Review of Wolf Man, The

Introduction

In a series of classic release this time it`s the turn of the Wolf Man to be released into the wild.
First seen on cinema screens in 1941 it now has a home on the channels with the eternal reruns. Truly the Wolfman will never die!
In recognition of the groundbreaking makeup and effects that were an integral part of Universal`s cheapie films, this DVD has come with a decent raft of extras.

The plot perhaps feels well worn to us now but was reasonably within its sell by date when Curt Sidiomak gave it his special treatment.

The legend of the wolf man is that he is a human cursed when being bitten by a wolf .His wolfish part is his beast that will hunger for blood. Larry Talbot, returning son of John Talbot, the Lord of the manor, comes to a place that is `quite backward`. He quickly learns about the legend of the werewolf and then whilst trying to save a young girl from an attack is bitten on the chest.

A mysterious gypsy woman tries to warn him but he refuses to believe he could be in danger. However as darkness falls he undergoes a strange transformation
That makes him want to run and run until he finds someone to attack.
Alongside this is Larry`s infatuation with a girl who is already engaged to someone else. Indeed it is while he is out with her that her friend Jenny is attacked and killed by the gypsy Bela who is already a werewolf.

Video

Glorious black and whit it looks like it has had some treatment for this release. There is a lot of spotting and a faint green line runs along near the top of the screen. Overall though for a film of its great age it is in reasonable condition. The black and white was used because it was cheap but it certainly adds to the atmosphere of the piece and gives credence to the influence of expressionism in the film.

Audio

The soundtrack sounds very good. The music has been re-recorded for this issue and features also over the extensive stills gallery.

Features

Ooh Ooh there are actually extras with this DVD that are worth watching and listening to.
Commentary
Just great commentary from Tom Weaver (not Wolfe) who certainly seems to know his stuff. This commentary is well worth a listen for the full seventy minutes.
Documentary

Presented by John Landis, who manages not to mention his own rather sterling version of the tale. This documentary looks at the history that the scriptwriter was drawing on and how he managed to incorporate some of his own background into the film. The character of Larry Talbot, resurrected for five films is looked at in some depth as well as the actor who played him.

The Werewolf archive

A fine collection of poster and film stills with the orchestral backing of the rerecorded script

Conclusion

This is a classic that although it won`t frighten anybody these days is a fine example of making a film on a tight budget that doesn`t suck. In the days when people went to the cinema a lot there was a huge demand for cheap and cheerful films that would feed this ever hungry maw. Many of these are now lost without trace, many no doubt deservedly so. Every so often along would come a gem that needed to be saved and loved. Tame the werewolf take him home.

The `myth` created by the scriptwriter of this film has become more well know than the original myths so much so that most of us accept it as fact-er myth.
Many many successful films and dramas have been made on the hairy back of this first outing for the man whose nature is to be the wolf.
Interestingly the wolf appears because he has to but the original intention was to have no wolf only a man who believes he becomes a wolf. The script is steeped in psychological meaning which gets slightly knocked off course by the necessity of following studio direction in the casting and subsequent rewriting of key parts.

In all its flawed glory it offers hours of pleasure and the documentary and commentary are replete with information that will have you boring your friends and neighbours for weeks. Buy the boxed set and then give it to me because I`ve only got this one.