Attack of the Puppet People (1958)

Attack of the Puppet People DVD

Alta Vista Productions
Starring: John Agar, John Hoyt, June Kenney
Directed by: Bert I. Gordon

Cat Out of the Bag Alert! This review contains some spoilers for this film!

Synopsis: A seemingly quiet and unimposing doll-maker named Mr. Franz (John Hoyt) harbors a sinister secret in the back room of his doll factory; he turns the people he likes into living dolls to keep him company!

Featured Feline: After shrinking his latest secretary Sally Reynolds (June Kenney) and her boyfriend Bob Westley (John Agar) into doll size, Mr. Franz shows them how the process is done, using his pet cat Tommy as an example.

Attack of the Puppet People - Mr. Franz and black cat Tommy

He lures Tommy to the workroom with a saucer of milk and then proceeds to shrink the black cat, handing the tiny animal to Sally.

Attack of the Puppet People - black cat Tommy in palm of hands

Later Tommy pops up again when Mr. Franz is fixing a doll for a little girl. She spots the tiny cat climbing out of a matchbox. It’s right at the same time a missing persons bureau inspector is in the office asking questions. The girl grabs the matchbox and wants to keep the tiny kitty, so Mr. Franz has to distract her with a pretty doll to get the matchbox away.

Attack of the Puppet People - black cat Tommy climbs out of a matchbox

Kitty Cameo: Later in the film Sally and Bob try to escape and end up on the street where an enormous rat starts chasing them. Fortunately a black and white cat happens to be nearby and attacks the rat, saving the tiny people.

Attack of the Puppet People - black and white cat