The Curse of the Werewolf

"HALF-MAN...HALF-WOLF...COMPELLED BY THE HIDEOUS CURSE OF HIS EVIL BIRTH TO DESTROY EVEN THOSE WHO LOVED HIM!"

1961 1h 33m EN

👍

6.5

SOLID

★6.5TMDB · 186

Horror

Synopsis

Spoiler shield

A child conceived by a mute servant girl transforms from an innocent youth to a killer beast at night with uncontrollable urges.

“HALF-MAN...HALF-WOLF...COMPELLED BY THE HIDEOUS CURSE OF HIS EVIL BIRTH TO DESTROY EVEN THOSE WHO LOVED HIM!”

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Cast

Clifford Evans
Don Alfredo Corledo
Oliver Reed
Leon Corledo
Yvonne Romain
Servant Girl
Catherine Feller
Cristina
Anthony Dawson
The Marques Siniestro
Josephine Llewellyn
The Marquesa
Richard Wordsworth
The Beggar
Hira Talfrey
Teresa

Credits

Behind the camera

Director: Terence Fisher
Writers: Anthony Hinds
Languages: English
Countries: United Kingdom

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 / 7

ERA

Did you know

65 years old — a genuine piece of film history.

MoodPlayr · trivia#01

2 / 7

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Directed by Terence Fisher, shot by Arthur Grant. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.

MoodPlayr · trivia#02

3 / 7

DIRECTOR

Did you know

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

MoodPlayr · trivia#03

4 / 7

DIRECTOR

Did you know

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

MoodPlayr · trivia#04

5 / 7

CAST

Did you know

Clifford Evans and Oliver Reed and Yvonne Romain carry the top of the cast.

MoodPlayr · trivia#05

6 / 7

FACT

Did you know

Marketing tagline: "HALF-MAN...HALF-WOLF...COMPELLED BY THE HIDEOUS CURSE OF HIS EVIL BIRTH TO DESTROY EVEN THOSE WHO LOVED HIM!".

MoodPlayr · trivia#06

7 / 7

WILD

Did you know

IMDB entry: tt0054777 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.

MoodPlayr · trivia#07

Cinephile deep dive

The take

Terence Fisher directs. Arthur Grant behind the camera. Benjamin Frankel scores. Alfred Cox cuts. Runs lean at under 100 minutes. Produced in United Kingdom. Dialogue in English.

Trivia

Things worth knowing

165 years old — a genuine piece of film history.
2Directed by Terence Fisher, shot by Arthur Grant. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.
3Original score by Benjamin Frankel. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.
4Editor Alfred Cox shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.
5Clifford Evans and Oliver Reed and Yvonne Romain carry the top of the cast.
6Marketing tagline: "HALF-MAN...HALF-WOLF...COMPELLED BY THE HIDEOUS CURSE OF HIS EVIL BIRTH TO DESTROY EVEN THOSE WHO LOVED HIM!".
7IMDB entry: tt0054777 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.
8Classified under 12 themes, including "rape", "spain", "based on novel or book", "full moon".

The technical file

Cinematography: Arthur Grant
Original score: Benjamin Frankel
Editing: Alfred Cox
Production design: Bernard Robinson
Makeup / hair: Roy Ashton
Runtime: 93 min · 1h 33m
Aspect ratio (typical): 1.37:1 (Academy)
Status: Released
Original language: EN
Certification (US): NR
IMDB: The Curse of the Werewolf (1961)

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Terence Fisher

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Community reviews

What people are saying

Wuchak2019-02-13
★ 7/10
Conceived by rape and born on Christmas results in… In mid-1700’s Spain a mute servant lass (Yvonne Romain) is raped by a mad beggar and her child is born on Christmas day, which is considered blasphemy by the local religious folk. As an adult, Leon (Oliver Reed) leaves his adoptive parents to work at a nearby winery and develops a relationship with the owner’s highborn daughter (Catherine Feller). Unfortunately, an animal spirit seeks to dominate his soul as he struggles to suppress the beast within. The only werewolf flick made by Hammer, “The Curse of the Werewolf” (1961) was based on the novel “The Werewolf of Paris” by Guy Endore, but the location of the story was switched from France to Spain because there was a Spanish set available after a film about the Spanish Inquisition was scrapped due to opposition from the Catholic League of Decency. It’s interesting that Oliver Reed doesn’t even appear until the movie is past half over with only 45 minutes remaining (not counting his eyes in the opening credits). Reed had that gripping Brando-like brooding magnetism and his mounting anguish is displayed well. We realize Leon’s innocent, but in the grip of some kind of curse unjustly thrust upon him. The movie is unassuming and has the confidence to take its time with the entire first half being a set-up, which some modern viewers find boring and extraneous. But watch closely and there are several gems to be gleaned. For instance, Leon’s name is the reverse of Noel and it is love that keeps the fiend within at bay, whether paternal love or romantic love. The pure affection of Cristina is the only answer to soothe the savage beast, but she’s kept from him. The fools. The setting of 18th century Spain makes for a nice change of pace in a Hammer flick; and the look of the iconic creature itself was unique at the time and very effective, partially due to Reed’s brawny appearance and heavy charm. The film runs 1 hour, 33 minutes and was shot in England (Berkshire, Buckinghamshire & Surrey). GRADE: B
JPV8522020-05-17
★ 7/10
Some respectable prosthetic effects and fine work by Oliver Reed and Catherine Feller, but kind of plods along at times. but ultimately found it to be entertaining, especially the finale. 3.5/5