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The Wolf Man (1941)
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Overview
User Rating:
Director:
Writer:
Curt Siodmak (writer)
Release Date:
12 December 1941 (USA)
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Tagline:
"His hideous howl a dirge of death!" more
Plot:
A practical man returns to his homeland, is attacked by a creature of folklore, and infected with a horrific disease his disciplined mind tells him can not possibly exist. full summary | add synopsis
NewsDesk:
(54 articles)
New Editors Hired for The Wolfman; French Trailer Released
(From ReelzChannel. 18 November 2009, 5:07 AM, PST)
Weekly DVD & Blu-Ray Chopping List 11/17/2009
(From Fangoria. 17 November 2009, 9:00 PM, PST)
(From ReelzChannel. 18 November 2009, 5:07 AM, PST)
Weekly DVD & Blu-Ray Chopping List 11/17/2009
(From Fangoria. 17 November 2009, 9:00 PM, PST)
User Comments:
Lon Chaney Jr's signature role is still one of his best performances. 'The Wolf Man' is an undisputed horror classic.
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Cast
(Complete credited cast)| Claude Rains | ... | Sir John Talbot | |
| Warren William | ... | Dr. Lloyd | |
| Ralph Bellamy | ... | Col. Montford | |
| Patric Knowles | ... | Frank Andrews | |
| Bela Lugosi | ... | Bela | |
| Maria Ouspenskaya | ... | Maleva | |
| Evelyn Ankers | ... | Gwen Conliffe | |
| J.M. Kerrigan | ... | Charles Conliffe | |
| Fay Helm | ... | Jenny Williams | |
| Forrester Harvey | ... | Twiddle | |
| Lon Chaney Jr. | ... | The Wolf Man / Larry Talbot (as Lon Chaney) |
Additional Details
Also Known As:
Destiny (USA) (working title)
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Parents Guide:
Runtime:
70 min
Country:
Language:
Color:
Aspect Ratio:
1.37 : 1 more
Sound Mix:
Mono (Western Electric Mirrophonic Recording)
Certification:
Finland:K-15 (2004) |
Spain:13 |
Australia:PG |
Germany:12 |
Sweden:15 |
UK:PG |
USA:Approved (PCA #7874) |
Canada:PG
Company:
Fun Stuff
Trivia:
"Even a man who is pure at heart, and says his prayers by night, may become a wolf when the wolfbane blooms and the autumn moon is bright." This quote has been listed in some sources as an authentic Gypsy or Eastern European folk saying. Writer Curt Siodmak admits that he simply made it up. Nonetheless, the rhyme would be recited in every future Universal film appearance of the Wolf Man, and would also be quoted in Van Helsing (2004). (Albeit, slightly modified, "The moon is shining bright." rather than "The autumn moon is bright.")
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Goofs:
Continuity: When the elder Talbot witnesses the transformation of the slain werewolf into his son, the younger Talbot's head is normal, even after having been beaten worse than werewolf Bela's.
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Quotes:
Sir John Talbot:
You policemen are always in such a hurry. As if dead men didn't have all eternity.
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Movie Connections:
Spoofed in "The Ghost Busters: Who's Afraid of the Big Bad Wolf? (#1.4)" (1975)
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FAQ
How does the wolfman poem go?Is "The Wolf Man" based on a novel?
A Note Regarding Spoilers
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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.