The Wolf Man - The Legacy Collection (The Wolf Man / Werewolf of London / Frankenstein Meets the Wolf Man / She-Wolf of London)

Description

Feature titles include: Frankenstein Meets the Wolf Man, She-Wolf of London, Werewolf of London, The Wolf Man

Customer Reviews:

Not the best Universal classic horror.......2007-09-11

The Wolf Man, in my own personal opinion, is not as good as many of the other classic Universal horror films. It's not for lack of trying. The cast is exemplary, including horror greats Lon Chaney Jr., Bela Lugosi and Claude Rains. The story, music, ambiance and mood are all excellent. The problems lie in a few inconsistencies as well as the Wolf Man himself. First, yes, Jack Pierce's makeup is good for 1941, but the design of the Wolf Man is not. Lon Chaney, changed, looks more like a "werepoodle" than a werewolf. Or, if you rather, the werewolf looks much more like the "bear man" from Island of Dr. Moreau than anything even remotely resembling a wolf. Other problems with the film include the oddity that the police captain, looking at a footprint more than twice the size of a full-grown man's, concludes that it's a wolf print. A wolf that leaves a print that big would be the size of a horse, though no one notices anything odd about it. Another inconsistency lies in the fact that when the Gypsy, played by Lugosi, changes into the werewolf, he actually becomes a wolf and not an extra-furry man; however when Chaney changes into the werewolf he does not become a wolf but the aforementioned bear-werepoodle-man thing. Why didn't he just turn into a wolf too? The movie would have been much more effective (and creepier) had this been the case. Yet another (and this is the only other one I'll mention--I promise) was the horrendous decision to have Claude Rains play Lon Chaney's father! Rains looks YOUNGER than Chaney!! The flow of the film is also impeded by a far too abrupt conclusion. Also problematic is that the main character, played by Chaney, is pretty hard to sympathize with. He's portrayed as a smarmy twerp who immediately upon entering the castle he'll inherit sets his sights on breaking up a couple to be married!

Multi-disc set a Disaster!.......2007-08-16

I received the first shipment of this set and both discs were loose and rattling around inside the case. Upon inspection, the play side of each disc was marred by scratches and abrasions. After informing customer service of this problem, I was sent a replacement set which had the same issues as the first set. I sent both sets back and requested a refund, not wanting to pay "retail" price for scratchy DVDs. Whomever packages these Universal multiple disc sets needs to be more careful in making sure the DVDs are secure inside their cases. I was quite disappointed by this poor quality.

My Favorite Horror Movies.......2007-08-09

I am just a kid but still I was a fan of Universal Studios Monster movies ever since I was in Preschool. I went to a Hollywood video one day, and found Dracula, The Wolfman, Frankenstien and almost all the rest! Over the years, I found I had a liking for The Wolfman and the Creature of the Black Lagoon. Then on my 7th or 8th birthday, I unwrapped my on copy of the Wolfman Legacy Collection. The first thing I would like to say is that I liked Frankenstien meets The Wolfman and the interview with the director of Van Helsing. What I did not like was "The She-Wolf in London" because it was about a lady that thought she was a werewolf but really wasn't. Well, thats about it. If anyones interested, If I get any other Legacy Collection I will probaly write a review on that one. Anyways, Bon Voyage!!! :)

Or as I like to call it: Larry Talbot's Hairy Mess.......2007-07-22

The Wolf Man is a horror classic and it gets the Legacy treatment by including three other horror oldies, one of which interestingly predates the Wolf Man.
I can see that I am not the only reviewer that recieved a scratched disc so perhaps this is a good place to recommend the buyer beware a bit for shipping of this product. I wasn't that concerned because in my case it was disc 2 that was scratched and the main feature, The Wolf Man was fine. (I can live without watching the mom from Lassie and Lost in Space in She-Wolf of London I guess).
These Legacy Collections include the sequels, but honestly most of the sequels to the classic monster movies aren't that great. The Wolf Man is the main attraction and it is a very good classic monster movie, inspiring many imitators (of which Cat People is very notable and a classic in its own right. It is not a Universal film and hence not in this package).
Now let me take a moment to explain my opinion on these old horror movies. The ones made in the thirties (the original Dracula and Frankenstein) are regarded as classics as well but I always found them a bit disappointing. They were made in that awkward phase when "talkies" were still being perfected and their audio and staging are pretty lame in my opinion. Plus you have people in 1930s fashions and 1930s character types in what ought to be victorian era gothic tales, not to mention hokey touches like rubber bats on strings and cobwebs everywhere. German expressionism mixed with the unmistakable 1930s atmosphere just didn't work for me.
The Wolf Man, happily, was made in 1941. And 40s cinema has a polish and skill that I admire compared to the 30s (no rubber bats on strings in The Wolf Man). Plus the Wolf Man doesn't even pretend to be based on a classic of gothic literature, so I'm okay with it. Such is my prejudice against Dracula and Frankenstein.
I like the way Lon Cheney Jr. starts out as a very confident man who is good mechanically and not very shy when it comes to hitting on the girl. As he has to contend with things beyond his understanding (or control) it makes him even more sympathetic to see him break down and appeal to his father (the always excellent Claude Rains) for help.
The music, acting, and staging are all very good.
I would have to say that next to Creature from the Black Lagoon, it is my favorite of the Universal Horror films I have seen so far.

The original "The Wolf Man".......2007-06-25

George Waggner's hirsute chiller mounts a tragic tale of fate, obsession, and man's baser instincts--and features one of the most startling transformations ever concocted for film. The younger Chaney had avoided monster roles for years, but created his most memorable screen persona when he finally donned a snout and yak hair. With makeup genius Jack Pierce and a cast of top-notch talent on hand--including Bela Lugosi, Evelyn Ankers, and Ralph Bellamy--the Universal team created an iconic picture that has inspired countless re-visionings. But avoid the sequels: the original "Wolf Man" is the only version worth feasting on.

Average customer rating:

Miss Lockhart alone justifies the effort.
Two unrelated films: one interesting, the other forgettable
Two overlooked but impressive Universal werewolf films
Nothing to howl about
Good classic films, but an odd pairing!

Werewolf of London / She-Wolf of London
Starring: Henry Hull , Warner Oland , Valerie Hobson , Lester Matthews , and Lawrence Grant
Director: Stuart Walker , and Jean Yarbrough
Manufacturer: Universal Studios
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B00005LC4O
Release Date: 2007-07-24

Customer Reviews:

Miss Lockhart alone justifies the effort........2007-06-12

Apart from excellent settings and costumes, not to mention the always reliable pulchritude and charm of June Lockhart, this Val Lewton wannabe is mainly a misfire.

More's the pity too, since it abounds in shadowy night scenes, fog, and much cloak and daggery, including a final act complete with tilted camera angles, and poisoned milk, (a la Hichcock's "Suspicion").

But there is no real grue and no real tension, and what we are left with is a lame, (though slickly produced) thriller whose main interest accrues from its interesting cast and glossy staging.

Still, given the paucity of Victorian melodramas at your local cineplex--you could do much worse.

Two unrelated films: one interesting, the other forgettable.......2004-06-18

Despite Universal's claim on the DVD that this is a "Wolf Man Double Feature," neither of these films have any connection to the series of movies starring Lon Chaney Jr. as the werewolf-cursed Larry Talbot. The two films also have no connection to each other, but Universal apparently couldn't pass up the similarity of their titles to create this double-feature DVD. The films couldn't be farther apart. "WereWolf of London" was released in 1935, near the peak of Universal's first horror cycle that includes "Dracula," "Frankenstein," "The Mummy," "The Invisible Man," and "The Bride of Frankenstein" (also 1935). "She-Wolf of London" made it to theaters in 1946, just as Universal's horror films were about to die completely, and is more a traditional, bland murder mystery than horror film.

"WereWolf of London" is probably the least talked about original horror film from Universal's classic era. It has some excellent points, such as Jack Pierce's clever makeup, interesting visual effects, and some well-done sequences, but overall it's a sluggish film. Stage actor Henry Hull plays scientist Dr. Wilfred Glendon, who gets a werewolf bite while he is searching for a bizarre rare plant in Tibet (which looks strangely like Southern California). He starts transforming at night and tries to kill the thing he loves most, in this case his wife (played by seventeen-year-old British actress Valeria Hobson, who played Elizabeth in "The Bride of Frankenstein" that same year). The blooms of the rare plant are the only thing that can stop the transformation, but a mysterious Dr. Yogami (Warner Oland, most famous for playing Dr. Fu Manchu and Charlie Chan, even though he's Swedish) tries to steal the flower buds for his own purposes. Hull hams up his part too much, and the continuous 'comedy' involving drunk old British ladies gets annoying very quickly. Oland and Hobson, however, are quite good in their roles. Originally Bela Lugosi was attached to play Dr. Yogami, but Oland brings a subtlety to the part that is genuinely creepy -- especially since everyone else goes over the top. The werewolf makeup is subdued because Hull didn't want his features too obscured, but makeup wizard Jack Pierce did a nice job at giving Hull wolfish features. This is, however, an incredibly polite werewolf: he never forgets to put on a hat, coat, and scarf before he goes on one of his rampages!

"She-Wolf of London," is dull, dull, dull...and not much of a horror film at all. Supposedly taking place in London at the turn of the century (or so the title card tells us), the design looks fairly modern and many of the actors have not the slightest trace of an English accent ("WereWolf of London" got that right at least). The ending is also a terrible cheat that defeats the whole point of watching the movie in the first place. The story follows heiress Phyllis Allenby (June Lockhart, of TV's "Lassie" and "Lost in Space"), who wished to marry Barry Lanfield (Don Porter), but believes she is the victim of a family curse that turns her into a murdering werewolf at night. When corpses start piling up, Phyllis thinks she is responsible. There are no makeup effects, scares, action, or even attempts at comedy in this film; it trudges along like a boring parlor drama. Even at 61 minutes, it takes too long to get through. The only interesting aspect of this film is it gives viewers a chance to see a true B-programmer from the 1940s. Few of these movies ever make it DVD, and I'm surprised this one did.

Werewolf fans and Universal horror buffs will want to see this disc. Casual viewers might find some entertainment in "WereWolf of London," but probably won't make it through "She-Wolf of London"...but even Universal horror nuts will find this film slow going.

Two overlooked but impressive Universal werewolf films.......2004-06-05

These two films could not be more different, and both are unmistakably distinct from the Universal werewolf films starring Lon Chaney, Jr., as the afflicted Larry Talbot, yet I think they both work marvelously. Many fans don't care for them, especially She-Wolf in London, but I find both films equally compelling. They differ significantly from the storyline running through Chaney's later Wolf Man films, but these two films have a great deal of their own to offer fans. Often overlooked and unduly dismissed by some reviewers and horror fans, these are two classic werewolf films.

Werewolf of London (1935) is actually Universal's first werewolf film - The Wolf Man with Lon Chaney, Jr., would come six years later. In Werewolf of London, botanist Wilfred Glendon (Henry Hull) sees his troubles begin in - of all places - Tibet, where he travels in search of the "Marifasa Lupina," a special flower that blooms only in moonlight. He gets his flower, but he also gets a nasty bite from a werewolf in the process. Back home in London, the flower takes on new meaning when a certain Dr. Yogami (Warner Oland) pays him a visit and expresses his own interest in the plant. Glendon doesn't believe Yogami's wild tales about werewolves - not until, that is, he turns into one that very night.

This isn't your ordinary werewolf. After his transformation, Glendon goes looking for a bloom of the flower (which, while not a cure for his affliction, would prevent him from killing those he loves the most) and then, before heading out into the streets, stops to put on his coat, hat, and scarf. The actual transformations, several of which are shown in the film, are rather impressive for such an early film. He's not overly hairy, but there is a definite look of evil intelligence in his eyes.

Of course, you have to have a leading lady in this type of film, and that role is filled quite well by the lovely Valerie Hobson. Warner Oland gives a memorable performance as Yogami, but I must lavish special attention on three older ladies. Spring Byington is quite a hoot as Glendon's rich lush of an aunt, but Ethel Griffies and Zeffie Tilbury absolutely steal the show as Mrs. Whack and Mrs. Moncaster. These two ladies deliver a comic tour de force as inebriated best friends who take a great interest in Glendon when he comes asking to rent a room from one of them. Back in the old days, movie studios (or more likely, censors) didn't think audiences could withstand all of the frights and chills of a harmless monster movie like this without a few stiff doses of comedy thrown in to the mix - oftentimes, such comic relief failed miserably, but here it is spot on.

Despite the fact that Glendon is as unsympathetic a character as you can find (the antithesis of Lon Chaney, Jr.'s Larry Talbot), I have to give this movie five stars. The plot has a level of complexity to it that adds to its impact, the makeup and special effects are quite impressive, and the film has that unidentifiable something that a good horror movie must have in order to succeed. Werewolf of London isn't as entertaining as Universal's Wolf Man films of the 1940s, but it is definitely worth watching.

She-Wolf of London (1946) rekindles the old traditional horror spirit by recasting the werewolf legend in a framework of psychology and suspense. Most of the comments I read about this movie tend to give the whole idea of the film away, and that's a shame. I went into the movie with no preconceptions, and while I was able to figure out what was going on about halfway through, the film kept me guessing until the very end as to the exact details of the story.

Phyllis Allenby (June Lockhart) should be a happy young lady; she is well off financially and engaged to be married to the man she loves. Unfortunately, though, the "Allenby curse" casts a shadow on her future and supposedly led to the early deaths of her parents. A series of vicious murders in a nearby park points to a big dog or, as one Scotland Yard detective hypothesizes, a werewolf as the culprit. Phyllis awakens one morning to find her shoes muddied and her hands bloodied; when she then hears, at breakfast, that a child was killed during the night, she is sure that the Allenby curse has finally struck her and made her into a she-wolf. She tries to hide herself away in her house, but her fiancée can only stay away so long before he demands the explanation he deserves. The story does a masterful job of building suspense and keeping the ultimate truth about the chronicled events a mystery.

Many fans find this film rather boring, but I thought it was a wonderfully crafted and very enjoyable film. By 1946, audiences had already seen Henry Hull and Lon Chaney, Jr., transform into werewolves on several occasions, and it was nice to break away from that mold momentarily. You don't have to show the audience the actual horrors on the screen in order to make an effective horror movie; without a bunch of special effects to fall back on, such a film requires a tight and efficient script, convincing performances by the players, and the manufacture of an increasingly suspenseful atmosphere. She-Wolf of London fits the bill perfectly.

Nothing to howl about.......2003-11-22

Werewolf of London/She-Wolf of London is a classic black and white duo. I'm a big fan of werewolf films so, it was nice to see where it all started. Werewolf of London was the better film. She-wolf was quite simply: a. too short, and b: not a monster movie.

While I liked the feature, (Werewolf of London ), the film doesn't have much re-watch value. I mean, how many times can you watch the transformation scenes? Also, the 'hero' was rather unlikable. This film would be different if he cooperated with the other scientist and searched for a cure, instead of being a so selfishly boneheaded.

I recommend these films for old monster movie buffs. But for me, I just forced myself to finish it.

Good classic films, but an odd pairing!.......2003-08-25

Both of these films certainly deserved to see the light of day on DVD. The better of the two "Werewolf of London" was made in the thirties and was Universal's first attempt at a "werewolf" film (at least as a "talkie"). The second "She-Wolf of London" was made much later and although it features a nice turn by June Lockhart, used the "Werewolf" legend in order to heighten the suspense of what is basically a mystery thriller.
A far better choice would have been to release "Werewolf of London" on its own or to pair it with "House of Dracula" from 1945, aka "The Wolfman's Cure". This was Universals last attempt at the "Monster Genre" and oddly enough it remains unreleased on DVD (I have the VHS and Laserdisc) even though it stars Lon Chaney, Jr. as the wolfman. It would have made more sense to have both Universal's "Werewolves" on a double-feature. The paucity of reviews here and the fact that this release went out of print in less than a year speaks volumes. Hopefully, Universal will get it right the next time around. Thanks, cal

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