THE WOLF MAN

US, 1941, 70 minutes, Black and white.
Lon Chaney Jr, Claude Rains, Ralph Bellamy, Warren William, Maria Ouspenskaya, Evelyn Ankers, Patric Knowles, Bela Lugosi.
Directed by George Waggner.

The Wolf Man is a classic horror thriller from the early forties, made by Universal who had pioneered such horror
classics as Frankenstein and Dracula. The Wolf Man had an excellent cast and took the Werewolf legends very seriously.

Lon Chaney Jr was very effective in the central role of the Wolf Man and there is rich pathos in his character and fate. Later there were many adaptations even to farce of the Wolf Man character. Hammer Films were interested in the theme and made The Curse of the Werewolf in 1961 with Oliver Reed and The Legend of the Werewolf in 1975. The original film still remains the classic.

1. A successful horror film? Universal's Studio's traditions of higher films, B style budgets and sets, strong screenplay? Why have these films become classics?

2. Audience interest, entertainment? The fascination with horror? The stars and their impact at the time, their place now in the horror tradition, especially Lon Chaney Jr?

3. The initial focus on the meaning of lycanthropy and the dictionary meaning? The amplification of the meaning through reference to European legends, variations, the verses about werewolves? The extension of the meaning from the dictionary indications about psychology? Mental illness? The significance of wild animals as symbols of inner feelings and the irrational? the unconscious, the sub-conscious?

4. What was the point of view of the screenplay? In terms of reality, psychology and legend? in view of recent psychological developments? How well did the film represent the varying points of view?

5.A realistic interpretation: England, the modern look, the gypsies within this world, Larry as technologist returning from America, exercising his skill, the background of werewolves and his encountering this, the gypsies, fortune telling, violence and charm? The deaths and Larry's death? How well could the film be enjoyed on this level?

6.How well did the film work on the level of legend, English traditions about werewolves, everybody repeating the poem, the amount of talk and knowledge about werewolves, the gypsies and the old woman’s, interpretation? The significance of the legends as somehow or rather giving story form to evil, evil influences, mythology?

7. How well did the film present the psychological interpretation? The doctor and his interpretation of Larry's situation? Sir John and his scientific approach and rejection of the idea of werewolves? The nature of the sub-conscious, evil and fears, the expression of fears in animal form? The take over of the body over the mind even to wolf form? The nature of violence of the wolf man? The seeing of signs, the pentagram etc?

8. Within this atmosphere how credible a character was Larry Talbot? The American style, his arrival, the background of his brother's death, his welcoming him after so many years, his enjoyment of his return, help with the telescope etc? Seeing Gwen, encountering her, his charm, the significance of his buying the cane and the legend? Gentleman, going with Jenny and Gwen to the gypsies? His meeting with people? His gallantry with the wolf? The transition after the fight, the bite? His becoming a victim? His fear, the experience in the Church, at the shooting gallery with the wolf? The importance of his encounter with Maleva and the charm? His experience of the transformation starting with his lips? His experience as the wolf and his destruction of the grave digger, the attack on Gwen? The desperation, his being tied by his father? The foot in the trail, the footprints, His fears given to Gwen and his wanting to leave? The pathos?

10. Claude Raines’ style as Sir John? Nobility, the scientist, scepticism? His desperation and the pathos of his beating his son to death?

11. How attractive a heroine was Gwen? The initial encounter in the shop, the selling of the cane, the visit to the gypsies? Her relationship with Frank, her father? Her reaction with Mrs Williams? Her love for Larry and her decision to go away with him? The attack?

12.What attitudes did Maltford and Frank represent? Practical aspects? The law and the police? Contrast with the doctor?

13. The character of Bela, telling the fortune, seeing the sign, the transformation into the werewolf, the pathos of his death? Malava and her suspicions, the charm, the visit to the cemetery and Larry's being present, her incantations? her encounter with Sir John?

14. The impact of such sequences as the fair, the visitor to the church, the deaths?

15. How valuable are horror films like this as visual presentations of evil and good?