Details

Release year: 1941

Storyline

Upon his return to his father's estate, aristocrat Larry Talbot meets a beautiful woman, attends a mystical carnival and uncovers a horrifying curse.

Top credits

Directors

George Waggner

Writers

Curt Siodmak

Cast

Claude Rains — Sir John Talbot
Warren William — Dr. Lloyd
Ralph Bellamy — Colonel Montford
Patric Knowles — Frank Andrews

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Did you know

• In Curt Siodmak's original script for the film, whether or not Lawrence Talbot really underwent a physical transformation to a werewolf or if the transformation simply occurred in his mind was left ambiguous. The Wolf Man was never to appear onscreen. Ultimately, the studio determined that Talbot's literal transformation into a werewolf would be more appealing to the audience and, thus, more profitable. The script was revised accordingly. The remake of the film starring Benicio Del Toro leaned into this idea, having its version of Lawrence Talbot be admitted to an asylum for "delusions" of lycanthropy.

• The "wolf" that Larry Talbot fights with was Lon Chaney Jr.'s own German Shepherd.

• Evelyn Ankers suffered a bad scare when a 600-pound bear (His sequence in the film was later cut.) escaped its trainer and chased the actress up a ladder, where she was pulled to safety by an electrician.