The Wolf Man
(1941, Dir. by George Waggner.)
Why It's Here:
Most people don't list The Wolf Man at the top of the list when it comes to Universal's "classic" monster movies. I disagree with most people. I think I get too caught up in the tragic drama aspect of this film, because I really buy in to the whole father/son/tortured family thing that we get from Claude Rains and Lon Chaney, Jr. here. And Rick Pierce's magical makeup effects, transforming the lovable Chaney into a wonderfully creepy monster, are a thing of nightmares.
The Moment That Changes Everything:
I don't know much about Maria Ouspenskaya, but I want to give her great grandchildren a hug some day. The actress who plays the gypsy fortune teller that explains the curse of the werewolf has pretty much the best delivery of an ominous warning in the history of cinema. It feels so darn real, and sends chills down my spine.
It Makes a Great Double Feature With:
Speaking of Claude Rains and things that aren't at the forefront of the Universal Monsters discussion, let's talk about The Invisible Man. It has the annoying comic relief of Una O'Conner, which is a problem, but it also has Rains eating up the scenery while occupying none of it. These two movies are often lost in the shuffle when it comes to Universal Monsters, but both have a lot of drama and some fantastic special effects.
What It Means To Me:
There's not a scare to be found in The Wolf Man today, but it's the story behind this man-turned-wolf tale that represents everything I love about horror movies. Some belittle the film and think I have it rated about a billion spots higher than it should be, but it's like comfort food to me. I love the actors and the script and the effects, and that ending is just one of the all-time best "hammer your point home" moments ever. I'll never tire of The Wolf Man.
Posts
7 comments:
Hey, The Mike, did you know that Oliver Reed was actually accused of molesting Cindy Hinds on the set of "The Brood" in 1978 but no charges were ever brought against him because of apparent lack of evidence.
The Wolf Man has always appealed to me, but it's never been about the effects. Never scared me even as a kid. It's the tragic nature of Lon Chaney Jr.'s character, either with his family or his circumstances. It shows in his face, through is eyes.
Millie is an incredibly gorgeous bird.
Nice to meet you, Steve :)
My pleasure little darlin`.
Millie, did you know that Lon Chaney Jr. had to drink half a bottle of whiskey whenever he arrived on the set in order to be able to act and say his lines ! ! !.
Teddy, I misread that as "half a gallon" thinking "jeebus!!!" :) I didn't know about his drinking until later on but I didn't know it was *that* bad. Explains how he could achieve such a mournful, tortured look. A hangover would work the same way, I suppose?
Post a Comment