User Reviews

Universal Studios had an impressive list of successes in the horror genre starting in 1931 with Tod Browning's "Dracula". The myth of the werewolf, was firstly adapted in 1935 in "Werewolf of London", but the movie failed to get the public's attention in the same way as the "Dracula" and "Frankenstein" series of movies. However, the moon shined for the wolf in 1941, when a second attempt was done with a completely new story. "The Wolf Man" had a great reception and soon was considered among the finest of the Universal Studios' movies of that era and it is probably the last of the Classics as the horror movies of the 40s started to have lower budget and production values.

"The Wolf Man" is a classic tragedy where a man becomes a beast that must kill every time the full moon shines on the sky. Lon Chaney Jr. is Larry Talbot, who returns home to Wales after spending years in the U.S.. Not only he'll have to adapt to the life in countryside and improve his relationship with his father (Claude Rains); now he'll face the curse of the werewolf after been bitten by the gypsy Bela (Bela Lugosi).

I have always thought that the previous "Werewolf of London" was a vastly superior film in terms of acting, direction and even make-up; however, the film's plot is not captivating and in the end not very attractive. On the other hand, Curt Siodmack's script for "The Wolf Man" is a brilliant masterpiece of horror and fantasy. So perfect that it makes up for all the film's other flaws, as it has an unnatural charm that is simply mesmerizing.

Like a Greek tragedy, the saga of Larry Talbot and his curse works in so many levels that is no surprise that it is the film that not only type-casted Chaney, but also serve as basis for all the future werewolf films. Siodmack basically creates the Werewolf myths out of thin air and gives them form with masterful care. Who can forget Maleva's (Maria Ouspenskaya) words? The "Wolf Man" rhyme is now one of the most famous quotes in film history.

Claude Rains is superb as Sir John Talbot, and gives the role the dignity that requires. Probably Lon Chaney Jr. had a limited range as an actor, but he was the perfect Larry Talbot with his sad looks and overall tragic appearance. Against all odds, Chaney embodied the wolf man and made the part almost mythical. The rest of the cast was definitely not as convincing as those great actors; however, Maria Ouspenskaya and Bela Lugosi are terrific as the gypsies who will play an important part in Talbot's future.

Jack Pierce's make-up is definitely the other star in this movie. The legendary monster maker created a piece that is now considered legendary. The wolf man's make-up is more beast-like and primal than the subtle one that Henry Hull used in "Werewolf of London", but that is because both werewolves are very different between them. While Hull's character was the darkest side of his persona, Chaney's wolf man is a beast that posses his body, and Jack Pierce captured that essence with the limited technology of his time, creating an immortal masterpiece in make-up history.

"The Wolf Man" may not be a perfect film, but the captivating storyline and the mystique surrounding it definitely have earned this movie a huge reputation as one of the best of the Universal Studios films of the 30s-40s era. While there may be better werewolf movies out there, this one will always be remembered as THE definitive werewolf classic. 8/10

As werewolf movies go The Wolf Man is probably the best. It was written by Curt Siodmak and directed by George Waggner. The script, though it gets the job done, has altogether too many wolf and dog references in it for comfort, many in the first fifteen minutes. A horror movie should never at the outset tell you that it is a horror movie. The title and and cast often give this away anyway, I grant, not to mention lobby cards and reviews. But the idea is or should be to draw the viewer in slowly, enabling him to acclimatize himself to the people and atmosphere so that the horror can, as it were, creep up on him. For all its excellent qualities The Wolf Man does not do this. Otherwise it works fairly nicely.

A thoroughly Americanized Larry Talbot arrives at the estate of his British father, Sir John (A baronet? I wish they'd made this clear). Aside from the fact that he is three times larger than his father and altogether different in temperament (shy and fumbling as opposed to assertive and incisive), the two hit it off well enough. Larry has returned from the States due to the death of his brother, and Sir John clearly wants Larry to take his place (whatever it is) in the village. Larry spies on a young woman through a telescope (Sir John is an astronomer), and goes to her shop, where he buys a cane, with a wolf's head, and asks her for a date. She agrees, but when they meet later on she brings a friend, just in case Larry gets too, well, wolfish. It is autumn and the gypsies are in town. Larry his girl and her friend go to a fortune teller to get their palms read. The palm-reader sees death in the friend's hand and urges her to go. Later on, in the form of a wolf, he attacks and kills the girl, and is in turn killed by Larry with his cane; but Larry is bitten by the wolf, which guarantees that he will become one, too. In time Larry does indeed become a werewolf, but as with everything else in his life only goes half-way. While the animal that attacked him was a wolf, Larry becomes only partly wolf in appearance, though when the transformation occurs he is wholly wolf in spirit, yet walks on two human, albeit furry legs. He is more or less adopted by the dead Gypsy fortune teller's mother, who looks after him, and has a way of turning up in her wagon at appropriate moments. She also recites a poem about werewolfery (or lycanthropy if you will), which I shall not repeat here and which everyone in the village seems to know by heart. Sir John, being a man of science, does not believe that his son is a true werewolf but suffering from some form of mental illness. Yet when the moon rises Larry turns into a werewolf and goes on rampages.

The Wolf Man is quite well made on what appears to be, for its studio, a generous budget; fog swirls everywhere, and the landscape is dominated by gnarled, leafless trees. It's tone is evocative of the Sherlock Holmes films, though not of course the content. There are so many good and bad things in the picture they're difficult to enumerate, and are often jumbled together. Of the bad, the casting of Americans Evelyn Ankers and Ralph Bellamy as Brits. Neither give a bad performance, but they don't belong in this film. It's difficult enough to keep one's disbelief in suspension with Lon Chaney on hand, but the addition of these two is a bit too much. Claude Rains, as Sir John, is a great asset to the movie, giving it a touch class and gravitas. His occasionally supercilious manner is in keeping in with the part he plays; and though he doesn't look at all like Chaney's father, he acts it. Maria Ouspenskaya and Bela Lugosi make marvelous gypsies, and they play their parts sincerely, with none of the hamming one might expect. Chaney's Larry Talbot became, after his Lennie in Of Mice and Men, his most famous role. He is sincere if somewhat phlegmatic in his 'normal' scenes, and early on, before the wolf-bite, lacks the joi de vivre he ought to have, as he is supposed to be a carefree young man. Chaney never seemed carefree. On the other hand his tragic, deeply lined face, sad eyes and prematurely middle-aged appearance suggests a troubled soul,--not an easy thing to fake--and in this regard he is magnificent in the part. His worry, over the prospect of another werewolf transformation, and the damage it will cause, appears genuine, and to a degree seems to come at times from outside the character he is playing, which as we know Chaney had serious personal problems, is a case of art imitating life, and the result is a kind of sad serendipity.

It wasn't the first werewolf movie (that honor goes to `Werewolf of London'), but it was `The Wolf Man' that gives us most of the werewolf mythology we still cling to today.

As with most classics, `The Wolf Man' draws its power from a combination of elements. First, there's Curt Siodmak's plausible and intelligent script. Siodmak said he was given a title, a star and a start date, and from there he consolidated and invented the werewolf myth into a cohesive, logical format.

Then there's the actors, a veritable who's who of 1930s-40s Universal horror. Lon Chaney joins the pantheon on great horror actors on this one, playing the tormented Larry Talbot. He manages to give Larry a tragic quality, a man trapped by a curse he doesn't understand or deserve. Chaney also generates considerable chemistry with the luminous Evelyn Ankers, which is surprising considering the rumors that the two practically hated each other. And then there's the always-excellent Claude Rains, who doesn't look very much like Lon Chaney's father, but still exudes quiet authority and authenticity.

Topping off the whole package is a healthy dollop of atmosphere: foggy forests, Gothic mansions and crypts, colorful Gypsy encampments. Each bit of design enhances the sense of mystery and dread that surround Larry Talbot, and burns `The Wolf Man' into your memory.

I'll never walk a foggy forest at night again!

I can't praise this movie highly enough, it is not only the best of the universal monsters series and one of the greatest werewolf films ever made certainly the definitive treatment, but also one of my all time favourite movies. Lon Chaney turns in an outstanding credible performance worthy of his father the legendary man of a thousand faces, actually the entire cast is outstanding, Claude Rains, Maria Ouspenskaya and Bela Lugosi.

The script by Curt Siodmak is marvellous, borrowing from genuine werewolf folklore and adding its own. The plot device of having the werewolf see the pentagram on the palm of it's next victim is truly ingenious and I don't know why it was never utilised in any of the sequels or any other werewolf films for that matter.

The score by Frank Skinner and Han J Salter is so haunting, and has a nice rich romantic sound to it, especially the cues used in the gypsy camp, if only The Wolf Man weren't a b movie it probably would have won an Oscar.

Lastly it must be said that Jack Pierce's make up and John P Faulton's werewolf transformations really go along way in making this film, who could ever forget the image of the wolf man walking through the fog shrouded forest in search of fresh victims.

Even a man who is pure in heart

And says his prayers by night

May become a wolf when the wolfbane blooms

And the autumn moon is bright.

If you haven't heard this piece of poetry before, you'll never forget it after seeing The Wolf Man for two reasons: it's spooky and just about everybody in the movie recites it at one time or another.Set in a fog-bound studio-built Wales, The Wolf Man tells the doom-laden tale of Larry Talbot (Lon Chaney, Jr.), who returns to the estate of his father (Claude Rains). (Yes, Chaney's American, but the movie explains this, awkwardly.) Bitten by a werewolf, Talbot suffers the classic fate of all victims of lycanthropy. This is a classy horror outing, with strong atmosphere and a thoughtful script by Curt Siodmak-- well, except for the stiff romantic bits between Chaney and Evelyn Ankers. It's also got Bela Lugosi, briefly, and Maria Ouspenskaya, the prune-like Russian actress who foretells doom like nobody's business.

So says one of the characters in "The Wolf Man," and they're right: Larry Talbot (Lon Chaney), heir to a prestigious estate, is an easygoing, nice guy. He flirts with local shopkeep Gwen (Evelyn Ankers), and, one fateful night, is bitten by a werewolf. Let the interweaving threads of superstition, religion, and psychology commence! A full decade after "Frankenstein" shows Universal's formula for success in full swing, with an end product that is arguably better (and somehow even more tragic). I've never been a big werewolf fan (I think "The Howling" is one of the most overrated horror films ever), but Chaney's tragic downfall mixed with a good deal of insight and sympathy makes for a brilliantly realized performance. Claude Rains ("The Invisible Man") and Ralph Bellamy ("Rosemary's Baby") provide strong support as Larry's father and the town constable, respectively. And Bela Lugosi (as a gypsy named Bela) is fantastic in a small yet crucial role. Curt Siodmak's original screenplay crafts a convincing mythology that has since become the industry standard, and George Waggner's direction renders its German-Expressionist cues with fog-heavy style and skill. "The Wolf Man" is an excellent piece of work that holds up extremely well today.

I can't tell you how many times I have seen it but it has to be over 40. Lon Chaney Jr. gives his best performance (he even acknowledged that in an magazine interview once) and is sensational. Not only can he act but he can act with a vengeance. Claude Rains is his loving and sympathetic yet as he puts it himself a stiff necked and demonstrative father who wants to protect his son from well, himself. Evelyn Ankers is outrageously beautiful and captivating. Chaney and her bond like crazy glue to your finger. And the funny thing is they despised each other in real life just like Errol Flynn and Olivia DeHavilland did off the set of Robin Hood. It shows you that in those days actors and actresses really had to ACT. Chaney convinces you he loves this woman but cannot bear the unbearable burden of being cursed and damned to eternal life. Only 90 minutes long but there is enough there to thrill you and it was one of Hollywood's best horror films many consider it to be the best classic horror film ever made. I would say I would have to agree with them.

The Wolf Man is a Universal Horror picture, made in 1941, directed by George Waggner and starring Lon Chaney Jr. as Larry Talbot, or, as listed in the credits ' The Wolf Man'.

The 1940's Universal Studios music,plying over the Universal logo did not go well with the overall film, as it was jolly, loud, and slightly comedic, and it gave me the wrong impression as to how the film was going to turn out. However, I am pleased to say, it is one of the few flaws of the film.

The film begins with the title screen of the Wolf Man, accompanied by eerie music, followed by the credits, which consisted of clips of the actors taken from the film, with their name and the character they starred as, overlaid on top of those clips. The credits of the crew are then played, with the backing video track, slowly tracking through a forest, the same shot used in the opening credits of Ghost of Frankenstein, Night Monster and The Mummy's Curse.

Claude Rains as Sir John Talbot, delivers a terrific performance as a father figure for Larry, despite the difference in appearance of Rains and Chaney Jr. Lon Chaney's performance as Larry Talbot, is just as good, although I find it easier to sympathise with Henry Hull's character 'Doctor Wilfred Glendon' in 'Werewolf of London'.

I would recommend this movie to anyone, young or old, as it is a true classic, and everyone should have the experience of viewing it.

Can finally say I have seen all the classic Universal monster flicks, but I wouldn't put this one at the top. Yes the acting is fine, but why does Chaney have zero accent with Rains as his father? Also, Bela Lugosi shouldve had a more substantial role. For what it is though, its still great, and the forest scenes are particularly effective with good moody photography and staging. Mummy and Invisible Man still my favs

Knowing it is the film that introduced one of horror filmdom's most iconic figures, I watched "The Wolf Man" ready to give it every break. So it was disappointing to discover it both sloppy in its construction and sluggard in its execution.

Larry Talbot (Lon Chaney, Jr.) returns home to Talbot Castle after 16 years in America, ready to assume the mantle of heir after the untimely death of his elder brother. The neighboring village offers attractions, like Gwen (Evelyn Ankers) who works at an antique store. But it also holds dangers, like the much-discussed legend of a man who turns into a wolf and attacks people. Larry discovers the truth behind this legend one evening while walking with Gwen.

"There's something very tragic about that man, and I'm sure nothing but harm will come to you through him," Gwen is told, accurately enough as things turn out.

Having seen Chaney play the role in two other films ("Frankenstein Meets The Wolf Man" and "Abbott And Costello Meet Frankenstein"), I was expecting a much better performance from him than I got. Especially in his scenes with Ankers and with Claude Rains playing his father, Chaney is awkward and unconvincing, creepy when he should be sympathetic and boring when he should be scary.

The film creates a potentially riveting situation and does next to nothing with it. Whether it's the mystery of the dead older brother or the presence of Bela Lugosi as a tense gypsy, the film is full of ideas that are either dropped entirely or else underdeveloped. I'd complain about the downer ending, too, except I felt nothing but relief when "The End" came up.

Director George Waggner has no sense of pace. His central concept, the Wolf Man, takes more than half the movie's short running time to get going, and is then over with too quickly. Meanwhile, too much time is spent on dull scene-setting, including a bit of folk verse regarding the wolf-man legend ("Even a man who is pure in heart...") uttered three times in the first 15 minutes. The supporting players seem out to sea, especially Ralph Bellamy, sporting a pipe in place of an accent, and Ankers, whose real-life dislike for Chaney is palpable.

Even the much-heralded transformation scenes are not much to watch. The first time, we only see Larry's feet become paws in a series of obvious lap dissolves. Once later we get a close-up of Larry's face in the process, but it hardly seems worth the legendary labor of Jack Pierce. As Tom Weaver says in the DVD commentary track, he looks more at times like Don King than a credible wolf-man.

What's good about "The Wolf Man" is the murky ambiance consistent with the Universal monster movies and Rains' solid performance as the stern but caring father. Even when saddled with some howler lines, like urging his son "fight his way out" of his wolf-man delusion or hypothesizing that the werewolf idea is "probably an ancient explanation of the dual personality in each of us," Rains carries off his scenes with aplomb. He's my pick for the Doe Avedon "Best Performance In A Bad Film" award for 1941.

The Wolf Man concept deserves some positive notice; it's been used in some very good films. Just not this one.

Lon Chaney Jr lived under the shadow of his famous father, but in 'The Wolf Man' he helped create a horror icon that has lasted for over sixty years. Chaney had already shown that he could act in 'Of Mice And Men'(1939). In 'The Wolf Man' he gives another excellent performance, but this movie was both a blessing and a curse to his career I think. It forever labeled him a horror actor, and frankly he made a lot of lousy movies after this. Some good ones too, don't get me wrong, but too often he was given b-grade material to work with. Maybe his drinking problem had a lot to do with it, I don't know, but apart from a strong cameo in 'The Defiant Ones'(1958) and a great performance in Jack Hill's cult classic 'Spider Baby'(1964), he rarely was given a role as good as Larry Talbot in this movie. Chaney is surrounded by a very strong supporting cast including horror legends Claude Rains ('The Invisible Man') and Bela Lugosi (sadly only a cameo), Ralph Bellamy ('His Girl Friday'), and frequent costar Evelyn Ankers (she and Chaney made a great on screen couple but apparently hated each other off screen. Such is Hollywood!). Many people complain about the casting of Rains and Chaney as father and son. I agree it's totally unrealistic, but I don't think it hurts the movie at all. The lack of Lugosi is a bigger problem. There was more footage of him but unfortunately it wasn't used in the final cut. It's too bad as more scenes between Lugosi and Chaney would have been a treat. Of course they worked together a few times after this, but mostly in lesser movies. The real scene stealer in 'The Wolf Man' is Maria Ouspenskaya who plays the gypsy woman Maleva. She's just terrific, and gives the most memorable performance after Chaney. 'The Wolf Man' has had an enormous influence on just about every subsequent werewolf movie. Much of the lore seen on screen here isn't in fact traditional, as many people assume, but created by the talented Curt Siodmak ('Donovan's Brain') who subsequently wrote the horror classics 'I Walked With A Zombie'(1943), and 'The Beast With Five Fingers'(1946). 'The Wolf Man' is an undisputed horror classic, and just as entertaining and interesting as it ever was.

This movie scared the heck out of me as a kid. While it might seem a bit dated according to today's horror standards, it still ranks as the standard for the werewolf genre. Jack Pierce does a masterful job with Lon Chaney's makeup. A bit of trivia: The little chant about a man who is pure of heart was changed for the sequel. "Even a man who is pure of heart and says his prayers by night, may become a wolf when the wolf bane blooms and the autumn moon is bright." In the sequel, Frankenstein Meets The Wolf Man, the last line was changed to: "when the moon is full and bright." Also, Ralph Bellamy's rank in the opening credits was "Colonel" but Claude Rains Refers to him as "Captain."

There are some serious flaws in Universal Studios' "The Wolf Man" but it's an enjoyable film whose influence still lasts to this day. The film stars Lon Chaney, Jr. As Larry Talbot. He returns to his ancestral home in Llanwelly, Wales after learning of his brother's death. Larry and his estranged father do not get along very well and it's quite the grim visit. Things take a turn for the better though when he notices the beautiful Gwen Conliffe (Evelyn Ankers). When Larry is attacked by a wolf, he manages to fight it off but the creature has made it's mark. Having sustained a bite from the beast, Larry soon begins transforming into a werewolf at night.

The biggest problem with the movie is that it features numerous continuity and editing errors. There are scenes where doors are opened twice or objects moved twice, scenes Larry's clothing changes between him being a man and being fully transformed and the inexplicable biggie: why is it that the first wolf man we see took on the appearance of a wolf but Larry turns into a wolf-man hybrid? One or two mistakes you can overlook as just simple gaffes but there are a lot of these and other strange inconsistencies in the film that are genuinely distracting. Because of everything that's actually really good in the movie these mistakes are particularly disappointing. It could have been a great film if the script had been polished up a bit and the editing had been better.

This movie would have been forgotten as a film trying to ride on the coat tails of "Dracula" and "Frankenstein" if it hadn't been for the protagonist Larry and the aspect of the werewolf curse. He's a sympathetic character that comes to a strange place and is taken aback by the town's weird obsession with werewolf legends (a legend that prior to the film was not very well known to American audiences). He's a charmer and when he gets afflicted with the werewolf curse (more on that in a second) you really see and feel the internal conflict he's faced with. Our character is literally and figuratively afflicted with a curse. The town's people do not know that it is only a matter of time before he turns into a raging beast and attacks but they still ostracize Larry because of a tragedy that happened while he was out with a young woman on the night he was bitten. The girl's mother blames him for what happened. Her logic is that Larry had no business taking out a woman who is engaged to be married in the first place (She has a point) and that he is the reason her daughter was out that night. He's already shunned by the town, but it gets worse. Half the people that surround him think that Larry's gone mad. Once that wolf that attacked him died, it reverted back to its normal, human form. Larry isn't really blamed for the death, it's ruled as accidental, but still. During the scuffle, they assume, Larry and the man exchanged a few unintentional blows with themselves as well as with the animal. He may be cleared of any wrongdoing as far as the law is concerned, but this doesn't mean that the people around him don't suspect his mental instability, not only because of the "accidental" death but also because of the psychological effect that the death has on Larry.

All of this is purely from a coincidental aspect because in reality, Larry is genuinely cursed. Not only does he turn into a monster by moonlight but he also knows ahead of time who he will attack next. On top of being responsible for the murders, Larry also has the added pain of wanting to warn his would-be victim(s) but is unable to do so because everyone thinks he's basically nuts. While I always look to the transformation sequences as the highlight of any werewolf film, this whodunit aspect is a terrific element I wish was more present in these stories because the beast is able to blend in with the rest of us during the day and this film takes that idea and puts a whole new twist on it.

The film is very iconic. The design of the wolf man is still recognizable over sixty years after the film's release and looks pretty good too. The film has some nice special effects with the transformation (though because this one predates a lot of modern effects they are kept to a minimum) and I love the atmospheric setting of the action. It's set in these terrific woodland sets full of mist. Even the script has its share of good quotes. The best is easily the poem that is repeated multiple times by the people of Llanwelly "Even a man who is pure in heart//and says his prayers by night//may become a wolf when the wolf bane blooms//and the autumn moon is bright." That's some good stuff right there. It's interesting too to see a werewolf movie that SURPRISE! does away with all of that nonsense about the full moon. A full moon never appears during this movie, Larry just transforms at night time.

For its historical importance and the interesting drama present, I do recommend you see "The Wolf Man". The recommendation is stronger still if you are a fan of horror films and for lovers of the old Universal Monsters, it's an absolute must. Granted it has not aged as well as some of the other black-and-white horror films of the time and by today's film standards you're unlikely to get scared. It also has a lot of technical problems but there's a lot more good here than bad. You may believe you know all there is to know about this classic, but there's a lot more going on here than you think. (Theatrical version on DVD, November 2, 2013)

After a hunting accident which claims the life of his older brother, "Larry Talbot" (Lon Chaney Jr.) returns after 18 years abroad to his ancestral home in England to reside with his father "Sir John Talbot" (Claude Rains) at Talbot Castle. One day, while peering through a telescope he installed for his father, he accidentally spies "Gwen Conliffe" (Evelyn Ankers) in her room above an antique store and decides to make her acquaintance. That night he takes Gwen and her friend "Jenny Williams" (Fay Helm) to a nearby Gypsy camp to have their fortunes told. When Jenny is attacked by a werewolf he rushes to her defense but arrives too late. Although he manages to kill the werewolf, he is subsequently bitten in the process. And so the curse of the werewolf is passed on to him. Now, even though the special effects are rather basic compared to today's standards and it isn't the first werewolf movie ever made, this film probably does as much as any other motion picture to popularize the werewolf legacy. Obviously some folks may not like it. But for those who enjoy a good classic horror film from days gone by then this one probably won't disappoint anyone.

Every monster must have it's origin. The importance of this monster to modern movies and those to come must make us appreciate it's origins. Regardless of how you feel about actors or plot when it comes to this picture, it deserves nothing less than a 10 for bringing forth into the silver screen the monster of all monsters. THE Wolf Man! Since then, the Wolf Man has stirred so many feelings, so many fears, so many movies. The Howling, Cursed, The Wolfen, An American Werewolf In London, Paris, etc.. It goes on and on and hopefully on. Out of all of the original monsters, Werewolves are number 1 for scaring the crap out of me. It all started right here with this very movie. I still can't watch it without feeling awestruck at how much this film has started and continued the fear of the Wolf Man. Even a man who is pure in heart and says his prayers by night may become a wolf when the wolfsbane blooms and the autumn moon is bright.

Whenever I see this movie, I am amazed that it seems so sad. Poor Larry Talbot "Lon Chaney, Jr" never asked to be a werewolf, he was just trying to fight off a wolf that happen to bite him. Little did he know that "Bela, played by Bela Lugosi" was a werewolf, how could something like this happen to a man? The only other person that believes Larry Talbot is a werewolf is Bela's mother, the old gypsy woman, Maleva, so wonderfully played by Maria Ouspenskaya. She tells him the old gypsy saying of "even a man that says his prayers...." which Larry won't believe, because it is a curse for life. You also feel so sad when Sir John Talbot played by Claude Rains ends up killing his own son with the Silver Wolf's Head cane. Sir John kept telling Larry that it was all part of his mental state, caused by that old gypsy woman. A movie monster classic that will live on in video, DVD, and late night TV. Just as a werewolf continues to live on, so will the memory of Lon Chaney's great role of a wolf!

I was ten when I saw this movie, and this is the only movie that has really scared me. The first time I saw the Wolf Man in full make-up, zip, I pulled the pillow over my head (I was on my bed). My father was watching with me and laughed (he saw this brand new in 1941). "Did I want it turned off?" I peeked out and, "No" everything was fine now. I finished my first viewing with awe at the make-up and transformations. I had seen other horror movies, dozens at that point, but, this was the first that had genuinely scared me. And thus began my love affair with the Wolf Man. Good music, creepy sets, good pacing, excellent cast and acting, believable storyline, transformations and make-up that DIDN'T have, or rely on, a computer to make them look good. Yes, computers have enhanced our viewing pleasures with better special effects, but, have they really replaced the Wolf Man's work, or for that fact, have they really replaced Willis O'Brien's work on King Kong. I own both, love both, and have viewed both at least a hundred time (seriously). If you want gore, blood and splatter, check else where. If you want class and quality, you can't get much better than The Wolf Man.

Without question, the best actor in this classic Universal Studios horror film is Claude Reigns as Sir John Talbot, father of Larry Talbot (Lon Chaney, Jr.), heir and victim of the curse of the werewolf. Larry Talbot is an American just arrived to Britain because of the death of his older brother. He is now heir-apparent to a British estate owned by his father John Talbot. (He must have been adopted since Larry bares no resemblance to John whatsoever.) The small town in Britain has some strange lore, particularly one regarding the plant wolfsbane, said to foreshadow the appearance of werewolves, half-man, half-wolf creatures. (Wolfsbane is a poisonous plant found in Europe.) There is even a poem known to the locals about wolfsbane and werewolves.

While trying to court one of the locals, Gwen Conliffe (Evelyn Ankers), Larry Talbot invites her and a friend to hear their fortunes told by some traveling gypsies who have arrived in town. Bela, the gypsy (Béla Lugosi) tells the fortune of their friend Anne on whose hand appears the pentagram, the sign of the wolf. She screams and runs only to be stalked and accosted by a wolf. Talbot hears her cries and runs to rescue her and attacks the wolf with a silver-headed cane he bought earlier in the day. He kills the attacker but unable to save Anne. The next day, Bela the gypsy is found slain where Talbot claims he killed the wolf. The locals now suspect him of being murderer, and possibly being insane. In fact, a curse that had been upon Bela the gypsy is now upon Talbot.

One of the better horror films of the era, circa 1930 to 1945, prior to the silly films involving Abbot and Costello meeting the Universal monster of your choice during the post-war era (circa 1945-1960). Sometimes Chaney's acting is a little bit over the top, and some of the scenes where he tries to court Gwen are a bit unbelievable. (He spots her using a telescope and spies her earrings!) A young Ralph Bellamy plays a local, and Gwen's fiancée has little to do with the story. (They briefly have a shooting contest when the gypsies come to town and put on a carnival.) Still, all things considered, better than many other horror offerings of the era. (Some of the British Hammer films of the 1950's, particularly their version of "The Mummy" are not nearly as good.) Chaney often said of all the Universal monsters he played (including the Mummy and Frankenstein's monster), he liked the Wolf Man the best.

I'm going to assume this is the first movie about werewolves and if it is, I think I finally understand why every werewolf movie has gypsies in it(I don't think Werewolf In A Girls Dormitory did). Although this is a good movie, there are a few things I don't get. Why does the werewolf who bites Larry just look like a regular wolf? They did the same thing in The Werewolf Of Washington and it just doesn't make any sense. The other thing is that the gypsies all ran out of town but the old lady mysteriously shows up in the woods to find Larry. It's a bit confusing. There are some other minor issues but they don't really affect the movie. Surprisingly, this may be the creepiest Lon Chaney ever was. He manages to pick up an engaged woman using extremely creepy lines that would have made anyone else call the police. Not bad for an 80 year old movie. Just make sure you watch this before you watch Frankenstein Meets The Wolf Man, I didn't.