Werewolf of London

"Beware the Stalking Being - Half-Human - Half-Beast!"

1935 1h 15m EN

😐

6.1

MID

🍅

80%

FRESH

⭐

6.3

IMDB

★6.1TMDB · 155🍅80%Rotten Tomatoes★6.3IMDB · 6,809

HorrorFantasy

Synopsis

Spoiler shield

A strange animal attack turns a botanist into a bloodthirsty monster.

“Beware the Stalking Being - Half-Human - Half-Beast!”

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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
Ettie Coombes
Clark Williams
Hugh Renwick
J.M. Kerrigan
Hawkins

Credits

Behind the camera

Director: Stuart Walker
Writers: John Colton, Robert Harris, Edmund Pearson
Languages: Latin, English, Cantonese
Countries: United States of America

Want more? Switch to Cinephile mode in the header for DP, composer, budget, box office, production companies, keywords, and release history.

Did you know?

Fun facts 🍿

1 / 8

RUNTIME

Did you know

Tight 75-minute runtime — shorter than most television pilots.

MoodPlayr · trivia#01

2 / 8

ERA

Did you know

91 years old — a genuine piece of film history.

MoodPlayr · trivia#02

3 / 8

WORLD

Did you know

Dialogue crosses 3 languages: Latin, English, Cantonese.

MoodPlayr · trivia#03

4 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Directed by Stuart Walker, shot by Charles J. Stumar. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.

MoodPlayr · trivia#04

5 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Original score by Karl Hajos. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.

MoodPlayr · trivia#05

6 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Editor Russell F. Schoengarth shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.

MoodPlayr · trivia#06

7 / 8

CAST

Did you know

Henry Hull and Warner Oland and Valerie Hobson carry the top of the cast.

MoodPlayr · trivia#07

8 / 8

FACT

Did you know

Marketing tagline: "Beware the Stalking Being - Half-Human - Half-Beast!".

MoodPlayr · trivia#08

Cinephile deep dive

The take

Stuart Walker directs. Charles J. Stumar behind the camera. Karl Hajos scores. Russell F. Schoengarth cuts. Runs lean at under 100 minutes. Produced in United States of America. Dialogue in Latin, English, Cantonese.

Trivia

Things worth knowing

1Tight 75-minute runtime — shorter than most television pilots.
291 years old — a genuine piece of film history.
3Dialogue crosses 3 languages: Latin, English, Cantonese.
4Directed by Stuart Walker, shot by Charles J. Stumar. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.
5Original score by Karl Hajos. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.
6Editor Russell F. Schoengarth shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.
7Henry Hull and Warner Oland and Valerie Hobson carry the top of the cast.
8Marketing tagline: "Beware the Stalking Being - Half-Human - Half-Beast!".
9IMDB entry: tt0027194 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.
10Classified under 13 themes, including "london, england", "monster", "moon", "himalaya mountain range".

The technical file

Cinematography: Charles J. Stumar
Original score: Karl Hajos
Editing: Russell F. Schoengarth
Makeup / hair: Jack Pierce
Runtime: 75 min · 1h 15m
Aspect ratio (typical): 1.37:1 (Academy)
Status: Released
Original language: EN
IMDB: Werewolf of London (1935)
Rotten Tomatoes: 80% 🍅 Fresh
IMDB rating: 6.3/10 · 6,809 votes
MPAA: Approved

Awards

2 nominations total

Also by

Stuart Walker

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Trailers & featurettes

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Community reviews

What people are saying

John Chard2020-03-05
★ 8/10
The werewolf is neither man nor wolf, but a Satanic creature with the worst qualities of both. Dr. Wilfred Glendon (Henry Hull) is in Tibet searching for the rare mariphasa plant that apparently only blooms under moonlight. Upon finding the plant his joy is obvious but it's quickly short lived as he is attacked by a half-man half-wolf type creature. He manages to fight off the creature but it does draw blood before retreating off into the mountains. Back in London, Glendon works tirelessly to get the plant to bloom under artificial light, neglecting his wife Lisa (Valerie Hobson) in the process. But that's not the only worry he has to contend with, with the arrival of the mysterious Dr. Yogami (Warner Oland) comes news of lycanthrophobia and the true value of the mariphasa plant... The names Universal Studios and Werewolves go hand in hand (or paw in paw if you like). Automatically images of a pained Lon Chaney Jr howling at the moon come quickly into the conscious, yet quite some years earlier Universal had already ventured into the realms of lycanthropy. Firstly they had offered up "The Werewolf", a silent short film in 1913 that sadly is thought to have long been lost in a fire in 1924, and then in 1935 they released "Werewolf Of London". The first mainstream werewolf picture and first to feature anthropomorphic werewolves. It can't be understated just how important "Werewolf Of London" is in the pantheon of Universal classic horror. It also helps that it also happens to be a rather fine picture in its own right. Interestingly blending the werewolf legend with science fiction elements, the script is intelligent, the scenic sets impressive and director Stuart Walker keeps it taut and suspenseful. In spite of what you may have read on some internet sites, the cast deliver the goods, particularly Henry Hull who it should be remembered is playing a vastly different type of werewolf to the one Chaney would play six years later. This is after all a wolf-man who pops on his hat and cloak and strides out into the dimly lit night. Hull also comes up trumps with the emotional aspects of Glendon. Observe the expressive acting as Glendon's cat turns against him, the hurt and then the horrific realisation of what awaits him is vividly portrayed during one heartfelt scene. Another sees Glendon proclaim "Singularly Single, madame. More single than I ever realised that it was possible for a human being to be," this is fine stuff delivered with style and emotion by the well spoken Hull. The support is very tidy from Hobson, Oland, Lester Matthews and Lawrence Grant, but they are unsurped by the comic relief that comes in the form of Ethel Griffies & Zeffie Tilbury as batty bints, Whack & Moncaster. A right couple of old dears who stick their noses in where they shouldn't and enjoy knocking each other out! I kid you not. Yet perhaps surprisingly this humour sits easily within the structure of the story. Another testament to the good work done by all involved. While rounding out the treats is the make up work from pioneer supreme, Jack P Pierce (AKA Janus Piccoulas). This is not one for the boo jump scare brigade, or even for those after a bit of old fashioned blood letting. This is tight story telling with a good production and acting to match. Twas a pleasant surprise indeed. 8/10

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