THE CURSE OF THE WEREWOLF

UK, 1961, 88 Minutes, Colour.
Oliver Reed, Clifford Evans, Hira Talfrey, Catherine Feller, Yvonne Roman, Anthony Dawson, Warren Mitchell.
Directed by Terence Fisher.

The Curse of the Werewolf and The Legend of the Werewolf are two versions of the Werewolf legend written by John Elder. There is fifteen years between the two treatments. Both are horror tradition films in the Hammer Studio style. One is set in Spain, the other in France. The first is notable for an early performance by Oliver Reed in the central role. The second is notable for character performances by Ron Moody and Hugh Griffith. Both are interesting, if somewhat pedestrian, versions of the legend.

1. What are the main characteristics of horror films? Were they evident in this production? How well were they used? why did audiences respond well to horror films? To the themes, to the myths, legends, horrifying incidents and situations? Matters of style? (How seriously did audiences take horror films?) How should they take them?

2. What is the intrinsic interest in the wolf-man myth? The savage animal within the man? The savage sub-conscious like a vampire? The wolf-man conscious of his inner drives and unable to control them? The need for love to control them? Society not allowing this? The only solution being conscious death? How well portrayed was this myth?

3. Was the structure of the film satisfactory?

4. The use of the commentary and background, the passing of time, the background for the birth of the wolf man, the focusing on the final incidents?

5. Comment on the style of the film: the use of locations, costume, Spanish background? The quality of the acting and dialogue?

6. Violence is intrinsic to horror films. How well was violence portrayed here: in the initial banquet-scene humiliation: the prison scenes, the murders, the wolf-man's behaviour, his death?

7. How significant was it that this story was set in Spain? The religious and superstitious background? The role of the priest in knowing the myth?

8. The attitude towards society of the film? The initial marriage, the comments of the people in the inn, the nobles at the banquet and their humiliation of the beggar, the use of the serving-maid, prison? The aristocracy? The kindly family who took Leon in? The employer with the wine? The police and the mayor? The clash between rich and poor?

9. How important for atmosphere was the initial arrival of the beggar and his treatment? How effective was this? The importance of the Joan sequences and the beggars growing wolfish? The rape of the girl and the birth of the child?

10. How did this contrast with the good family who looked after Leon and the girl? The Count and Theresa? The priest? The herdsman and his shooting of the wolves? The contrast between these people and the aristocracy?

11. How well did the film visually convey the wolfishness of the situation - the real wolf, the massacres, young Leon, the older Leon, the final look of the wolf-man?

12. How important was it to show the young Leon as a wolf-boy for the final climax? What this effectively done?

13. The dramatic significance of Leon as he grew older, not subject to fearful dreams, his knowledge of the truth, his working, falling in love, his killing of his friend, his not wanting to be a wolf-man and the torment for him? Were these well conveyed? His wishing his own death? Did he have any alternative? Was this dramatically well conveyed?

14. How important was this theme of self-awareness of the wolf-man? Did it make it different from mere sub-conscious urgings?

15. How effective was the final climax with the death of Leon?