I have to agree with Tom Weaver on this. I just saw the introduction to Cat People on the Essentials. Osbourne was trying to convince Alec Baldwin that the film was an essential, because much was done with a low budget, and then Osbourne talked about the cost-cutting that can be seen in the film, such as no extras on the streets of New York.

No attempt was made to put the film in context, to describe its innovation of style of not showing the monster onscreen (I know, there is one shot of a panther), or to discuss the other Val Lewton films of that era and films of other eras that took much from the Lewton films. The whole thing was an embarrassment.

Nevertheless, you have to love TCM, as they are following the film, later tonight, with many other Val Lewton features.