Elevating the monster movie to the level of Shakespeare, The Wolf Man is the Hamlet of Classic Universal Monsters. Centered on Lon Chaney Jr.’s heartrending performance as prodigal son-turned-werewolf Larry Talbot, this film charts his descent as violent transformation rocks his entire world. Claude Rains co-stars as his stern, but sympathetic father, and Bela Lugosi features as a portentous gypsy. Writer Curtis Siodmak invented defining traits of the werewolf legend including fallibility only to silver implements/bullets and symbolic use of pentagrams. He also drew upon his experience living in Nazi Germany.
“The Wolf Man serves its horror straight. A very substantial cast undertakes to sell believably a tale of superstitious folklore.” – Hollywood Reporter
“Good direction and performances by an above par assemblage of players” – Variety
Kim Morgan discusses The Wolf Man on the New Beverly blog.
