History of the Werewolf

The werewolf is a creature that has been discussed in folklore throughout the world. For centuries, this creature has taken countless forms and has been noted to have various origins. Some literature presents the werewolf to have complete control of its metamorphosis, and other stories portray the creature as having no control at all. Interestingly however, what we know about the history of the werewolf has been greatly influenced by classic Hollywood films. Two of the most influential classic werewolf films include Werewolf in London and The Wolf Man.

In 1935, Universal Studios produced Werewolf in London, the first werewolf movie starring Henry Hull. This movie is especially important to the history of the werewolf because it established the characteristic that the creature will kill what he loves most. Additionally, most folk literature described the werewolf to look more like a traditional animal rather than a human. In this film, Hull plays Wilfred Glendon. Glendon is a botanist who travels to Tibet in search of a Mariphasa, a special plant that only blooms in the moonlight. While there, Glendon is bitten by a werewolf, becoming one himself. This film explores the turmoil Glendon experiences as he tries to resist his wolf instincts. In the end, as he tries to kill his wife, Glendon is shot. He expresses his gratitude for being released from his torturous life as a werewolf.

The Wolf Man, released in 1941 by Universal Studios, became more important to the history of the werewolf than the original film. This is mainly because it was a bigger box office hit than Werewolf in London. When Universal released its original werewolf film in 1935, critics claimed it was too similar to Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. This resulted in a low turnout at the theaters. The Wolf Man, however, was extremely popular and led to many sequels starring Lon Chaney Jr. in the title role. This film continued to form popular notions regarding the werewolf that were not included in original folklore. This film endorses the belief that silver is the only thing that will truly kill a werewolf, and its sequels make use of the idea that a full moon spurs the metamorphosis.

The history of the werewolf is incredibly elaborate and widespread. Classic films such as Werewolf in London and The Wolf Man have contributed to the folklore that surround this mysterious creature. Hollywood continues to be a driving force that shapes the horror genre, and many monster myths, including the history of Dracula, can be witnessed on the big screen. For more discussion regarding classic movie characters, visit the ClassicMoviesAndRadio forum.