Werewolf-wingding (Part 1)

So, that's Dracula, Frankenstein, now, the de facto third member of the monster rat-pack.

The ultimate howling lunatic....

The Wolf Man

And...wolfie didn't have a novel...

Universal pretty much had to make him up.
But, not whole cloth.
There were vampire legends, therefore Dracula, so, there were werewolf legends, bam, Wolf-Man.
Easy-peasy.
It would get trickier later on, but, let's not get ahead of ourselves.

Anyhoo...


Werewolf Of London (1935)

The film-

Yeah, the first mainstream werewolf flick wasn't even "The Wolf Man".
Ain't that something?

But, it was still from Universal.

And...it barely counts, the crybaby snooty actor didn't want to wear the full-on Lon Chaney Jr gear, so, he looks more like Dr. Jekyl and Mr. Hyde.

But..its place in history, and the title, is important.

The history-

N/A


The Wolf Man (1941)

The film-

There, now it's the goddamned Wolfman!

This pretty much became Lon Chaney Jr's signature role.

And, the makeup guy who did "Werewolf Of London", did this too, and re-used this foiled designs for this.
Naturally, being the son of the ultimate makeup guy, Chaney was game.

Now, we remember both Lon Chaneys, and who talks about Henry Hull?
Eh? Damned right.

Now, actors (mostly) aren't makeup pussies anymore.
Struggling actors would kill for a Wolfman level hit on their resume.

The history-

Basic cable as a kid.
I think TCM still plays it.


Frankenstein Meets The Wolf Man (1943)

The film/history-

See here.

Yep, and right away, Universal wanted to inject their guy into the canon to show he had the right stuff.

And, as said there, Chaney's Wolfman is the real star of this series.

Here, the plot is Talbot/Wolfman wants to die, so, he reasons that if Dr. Frankenstein could create life from death, he might have a way to shut down immortality.

So, he enlists the help of Lady Frankenstein (a niece, I think) who digs up the old doc's notebook, and then, they get a generic scientist to use those secrets, and the plan becomes to electrically drain Wolfman's lifeforce into The Monster.
The new-doc gets his monster, Talbot gets his death, everyone's happy.

All goes awry, the full moon changes Wolfman, The Monster rises, fight, dam explosion, the end.

...all the drugs in meee...all the bugs in mee...how caaan I liiiive withoouut yoouu...


House Of Frankenstein (1944)

The film/history-

See here, and here.

Warm my face...warm my face...warm your face..warm your face....
(Guitar buildup) like the sun, we will live to riiise! 
Like the sun we will live to rise! Again! Again! Agaaain!!!

(Yeah, I wish)


House Of Dracula (1945)

The film/history-

See here, and here.

Okay, I only touched on it in that second link, but, here was the cockamamie pseudo-science cure offered to Larry Talbot.

The latest mad-doctor's theory is that werewolf-ism comes from pressure on the brain, and that that pressure, combined with Larry's deep belief in the full-moon curse, causes his system to sort of haywire, and release a surge of hormones, that grow his teeth, fingernails, and hair, and the rest of the change is psychological.

So, he proposes to use a rare jungle plant, that gives off a funky gas, that softens human bones, so he can mold the shape of Larry's cranium, and relieve the pressure without invasive surgery.

I...told you it was quackery.

But...if you're in a universe with re-animated simulants, and guys with an all-blood diet who maintain fresh breath for kissing without Listerine, well.....*shrug*


She-Wolf Of London (1946)

The film-

Man, I wish I could tell you this was about June Lockhart getting bare-ass naked, getting all monster-y, and playing with guys' entrails.

How cool would that be to find out about film history, huh?

But, nahh...she just thinks she might be a werewolf, and it's more of a murder mystery.

The title is an obvious rip on "Werewolf Of London", though.
And, the idea of a female werewolf would kick in later on...
So, worth noting, at least.

The history-

N/A


Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein (1948)

The film/history-

See here, and here.

So, no more miracle cures for Larry, he's just trying to stop the schemes of Dracula, which just happen to involve exploiting The Frankenstein Monster.

So, he really is more of a hero in this one.

He even (in Wolfman form) kicks Dracula's ass at the end, grabbing him out of the air in bat form, and dragging him over a cliff, and into the ocean.

I mean, that's not gonna kill fuckin' Dracula, but for a little ol' bat..ouch!
That's a helluva beating.
Yeah, that'll fuck him up some.


The Curse Of The Werewolf (1961)

The film-

Okay, not a Universal, but a Hammer.

BUT, it is a remake of "Werewolf Of London".

Also, takes the makeup evolution up a notch.

Can Oliver Reed be a scary werewolf?
You're fucking right he can!
Is it really even a question in your fucking mind?

The history-

It's Hammer, so, I must have seen it.
Another one I gotta refresh my memory on though.


Mad Monster Party (1967)

The film/history-

See here, here, and here.


The Monster Squad (1987)

The film/history-

See here, here, and here.

"Wolfman's got nards!!".


Alvin And The Chipmunks Meet The Wolfman (2000)

The film-

The companion to "Alvin And The Chipmunks Meet Frankenstein".

And, the character is called Larry Talbot, so....

Feast, Larry, feeaast!

The history-

N/A


Marry Shelly's Frankenhole (2010-2012)

The film/history-

See here, and here.


The Wolfman (2010)

The film-

The remake of the Lon Chaney Jr one.
And, back to Universal.

Completes the triad started by "Bram Stoker's Dracula", and "Mary Shelly's Frankenstein".

It was a 50/50 split, between people who dug it, and panned it.
The jeerers won at the box office, though.

The history-

N/A
Haven't been in a super big hurry to catch up to it, either.


Hotel Transylvania (2012)

The film/history-

See here, and here.


And, every multi-monster crossover in the comics (here, here, and here) had a token werewolf, to complete the unspoken Franky/Drac/Wolfie pyramid.

And, werewolves were henchmen in the Castlevanias.

And, Wolfie (as "Fruit Brute") had a (now discontinued) multi-fruit flavored breakfast cereal, which, if it were still around, would again, complete the Frank/Drac/Wolfie pyramid.
..the food pyramid.

Aaand, that's all of that.

So, Drac n' Mike got two songs, here's Wolfie's two.








THE END!
(Of Larry/Wolfie)

Up next, The Howling.