This film is one of the greatest films of the classic universal horror era. Released only days after the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor and the United States entering World War II. This film presents a cautionary tale that mirrored the nazzies rise in Germany with a mostly sympathetic monster, this movie shows how a good man can easily be transformed into a deadly monster. The effects in the movie were relatively simple, but were filmed and edited in a way that produced maximum impact.
The movie was a progenitor of many horror films featuring the same monster. However, much of the lore around this creature was created by this film. even a man who is pure at heart and says his prayers by night may become a wolf. When the wolf pain blooms and the autumn moon is bright. Hello to all the classic people that are returning. I'm glad you're back. I want to welcome any new visitors and let you know that there will be spoilers ahead.
Today on Classic Movie Review, we are taking on The Wolf Man (1941). The beautiful little poem that I just read is recited several times in The Wolf Man (1941). It is said to have Eastern European folk roots. however, famed writer Curt Siodmak wrote it for this film And it has joined the werewolf lore, as have many other elements from this movie. The poem, be it somewhat changed, was quoted in Van Helsing (2004), as well as in every other universal film that the Wolf Man appeared in.
The film was rated a much too low 7.2 on IMDb.com. On Rotten tomatoes.com, the film has a much more realistic 91% on the Tomatometer and an 80% audience score, so pretty good. Film critic Leonard Maltin called The Wolf Man (1941) Quote one of the finest horror films ever made, unquote. Actors. The Wolfman had an all star cast by any standards.
Patrick Knowles, known for The charge of the Light Brigade (1936), The Adventures of Robin Hood (1938), The Wolf Man (1941), Frankenstein Meets the Wolf Man (1943), and the unrequited Love in Auntie Mame (1958) was Gwenn's fiancé, Frank Andrews. And Auntie Mame, Rosalind Russell is fabulous, and she takes you on an emotional roller coaster while making you laugh at the same time. But whatever you do, don't watch the Mame (1974) starring Lucille Ball and Bea Author.
Remember that once the time is lost, You can never get it back. and also briefly covered in Chisum (1970). The links below, where he was in the role of Harry turnstile. Warren Williams played the role of Doctor Lloyd. He was first covered in Satan Met a Lady (1936). The film was an early version of The Maltese Falcon (1941) William played a quirky version of the role that Humphrey Bogart would later make famous.
Lon Chaney, Jr played the role of Lawrence Talbot, also known as Larry and as the Wolf Man, although they never call him the Wolf Man in this movie. I've always enjoyed Chaney Jr's acting, going back to the 3:00 after school horror films that were shown on the local television network. I know Chaney Jr had a lot of personal problems, and this seems to show in his acting.
Junior was a son of legendary actor Lon Chaney of such films as The Phantom of the Opera (1925), The Hunchback of Notre Dame (1923), and another 160 movies. Junior was born in 1906, in Oklahoma City, while his family was on a theatrical tour. He eventually tried stage work and did okay in 1935. His name was changed to Lon Chaney, Jr. He was on his way even though he never cared for being called junior. Although he began appearing in films in 1922.
Junior is best known for Union Pacific (1939) for playing Lennie in Of Mice and Men (1939), The Wolf Man (1941). The Ghost of Frankenstein (1942). Frankenstein Meets the Wolf Man (1943), Son of Dracula (1943). Where I gave him grief for playing a vampire. But in retrospect, he was pretty good. The Mummy's Ghost (1944), House of Frankenstein (1944). The Mummy's Curse (1944), House of Dracula (1945).
Pillow of death 1945 Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein (1948), High Noon (1952), I Died a Thousand Times (1955), and Television's “The Monkeys,” 1966, as Lennie. Junior died in 1973. Perhaps the greatest actor in this film was Claude Rains, who played Sir John Talbot, the father of Larry, aka the Wolfman. Rains was born in London in 1889 to an acting father. He began acting on stage at the age of 11. He moved to America in 1913 for theater work.
However, when World War One broke out, he returned to England to serve in a Scottish regiment. After the war he stayed in England and studied at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts. He became a stage actor and even taught at the Royal Academy. Rains’ first film was in 1920, but his second wasn't until 1933. Of course, it was a fantastic universal horror classic with the highest body count. The Invisible Man (1933), with Rains in the title role.
His other roles include Anthony Adverse (1936), The Prince and the Pauper (1937). in The Adventures of Robin Hood (1938) and The Sea Hawk (1940), Rains played a couple of real slimy roles in Robin Hood, he was so slippery that it makes you want to go to the backyard and start practicing your bow skill. Between the two previously mentioned roles, he was a leading character in Mr. Smith Goes to Washington (1939).
As Good as Mr. Smith, played by Jimmy Stewart, was Rains playing Senator Joseph Payne is just as evil. He is evil. But he was good. And maybe he could be good again. He continue with Here Comes Mr. Jordan (1941), The Wolf Man (1941). Rains is probably best known for the movie Casablanca (1942), where he uttered the line Major Strasser has been shot. Round up the usual suspects. And I'm shocked. Shocked to find out gambling is going on in here as he is handed his winnings.
was also the principal of Humphrey Bogart and Louis. I think this is the beginning of a beautiful friendship. His body of work continued with Phantom of the Opera (1943), Passage to Marseilles (1944), and Mr. Skeffington (1944). Though those last film is not my favorite genre, it is an excellent love story. Rains was nominated for a Best Supporting Actor Oscar for his work in this movie.
He was great in the epic tights and fights film Caesar and Cleopatra (1945), In what I believe was his best performance. Rains played a Nazi agent opposite costars Cary Grant and Ingrid Bergman in Notorious (1946). This is a spy thriller set in Rio de Janeiro at the end of World War two, with lots of nazzies and other unsavory characters. Rains and the others burned up the screen.
He appeared in the fantasy Angel on My Shoulder (1946), in the Jurassic Adventure of The Lost World, accompanied by a woman in pink pants. His next important role was in the epic Lawrence of Arabia (1962). it's long, but totally worth the time. His final film was The Greatest Story Ever Told (1965). Rains died in 1967. Veteran actor Ralph Belamy played Colonel Paul Montfort, the local chief constable. This American actor seems out of place here.
They invented an explanation for why Larry had an English father and spoke with an American accent. Nothing for Montfort Maria Ouspenskaya was cast as Maleva, the gypsy and mother of Bela. Ouspenskaya was a 90 pound dynamo who was born and trained in Russia. She had a great stage career and only started doing movies to keep her drama school going. She was a devout astrologer and in many ways echoed the part she played. Ouspenskaya was only six years older than Bela Lugosi, who played her son.
Two other actors helped carry the storyline of this movie. They are Bela Lugosi as Bela, very creative. and the beautiful Evelyn Ankers as Laurence Talbot's love interest. Gwen Cunliffe. Because of the role she took on, Ankers was known as the Queen of the screamers way before Jamie Lee Curtis, but after Fay Wray. Story. The credits roll over a fog shrouded forest, all in black and white. Then a hand opens an encyclopedia to a listing of lycanthropy, aka werewolf ism.
The legend states it is a disease of the mind. However, others, including those living near Talbot Castle, believe that a man takes the form of a wolf and violently kills. It also states that the sign of the werewolf is the pentagram, a five pointed star. One thing that this movie doesn't cover is that there is an old English word for man. So werewolf literally means man Wolf. Lawrence “Larry” Talbot, (Lon Chaney, Jr) is being driven to Talbot Castle and land. Willie Wales is once home.
The castle is really a large estate, not a true castle. He is greeted at the estate by his father, Sir John Talbot (Claude Rains). Sir John introduces Larry to Paul Montfort (Ralph Belamy), who is the area's chief constable. Larry and Montfort were childhood friends. The mood darkens as Larry looks at a portrait of his recently deceased brother, John. Sir Talbot is saddened and talks of not being close to Larry, as John was the elder son.
He then says John, who looks exactly like Larry, was killed in a hunting accident. They never mentioned this again. Larry had been away from home for 18 years. As they talk of reconciliation, the staff brings in a new port for Sir Talbot's telescope. Sir, Talbot and Larry go up to the observatory, where a large telescope is housed in a glass room to allow observation. Larry goes to work installing the new port.
Larry tells his father that he worked in an optical company in America, and spent a large amount of time working at Mount Wilson Observatory. This explains why the son of a Welshman had an American accent. In the original version of the script, writer Curt Siodmak had Larry come to Talbot Castle to repair the telescope, but he was not related to Sir Talbot. Sir Talbot leaves the observatory and Larry begins looking through the telescope.
His gaze lands on the lovely young woman, Gwen Conliffe (Evelyn Akers) in her bedroom, trying on jewelry. Conliffe is an Anglo-Saxon name that means war love. this also plays on the dualistic nature of the wolf man being at war with himself and with the ones he loves. Gwen tries on quarter moon earrings with spangles. This seems to foretell a peaceful time without the full moon. In the spangles may be the foretelling of the arrival of the gypsies.
Larry dresses and goes to the store where Glenn works. when he tells her that he's looking for the earrings that are in her room, the conversation gets a little tense. Larry changes the subject of buying a cane. When Gwen says she is going to get her father. Larry calms heard by telling her he is psychic about the earrings. She offers him a cane with a dog head. Again, I believe this shows the contrast between a nice puppy and a mean old wolf.
Larry picks a cane with a large silver wolf and the mark of a pentagram. Don't ever leave home without it. Gwen explains that the pentagram is the mark of a werewolf. She tells it a werewolf changes form a number of times a year. Larry comes back with what big eyes you have. Grandma. Gwen replies that little Red Riding Hood is also a werewolf story, she then recites the werewolf poem. Gwen continues that werewolf see the mark of the pentagram in the palm of his next victim's hand.
Larry buys a cane and ask Gwen for a date. She flatly refuses. Gwen and Larry hear the gypsies arriving and go outside to look Maleva (Maria Ouspenskaya), who is driving a two wheel cart, looks to be as old as the hills. She was around 65. Her son, Bela (Bela Lugosi), is driving a wagon. They spend a lot of time creating the name for that character. Bela was around 59 at the time of the movie, just six years younger than the woman playing his mother.
Gypsies are itinerant entertainers believed to have migrated from the Indian subcontinent around a thousand years ago and settled in the Balkans in the 13th, the 14th century. The name Gypsy may be derived from a shortening of Egyptian. However, they are now properly called Romani, reflecting their recent habitation in Romania. Is it odd that they come from the same place as Dracula? Gwen tellls Larry that the gypsies are fortune tellers. Larry says he will be by to pick her up at eight.
She says no for a second time. Larry returns home and meets with Sir Talbot. Sir Talbot confirms the story and says there is probably some truth to the werewolf legend. Sir Talbot then recites the point Sir Talbot encourages Larry to get to know the people as he will be their town overlord one day. The night is shrouded with fog. Gwen comes out of her shop at 8 p.m. and Larry is waiting. She has on the earrings and Larry has the cane. Don't leave home without it.
He begs her to go to the gypsy camp with him. She consents, but then reveals her friend Jenny (Fay Helm), who will be going along with the couple. the trio head into the dark woods. The fog is hanging low to the ground. Jenny picks some wolfsbane and recites the werewolf point. They arrive at the camp and are greeted by Bela. Maleva is moving around in the background. Jenny goes to get her fortune told, while Larry cons Gwen into going for a lonely walk in the dark woods.
He confesses about the telescope. She takes it reasonably well. Gwen tells that she is engaged to be married. Bela's reading for Jenny goes bad as Bela stops and begins rubbing his head. He has a pentagram on his forehead. Bela sees the pentagram in Jenny's palm. He tells her to come back the next night. Mean me? What's the matter? Can't tell you anything tonight. Come back tomorrow. He scares Jenny and she runs away. Maleva watches from her tent as Bela begins to transform.
The horses are freaking out. Jenny is shown running through the woods and the werewolf howl is heard for the first time. Gwen and Larry hear the howl and Jenny scream. Larry tells Gwen to wait alone while he investigates. You stay here. No, not going to happen. No. Not staying here by myself. A wolf is shown attacking Jenny, and Larry runs in, striking the animal with a silver tipped cane. The wolf that Larry fights is the actor's own German Shepherd.
Larry kills the wolf, but is bitten in the process. He staggers away and is found by Gwen. It's okay. Just a little comment here. Maleva and Bela knew he was a werewolf. Wouldn't it have been a good idea to delay their arrival by one day? Maleva arrives with her two will cart. Gwen tells that Larry was bitten by a wolf. Maleva helps Larry get home. Sir Talbot and Constable Montford are drinking at the estate when the wounded Larry is brought inside. Maleva ducks out.
Larry remembers Jenny and at the same time, a man arrives to tell Constable Montfort that Jenny has been murdered. The constable, Doctor Lloyd (Warren William), and some of the other villagers find Jenny in the woods, and Doctor Lloyd determines that she was bitten in the jugular by a large animal. They soon find Bela in human form. The doctor determines that Bela was beaten to death with a heavy object. He notes that Bela isn't wearing shoes. At last they find Larry silver tip werewolf cane.
Wolf tracks are found near the bodies. Larry wakes in bed and is soon disturbed by the arrival of Sir Talbot, Constable Montfort, and Doctor Lloyd. They have Larry's cane and want to know if it is his. Larry identifies the cane as the one he killed the wolf with. Talbot tells that the cane was found by Bela's dead body. Larry replies that he fought a wolf, not a man. He opens his robe to show the wounds, but he is completely healed. They decide they will interview Larry later.
rich privilege. Sir Talbot thinks Larry killed Bela by accident. Doctor Lloyd thinks Larry might be mentally shocked by the event. Billy's casket is shown being transported through town. Larry watches as locals begin to speculate about Larry killing him. The casket is taken to a cemetery nave adjacent to the cemetery. Larry opens the coffin, but shuts it quickly when he hears voices. Maleva tells the priest that no prayer should be performed at Billy's burial.
The priest is very concerned that what the gypsies want is a pagan ceremony. Maleva goes to the casket for viewing and talks cryptically about Bela's cursed life and how you will suffer no more. Larry stays hidden until Maleva leaves. Gwen discusses the night's events with her father. She is very upset. Jenny's mother and some church ladies come in and rage at Gwen's father because Gwen left Jenny alone. Larry bused in and ladies retreat.
Larry apologizes and said nothing wrong was done by the pair. Larry and Gwen talk, and he gives his version of the night and the possible killing of Bela. Gwen's fiancé, Frank Andrews (Patrick Knowles) arrives, but he is not very happy. Frank’s dog barks at Larry. Frank is Sir Talbot's gamekeeper. Larry leaves. Frank alludes to the tragedy being associated with the Talbot family line. On another night, Gwen and Frank visit the gypsy camp.
It is booming with throngs of gypsies and villagers this time. There is dancing and music, and the tone is different from Gwen and Larry's first visit. Larry is also in attendance with his silver cane in hand. Larry leaves when he sees the pair. However, Frank asks Larry to join the couple. The trio go to a shooting gallery and everything is fine until a wolf target pops up. Frank says to Larry, shoot him before he bites you. Larry, now visibly shaken, misses the shot.
Frank, easily shoots the wolf target. Is that foreshadowing? Larry heads away alone, but encounters Maleva near a wagon. She takes Larry into her tent and tells him he killed a wolf, and the wolf was her son Bela in Werewolf form. She explains that werewolf can be killed with silver, which is one of the cane worked. She gives him a pentagram chain that she says can break the curse. Larry doesn't want to believe and heads out.
Maleva calmly states that whoever is bitten by a werewolf and lives will become a werewolf. She warns Larry to wear the charm over his heart. She then tells him to go and says that may heaven help him. Constable Montfort has been watching the goings on from a distance. Maleva tells another gypsy about Larry. As the word spreads through the camp, they all start packing to leave. Frank gets angry and leaves, so Gwen is alone.
she is surprised to see the pentagram on the charm, and is shocked when Larry says that Maleva said he was a werewolf. He gives Gwen the charm for her protection. He then gives her a kiss, but they are disturbed by the gypsy's packing. Larry ask a man why they are leaving and the man says a werewolf is in the camp For the gypsies are all leaving. I must go to the Grand. Hey, hey, hey, what's all exciting? There's a werewolf, a cat.
When runs away and Larry has a dream sequence of the recent events. Larry runs home to his room and checks for hair growth. His feet and legs are the first part to turn hairy as he begins the transformation. Here. Any. Evening. This is a very good trivia question. Larry fully transforms into a werewolf but is not shown. He howls and then kills a nighttime grave digger. Only. The people in the village are awakened by the howling. Constable Montfort and Doctor Lloyd meet in the cemetery.
The Grave Digger was killed in the same manner as Jenny. They also find wolf tracks in the dirt. In the morning, muddy wolf tracks are leading into Larry's room. Larry has a pentagram mark where he was bitten. he tries to wipe away the tracks, but sees Constable Montfort following the tracks towards his room. Larry tries to play cool with his father about the tracks. Larry then ask about the werewolf lore.
Sir Talbot explains that the myth exists in almost every country in the world, and it is some type of schizophrenia where the evil in a man's soul takes on the form of an animal. So Talbot believes that these actions take place in the mind, and there is no physical form of an animal. They decide to go to church. However, the church steps seem much too large for a small town.
This was actually shot on a universal set created for The Hunchback of Notre Dame (1923), in which Lon Chaney senior played Quasimodo. The villagers are really spreading the tea. Larry and Sir Talbot have an awkward encounter with Gwen and her father on the steps of the church. The entire congregation looks at Larry as he stands in the back before ducking out. Sir Talbot, Constable Montfort, Frank and Doctor Lloyd are at Castle Talbot discussing the killings.
When Larry arrives, Larry says it is not a wolf but a true werewolf. Constable Montfort mocks Larry by calling for a werewolf hunt. Doctor Lloyd thinks the killings are a result of a mental problem. When the others leave, Doctor Lloyd tells Sir Talbot that Larry should be confined to a mental hospital for rest. Frank and Castle Montfort have men set out steel traps around the area. At night, the werewolf howl is heard again, where feet are shown walking through the woods.
The werewolf steps into one of the traps and is caught. I can. Men and dogs are coming through the woods in the monster's direction. The dogs lose a trail for a moment, Maleva arrives in her two- wheeled cart. She says words over the werewolf and he reverts back to Larry. Larry flees, but is stopped by a couple of searchers. He bluffs his way out, but Constable Montford is on the trail. Larry goes to Gwen's store and wakes her by throwing rocks against the windows.
She lets Larry inside the store. He says he is going away and can't take her alone. Gwen is in love with Larry, but he sees the pentagram mark on her palm. He goes home and tells his father, Sir Talbot, that he is a werewolf. They hear the dogs and the men hunting in the woods. Larry begins to realize that the only way out is to die. Sir Talbot ties Larry to a chair so he can't go out Sir Talbot has to leave Larry to meet with the hunters. Larry has him take the silver cane.
Constable Montford, Frank and Doctor Lloyd are waiting in the woods with rifles. Sir Talbot leaves the other men but soon runs into Maleva, who tells Sir Talbot he is protected by the cane. They hear shooting and Sir Talbot runs back to the hunting stand. Larry is moving around as a full werewolf. Gwen talks to Maleva, but refuses to go with the Gypsy and runs into the woods. Have you seen Larry? Don't go through the woods. Why? Listen, the hunt is on. But. But I want to help him.
You'd better come with me. Larry attacked Gwen. Here. I. Her screams are heard by the hunters. Sir Talbot arrives and fights the werewolf with the silver tipped cane. Never leave home without it. Eventually, Sir Talbot kills the werewolf and it slowly transforms into Larry. I. Maleva says a chant over Larry, and says he will now have peace. Your suffering is over. Now you will find peace for eternity. Sir Talbot can't believe. What are you seeing.
The hunters arrive and are shocked to see Larry dead. Constable Montford says the wolf must have attacked Gwen, and Larry saved her. The wolf must have attacked her, and Larry came to the rescue. I'm sorry, sir John. All right. If you're enjoying this and getting value out of it, be sure to subscribe. Leave me a comment. It's greatly appreciated and it helps the channel grow. Conclusion. The Werewolf of London (1935) is the first movie made about werewolves. There is a link in the description.
In that film, a man is bitten by a Tibetan werewolf and thus becomes a werewolf. The effect can be held off by a night glowing flower found only in Tibet. However, most werewolf lore came from today's movie The Wolf Man (1941). both films have been bitten by a werewolf, and living is a way to become a werewolf. But they diverge greatly after that point in The Werewolf of London (1935). A werewolf is killed by regular bullets.
The Wolf Man (1941), introduces silver as the killing agents for werewolf. Although there may be some historical precedent. The pentagram in the palm of the next victim's hand was from today's movie. Also in this movie, the moon causes the werewolf to transform. However, what makes this movie really great is that Larry was sympathetically portrayed. He was not a heartless killer, but a man who found himself in a bad fix. This represents humans struggling with their internal good and evil.
more importantly, this film calls out the damn nazzies. As in how they can take a man that was basically good and turn him into an evil killer. I'm referring to the foot soldiers here and not the leadership. The pentagram is very similar to the Star of David, that Jewish people in the nazzie occupied areas were required to wear, pointing them out to be killed. Spooky, right.
Jack Pierce was the makeup artist for this film and made the werewolf transformation one of the scariest things I ever saw as a youth. Pierce worked on Dracula (1931), Frankenstein (1931), White Zombie (1932), and The Mummy (1932). So I will credit this great makeup artist as the main contributor to any fever dreams I had as a child in The Wolf Man (1941). Pierce created new makeup techniques and prosthetics to create the werewolf.
The director used repeated close ups during the transformation, including 17 continuous face shots. Pierce was nominated for the Best Makeup Oscar. Silent film actor Gibson Gowan appeared in The Wolf Man (1941) as a villager, and was present at the death of the Wolf Man junior. He had also been in The Phantom of the Opera (1925), and saw the death scene of the Phantom Senior.
He was the only actor to appear in Death scenes performed by both Lon Chaney and Lon Chaney, Jr. This film was primarily shot on the Universal Studios lot in Southern California. During the final scene, after Larry attacks her, Gwen faints and lies in the smoke or fog. When they finish the scene. The actress Evelyn Ankers was found passed out because of the smoke. World famous short summary A rich boy returns to the country and falls for a girl. Things end badly for the boy.
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