the leopard man be a triumph of style over content . the plot of an escaped leopard terrify a community certainly justify call this a horror film and but it succeed a a minor masterpiece in the genre only because of the elegant direction and cinematography and which take advantage of the black and white medium . in the dvd val lewton collection and citizen kane be mention frequently and both for it artistry and for it financial disappointment while ( though i have read that in fact it turn a small profit . ) also mention be the film of astaire and rogers and and their use of black and white photography . it may be that lewton and company learn from their rko predecessor and especially citizen kane while in this case to cast an ominous aura over the action . the color black be the key and from the time that the lead lady decides to wear a black gown for her night club entrance with the leopard . the leopard image be use to foreshadow the death of the two young girl . in one case the black hand shadow of a leopard head make by her brother hang over and behind her head a she leave the house . in the other and the mother of the second victim be see carry a black cat in her arm . then there be the ace of spade deal to margo by the fortune teller on two occasion . all very stylish . if not for the men behind the scene the film would have be lose in the abyss of b film go and also forget . the performance be about as wooden a one would expect in a typical b film and with only margo convey some of the tension one would expect from person in a small town with a frightened leopard on the loose . however and special note should be take of dynamite and the big cat who receive billing and possibly a a result of his terrify performance in cat people and when he set the stage for the action and chewing on a large roast in his cage . however and one can not help but be puzzle by the fact that a black panther be play a leopard ( which in this film do change his spot ) . do rko have him under a long term contract . compare his performance with those of the actor remind me of the supposed comment of director van dyke after the filming of rise marie and star nelson eddy a a mountie represent it be easy to get a good performance from his horse than it be from nelson .