"The guests included the Wolf Man"

[Klownzilla]

Here's a discussion thread for all old school werewolf flicks, especially the ones with the brilliant Lon Chaney, Jr.

The original Wolf Man film with Chaney, Jr. along with the stellar cast Claude Rains, Maria Ouspenskaya and Bela Lugosi, was and always has been my favorite classic.

I like some of the sequels with Chaney reprising his Larry Talbot role like Frankenstein Meets the Wolfman and Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein.

When it comes to Hammer, they have Curse of the Werewolf and Legend of the Werewolf. I haven't seen the latter, but Curse was quite good. It also presents a very interesting take on becoming a werewolf.

[Andrew Tom]

What I appreciate the Universal werewolf movies a lot. They have this kind of brooding atmosphere(sp?) that most werewolf movies lack. Also Larry Talbot Jr. is a very dark character. He does not want to live as a werewolf and wants to die. Not many werewolf movies do this. I love the melancholy feel of them. The original Wolf Man is my favorite werewolf movie. Close second is Landis's American Werewolf in London, but that discussion is another thread.

Interesting fact: You can not see the moon anywhere in the original Wolf Man.

[countchocula]

Legend of the Werewolf isn't a Hammer flick. It's a Tyburn production. In any event, I'm also itching to see it. I've never cared much for The Wolf Man. It's my least favorite Universal creature feature.

[Klownzilla]

Originally posted by countchocula
Legend of the Werewolf isn't a Hammer flick. It's a Tyburn production.

You're right, I forgot about that. Tyburn tried to recreate the Hammer feel, especially by adding Peter Cushing in the mix.

[Klownzilla]

Originally posted by Andrew Tom
What I appreciate the Universal werewolf movies a lot. They have this kind of brooding atmosphere(sp?) that most werewolf movies lack. Also Larry Talbot Jr. is a very dark character. He does not want to live as a werewolf and wants to die. Not many werewolf movies do this. I love the melancholy feel of them.

Agreed. The atmosphere is one of those things that really adds, next to the great characters.

Universal's earlier lycanthrope film Werewolf of London tried the melancholic angle with Henry Hull, but in my opinion, it fell flat. Hull lacked charisma and the film was well, boring. Chaney, Jr. was a big improvement and I'm glad that he reprised the character on several occassions.

[Gluttony]

Speaking of Tyburn, I just caught the relatively expensive DVD of their production The Creeping Flesh. Hopefully, this will prove fruitful.

Werewolves are a great mythology, but the films have never captured to essence of power and emotion that other legends have. Personally, I like Universal's Wolf Man better than the stilted and boistrous Dracula. However, Hammer made Dracula for me and catapulted the character beyond the Wolf Man and his comrades.