Without question, the best actor in this classic Universal Studios horror film is Claude Reigns as Sir John Talbot, father of Larry Talbot (Lon Chaney, Jr.), heir and victim of the curse of the werewolf. Larry Talbot is an American just arrived to Britain because of the death of his older brother. He is now heir-apparent to a British estate owned by his father John Talbot. (He must have been adopted since Larry bares no resemblance to John whatsoever.) The small town in Britain has some strange lore, particularly one regarding the plant wolfsbane, said to foreshadow the appearance of werewolves, half-man, half-wolf creatures. (Wolfsbane is a poisonous plant found in Europe.) There is even a poem known to the locals about wolfsbane and werewolves.
While trying to court one of the locals, Gwen Conliffe (Evelyn Ankers), Larry Talbot invites her and a friend to hear their fortunes told by some traveling gypsies who have arrived in town. Bela, the gypsy (Béla Lugosi) tells the fortune of their friend Anne on whose hand appears the pentagram, the sign of the wolf. She screams and runs only to be stalked and accosted by a wolf. Talbot hears her cries and runs to rescue her and attacks the wolf with a silver-headed cane he bought earlier in the day. He kills the attacker but unable to save Anne. The next day, Bela the gypsy is found slain where Talbot claims he killed the wolf. The locals now suspect him of being murderer, and possibly being insane. In fact, a curse that had been upon Bela the gypsy is now upon Talbot.
One of the better horror films of the era, circa 1930 to 1945, prior to the silly films involving Abbot and Costello meeting the Universal monster of your choice during the post-war era (circa 1945-1960). Sometimes Chaney's acting is a little bit over the top, and some of the scenes where he tries to court Gwen are a bit unbelievable. (He spots her using a telescope and spies her earrings!) A young Ralph Bellamy plays a local, and Gwen's fiancée has little to do with the story. (They briefly have a shooting contest when the gypsies come to town and put on a carnival.) Still, all things considered, better than many other horror offerings of the era. (Some of the British Hammer films of the 1950's, particularly their version of "The Mummy" are not nearly as good.) Chaney often said of all the Universal monsters he played (including the Mummy and Frankenstein's monster), he liked the Wolf Man the best.
While trying to court one of the locals, Gwen Conliffe (Evelyn Ankers), Larry Talbot invites her and a friend to hear their fortunes told by some traveling gypsies who have arrived in town. Bela, the gypsy (Béla Lugosi) tells the fortune of their friend Anne on whose hand appears the pentagram, the sign of the wolf. She screams and runs only to be stalked and accosted by a wolf. Talbot hears her cries and runs to rescue her and attacks the wolf with a silver-headed cane he bought earlier in the day. He kills the attacker but unable to save Anne. The next day, Bela the gypsy is found slain where Talbot claims he killed the wolf. The locals now suspect him of being murderer, and possibly being insane. In fact, a curse that had been upon Bela the gypsy is now upon Talbot.
One of the better horror films of the era, circa 1930 to 1945, prior to the silly films involving Abbot and Costello meeting the Universal monster of your choice during the post-war era (circa 1945-1960). Sometimes Chaney's acting is a little bit over the top, and some of the scenes where he tries to court Gwen are a bit unbelievable. (He spots her using a telescope and spies her earrings!) A young Ralph Bellamy plays a local, and Gwen's fiancée has little to do with the story. (They briefly have a shooting contest when the gypsies come to town and put on a carnival.) Still, all things considered, better than many other horror offerings of the era. (Some of the British Hammer films of the 1950's, particularly their version of "The Mummy" are not nearly as good.) Chaney often said of all the Universal monsters he played (including the Mummy and Frankenstein's monster), he liked the Wolf Man the best.