1/19/2008
Another all-time Universal classic airs tonight at 9 on Svengoolie- the hairy horror story of “the Wolf Man!”
It’s the role Lon Chaney Jr. certainly made his own, because, as you’ll recall, while various actors would portray the Mummy, the Frankenstein Monster, and Dracula- only Lon Jr. would ever portray the character of the tortured Larry Talbot, who was only trying to save a poor woman from what he thought was a wolf or dog attack-and was bitten by the creature- who turned out to be –a werewolf! You get the full origin story here- along with Bela Lugosi as the cursed gypsy Bela (creative writing and/or casting?)-the great Claude Rains, not as the Invisible Man, but as Larry’s father- and the unforgettable Maria Ouspenskya as Maleva, the gypsy woman, who reveals the truth about the pentagram and the curse of the werewolf to Larry.
I’ve pointed this out before- and you may want to actually keep an eye out for it- it’s almost surprising, after all the later werewolf movies we’ve seen, to realize how few facial transformation shots there are in this first film. Another question, and reason to watch carefully- although Larry transforms in the full moon- do you ever SEE a shot of the full moon in this film? Plus, for fans of blown continuity- watch for when Larry is in his undershirt, and begins to change- and then, as the Wolf Man, suddenly has his shirt back on! Was Wolfie embarrassed by his overly-hairy body?!
One of the stories that I found entertaining about this film is that Lon Jr. did not really like his lovely co-star, Evelyn Ankers. He would constantly torment her, not only on this production, but even in some social encounters.
Another interesting fact- originally, Lon Jr. was NOT cast as the Wolf Man! Dick Foran, who played the young hero in “the Mummy’s Hand” (that’ll turn up again in the future on our show), was the original choice for Larry Talbot! He was supposedly replaced just one week before filming began. How different would Universal horror history be if he had actually played the role- and where would that have left Lon Jr.?
I’d be remiss if I didn’t bring up the old folk poem we all learned from this and other Wolf Man features- “Even a man who is pure at heart, and says his prayers by night- may become a wolf- when the wolf bane blooms- and the autumn moon is bright!” While many people swear that this is an authentic superstitious saying of the old country- it was just made up by the film’s writer Curt Siodmak!
Uh… the moon is completely full yet tonight, right? Then it will definitely be safe to watch “the Wolf Man” (don’t forget the usual 1 am replay on Me-TV!)
It’s the role Lon Chaney Jr. certainly made his own, because, as you’ll recall, while various actors would portray the Mummy, the Frankenstein Monster, and Dracula- only Lon Jr. would ever portray the character of the tortured Larry Talbot, who was only trying to save a poor woman from what he thought was a wolf or dog attack-and was bitten by the creature- who turned out to be –a werewolf! You get the full origin story here- along with Bela Lugosi as the cursed gypsy Bela (creative writing and/or casting?)-the great Claude Rains, not as the Invisible Man, but as Larry’s father- and the unforgettable Maria Ouspenskya as Maleva, the gypsy woman, who reveals the truth about the pentagram and the curse of the werewolf to Larry.
I’ve pointed this out before- and you may want to actually keep an eye out for it- it’s almost surprising, after all the later werewolf movies we’ve seen, to realize how few facial transformation shots there are in this first film. Another question, and reason to watch carefully- although Larry transforms in the full moon- do you ever SEE a shot of the full moon in this film? Plus, for fans of blown continuity- watch for when Larry is in his undershirt, and begins to change- and then, as the Wolf Man, suddenly has his shirt back on! Was Wolfie embarrassed by his overly-hairy body?!
One of the stories that I found entertaining about this film is that Lon Jr. did not really like his lovely co-star, Evelyn Ankers. He would constantly torment her, not only on this production, but even in some social encounters.
Another interesting fact- originally, Lon Jr. was NOT cast as the Wolf Man! Dick Foran, who played the young hero in “the Mummy’s Hand” (that’ll turn up again in the future on our show), was the original choice for Larry Talbot! He was supposedly replaced just one week before filming began. How different would Universal horror history be if he had actually played the role- and where would that have left Lon Jr.?
I’d be remiss if I didn’t bring up the old folk poem we all learned from this and other Wolf Man features- “Even a man who is pure at heart, and says his prayers by night- may become a wolf- when the wolf bane blooms- and the autumn moon is bright!” While many people swear that this is an authentic superstitious saying of the old country- it was just made up by the film’s writer Curt Siodmak!
Uh… the moon is completely full yet tonight, right? Then it will definitely be safe to watch “the Wolf Man” (don’t forget the usual 1 am replay on Me-TV!)
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