Despite being the second Universal werewolf movie (after "Werewolf in London (1935)) it is nevertheless the iconic image of the furry-faced man-beast as played by Lon Chaney Jr. as "The Wolf Man" (make-up courtesy of Jack Pierce) which has entered popular culture alongside Boris Karloff as Frankenstein's Monster and Bela Lugosi as Dracula. Moreso, this is the movie which has given us much of the werewolf mythology (gypsy folktales, wolfsbane, silver) which has influenced cinematic depictions ever since.
After the death of his brother, the estranged Larry Talbot (Lon Chaney Jr.) returns from the States to the estate of his British father, Sir John Talbot (Claude Rains). The pair reacquaint themselves and, after helping his father fit a lens for his telescope, Larry becomes infatuated with the beautiful Gwen (Evelyn Ankers) whom he accidentally spies on. He wastes no time in going over to the shop where she works to introduce himself and, between flirting and being turned down, he buys a cane replete with a silver wolf's head and learns about the werewolf myth for the first time. However, through his likable innocent charm, Larry succeeds in accompanying Gwen to a gypsy fortune teller, played by Bela Lugosi who, as a werewolf kills the pair's friend, Jenny. Larry kills the beast, but not before being bitten himself and thus becoming the new inheritor of the werewolf curse.
One of the starkest contrasts between "The Werewolf of London" and "The Wolf Man" is the likability of the character. Whereas both men do a good job of showing the inner battle of man verses beast, the inherent likability of Larry Talbot as a character makes the viewer care much more about him and thus adds more pathos to the tragic climax. Another point which adds to our sympathy for Larry is the unjust attachment to the grisly murders conferred upon him by local busybodies and the subsequent way his friends and family support him, unbeknownst to them the horrific curse he is under. Another major difference in tone is that "The Wolf Man" is much more atmospheric than the comparably clinical feel of "Werewolf in London", with much of the film taking place amidst a fog-strewn forest among barren trees, first when the gypsies come to town and most grippingly during the final hunt for the werewolf. This is a key point as in the days of relatively rudimentary special effects and low gore, the atmosphere was the thing which really communicated the horror.
However, one criticism I have is that even though Jack Pierce's make-up effects in his movie have been lauded (as indeed they were for "Frankenstein", "The Black Cat", The Mummy" et al.) I personally prefer the make-up he did for the earlier "Werewolf in London" as I find the Wolf Man, dare I say it, a bit cute! Sure, I can suspend my disbelief enough to enter into the spirit of the movie, but I can't help but feel that the wolf in the earlier movie is more savage and scarier. Still, a small point and one which never threatened to stifle my enjoyment of this deserved classic which stands as a must-see for all horror enthusiasts.
After the death of his brother, the estranged Larry Talbot (Lon Chaney Jr.) returns from the States to the estate of his British father, Sir John Talbot (Claude Rains). The pair reacquaint themselves and, after helping his father fit a lens for his telescope, Larry becomes infatuated with the beautiful Gwen (Evelyn Ankers) whom he accidentally spies on. He wastes no time in going over to the shop where she works to introduce himself and, between flirting and being turned down, he buys a cane replete with a silver wolf's head and learns about the werewolf myth for the first time. However, through his likable innocent charm, Larry succeeds in accompanying Gwen to a gypsy fortune teller, played by Bela Lugosi who, as a werewolf kills the pair's friend, Jenny. Larry kills the beast, but not before being bitten himself and thus becoming the new inheritor of the werewolf curse.
One of the starkest contrasts between "The Werewolf of London" and "The Wolf Man" is the likability of the character. Whereas both men do a good job of showing the inner battle of man verses beast, the inherent likability of Larry Talbot as a character makes the viewer care much more about him and thus adds more pathos to the tragic climax. Another point which adds to our sympathy for Larry is the unjust attachment to the grisly murders conferred upon him by local busybodies and the subsequent way his friends and family support him, unbeknownst to them the horrific curse he is under. Another major difference in tone is that "The Wolf Man" is much more atmospheric than the comparably clinical feel of "Werewolf in London", with much of the film taking place amidst a fog-strewn forest among barren trees, first when the gypsies come to town and most grippingly during the final hunt for the werewolf. This is a key point as in the days of relatively rudimentary special effects and low gore, the atmosphere was the thing which really communicated the horror.
However, one criticism I have is that even though Jack Pierce's make-up effects in his movie have been lauded (as indeed they were for "Frankenstein", "The Black Cat", The Mummy" et al.) I personally prefer the make-up he did for the earlier "Werewolf in London" as I find the Wolf Man, dare I say it, a bit cute! Sure, I can suspend my disbelief enough to enter into the spirit of the movie, but I can't help but feel that the wolf in the earlier movie is more savage and scarier. Still, a small point and one which never threatened to stifle my enjoyment of this deserved classic which stands as a must-see for all horror enthusiasts.