The Wolf Man

The Wolf Man

Film from 1941 directed by George Waggner

Returning after a long absence to his family’s wealthy estate, a young man meets a girl for whom he feels a strong attraction. Despite her engagement, the girl succumbs to his charm.

One evening, the young man, the girl, and her friend go into the woods to have their fortunes told by gypsies.

Soon, the young man and the friend realize the girl has disappeared and venture into the forest to find her. They discover her desperately defending herself from a wolf attack. The young man attacks and beats the animal to death with a stick.

The next morning, he learns with horror that he killed not a beast but a man—a werewolf.

He soon begins to exhibit symptoms of the curse and, transformed into a wolf, first kills a cemetery caretaker and then, as he is about to attack the girl he loves, her father, not recognizing him, kills him.

Profoundly shocked, the girl finally finds peace and comfort in the affection of her fiancé.

The 2010 remake starring Benicio Del Toro and Anthony Hopkins is also noteworthy.

However, it cannot be denied that Lon Chaney’s Wolfman, with his exceptional facial expressions, has a unique charm that makes it a memorable cult classic.

“Even a man who is pure in heart, and says his prayers by night, may become a wolf when the wolfbane blooms and the autumn moon is bright.”

With this poem, screenwriter Kurt Siodmak describes the anguish of gentleman Lawrence Talbot in The Wolf Man (1941) directed by George Waggner, forced to confront his destiny as a werewolf.

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