This classic film is the original story of the wolf man and the horror that comes from a man who turns into a wolf. The pace of the movie is a slow transformation from a simple story to a frightening horror film. Larry is the main character and he suffers from Lycanthropy: “A disease of the mind in which human beings imagine they are wolf-men. According to an old legend which persists in certain localities, the victims actually assume the physical characteristics of the animal.” This film starts as a casual movie about people just meeting each other and then becomes a story about gypsies and the curse of the werewolf.
Larry Talbot (Lon Chaney Jr.) The main character in the movie, Larry is portrayed as a sympathetic and curious character who becomes cursed after a wolf attacks him by biting him in the chest. His interactions with other characters, particularly his father, Sir John Talbot, are central to the story. Larry's internal struggle with his newfound condition and his desire to protect the people he loves causes him to struggle with his emotional state.
Gwen Conliffe (Evelyn Ankers): Gwen is in love with Larry's brother, Frank. Her interactions with Larry become more emotional and confused after Larry is bitten by the wolf.
Frank Andrews (Patric Knowles): Larry's brother, Frank is also an influence on Larry's life. He realizes that the lycanthropy has really effected Larry's life in a negative way.
Maliva (Maria Ouspenskaya): A gypsy fortune-teller. She warns Larry about the werewolf and tells him to protect himself. She gives him a pendent to wear around his neck and informs him that he would need silver bullets to destroy the wolf beast.
The screenplay for "The Wolf Man" was written by Curt Siodmak. He was a German writer who escaped the Nazis occupation and landed in Hollywood. Siodmak's personal experiences and background influenced the writing of the film. His writing about identity is found in the character of Larry. Curt crafted the script as a horror film so the audiences could connect with it. “The Wolf Man” was a breakout story for Curt as a writer.
The inspiration for the film came from werewolf legends, particularly the stories from Eastern Europe. Universal Pictures, was seeking to expand its monster films and "The Wolf Man” was one of the films to do it. Siodmak's script was able to mix traditional mythical story telling with a narrative story containing characters dealing with psychological issues.
The film is best know for the transformation scenes from man to wolf. These special effects were practical and very groundbreaking during that time. Jack Pierce's was the make up artist. His innovative techniques and Lon Chaney Jr.'s dedication to the character create a sense of realism that is very frightening to younger viewers at the time.
"The Wolf Man" (1941) is still considered a timeless horror film. Larry is a very curious person who wondering into the darkness with an incautious attitude. He doesn't realize how dangerous the world is until he is attacked by a wolf. The community speaks about him with fear after they learn about his ability to transform into a wolf man. Larry ends up being over taken by the wolf as the fog fills the atmosphere. This is a classic horror movie with original special effects that is still entertaining to watch.
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