Werewolf of London

Plot synopsis:
Wilfred Glendon (Henry Hull) is a wealthy and world-renowned English botanist who journeys to Tibet in search of the elusive mariphasa plant. While there, he is attacked and bitten by a creature later revealed to be a werewolf, although he succeeds in acquiring a specimen of the mariphasa. Once back home in London he is approached by a fellow botanist, Dr. Yogami (Warner Oland), who claims to have met him in Tibet while also seeking the mariphasa. Yogami warns Glendon that the bite of a werewolf would cause him to become a werewolf as well, adding that the mariphasa is a temporary antidote for the disease.
Glendon does not believe the mysterious Yogami. That is, not until he begins to experience the first pangs of lycanthropy, first when his hand grows fur beneath the rays of his moon lamp (which he is using in an effort to entice the mariphasa to bloom), and later that night during the first full moon. The first time, Glendon is able to use a blossom from the mariphasa to stop his transformation. His wife Lisa (Valerie Hobson) is away at her aunt Ettie's party with her friend, former childhood sweetheart Paul Ames (Lester Matthews), allowing the swiftly transforming Glendon to make his way unhindered to his at-home laboratory, in the hopes of acquiring the mariphasa's flowers to quell his lycanthropy a second time. Unfortunately Dr. Yogami, who is also a werewolf, sneaks into the lab ahead of his rival and steals the only two blossoms. As the third has not bloomed, Glendon is out of luck.
Driven by an instinctive desire to hunt and kill, he dons his hat and coat and ventures out into the dark city, killing an innocent girl. Burdened by remorse, Glendon begins neglecting Lisa (more so than usual), and makes numerous futile attempts to lock himself up far away from home, including renting a room at an inn. However, whenever he transforms into the werewolf he escapes and kills again. After a time, the third blossom of the mariphasa finally blooms, but much to Glendon's horror, it is stolen by Yogami, sneaking into the lab while Glendon's back is turned. Catching Yogami in the act, Glendon finally realizes that Yogami was the werewolf that attacked him in Tibet. After turning into the werewolf yet again and slaying Yogami, Glendon goes to the house in search of Lisa, for the werewolf instinctively seeks to destroy that which it loves the most.
After attacking Paul on the front lawn of Glendon Manor, but not killing him, Glendon breaks into the house and corners Lisa on the staircase and is about to move in for the kill when Paul's uncle, Col. Sir Thomas Forsythe (Lawrence Grant) of Scotland Yard, arriving with several police officers in tow, shoots Glendon once. As he lies dying at the bottom of the stairs, Glendon, still in werewolf form, speaks: first to thank Col. Forsythe for the merciful bullet, then saying goodbye to Lisa, apologizing that he could not have made her happier. Glendon then dies, reverting to his human form in death.

Tags: cult, murder

Review:
Interestingly blending the werewolf legend with science fiction elements, its script is intelligent, the scenic sets impressive and director Stuart Walker keeps it taut and suspenseful.In spite of what you may have read on some internet sites, the cast deliver the goods, particularly Henry Hull who it should be remembered is playing a vastly different type of werewolf to the one Chaney would play six years later.
Universal's first 'werewolf' movie & oddly enough one of the least celebrated in the studio's library of classic horror films, due in large part to a later vehicle titled 'THE WOLF MAN' that would elevate the werewolf to classic monster status.
Not that there's anything wrong with "Werewolf of London", it's a terrific picture in its own right.Perhaps the star of this film could be the reason why this picture didn't catch on like the later wolf series with Lon Chaney.
"The werewolf is neither man nor wolf, but a Satanic creature with the worst qualities of both." This movie also tips its hat to the horror films of James Whale, injecting liberal amounts of comic relief throughout the proceedings, with the biggest laughs coming courtesy of two old lushes, Mrs. Whack & Mrs. Moncaster, who rent a room to the afflicted Dr. Glendon and after getting a peek of him in his lunar form, vow to give up the bottle, but somehow I don't think they stuck to that resolution.Henry Hull and his London Werewolf may linger forever in Chaney's shadow, but Hull will forever have the advantage when it comes to "best dressed" lycanthrope & no one can ever take that from him..
Six years before Lon Chaney Jr. made a lasting impression as "The Wolf Man" (1941), followed by sequels, this early rendition about a man cursed with werewolfism comes off pretty well, in spite of the absence of the usual horror names of Boris Karloff or Bela Lugosi in the leads.
But if Hull is to be remembered at all, it should be for his performance as what is reportedly said to be as Hollywood's first werewolf.The story opens in Tibet with middle-aged Wilfred Glendon (Henry Hull), a Botanist, who discovers an extraordinary flower, but after he retrieves it, he is suddenly attacked by some strange creature, but Glendon manages to get it away, coming off with some scratches on his arm.
But before the story comes to a somewhat rushed climax, Glendon learns the true dark secret about Doctor Yogami.Aside from some tense moments, the movie features "comedy relief" headed by Spring Byington as Aunt Ettie, who, in one scene, becomes nauseous after witnessing a live frog being fed to a man-eating-flower; Ethel Griffies and Zeffie Tilbury as two old drunken and very nosy English floosies who have their usual "friendly" disagreements while managing both bar and upstairs apartments; Lawrence Grant and Charlotte Granville as Mr. and Mrs. Forsythe; among others.
The hero of `Werewolf of London,' Wilfred Glendon (Henry Hull), manages to earn our sympathy: he's a botanist obsessed with his studies to the point where he neglects his beautiful young wife Lisa (Valerie Hobson).
The logical foundation of Glendon's life flies apart, and he came face-to-face with his brutal animal nature.`Werewolf of London,' like most of the classic Universal horror pictures, is heavy on atmosphere, lots of shadows and fog.
Henry Hull moves from stuffy academic to tortured soul, and brings us along for the ride (reminiscent of Basil Rathbone's deterioration in `Son of Frankenstein.') Valerie Hobson is luminous as always, and Warner Oland is quietly menacing as Dr. Yogami, who has an inside knowledge of `werewolfery.'`Werewolf of London' will probably always be in the shadow of its successor, and rightfully so.
It was during this time that we had guys like John Zacherly in Philly, then New York and Marvin (Terry Bennett) in Chicago to guide a new generation through the frights and shrikes of the Black & White gems from the 1930's & '40's.OUR STORY..On an expedition to the remote Himalayan Mountains in Tibet, distinguished London Research Botanist, Dr. Glendon (Henry Hull) leads a quest for a rare, moonlight sensitive & night blooming flower.
When a mature blossom is cut and placed into the bloodstream, the fluid of the plant can act to stop the violent, physical wolf-like changes that the light of the silvery, Full Moon causes.* To complicate matters, we find out that Dr. Yogami is also a Werewolf, and even the same furry creature that attacked Dr. Glendon back in the Tibetan mountains.
Whilst in Tibet searching for a rare flower, botanist Dr. Glendon (Henry Hull) is bitten by a werewolf.Howard Maxford praises its "effective sequences", and truly, yes, the metamorphosis is decent for its time.
Overall this film is somewhat less entertaining than Chaney's Wolf Man, but still good and worthwhile for any fan of classic horror.********************************** Additional Notes: 1) The Tibetan sequence was filmed at Vasquez Rocks, a famous place near LA, where many movies and TV shows were filmed, including episodes of the original Star Trek.2) Soundtrack music from this film was re-used for one of the Buster Crabbe 'Flash Gordon' serials.
Henry Hull is no Lon Chaney Jr, and "London" will never be remembered as fondly as "The Wolf Man", but without this movie, how much of the werewolf lore we all take for granted would even exist?
I have seen it countless times since childhood and remain fascinated by both the highly original story and the sometimes whacky element of humor which softens a classic horror tale.When comparing movies in the werewolf genre, one has to refer to "The Wolfman", which starred Lon Chaney, Jr. and Claude Raines.
Spring Byington probably makes the film with her "Aunt Ettie" with excellent support from the "Mrs. Whack" and "Mrs. Montcaster" (I cannot remember the names of the actresses).Also, the werewolves, as played by Henry Hull and Warner Oland, are more frightening than that of Lon Chaney because the makeup tends to reveal more of the human character in their faces.
However, while I would agree with the prevailing consensus that the latter film is the better one, Universal's first bash at the werewolf legend is nonetheless still a good film, only stumbles in its execution a couple of times, and even manages to trump it's illustrious successor on a couple of points.The film begins in Tibet, where Dr. Wilfred Glendon (Henry Hull) is searching for the rare mariphasa plant that apparently only blooms under moonlight.
Back in London, Glendon's works continues as he tries to get the plant to bloom under artificial moonlight when the mysterious Dr. Yogami (Warner Oland) arrives and informs Glendon that the flower has the power to suppress the transformation into a werewolf.
From here on in the initially skeptical Glendon succumbs to the lycanthropic curse and seeks to take the life of the one he loves the most, his wife Lisa (Valerie Hobson).It is interesting to compare the Henry Hull and Lon Chaney Jr.'s differing portrayals of the werewolf: most notably the make-up (done in both films by legend Jack Pierce, who had previously done "Frankenstein" (1932) and "The Mummy" (1932)) is less hairy than the iconic "Wolfman" image as it is said that Henry Hull didn't want to sit through the time taken to apply all the make-up so Pierce created a less hairy version.
In this respect, the "Werewolf of London" is closer to a Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, something which is nodded to in the transformation sequence (something "The Wolf Man sorely lacks).However, the film is let down a little by a few too many characters, a subplot involving Lisa's unresolved feelings for an ex-boyfriend, and (crucially) a character in Dr. Wilfred Glendon who is a little too hard to identify with in his clipped upper-class manner and obsessive attention to botany, compared to the affable Larry Talbot in "The Wolf Man", making the film carry slightly less pathos at the ending.
Henry Hull stars as a snooty botanist who becomes inflicted with Lycanthropy (or "Werewolfery", as stated in the film) from the bite of another werewolf (Warner Oland) during an expedition in Tibet.
When someone talks about the Golden Age of Horror films at Universal, the conversation always revolves around Karloff, Lugosi and Chaney Jr. and their respective characters Frankenstein's Creature, Dracula and the Wolf Man respectively; so it is almost tragic that the first Werewolf movie made by Universal is terribly forgotten.
That is the Werewolf of London.Before I continue, the plot in short: Henry Hull plays Dr. Wilfred Glendon, a biologist who on a trip to Tibet gets bitten by a strange creature with disastrous consequences.
Things gets even more complicated as his wife Lisa (Valerie Hobson) starts to feel attracted to Paul (played by Lester Matthews), an old flame who just returned to England.As someone who grew up not knowing of the existence of this film, I watched it believing it was a cheap movie to cash on The Wolf Man; after watching, all I can say is that boy I was wrong with those two statements.Not only this movie was done 6 years before the classic werewolf movie, it presents a unique portrayal of the werewolf curse, showing it from a scientific perspective.
The werewolf here has the intelligence of man and the savage brutality of wolf; and the way it is portrayed here is more than a nod to "Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde".The movie is very atmospheric, like the earlier Universal films where the expressionist influence was still very present; it also includes awesome transformation scenes that I dare to say surpasses those from The Wolf Man. The make-up here, by Jack Pierce of "Frankenstein" fame, is outstanding and fits to perfection the tone of this movie in contrast to the more beast-like make-up created for Larry Talbot's adventure.The acting is quite average for the most part, but I'm of those who believe that Henry Hull's performance was supposed to be that way, since he starts as an annoying selfish man that begins to appreciate what he loves as the diseases takes control of him (the scene of the prayer is very moving).Oland and Hobson also give worthy performances, but the rest of the cast is not that lucky and I found Lester Matthews to be a bit annoying at times.
During an exposition, the mysterious Dr. Yogami (Warner Oland) tells him that there are two werewolves in London and the flower is an antidote to the lycanthropy that avoids the transformation into werewolf.
A famed British botanist, fearful he is becoming the WEREWOLF OF London, struggles to retain control of a rare Tibetan flower, reputed to be an antidote for lycanthropy.This succinct film, supposedly Hollywood's first to deal with werewolfery, is a tidy little thriller which deserves a wider reputation among those who enjoy the Universal movies of this genre.
The best thing about 1935's "Werewolf of London" is not the performances of Henry Hull and Warner Oland, or the werewolf makeup created by the legendary Jack Pierce for Hull's transformation from man to beast.
It would take Lon Chaney, Jr. and 1941's "The Wolf Man" to make a success of this theme.But I will continue to rank "Werewolf of London" alongside the more superior films from Universal's Golden Age of Horror because it provides a rare opportunity to appreciate the beauty and talent of Valerie Hobson.Brian W.
Newly released and packaged as part of Universal's "Wolf Man Legacy Collection" on DVD, this seminal werewolf movie looks and sounds crisp and clear, ready to be discovered by the next generation of horror devotees.Henry Hull appears as Dr. Wilfred Glendon, a botanist on expedition in Tibet searching for a rare flower that blooms only under moonlight.
These sequences remain shocking even to this day and I like them more than the slow-dissolve transformations of The Wolf Man. Both make-ups were effective, but here in WereWolf of London , more of the actor's features were allowed to come through the make-up, making it more frightening -- to me at least.
The film is good but has some slow parts though.The make up is really good and the acting was good.If you like the Universal Monsters movies then check this out soon!I also recommend Lon Chaney's great movie, The Wolf Man!.
Six years before Lon Chaney Jr. famously donned fake fangs, yak hair and rubber snout to become The Wolf Man, lesser known character actor Henry Hull underwent a similar transformation to become Universal Studio's first ever lycanthrope, the Werewolf of London.After being savagely attacked by a werewolf in Tibet (or California's Vasquez Rocks, unconvincingly standing in for Tibet), botanist Dr. Wilfred Glendon (Hull) returns to London with his prized specimen, a rare flower that only blooms in the moonlight.
In a rather fortunate coincidence, the juice from this particular plant can prevent Wilfred from turning into a monster come the full moon, just so long as he can a) convince the specimen to flower, and b) keep the mysterious Dr. Yogami (Warner Oland) from stealing it from him!!!For horror fans, The Werewolf of London is undoubtedly very important, being the first true film in a very popular sub-genre, but as a piece of entertainment, it proves to be extremely lacking: it is hard to sympathise with Hull's character, who selfishly puts his work ahead of his personal life (he ignores his lovely wife, who understandably seeks comfort in the arms of ex-beau Paul); the standard of acting is pretty awful; there is some dreadfully unfunny comedy content courtesy of two drunken landladies; and the whole shebang moves slower than molasses going uphill in January.Curiously, Jack Pierce's makeup is actually slightly better than his later work on The Wolf Man, and the transformations are more inventive (Hull walking past a series of pillars, gradually becoming more wolfish as he passes behind each one, is fantastic), but Werewolf of London is still something of a chore to sit through..
As it plays out, there might be too much comedy for some tastes, with a lot of time devoted to dotty old landladies Mrs. Whack and Mrs. Moncaster.But the performances are quite capable, with Hull managing to evoke some sympathy, Oland delivering the most fun performance in the show, and Valerie Hobson being lovely and appealingly feisty as Glendons' wife, who turns to Paul Ames (Lester Matthews) for companionship as her relationship with her husband doesn't seem to be very loving.Must viewing for any fan of the werewolf sub genre.Seven out of 10..
Warner Oland who was at the height of his career as Charlie Chan plays a mysterious Japanese scientist who wants a sample of Hull's plant for similar reasons.Werewolf In London was a good film, but probably generated no great demand for sequels or Henry Hull didn't want to be typecast.
What makes that film so great is partly due to the fact that we truly like Lawrence Talbot; in WEREWOLF OF LONDON we tend to dislike Henry Hull's character.
Well, aside from the interesting recap in horror history, one quickly notices that Werewolf in London, a film that predates The Wolf Man by 6 years, is not present on the list.
This one has Dr. Wilfred Glendon (Henry Hull) getting bitten by a strange beast in Tibet, and returning to England, where...well, you can probably guess what happens.Also starring are Warner Oland, as Tibetan Dr. Yogami, who unsuccessfully tries to explain to Dr. Glendon what will happen, and Valerie Hobson as Dr. Glendon's wife Lisa, trying to support her husband but getting more desperate as he becomes more and more lupine.
Just 'cause it's old doesn't mean it's a classic...Henry Hull's performance, his wolf make-up and the moody atmospherics of the opening Tibet scenes are the best things in the entire movie.
While in remote Tibet searching for a unique and rare flower (`that takes its life from the moon'), botanist Glendon (Henry Hull) is attacked and bitten by a werewolf (Warner Oland).
Later, back in London, Glendon comes to the realization that he will transform into a wolf whenever the moon is full and attack those he loves.Oland hits the mark as the enigmatic Dr. Yogami, the werewolf who passes the curse onto Dr. Glendon.
This movie is also responsible for making up most of the werewolf myth, at least the more well known version of the myth.I also noticed the intentional similarities between this film and An American Werewolf in London (1981), more than just the name, they share many other elements, from the two men being attacked at the beginning of the film, to the very end.Overall, its a pretty great horror film, I would recommend it to horror fans, mostly because I don't think enough people have seen it, most people think of The Wolf Man when they think of classic werewolf movies, and with good reason, but this one also had a huge part in the genre..
This picture, though a tad creaky at times, is nonetheless another fine example of Universal horror, with fine atmosphere, solid acting by Hull and competing botanist Warner Oland, convincing transformations, and a pretty effective makeup job on the monster by Jack "Frankenstein" Pierce.
Some things I liked: The music score; da-da-duh-dah, fog, nice threads (best dressed werewolf), Henry Hull originating the cool, hunched 'wolfman walk' used later by other werewolves, another neato Universal laboratory, Californian Tibet in the moonlight, Warner Oland's sorrowful but desperate character and Valerie Hobson (luminous one previous reviewer described her).
Perhaps not a werewolf classic that frequently gets mentioned, or at least not as much as Universal's follow up "The Wolf Man", but definitely worthy of every horror fan's respect because it was one of the first films ever to revolve on macabre topics such as lycanthropy and nightly transformations into hairy, carnivorous monsters.
The film follows Wilfred Glendon (Henry Hull), a wealthy British botanist who is bitten by a werewolf while searching for a rare flower in Tibet.
From Days Gone By. On a trip to Tibet to locate a rare plant known as the "Phosphorescent Moon Flower", a botanist named "Dr. Glendon" (Henry Hull) is attacked by a werewolf and bitten.
"Werewolf of London" was the first movie by Universal Studios to star a man turned into a wolf.