Werewolf of London (1935)

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)

Stars:

Henry Hull, Warner Oland, Valerie Hobson

2 nominations.

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Henry Hull	...	Dr. Wilfred Glendon
Warner Oland	...	Dr. Yogami
Valerie Hobson	...	Lisa Glendon
Lester Matthews	...	Paul Ames
Lawrence Grant	...	Sir Thomas Forsythe
Spring Byington	...	Miss Ettie Coombes
Clark Williams	...	Hugh Renwick
J.M. Kerrigan	...	Hawkins
Charlotte Granville	...	Lady Forsythe
Ethel Griffies	...	Mrs. Whack
Zeffie Tilbury	...	Mrs. Moncaster
Jeanne Bartlett	...	Daisy

Storyline

While on a botanical expedition in Tibet Dr. Wilfred Glendon is attacked in the dark by a strange animal. Returning to London, he finds himself turning nightly into a werewolf and terrorizing the city, with the only hope for curing his affliction a rare Asian flower, the Mariphasa.

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Plot Keywords:

full moon | flower | laboratory | dysfunctional marriage | jealousy | 

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Taglines:

Your eyes will behold what your mind would never believe. By day a respected doctor! By night a Human Wolf! (Print Ad-Lodi News, ((Lodi Calif.)) 19 June 1935)

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Genres:

Drama | Fantasy | Horror

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Certificate:

Passed

Did You Know?

Trivia

The film didn't become the box office sensation that Universal were hoping for. The studio's next attempt at a werewolf movie would be much more successful.

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Goofs

The arrangement of Mrs. Moncaster's tumblers on the bar when she declares she's only had one drink changes between shots.

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Quotes

Miss Ettie Coombes: My wicked worldliness has caught up with me at last! The Babu of Garoka always said it would.

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Crazy Credits

"A good cast is worth repeating..."

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Connections

Featured in Bad Moon (1996)

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Soundtracks

SCENES THAT ARE BRIGHTEST
(uncredited)
from opera "MARITANA"
Written by Vincent Wallace
Played at the salon of Aunt Ettie Coombes

User Reviews

Underrated Horror Classic

"Werewolf of London" almost never gets mentioned when one talks of the classic Universal horror flicks of the 30s and 40s. Yet it is as good or better than most of them.

The story involves a biologist (Henry Hull) who is in Tibet searching for a rare flower. While there he is attacked by a werewolf and unknowingly becomes infected himself. The rare flower it turns out, has the power to suppress the transformation into a werewolf. A mysterious scientist from Tibet (Warner Oland) appears and takes an unusual interest in the plant. Well, as in all werewolf movies, you know what happens when the moon is full.

Perhaps the film doesn't get the recognition it deserves because of the absence of one of Universal's major horror stars (Karloff or Lugosi). Lon Chaney Jr. would not arrive on the scene (in horror movies) until 1941.

Veteran character actor Hull is very good as the tormented Dr. Glendon. He plays him more in the manner of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde than an out and out monster. The murders are committed off screen so we have to rely on Hull to convey the evil of the werewolf through his performance. Warner Oland, who was starring in the Charlie Chan series at the time, has little to do as Dr. Yogami. The fetching Valerie Hobson stands out as Hull's wife and Spring Byington does her usual talkative busybody as Aunt Ettie. The weak link in the cast is Lester Matthews as the token hero Captain Ames. He plays him as a silly-ass stuffed shirt rather than the dashing fellow he is supposed to be.

Having said all of that, "Werewolf of London" is one of the better horror films of its time and unfortunately remains one of the most underrated of the genre.

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English Cantonese Latin

Release Date:

13 May 1935 (USA)

Also Known As:

WereWolf of London

Filming Locations:

Universal Studios - 100 Universal City Plaza, Universal City, California, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$195,393 (estimated)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Universal Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

75 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Noiseless Recording)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1