Monsters of moonlight have come and gone, but 1941's The Wolf Man remains leader of the pack. Though legends of unspeakable beasts have thrived for ages, it was here where Universal Pictures convinced audiences that even the pure in heart ran the risk of turning into creatures of the night. Almost seven decades down the road, it continues serving as a benchmark not just in classic horror but the entire genre itself. With an ideal cast boasting Lon Chaney Jr., Evelyn Ankers, and Claude Rains, The Wolf Man is a masterpiece for the fright film and film altogether.

Lon Chaney &

Evelyn Ankers

Chaney plays Larry Talbot, a role in Universal's gallery of ghouls reserved just for him. Estranged from his family for many years, Larry is summoned to his ancestral abode after his brother's untimely death. While his father (Rains) grooms him to take over the estate, our man decides to take in some of the local color, which includes wooing village beauty Gwen Conliffe (Ankers). But when a night on the town ends with facing a vicious hound, Larry finds himself the recipient of a curse that would go on to afflict many a lost soul. With each full moon, Larry transforms into a ravenous werewolf, and after his inner beast commences a killing spree, he struggles to keep his lupine side at bay before his loved ones pay with their lives.

We owe a great deal more to The Wolf Man than we might expect. Though it wasn't even Universal's first lycanthropic dalliance (that would be 1935's Werewolf of London), it did establish much of what's since become part of the monster's lore. The usage of silver as a weapon and the full moon to induce transformations never existed until screenwriter Curt Siodmak incorporated them into what little was already known about werewolves. Being first at something doesn't necessarily mean being the best, but The Wolf Man's incredible staying power is due to what's done with the material. It perseveres because it covers both the beast and its nature, unveiling one of the more humanistic horror stories ever told. Larry's savage side becomes an extension of his own inner demons, resulting in a conflict anyone who's ever had expectations to live up to can identify with.

Those forces that shaped The Wolf Man were of a pedigree that was rare even during the studio's golden age of horror. Siodmak's script centers on characters as much as on scares, and the production design helps bring his vision to spooky, fog-drenched life. Jack Pierce contributes one of the all-time greatest make-up jobs, going above and beyond in turning ol' Lon into the eponymous monstrosity. Chaney ranked playing Larry amongst his finest hours, and it's easy to see why. Though his plight earns our sympathy, Larry's a bit of a wolf to begin with, putting the moves on Gwen even though she's otherwise engaged. It's a more fleshed-out part than Chaney was usually dealt, and he handles his duties here like a champ.

The ensemble surrounding him is equally impressive, with standout turns from Rains and Ankers, not to mention Maria Ouspenskaya's memorable performance as the best wise, old gypsy you ever did see.

You simply can't get much better than The Wolf Man. Its atmosphere is unmatched, its acting more than serviceable, and its themes resonant while other creature features have none in sight. Not all Universal chillers received the same care, but The Wolf Man serves as a prime example of the eerie classics they were capable of making.

Director: George Waggner

Writer: Curt Siodmak

Cast: Lon Chaney Jr., Claude Rains, Evelyn Ankers, Ralph Bellamy, Maria Ouspenskaya, Bela Lugosi

Rating: No MPAA Rating (spookiness abounds)

Classic Movie Guide Rating: 5 stars out of 5

Run Time: 70 minutes

Release Date: December 12, 1941

Studio: Universal Pictures

Format: Black-and-white, fullscreen

Photo credits: Universal Pictures