The Wolf Man
Coming out ten years after Universal began their legacy of horror cinema with “Dracula” and “Frankenstein,” George Waggner’s “The Wolf Man” isn’t as instantly classic as those early masterpieces, but it’s no less noteworthy, and every bit as iconic. When Universal released “Van Helsing” ten years ago, the wolf man was one of the monsters featured in the film, and as such, their series of “Wolf Man” films was one of the central sets they released to promote the film. If only the portrayal of the creature was memorable in any way in that film, although that’s the least of “Van Helsing’s” problems.
The original “Wolf Man,” however, has next to no problems with it. Written by Curt Siodmak, the film follows a very natural story as we see Lawrence Talbot (Lon Chaney Jr.) return home to his father’s after 18 years. Immediately, as he is settling into his room, he looks through a telescope and sees Gwen (Evelyn Ankers), the daughter of a nearby shopkeeper. Instantly smitten with her, he manufactures a reason to go over and ask her out. She’s a very proper girl, though, and she gets a friend to go with them. As they walk, they go to a gypsy’s wagon, and the companion has her fortune read by Bela (Bela Lugosi), who hints at grave danger. As the companion leaves, though, she is attacked by a wolf. Talbot hears the goings on and tries to save her, getting bitten in the process. The friend is dead, and Talbot heals surprisingly quickly. Could the legends of werewolves be true? The events of the next few days don’t bode well for the answer.
More so than “Dracula” and “Frankenstein,” the lasting appeal of this film lies in it’s story, and the work done by the actors. Yes, the makeup that transforms Chaney Jr. into the titular monster is right, and the constantly-foggy visuals of the film create a remarkable atmosphere for danger and suspense, but Siodmak’s script, and the way the actors bring it to life, is what turns this film into a memorable experience. Chaney Jr. is heartbreaking in the lead role, with his scenes with Claude Rains (playing his father) and Ankers being the ones that get to the real tragedy of the film. Lawrence Talbot’s fate is not dictated by personal choices, as is the case with Dracula and Dr. Frankenstein, but by forces he cannot quite comprehend. That makes for a gripping personal drama, and Chaney Jr. and everybody else makes it unforgettable to watch.
