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Watched this for the first time in years last night. I've always been a fan since first seeing it on TV sometime in my teen years. I noticed that it was "based on 'The Werewolf of Paris", which is what Universal's "Werewolf of London" is also based on. Other than the fact that both feature Werewolves, there is little connection there. Anyone ever read the original story?
Poor Leon. Kid was doomed from the get-go. I've always been a bit puzzled by his biological father, the beggar. That guy got awfully hairy rotting in his jail cell. Was this just Hammer's way of showing how long he'd been in prison, or was there some lycanthropy there? I know the werewolf curse here had more to do with rape and the unwanted child of such an action being born on Christmas Day, but the father's furry arms were a bit odd.
I still like Reed's wolf make-up. Very effective even today. I think a lot of it has to do with Reed's naturally intense eyes, but you really get the impression he could rip your heart out with those teeth. I also admired how they didn't show the full werewolf until the finale. Made it all the more chilling when he attacked the camera in the jail cell!
Reed really isn't the movie all that much. If I had one criticism with the film, is that we spend way too much time with the beggar and Marquis early in the film. I'd rather seen more time devoted to Leon as an adult. Reed does an excellent job in the short time allowed. Much like Lon Chaney's Talbot, you really feel sorry for this poor, tormented soul.
Tragic ending of course, much like Lawrence Talbot. Except Leon's adopted father KNEW who he was shooting. I find it interesting that a silver bullet was the solution, when I believe it was Curt Siodmark who created the whole silver/werewolf connection out of thin air (and no legend) when he wrote "The Wolfman".
I think this is one of Hammer's best horror flicks. It amazes me that they never exploited this potential franchise, based on how the wore out the Dracula, Frankenstein and Mummy movies.
Chris
Poor Leon. Kid was doomed from the get-go. I've always been a bit puzzled by his biological father, the beggar. That guy got awfully hairy rotting in his jail cell. Was this just Hammer's way of showing how long he'd been in prison, or was there some lycanthropy there? I know the werewolf curse here had more to do with rape and the unwanted child of such an action being born on Christmas Day, but the father's furry arms were a bit odd.
I still like Reed's wolf make-up. Very effective even today. I think a lot of it has to do with Reed's naturally intense eyes, but you really get the impression he could rip your heart out with those teeth. I also admired how they didn't show the full werewolf until the finale. Made it all the more chilling when he attacked the camera in the jail cell!
Reed really isn't the movie all that much. If I had one criticism with the film, is that we spend way too much time with the beggar and Marquis early in the film. I'd rather seen more time devoted to Leon as an adult. Reed does an excellent job in the short time allowed. Much like Lon Chaney's Talbot, you really feel sorry for this poor, tormented soul.
Tragic ending of course, much like Lawrence Talbot. Except Leon's adopted father KNEW who he was shooting. I find it interesting that a silver bullet was the solution, when I believe it was Curt Siodmark who created the whole silver/werewolf connection out of thin air (and no legend) when he wrote "The Wolfman".
I think this is one of Hammer's best horror flicks. It amazes me that they never exploited this potential franchise, based on how the wore out the Dracula, Frankenstein and Mummy movies.
Chris
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