The Curse of the Werewolf [Blu-ray]

Director: Terence Fisher Terence Fisher

Overview

After injecting new life into classic movie monsters Dracula and Frankenstein, Hammer Studios apply their Gothic touch to another monster genre with this excellent, stylish piece -- probably the best of the old school (i.e. pre-Rick Baker) man-to-wolf transformation films in the mold of Universal's The Wolf Man. The title curse surfaces when a mute servant girl bears a child on Christmas day after being raped by a bestial madman and first shows itself at the infant's christening, whereupon the holy water begins to boil. Things go downhill from there, as young Leon's development is marred by savage, violent behavior during a full moon. Upon adulthood, Leon's (Oliver Reed) only relief from his murderous impulses comes from the love of Christina (Catherine Feller)... but he soon begins to fear that this cannot contain the beast within. Liberally based on Guy Endore's The Werewolf of Paris (here relocated to Spain), this film represents Hammer at their early best, building tension through mood and character (Reed turns in a bravura performance) and saving the effective monster transformation for the climax.

Product Details

Release Date:	04/21/2020
UPC:	0826663202632
Original Release:	1961
Source:	Shout Factory
Region Code:	A
Language:	English
Time:	1:33:00
Sales rank:	17,314

Special Features

New 4k scan from the original negative; New Audio Commentary with Author/Film Historian Steve Haberman and Filmmaker/Film Historian Constantine Nasr ; New "The Men Who Made Hammer: Roy Ashton" ; "The Making of The Curse of the Werewolf"- including Interviews with actors Catherine Feller and Yvonne Romain, Mike Hill, Art Director Don Mingaye, Art Department Member Margaret Robinson and Filmmaker Jimmy Sangster; "Lycanthrophy: The Beast in all of Us"; Theatrical Trailer; Still Gallery

Cast & Crew

Performance Credits

Oliver Reed	Leon Corledo
Clifford Evans	Don Alfredo Corledo
Catherine Feller	Cristina Fernando
Yvonne Romain	Servant Girl (Jailer's Daughter)
Anthony Dawson	Marques Siniestro
Josephine Llewellyn	Marquesa
Richard Wordsworth	Beggar
Hira Talfrey	Teresa
John Gabriel	Priest
Warren Mitchell	Pepe Valiente
Anne Blake	Rosa Valiente
George Woodbridge	Dominique
Ewen Solon	Don Fernando
Peter Sallis	Don Enrique
Martin Matthews	Jose
David Conville	Rico Gomez
Denis Shaw	Gaoler,Gaoler
Charles Lamb	Chef
Serafina Di Leo	Senora Zumara
Sheila Brennan	Vera
Joy Webster	Isabel
Renny Lister	Yvonne
Michael Ripper	Old Soaker
Benjamin Frankel	Composer

Technical Credits

Anthony Hinds

John Elder

Anthony Hinds	Screenwriter,Producer
Les Bowie	Special Effects
Terence Fisher	Director
John Elder	Screenwriter
Michael Carreras	Producer,Executive Producer

Editorial Reviews

The Curse of the Werewolf is the Hammer studio's lone excursion into Wolfman territory, which is a shame. Werewolf is not a perfect film -- or even a perfect horror film -- and some genre purists won't find it to their liking, but many other will find it among the very finest werewolf films. One of the things that will divide people into pro or con camps is that Werewolf posits that lycanthropy is a disease of the soul, rather than the result of a random encounter with evil. Indeed, Werewolf is very much a morality play, albeit a bleak one in which the possibility of redemption is practically non-existent. Those who like their horror straight may find this rather heavy going, and not without justification, for Werewolf's questions of morality are used strictly in a manipulative sense, not as a means of seriously exploring the questions of good and evil. There's also a problem with changes in tone between the first and second half, a rushed feeling in the final third, and a constantly-changing cast of characters that causes some dramatic problems. That said, there's a haunting beauty in Werewolf; if all the moralism is superficial, it still imbues the tale with something poetic. In addition, the visuals are striking; while Hammer's trademark brilliant burgundy is in evidence, there's a more muted look to the proceedings that is quite effective. Most importantly, Werewolf is blessed with a very good cast. Oliver Reed is ferocious, tormented, sulky and brutal -- yet he also makes the character enormously sympathetic, so that the audience is forever on his side. It's an exceptional performance. Yvonne Romain is incredibly gorgeous, Clifford Evans and Hira Talfrey appropriately generous, and Anthony Dawson tremendously vile. Terence Fisher directs with his usual style and flair; if his pacing is off at times, he still creates great atmosphere and tension when required.

All Movie Guide - Craig Butler