The Hammond family has been living with some unsavoury history for a long time. The male members most often seem to suffer some horrible fate. One night, Oliver Hammond (John Howard) is on his way home when he and a nurse, Kate O'Malley, are attacked by something that may be man or animal. Soon Scotland Yard detectives Robert Curtis (James Ellison) and his wacky sidekick Christy (Heather Thatcher) are assigned to the case, and Curtis determines to use scientific methods to work the clues.
While ultimately fairly average and unmemorable, this is still a reasonably enjoyable B genre picture from 20th Century Fox, a studio not ordinarily associated with B level horror. It *is* competently made from beginning to end, with efficient direction by John Brahm ("The Mad Magician", "Hangover Square", "The Lodger"), an expert in Victorian era melodramas. The atmosphere is wonderfully palpable, with striking use of light and darkness by cinematographer Lucien Ballard. Scripted by Lillie Hayward and Michael Jacoby, from the novel by Jessie Douglas Kerruish, it tells a fairly snappy story that clocks in at a mere 64 minutes.
Some hardcore horror fans may not be terribly satisfied, as horror elements don't really come into play that often. The running time is largely dedicated to the investigation of the incident, with an amusingly loopy Thatcher supplying all of the comedy relief. It's not until the final seven minutes when we finally get to see some werewolf action.
The cast is very good. Ellisons' bright, charming presence helps quite a bit. The pretty Heather Angel leaves a strong impression as the skeptical and level headed Helga Hammond. Supporting actors Bramwell Fletcher, Aubrey Mather, Halliwell Hobbes, Holmes Herbert, and Eily Malyon all do well. Hollywood tough guy Charles McGraw makes his film debut as the character Strudwick.
This should provide some adequate entertainment for fans of 1930s and 1940s horror.
Six out of 10.
While ultimately fairly average and unmemorable, this is still a reasonably enjoyable B genre picture from 20th Century Fox, a studio not ordinarily associated with B level horror. It *is* competently made from beginning to end, with efficient direction by John Brahm ("The Mad Magician", "Hangover Square", "The Lodger"), an expert in Victorian era melodramas. The atmosphere is wonderfully palpable, with striking use of light and darkness by cinematographer Lucien Ballard. Scripted by Lillie Hayward and Michael Jacoby, from the novel by Jessie Douglas Kerruish, it tells a fairly snappy story that clocks in at a mere 64 minutes.
Some hardcore horror fans may not be terribly satisfied, as horror elements don't really come into play that often. The running time is largely dedicated to the investigation of the incident, with an amusingly loopy Thatcher supplying all of the comedy relief. It's not until the final seven minutes when we finally get to see some werewolf action.
The cast is very good. Ellisons' bright, charming presence helps quite a bit. The pretty Heather Angel leaves a strong impression as the skeptical and level headed Helga Hammond. Supporting actors Bramwell Fletcher, Aubrey Mather, Halliwell Hobbes, Holmes Herbert, and Eily Malyon all do well. Hollywood tough guy Charles McGraw makes his film debut as the character Strudwick.
This should provide some adequate entertainment for fans of 1930s and 1940s horror.
Six out of 10.