cast of characters
larry talbot...........lon chaney jr.
claude rains
warren william
ralph bellamy
patrick knowles
bela the gypsy...........bela lugosi
maleeva the gypsy woman......maria ouspenskaya
evelyn ankers
screenplay....curt siodmak
directed by....george waggner
A UNIVERSAL PICTURE
larry talbot...........lon chaney jr.
claude rains
warren william
ralph bellamy
patrick knowles
bela the gypsy...........bela lugosi
maleeva the gypsy woman......maria ouspenskaya
evelyn ankers
screenplay....curt siodmak
directed by....george waggner
A UNIVERSAL PICTURE
"for even a man who is pure in heart...and says
his prayers by night, may become a wolf...when the wolfbane blooms, and
the moon is full and bright"
"The Wolfman" (1941)
"The Wolfman" (1941)
Released in 1941 by Universal Studios, "The Wolfman" served as a springboard to the rebirth of the classic monster movies, which had seen a dramatic drop off from it's initial success.
It proved to be a phenominal success, giving audiences the escapism they were seeking at the close of World War II, and at the same time thrusting Lon Chaney Jr. out of the shadow of his Legendary father.
fffffffffff
Returning home upon
hearing the news of his older brothers death, Larry Talbot is thrust
back into a world he had left voluntarily; one of prestige, leisure and
fortune. Now primed to take over the inheritence of his fathers estate
as the only son, Larry realizes all too soon that he has other things to
concern himself with...like Lycanthropy.
Unlike previous monsters of his day, the Wolfman (Larry Talbot) struggled greatly with his predicament, seeking
peace in death, instead of the rampant murderous cravings of his
unrestrained alter-ego.
Claude Raines portrays the elder Talbot who at one time tries to convince Larry he's having wild imaginations, eventually striking down the beast who has terrorized the township with a silver wolf headed cane given him by Larry, unknowingly killing his only son.
Claude Raines portrays the elder Talbot who at one time tries to convince Larry he's having wild imaginations, eventually striking down the beast who has terrorized the township with a silver wolf headed cane given him by Larry, unknowingly killing his only son.
And who is the responsible party for all of this
anguish?
Bela Lugosi, of course, this time playing Bela the Gypsy who's werewolf bite curses young Talbot. Larry befriends Bela's mother, Maleeva the Gypsy woman, who in turn tries her best to help him thru his ordeal.
"The Wolfman" has a critical dubious distinction.....ushering in such classics as "Frankenstein Meets the Wolfman", "House of Frankenstein", and "House of Dracula", where Larry Talbot was finally cured of his lycanthropy.
Bela Lugosi, of course, this time playing Bela the Gypsy who's werewolf bite curses young Talbot. Larry befriends Bela's mother, Maleeva the Gypsy woman, who in turn tries her best to help him thru his ordeal.
"The Wolfman" has a critical dubious distinction.....ushering in such classics as "Frankenstein Meets the Wolfman", "House of Frankenstein", and "House of Dracula", where Larry Talbot was finally cured of his lycanthropy.
Even so, Chaney reprised the role for one last
hurrah in "Abbott and Costello meet Frankenstein" which signaled the end
of an era, as Frankenstein, Dracula, and yes, the Wolfman all met the
final demise.