Werewolf of London (1935)

Werewolf of London (1935), directed by Stuart Walker.

A botanist searches the Himalayas for a rare flower that lives on moonlight. Someone else wants it because it is the only cure for lycanthropy. Our scientist doesn't believe in that until he is bitten, gets the flower back to London and experiences the next full moon.

This is mostly of historical interest, said to be the first anthropomorphic werewolf film. He is something of a Jekyll & Hyde character, retaining his memory and intellect when transformed, but also capable of murderous jealousy. Some exciting bits but also much filler.

It must be set slightly in the future: the scientist has a telescreen and SF-looking lamps in his lab.

I'm more used to seeing lead Henry Hull in supporting roles such as in High Sierra (1941), Lifeboat (1944), Colorado Territory (1949), and Inferno (1953).

His wife is played by Valerie Hobson (Bride of Frankenstein (1935), Contraband (1940), The Rocking Horse Winner (1949)) who was later Baroness Profumo; she stuck with her husband through a famous political sex scandal. See: Scandal (1989).

Competing scientist and lycanthrope Warner Oland played Charlie Chan in 16 films.

This is the first film to use the famous Vasquez Rocks:

For more see List of productions using the Vasquez Rocks as a filming location.

That first scene also contains a lovely lunar halo, the only one I remember seeing in film.

The score seems inappropriate to me. It is a American film and I don't know why it is set in London.

Available on Blu-ray with She-Wolf of London (1946) on the same disc.