The Wolf Man

    Directed by George Waggner.
    Starring Lon Chaney Jr., Claude Rains, Bela Lugosi, Evelyn Ankers.
    Universal Pictures Company, 1941.
    Availability
    Rating: * * * *

    This original horror classic introduced one of the most famous monsters in horror movie history.  Lon Chaney Jr. starrs as the American Larry Talbot that returns to his father's estate in Britain.  There he meets and falls in love with a local girl, Gwen Conliffe (Ankers).  He promises to take her and her friend Jenny to get their fortunes read at a gypsy carnival.  That night they are attacked by a werewolf (Lugosi) that kills Jenny and bites Talbot.  Even though Talbot succeeds in killing the werewolf with his silver-handled cane he is infected with lycanthropy, and the curse of the werewolf falls upon him.

    This is a must-have for any serious horror classic enthusiast.  Lon Chaney Jr. does an outstanding job in the lead role as the troubled, self-loathing Larry Talbot, and Claude Rains shines in the role of his caring yet proud father.  The combination of foggy atmospheres, great music, and elaborate settings make this classic a milestone of horror movie history.