Double Feature

The Wolf Man (1941)

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.

The Mummy (1932)

The Mummy features horror icon Boris Karloff in a legendary performance at the Egyptian, Imhotep, who is accidentally revived by a team of archaeologists after 3,700 years. It is revealed in flashback that he was a high priest, embalmed alive for trying to revive the vestal virgin whom he loved, after she had been sacrificed. Alive again, he sets out on an obsessive – and deadly – quest to find his lost love. Featuring groundbreaking makeup by Jack Pierce and artful direction by Karl Freud to achieve a mysterious atmosphere, this terrifying classic inspired countless sequels, spoofs and spin-offs that continue to fuel the legacy of the monster to this day. (Universal Studios)