WEREWOLF OF LONDON (1935) – Episode 206 – Decades of Horror: The Classic Era

“You must seize the only specimen of the Mariphasa plant in England in the private laboratory of Dr. Wilfred Glendon. That flower is the only known antidote for werewolfery. Lycanthrophobia is the medical term for the affliction I speak of.”  Werewolfery? Lycanthrophobia? Is this an example of lexical innovation? Join this episode’s Grue-Crew – Doc Rotten, Daphne Monary-Ernsdorff, Chad Hunt, Bill Mulligan, and Jeff Mohr – as they stalk the original Werewolf of London (1935).

Decades of Horror: The Classic Era
Episode 206 – Werewolf of London (1935)

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ANNOUNCEMENT
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Synopsis: After botanist Wilfred Glendon travels to Tibet in search of a rare flower, the Mariphasa, he returns to a London haunted by murders that can only be the work of bloodthirsty werewolves.

• Director: Stuart Walker
• Writers: John Colton (screenplay); Robert Harris (story); Harvey Gates (adaptation) (uncredited); Robert Harris (adaptation) (uncredited); Edmund Pearson (contributing writer) (uncredited)
• Cinematographer: Charles J. Stumar (as Charles Stumar) (photographed by)
• Makeup Department: Jack P. Pierce (makeup artist) (uncredited)
• Selected Cast:
  • Henry Hull as Dr. Wilfred Glendon
  • Warner Oland as Dr. Yogami
  • Valerie Hobson as Lisa Glendon
  • Lester Matthews as Paul Ames
  • Lawrence Grant as Sir Thomas Forsythe
  • Spring Byington as Miss Ettie Coombes
  • Clark Williams as Hugh Renwick
  • J.M. Kerrigan as Hawkins
  • Charlotte Granville as Lady Forsythe
  • Ethel Griffies as Mrs. Whack
  • Zeffie Tilbury as Mrs. Moncaster
  • Jeanne Bartlett as Daisy

Universal’s Werewolf of London (1935) is the earliest surviving werewolf/wolfman movie, setting several tropes still used today. Universal’s The Wolf Man (1941) with Lon Chaney Jr. doesn’t come along until six years later. Henry Hull is the man-beast, and his wife is the seventeen-year-old Valerie Hobson, who is splitting her time between Bride of Frankenstein (1935). Warner Oland is the infecting werewolf who introduces the Mariphasa flower, providing an antidote (not a cure) that grows only in the light of the moon. As usual with Universal horror flicks, several “bits of business” are deployed by the excellent supporting cast to add some comic relief. Lauding its place in the Universal horror canon, the Classic Era Grue-Crew love Werewolf of London! And don’t forget the great Jack Pierce!

At the time of this writing, Werewolf of London (19358) is available to stream from Vimeo. The film is also available on physical media as a Blu-ray formatted disc included with Universal Classic Monsters: Complete 30-Film Collection and The Wolf Man Complete Legacy Collection.

For other DoH Classic Era podcasts about films with werewolves or wolf men, check out:

• SANTO AND BLUE DEMON AGAINST THE MONSTERS (1969-70) – Episode 19 – Decades of Horror: The Classic Era (audio only)
• THE WOLF MAN (1941) – Episode 39 – Decades of Horror: The Classic Era (audio only)
• ABBOTT AND COSTELLO MEET FRANKENSTEIN (1948) – Episode 44 – Decades of Horror: The Classic Era (audio only)
• THE CURSE OF THE WEREWOLF (1961) – Episode 84 – Decades of Horror: The Classic Era (audio only)
• I WAS A TEENAGE WEREWOLF (1957) – Episode 153 – Decades of Horror: The Classic Era
• HOUSE OF DRACULA (1945) – Episode 158 – Decades of Horror: The Classic Era
• THE WEREWOLF (1956) – Episode 186 – Decades of Horror: The Classic Era
• WEREWOLF IN A GIRLS’ DORMITORY (1961) – Episode 204 – Decades of Horror: The Classic Era
• FURY OF THE WOLFMAN (1972) – Episode 106 – Decades of Horror 1970s (audio only)
• THE BEAST MUST DIE (1974) – Episode 120 – Decades of Horror 1970s
• SANTO AND BLUE DEMON VS. DRACULA AND THE WOLF MAN (SANTO Y BLUE DEMON CONTRA DRACULA Y EL HOMBRE LOBO, 1973) – Episode 168 – Decades of Horror 1970s
• THE WEREWOLF AND THE YETI (1975) – Episode 189 – Decades of Horror 1970s
• MOON OF THE WOLF (1972) – Episode 224 – Decades of Horror 1970s
• HOWLING II: YOUR SISTER IS A WEREWOLF (1985) – Episode 203 – Decades of Horror 1980s
• THE MONSTER SQUAD (1987) – Episode 282 – Decades of Horror 1980s

Gruesome Magazine’s Decades of Horror: The Classic Era records a new episode every two weeks. Next in their very flexible schedule – this one chosen by Bill – is a Corman Classic, Not of This Earth (1957), featuring Beverly Garland, and Dick Miller with special effects by Paul Blaisdell and Bob Burns.

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To each of you from each of them, “Thank you so much for watching and listening!”