I’m finally getting around to covering the final Universal Classic Monster on my list, and it’s a doozy.
If you’re looking for a “review” in the traditional sense, then let me just say I love this movie. This video, however, is a “review” in the literal sense (using the Miriam-Webster definition “a retrospective view or survey”), in that I’m going over the history of the film and its place in cinema history.
In other words, please stop commenting on how my videos aren’t what you consider “reviews.”
#TheWolfMan #UniversalClassicMonsters #UniversalMonsters
00:00 October 2023 in the Bag
01:07 Intro: Universal’s Early Attempts at Lycanthropes
02:37 Synopsis
03:16 Production Background
05:37 Shameless Self-Promotion
06:19 Casting
10:51 Filming
11:56 Release & Legacy
13:21 Opinion & Analysis
17:19 Outro
http://www.emagill.com/
http://patreon.com/emagill
http://facebook.com/writeremagill
http://twitter.com/e_magill
PARADOX
http://www.amazon.com/dp/150321978X
THE STREAMING HEAP
Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/cracking-foundation/id1588023446
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5UMysxa1RWOFZQe4aexZVE
FROM HERE TO PATERNITY
Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/from-here-to-paternity/id1611771544
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/77qxdR1ucK5u8peeHmcuq8
MY DISCORD SERVER
https://discord.gg/aDU83tdX6D
———-
“In the West” by Kevin MacLeod is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
Source: http://incompetech.com/music/royalty-free/index.html?isrc=USUAN1100746
Artist: http://incompetech.com/
source
Larry was the most tragic of any of the universal monsters. None of the werewolf movies can hold a match to it. Talbot was as much a victim as the people he killed in werewolf form.
Lon Cheney Jr's career was a bit of a mixed bag, I think. He was very good playing beefy rednecks, which I don't think is a slight at all. However, Hollywood tried to make him Universal's Universal monster, as though his father's uncanny ability to vanish into a thousand different roles was hereditary. I find him genuinely painful in Son of Dracula. He also worked well as Talbot, in my opinion.
Still, I think my favorite werewolf film is Nicholson's Wolf.
No one could portray anguish like Chaney.
Cocteau’s La Belle et le Bete is a sideways werewolf movie and truly brings the psychological implications out. My favourite and a beautiful film
It’s sad that Lon Chaney Jr. was thought of as a joke he was a great actor. You remember him in High Noon that showed what he could do outside of the horror genre
1:39 Werewolf in London. Not an American one, just a regular one.
The '40s seemed a time when they made a lot of movies that dealt with psychology. Enjoyed the review. It seems difficulties in filming doesn't spell a bad movie.
The power of performance and commitment of Chaney shown in this film never diminishes even all the way through to Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein. In that he was still making you feel sorry for Talbot.
fantastic video, like always.
Werewolves of London awo . We'll played Sir.
Good luck on your schedule and approaching 10k subs!
I have a soft spot for HOUSE OF DRACULA especially the sympathetic female hunchback who never gets cured and is blithely killed at the finale. With Universal cutting films down from two hours to 75 or 80 minutes to fit double bill screenings, it would be intriguing to know the script evolution. And l like the idea of Larry Talbot being cured. Also like DR. CYCLOPS, SON OF DRACULA and ROBINSON CRUSOE ON MARS.
Another classic horror film not from Universal, is Paramount's ISLAND OF LOST SOULS with Charles Laughton, Richard Dix, Arthur Hohl, Kathleen Burke and Bela Lugosi, based on H. G. Wells THE ISLAND OF DR. MOREAU. The Criterion Collection has it in a restored version.
I just watched this movie yesterday!…..Same day you uploaded this review! Great timing! Thank you! 🙂
THE WOLF MAN, followed by the Monsterfests, are an annual Halloween season binge. My wife never fails to tease me for having a crush on Evelyn Ankers.
I will say that, in FRANKENSTEIN MEETS THE WOLF MAN, his material feels less like pathos and more whiny, but: A – that is in the eye of the beholder, and B – it can either been seen as whining or, in the words of Harlan Ellison, The Whimper of Whipped Dogs. Certainly apropos. I do find it amusing when Mr Talbot concludes the Song of the New Wine ("Fa-Ro-La, Fa-Ro-Leeeee … ") by having a poop-fit ("STOP THAT SINGING!!"); it's Ugly Americans like that, that ruin the tourist trade for everyone.
Interesting observation about the psychological interpretations. It is rather unfortunate that HOUSE OF DRACULA decides to make that a literal thing, pouring cold water on the supernatural aspect of it. One of your other commenters expressed enthusiasm for Talbot's eventual cure; I felt the opposite, wanting the curse to be an actual curse rather than some boring scientific thing that could be cured. But, as with everything else in this world, can't please everybody. Still love these movies. They do lack the presence of Mr Chaney within a Trader Vic's, but, for the most part, his hair IS perfect.
Stealing a map of all time? I am going to guess that this will be TIME BANDITS. I recall guessing that one, incorrectly, about another Next Time hint; trying again. (I think my guesses have been 50/50, maybe 60/40.)
In the mid 80’s my local public TV station would play the old Universal monster movies during the later weeks of October. Between the movies and the Crestwood house books my love for these movies have never faltered. It was a magic time to be a kid for sure. Unfortunately my kids don’t seem to have same affinity for the older black and white movies like I had. 😢
Also: Any discoveries in your research as to where the various scenes were filmed (other than Universal's backlot & soundstages)….For example, where was that (creepily) beautiful cathedral scene filmed?, etc.
I'm with you Eric. The invisible man topped them all for me.
Every time I think of Chaney I can't help but think of the Bob Hope comedy, "My Favorite Brunette" where Chaney had a very small and absolutely hilarious part. The guy was such a good actor.
Greetings from South Carolina
Another solid addition to the Universal horror franchise. For its day, impressive Werewolf transformation by Jack Pierce. My favorite modern Werewolf movie is "Dog Soldiers".