Der Wolfsmensch (1941)
18KDer Wolfsmensch: Directed by George Waggner. With Claude Rains, Warren William, Ralph Bellamy, Patric Knowles. Larry Talbot returns to his father’s castle in Wales and meets a beautiful woman. One fateful night, Talbot escorts her to a local carnival where they meet a mysterious gypsy fortune teller.
“What famous horror classic, panned by reviewers upon its initial release in December of 1941, looks better and better every year? THE WOLF MAN, starring Claude Rains, Ralph Bellamy, Evelyn Ankers, and Lon Chaney Jr. as the hapless Larry Talbot.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eThe story is a familiar one: Larry, the son of esteemed Sir John (Rains) returns home to Wales after many years in America, is bitten by a werewolf (well played by Bela Lugosi), and becomes a werewolf himself. Whatu0026#39;s extraordinary is the fact that the film can be so effective today.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eThe biggest reason for this is the acting. Some classic films, pre-Actoru0026#39;s Studio, look pretty pathetic when it comes to realistic characterization. Not so THE WOLF MAN. Curt Siodmaku0026#39;s excellent screenplay (likened to a Greek Tragedy) provides a vehicle for the stars to be at their best, and, boy, do they shine: Rains a tower of strength as the proud father; Ankers hitting just the right note as the torn female lead; Maria Ouspenskaya as the Old Gypsey Woman whose words prefigure Larryu0026#39;s doom….u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eBut the standout is Lon Chaney Jr. A definite mixed-bag as an actor, he is perfect here–and this is a role calling for the use of all human emotions (unlike later Wolf Man films, where Talbotu0026#39;s head-pounding becomes monotonous). In fact, seeing THE WOLF MAN recently has convinced me that Chaney would have made the ideal screen Phillip Marlow (and Iu0026#39;m not forgetting Bogie)–big, tough, surly, yet charming when need be (a highlight early in WOLF MAN is Larryu0026#39;s attempts at flirting with Ankers; Chaney does the surprisingly playful dialogue with just the right touch). Thereu0026#39;s no doubt that his performance would merit accolades even today.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eThis is not to say that there arenu0026#39;t problems in the film. The continuity is off in a number of places (Chany transforms into the Wolf Man at one point wearing a sleeveless undershirt; in the very next scene, heu0026#39;s wearing a neatly buttoned Dickey), and thereu0026#39;s a scene or two thatu0026#39;s completely inexplicable (e.g., why DOES the Wolf Man pass out when caught in that trap?)….u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eBut overall, the pace, lighting, cinematography, excellent musical score, and strong story propel the film through these rough spots, the 70-minute ride leaving the viewer wanting more. For these reasons, THE WOLF MAN is a classic.”
