Rank Film Distributors released The Curse of the Werewolf to UK audiences on 1 May 1961.
Hammer produced it. And it turned out to be their only werewolf film. I am of two minds about this. On the one hand, great for them! I’m not fond of werewolf films. Even the best of them tend to annoy me. It just isn’t an interesting concept to hang a story on. And most hang exactly the same story! (Dracula has the same problem.)
But on the other hand, Hammer didn’t give the werewolf film enough of a try. As I’ve written before, “They should have tried again with a better writer.” And by “better writer,” I mean anyone who wasn’t the Hammer founder’s son. (I’m mostly kidding. Anthony Hinds wrote a number of excellent scripts including Kiss of the Vampire. But the script of The Curse is a mess.)
I will give Hammer credit. They did try to do something different. Of course, the third act returns to brand as these films almost always do.
It’s a shame that werewolf films are generally so weak. There is one aspect of them that really is interesting. Most monsters want to survive. But werewolves generally want to die. That goes all the way back to Frankenstein Meets the Wolf Man. But as in that disappointing (but hardly bad) film, it is rarely done well. And this is the case here.
But the film is still worth a watch — if for no other reason than to watch Oliver Reed’s intense performance.
Other 1 May Anniversaries
Filmmakers:
- Glenn Ford (1916-2006): Actor known especially for noir like Gilda and The Big Heat.
- Dan O’Herlihy (1919-2005): Actor in the 1954 Robinson Crusoe, Fail Safe, and The Last Starfighter.
- Joanna Lumley (1946-): Actor known primarily for Absolutely Fabulous.
- Wes Anderson (1969-): Writer-director of many Wes Anderson-esque films.
- Julie Benz (1972-): Actor in many psychotronic films like Bad Girls from Valley High and George of the Jungle 2.
Films:
- One Frightened Night (1935): Rich man gives away his fortune, and complications ensue.
- Zombies on Broadway (1945): A gangster wants a real zombie for his nightclub.
- The Vengeance of She (1968): Modern woman is taken over by evil ancient ruler.
- Friday the 13th Part 2 (1981): More exciting adventures of Jason.
- Graduation Day (1981): Slasher involving a high school track team.
- Creepshow 2 (1987): Anthology horror.
- The Haunted World of Edward D Wood Jr (1996): Documentary.
- The Monster Man (2001): Two humans survive an alien virus.
- Vampire Survivor (2002): Low-budget vampire film.
- The Skeptic (2009): A skeptic inherits a haunted house.
- Untitled Horror Comedy (2009): Horror filmmakers find themselves in a horror film.
- All About Evil (2010): Clever film about a serial killing movie theater owner.
- The Dead Want Women (2012): A ghost story with a softcore sex scene.
The Curse of the Werewolf (1961) poster via IMDb under Fair Use.