The Legacy (1978): A Creepy White Cat and a Deadly Inheritance

In The Legacy (1978), a group of strangers trapped in an English mansion are mysteriously killed off one by one—always in the presence of a white cat.

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Accepting an interior design job from a mysterious client in London, who offers a hefty advance of £50,000 but remains vague about the specifics, American architect Maggie Walsh (Katharine Ross) and her partner Pete Danner (Sam Elliott) travel from Los Angeles to England. During a leisurely countryside motorcycle ride, their journey takes an unexpected turn when a Rolls Royce, driven by Harry (Ian Hogg), forces them off the road. The driver, chauffeur to wealthy Jason Mountolive (John Standing), offers to escort them to his lavish estate, Ravenhurst, in St. Audries Park in Somerset.

Jason graciously hosts them with tea and hospitality as they wait for repairs. As Maggie and Pete settle into a guest room and explore the vast estate, they notice it is home to many cats. They also observe strange behavior among the staff and the enigmatic Nurse Adams (Margaret Tyzack), who is in charge of the estate since the owner is terminally ill. The mansion also welcomes a handful of elite guests arriving via helicopter.

Jason has invited five guests to his mansion, all public figures with notorious reputations. They are potential heirs to his vast financial estate and, as it turns out, to his supernatural power. The guests include Jacques Grandier (Lee Montague), owner of numerous luxury hotels across the Mediterranean; Barbara (Hildegarde Neil), who commands Europe’s largest publishing empire; Maria Gabrieli (Marianne Broome), a champion swimmer and Rome’s foremost socialite; Karl Liebknecht (Charles Gray), a former decorated soldier in Hitler’s army turned industrialist producing weapons; and Clive Jackson (Roger Daltrey), a successful musician. Jason leveraged his wealth and influence to transform their lives from troubled beginnings to prosperity and prominence. Now, they are indebted to him and must return to his mansion whenever summoned. The reason why Maggie wears a ring that matches those of the other five guests is part of the mystery.

But with Maggie in the picture, there are now six potential heirs. The number six carries deep significance in many occult traditions and esoteric practices. In the hexagram, it represents balance and the merging of opposites. Christian theology famously ties it to the “number of the beast,” symbolizing evil and the Devil. In witchcraft and occultism, six is believed to have magical properties related to protection, balance, and transformation, often appearing in rituals and symbols. Numerologically, it signifies nurturing, compassion, and harmony in the home, while Tarot links it to The Lovers card, representing choices and relationships. Astrologically, six connects with Virgo, the practical and organized sixth zodiac sign.

After Pete narrowly avoids scalding himself in a scorching shower, Maria is found dead in the pool, despite her expertise as a swimmer. Stranded with no help, Maggie and Pete decide to make a break for it. They steal horses and escape to a nearby village, breaking into a stranger’s car. But no matter which road they take, they inexplicably end up back at the mansion.

Resigned to their fate, Maggie returns to the mansion. It becomes apparent that someone is using black magic to eliminate the others. Someone is burned to death by a flame shooting out of the fireplace and then has their remains fed to the dogs. Daltry is given an unsuccessful tracheotomy after choking on a chicken bone, and yet another guest is fatally impaled by shards of glass from an exploding mirror. 

Whenever someone dies, a white cat is always present. We could see this cat as a harbinger of danger and supernatural occurrences. Yet we could also interpret it as a witches’ familiar because it turns out the white cat is none other than Nurse Adams, the right-hand help of our witch, Jason. 

The choice to use an all-white cat is interesting. In medieval Europe, cats began to be demonized and associated with witchcraft, particularly black cats. They often lived near witches’ homes or gathering places, leading to the belief that they were the witches’ companions or familiars. In The Legacy, however, the white cat symbolizes protection, healing, and wisdom. Indeed, Nurse Adams’ role is to protect Jason and to heal those surrounding him—she is a nurse, after all.

At the helm of The Legacy is Richard Marquand. Apart from The Legacy, Marquand is perhaps best known for directing Star Wars: Episode VI – Return of the Jedi (1983). Other notable works by Marquand include the courtroom thriller Jagged Edge (1985), starring Jeff Bridges and Glenn Close, the World War II spy thriller Eye of the Needle (1981), and the musical drama Hearts of Fire (1987), which featured Bob Dylan, Rupert Everett, and Fiona Flanagan. Unfortunately, Marquand’s career was cut short when he died of a stroke in 1987 at 49.

Made to cash in on the 1970s craze of Satanic-themed films spurned on by the box office success of The Exorcist (1973) and The Omen (1976), The Legacy was a major studio release with a healthy budget, and the whole thing has a glossy, professional sheen to it. Not only does the film look fantastic, the cinematographers, Dick Bush and Alan Hume, have tried to spice up the proceedings with some exciting camerawork, including one inside a shower nozzle. The art direction is also exceptional, and the mansion the movie takes place in is gorgeous. That mansion belongs to none other than Roger Daltry, who agreed for his house to be used if the production wrote a part for him into the script. Daltry is not a bad actor either. On top of that, he has one of the most memorable death scenes in the movie.

The leads and the supporting performances are enjoyable. Before doing The Legacy, Katharine Ross could already be seen in roles as Elaine in The Graduate (1969), Etta in Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid (1969), Joanna in The Stepford Wives (1975), and Helena in The Swarm (1978). Her partner in the film, Sam Elliott, is known for his roles as Pickett Smith in Frogs (1972), Gar in Mask (1985), Wade Garrett in Road House (1989), and Virgil Earp in Tomb Stone (1993).

The supporting cast of The Legacy (1978) includes notable actors from various film and TV productions. Roger Daltrey, the lead vocalist of the rock band The Who, portrays Clive Jackson. John Standing, recognized for his work in projects like The Elephant Man (1980) and V For Vendetta (2005), appears as Jason Mountolive. And, Margaret Tyzack, an esteemed British actress with a prolific stage and screen career, takes on the role of the mysterious Nurse Adams. 

The only downside is the score, which could be more fitting for an occult thriller. The whole thing opens with a hokey love song (“a love that never grows old!”) by Kiki Dee (known for such songs as “Don’t Go Breaking My Heart,” a duet with Elton John, and “I’ve Got the Music in Me.”). Then, throughout the film, we get an instrumental version of the same song.

Three different writers are credited, one of them being Jimmy Sangster, the screenwriter of The Curse of Frankenstein(1957), Horror of Dracula (1958), and many others. 

The Legacy has often faced criticism for its confusing script and perceived plot holes. However, it is essential to recognize that the story contains many layers that may go unnoticed by viewers because they are not explained (such as the symbolism behind the cat’s color or the number of guests). Without understanding these subtleties, these elements may appear random. Yet The Legacy is far from the nonsensical work that many critics describe.

Despite its flaws, the film captures your attention from beginning to end, and it is arguably one of the most memorable horror movies of the 1970s. While some death scenes may be forgettable, others leave a lasting impression. After watching, you might think twice before diving into a swimming pool or nibbling on a chicken bone—especially if a white cat is nearby.

This movie essay on The Legacy (1978) was previously published in the book Meow! Cats in Horror, Sci-Fi, and Fantasy Movies.

About the author

Vanessa Morgan is the editor of When Animals Attack: The 70 Best Horror Movies with Killer Animals, Strange Blood: 71 Essays on Offbeat and Underrated Vampires Movies, Evil Seeds: The Ultimate Movie Guide to Villainous Children, and Meow! Cats in Horror, Sci-Fi, and Fantasy Movies. She also published one cat book (Avalon) and four supernatural thrillers (Drowned Sorrow, The Strangers Outside, A Good Man, and Clowders). Three of her stories became movies. She introduces movie screenings at several European cinemas and film festivals and is also a programmer for the Offscreen Film Festival in Brussels. When she is not writing, you will probably find her eating out or taking photos of felines for her website, Traveling Cats.

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