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CREEPY CLASSICS presents... |
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MOVIE OF THE WEEK: Saturday September 29, 2012 - MOVIE - Melodrama "WEREWOLF OF LONDON" (1935). Starring Henry Hull. Overshadowed by THE WOLF MAN, this Universal werewolf tale can stand on its own. Henry Hull plays the demonic looking lycanthrope. Warner Oland is also excellent as another wolf man.Suggested by Bob Swaney - Manalapan, NJ.
WEREWOLF OF LONDON is an interesting "stand-alone" Universal from 1935. He never made a re-appearance in other Universal horror movies and got over-shadowed by THE WOLF MAN in 1941. A really good early werewolf film...I believe the first sound werewolf film. Taken on it's own, I like it a lot. The only thing that holds it back a bit, for me is that, like in DRACULA'S DAUGHTER, I don't find most of the characters likeable. At least the main characters. It's hard to really relate to any of them....you have the distant, absorbed, then distantly frightened scientist, the quick to shift allegiance wife, the ex-boyfriend on the prowl with the married wife, snooty society ladies.... and Warner Oland as a ruthless cursed interloper. The ones I really like were the silly, drunk land ladies and the doctor's kindly assistant. But, overall, the make-up and the "feel" of the movie is great. That make-up is really sinister!
A note that there are photos of the original make-up for this film that are much more similar to what would by Chaney's Wolf Man by Pierce. Reports are that Henry Hull thought it didn't make sense that his character was recognized while as the werewolf if he was so obscured in make-up. So a lesser, but more satanic make-up was designed by Pierce. My friend Frank Nicoletti pointed out to me that there appears to be a scene in which the original make-up is seen, kind of. The scene were the werewolf attacks the older society lady (drunk in bed). You see the shadow of the werewolf and the make-up as determined by the shadow is different! Very much like the Wolf Man/original werewolf make-up for this film. Perhaps that scene was one of the first shot before the make-up was changed and they felt it wouldn't be noticed as it was just seen as shadow. Interesting. I enjoyed WEREWOLF OF LONDON (1935) for, perhaps, my 20th viewing....hope you did too. -Ron Adams, Ligonier, PA
Hey Bash Synchers, I watched this Universal Classic for the second time in my life this weekend. It is not one of my favorites. It is too slow at getting started and has too much comic relief and non Werewolf stuff going on. The transformations are handled well, and I like the look of the werewolf. The ending was good, but it didn´t keep my attention getting to it. One thing I thought was interesting, , was the bit at the zoo, where the lush was seducing her married boyfriend who was a guard at the zoo. That was quite risque for that time, especially since the Hayes Code was in effect in 1935. Also it was quite blatant that Dr. Glendon´s wife was on the border of cheating with Paul throughout the film. Not bad, but I´d rather see the Invisible Man or a Frankenstein movie. Quieny
Ron,
Hi Ron, Greetings... Jay " J50smonstakid" Maggio, Kingsman, AZ
Hey guys. Both Henry Hull and Warren Oland give fantastic performances as two torture souls who know that they are responsible for all the murder and mayhem that is going on, thought it would of been nice to see Mr. Oland in full werewolf make-up. Even the relationship between Henry Hull and Valerie Hobson as an older husband trying to keep a much younger wife wife happy was good. Talk about an age difference Henry Hull at forty-five was twenty-seven years older than Ms. Hopson who was only eighteen. Come to think of it Lester Matthews who played Ms. Hopson's childhood sweet-heart was seventeen years older. Talk about robbing the cradle. Anyway a fantastic movie that deserves its place among the Universal greats. Talk you guys later.
Great opening filmed at the Vasquez Rocks Natural Area Park which was supposed to be Tibet. Shot of the full moon over the mountains was a great way to start a werewolf movie. Also the scene where Dr. Glendon is attacked by the werewolf (Warner Oland) was very effective. I liked the makeup for Henry Hull even though it wasn't like the Wolf Man makeup. It is just another classic makeup by Jack Pierce. Besides the 2 main stars there are several other actors who do a great job in this movie-Valerie Hobson, Lester Matthews and Spring Byington. Dialog between Henry Hull and Warner Oland was very good .Warner Oland is trying to warn Henry about what was going to happen to him without coming out and saying that he was the one who afflicted him. This film may not be the same type of classic as "Bride of Frankenstein" or "The Wolf Man" but it is a classic in its own right. Always enjoy watching this movie. Great choice! -Dave Myers, Bryant,In.
This has a pretty good story line and the makeup is quite effective
Not a big fan of this, but has a certain charm to it and my fondest So, not a great movie overall, but not bad either and just because Steve Schimming
A note from Bob Pellegrino: The lab assistant to Henry Hull is the same actor who played Evelyn Ankers dad in THE WOLF MAN (1941).
I have always liked this film, and I think its only real weakness is The fact that Matthews looks almost as old as Hobson's older husband,
But one question has never been answered (to my knowledge) -- Does anyone have actual information that targets the performer who is Phil Smoot
Ron, One of your readers wanted to know who played the werewolf behind the rocks watching - Larry Boyington, Oklahoma City, OK Ron, About the question on who played the 1st werewolf in Werewolf of London. The IMDB lists 2 stunt men doubling for Henry Hull. They are George DeNormand and Harvey Parry. These are the only stunt men listed here. One of these men was probably the one. I don't believe it was Warner Oland either. - Dave Myers, Bryant, In. Phil, while viewing with Bob Pellegrino here, I brought up the point that that was surely NOT Warner Oland. Wonder who that actor was, indeed? -Ron Your thoughts on WEREWOLF OF LONDON?
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Excellent choice this weekend for viewing WEREWOLF OF LONDON. I first saw this movie
Another example of a movie that was not receive well when it first came out but is now consider a classic. Always overlooked because of The Wolfman, Werewolf of London has everything one would want in a Universal horror movie. Great story, acting, thrills and actual suspense along with Jack Pierce's great werewolf make-up of Henry Hull. I actually think this is one of Pierce's best works. 
First saw this in the early 70s when Portland In. finally got cable TV and we could pick up WTTV channel 4 in Indy. It was shown on Nightmare Theater on Friday nights as part of a double feature. They would even show the original trailers when they advertised the movie. 
I have fond memories of this, even if it has not aged well at all.
