Paramount's
exotic picture, The Island of Lost Souls."
Greg Mank, author of Women in Horror Films 1930's describers her.
"At first, we only see her in shadows. Charles Laughton, unforgettably vile as Dr. Moreau, comes to her lair.
"Lota....a man has come from the sea...."
He takes her by the hand and leads her outside, where we see her full form in the moonlight.... Kathleen Burke as Lota, the Panther Woman.
There's a temptation to laugh. The wildly-teased hair, the giant raccoon eyes ringed in mascara, the lipsticked bee-stung-lips.... Kathleen Burke's Lota looks like a 1932 hooker, all dressed up for a "John" with a South Seas fetish. However there is something strange at play here....a little sense of sadness....tragedy.
In a role never imagined by H.G. Wells in his 1896 novel The Island of Dr. Moreau, Kathleen Burke won the distinction of playing -----sensually, movingly, and unforgettably---one of the most memorable female roles in the horror genre. She was Lota, the "masterpiece" of Charles Laughton's whip cracking Dr. Moreau, the Panther Woman whose "stubborn beast flesh" comes creeping back, just as she is about to make a conquest of the hero (Richard Arlen).
It's a captivating acting creation played by a very young actress, who despite looking like Dorothy Lamour-from-Hell, manages to communicate the tragedy that lies beneath the sensationalism."
Mr. Mank's assessment is spot on.
From research, Kathleen was a shy girl, very nice, and very quiet. She was very friendly, but not outgoing. It wasn't her nature to be noticed, but she was very poised.
While Charles Laughton certainly dominates the film as Dr. Moreau, and the "cameo" of Bela Lugosi as the Sayer of the Law, is well done, it's Kathleen Burke that gives us the tragic Lota, the Panther Woman....a character you will never forget.
Of course, this wasn't the films title that was shown that day...but audiences would not forget what they witnessed.
One of the most outrageous precode horror films, Paramount Pictures presents The Island of Lost Souls.
The opening credits are:
Charles Laughton
Richard Arlen
Leila Hyams
Bela Lugosi
and
The Panther Woman
The film is an adaption of the H.G. Wells novel The Island of Dr. Moreau.
Upon it's release, it was immediately banned in England, much to the delight of Wells, who repudiated it.
There's no need to discuss the film in detail here. Many of you who are fans of classic precode movies are well versed in the proceedings, as well as the book. The title has been available on VHS, Laser Disc, DVD, and Blu-ray for some time.
I do want to take a moment to give The Panther Woman her just due.
I'm speaking of Kathleen Burke, from Hammond, IN.
In searching for their female actor, Paramount had a nation wide "Panther Woman Contest." On September 30, 1932, the Los Angeles Examiner detailed the climax of one of Hollywood 's all-time shameless publicity stunts:
"Found.....The Panther Woman. Out of a field of some 60,000 aspirants throughout the nation, Kathleen Burke, 19 year old Chicago 'unknown' was yesterday pronounced the ideal type for Paramount's
exotic picture, The Island of Lost Souls."
Greg Mank, author of Women in Horror Films 1930's describers her.
"At first, we only see her in shadows. Charles Laughton, unforgettably vile as Dr. Moreau, comes to her lair.
"Lota....a man has come from the sea...."
He takes her by the hand and leads her outside, where we see her full form in the moonlight.... Kathleen Burke as Lota, the Panther Woman.
There's a temptation to laugh. The wildly-teased hair, the giant raccoon eyes ringed in mascara, the lipsticked bee-stung-lips.... Kathleen Burke's Lota looks like a 1932 hooker, all dressed up for a "John" with a South Seas fetish. However there is something strange at play here....a little sense of sadness....tragedy.
In a role never imagined by H.G. Wells in his 1896 novel The Island of Dr. Moreau, Kathleen Burke won the distinction of playing -----sensually, movingly, and unforgettably---one of the most memorable female roles in the horror genre. She was Lota, the "masterpiece" of Charles Laughton's whip cracking Dr. Moreau, the Panther Woman whose "stubborn beast flesh" comes creeping back, just as she is about to make a conquest of the hero (Richard Arlen).
It's a captivating acting creation played by a very young actress, who despite looking like Dorothy Lamour-from-Hell, manages to communicate the tragedy that lies beneath the sensationalism."
Mr. Mank's assessment is spot on.
From research, Kathleen was a shy girl, very nice, and very quiet. She was very friendly, but not outgoing. It wasn't her nature to be noticed, but she was very poised.
While Charles Laughton certainly dominates the film as Dr. Moreau, and the "cameo" of Bela Lugosi as the Sayer of the Law, is well done, it's Kathleen Burke that gives us the tragic Lota, the Panther Woman....a character you will never forget.
