WEREWOLF OF LONDON
US, 1935, 75 minutes, Black and white.
Henry Hull, Warner Oland, Valerie Hobson, Lester Matthews, Spring Byington, J.M.Kerrigan, Ethel Griffies, Zeffie Tilbury.
Directed by Stuart Walker.
Werewolf of London was released by Universal Studios in the same year as The Bride of Frankenstein. It is a Universal horror production but has not had the same reputation as the films with Boris Karloff or Bella Lugosi. It was only in 1941 that Lon Chaney Jr became The Wolf Man.
The setting is London with an opening in Tibet where Henry Hull is a botanist on a quest for a famous but deadly flower associated with werewolves. He is cautioned against seeking the flower by an itinerant priest – who greets and farewells in Latin. However, the doctor he goes ahead, finds the flower but is attacked by a werewolf and bitten.
He works in secret in London and resists the requests of Dr Yogami to see his flower – Warner Oland, of Charlie Chan fame, who was the Tibetan vampire who bit of the doctor. The doctor is married to Lisa, Valerie Hobson in an early role, with Spring Byington as her ditzy aunt. There is some very good comedy with two old alcoholic women in a London pub, renting a room to the doctor. They are played very effectively by Ethel Griffies and Zeffie Tilbury.
Needless to say, the doctor transforms, more or less like Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde, goes out on the prowl, murders some prostitutes, tries to lock himself away but eventually threatens his wife and his shot.
Production values are good with crisp cinematography – and should be high on the list of universal horror films.
1. The reputation of the film? Universal Studios, the 1930s, the range of horror films? Werewolf film?
2. Black-and-white photography, the sets for the Tibetan mountains, the laboratory and mansion in London, Scotland Yard, the wealthy aspects of London, poor areas, country mansions? The musical score?
3. Audience interest in werewolf films, the traditions, the later developments?
4. The Tibetan opening, Dr Glendon and his companion, the locals and their disappearance at the appearance of the priest? The role of the priest, not seeing white men for 40 years, riding his camel, his Latin greetings, his warnings about the flowers, his respect for local superstitions? Dr Glendon and his companion going on, experiencing the invisible barrier, the caves, finding the flower, the appearance of the werewolf, the fight, Dr Glendon being scratched?
5. London, the laboratory, the doctor and his flower, his associate, Hawkins, and his help, the light, trying to get the flower to open? The secrecy?
6. The doctor and his wife, her glamour, place in society, the meeting with Paul, memories of the past, his work at Scotland Yard, wanting to go out, the doctor refusing, the moonlight ride?
7. The doctor and his reclusiveness, gruff manner? The party, the guests? Dr Yogami, their talking, the doctor wanting the flower, the irony that he was the werewolf in Tibet? His discussions with the police, his warnings?
8. Dr Glendon, the transformation, Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde, going out, the death of the prostitute? The death of the woman at the zoo? The maid and her death? His responsibilities, Dr Yogami and their confrontation?
9. The head of Scotland Yard, his nephew, the discussions, the theory about the werewolf? The investigations and interrogations?
10. The aunt, daffy, her conversation, poodle, looking at Dr Glendon’s flowers, being sick, the social, her drinking, her experience of the werewolf?
11. Dr Glendon, wanting to lock himself away, trusting Hawkins? His return? Going to the pub, the two old ladies, their drinking, eccentric but memorable characters? Renting the room? The doctor locking himself in, going out the window, his hovering and murders? The reaction of the ladies, their drinking, looking in the keyhole, their fears?
12. The doctor going to the mansion, interesting himself to the caretaker, locking himself away?
13. Lisa, wilful, going for the ride, the doctor seeing her out the window, the attack, his being shot, asking forgiveness?
