The Werewolf (1956)

Director:

Fred F. Sears

Writers:

James B. Gordon (story)
Robert E. Kent (writer)

Release Date:

July 1956 (USA)

Genre:

Sci-Fi | Horror

Tagline:

You see it happen!

Plot:

Two scientists come across an auto accident, and find an unconscious man in the wreck. They take him...

Plot Keywords:

Serum | Werewolf | Footprint | Sheriff | Mugger

Cast

Steven Ritch	...	Duncan Marsh
Don Megowan	...	Sheriff Jack Haines
Joyce Holden	...	Amy Standish
Eleanore Tanin	...	Mrs. Helen Marsh
Kim Charney	...	Chris Marsh
Harry Lauter	...	Deputy Ben Clovey
Larry J. Blake	...	Hank Durgis
Ken Christy	...	Dr. Jonas Gilchrist
James Gavin	...	Mack Fanning
S. John Launer	...	Dr. Emery Forrest
George Lynn	...	Dr. Morgan Chambers
George Cisar	...	Hoxie, the bartender
Marjorie Stapp	...	Min, the tall blond
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Fred F. Sears	...	Narrator

Runtime:

79 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Finland:K-16 | USA:Unrated

Filming Locations:

Big Bear Lake, California, USA

Company:

Clover Productions

Trivia:

When first released, this movie played as the bottom half of a double bill with Earth vs. the Flying Saucers (1956).

Quotes:

Dr. Emery Forrest: But to take a stranger, a man injured in an accident, and give him a full inoculation of that serum.
Dr. Morgan Chambers: Yes, I'd almost forgotten about him. So much could fail if he should remember and tell someone what he knows about us. There's nothing else left but to-...
Dr. Emery Forrest: You're not going to kill him!
Dr. Morgan Chambers: You think he still wants to live after what he's become? It would be an act of charity.

Movie Connections:

Featured in Wolfman Chronicles (1991)

My Favorite Wolf Man Movie

I saw this one as a teenager in the late 60's on our local Friday late night "Chiller Theatre" and it scared me pretty good. It is also my favorite "Wolf Man Movie" for the many of the reasons stated here in these posts. The conceptual aspect of his affliction deals with science as opposed to the supernatural, which in my mind, gives the movie a more humane, not to mention realistic premise, making it unique to its predecessors. The atmosphere is great; the make-up is very convincing for it's time. Steven Ritch gives an excellent performance and I wouldn't be surprised if the emotional aspect of his performance may have had something to do with the real-life combat he saw during WW II. The entire starring and supporting cast; many of them veteran leading and character actors in their own right, do an excellent job and deliver very convincing performances. This is not the "Blair Witch Project," these folks really know their craft. This is not a great Hollywood movie; it is a very fine low budget film that delivers.

I also was unable to find this movie anywhere commercially in any form and like many of the folks here, I taped my copy off of AMC (during the Halloween month of October). Just recently I dubbed my VHS copy to DVD. I agree that Columbia needs to release their catalog of Sci-Fi & Horror movies.

This film shows that even in the direst circumstances, it is possible to bring out the best in ourselves and each other. I think that is what I like about this film the most; from the get- go that they knew it was probably impossible to save Dr. Marsh, but they each in their own way and collectively, tried regardless. It was a noble effort.