Wolfman: Yay or Nay?

Started by furiousveggie, February 06, 2010, 10:48:05 PM

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Unknown Primate

Oh yeah, I'm still glad that Del Toro was the beast, I just didn't care for the whole asylum deal.  I mean, how sorry do we have to feel for this poor guy?  And the doctor was so despicable, he was almost cartoonish (IMO)!!  Anybody feel sorry for him when he got it?  I didn't!  
" Perhaps he dimly wonders why, there is no other such as I. "

Wolf Man

Darkmonkeygod, with regard to the full moon issue let me offer this: In the Werewolf by Night comic series they always had three nights in a row.  I believe they were using the night before and night after the full moon as "full enough" to bring on the change.  Since that and also in the original Wolf Man there have always been three nights of werewolfism.  I don't think it was meant to be literally the fullest of full moons but the night before and after were "close enough".  It works well for horror stories that the wolfman prowls for three nights in a row rather than just once a month.  I know that was an essential piece of writing for Werewolf By Night. 

In the original the first night was when Larry was attacked, the second was when he turns for the first time and kills Richards and the third was his last night when he attacks Gwen and is killed by Sir John. 

In Frankenstein meets the Wolf Man his first night is the night he is awakened in the crypt, the second is when he kills the constable in Cardiff and the third is referred to over the phone when Mannering calls to check on his patient only to discover that he bit through his straight jacket during the night with his teeth. 

So even in the classics there is always considered three nights of the full moon although that may be technically or astrologically incorrect it has been a part of the werewolf story for a long time. 
Even a man who is pure at heart......

reactorfill

I've watched the movie twice now, and as to the question of how did they all show up back in the village at the same time, I think a month had passed.  What was Aberline doing for a month?  He was searching London (a city of millions) for Larry and finally decided his best bet was going back to the village with a well armed posse prior to the full moon.  What was Gwen doing for a month?  Studying folklore and searching for Maleva before returning to the village.  Maleva and Gwen don't meet in Blackmoor, they meet  somewhere else.  Gwen took a train to find Maleva and then a coach back to Blackmoor.  Larry walked to the village and had to avoid being found by anyone in authority.  That's the impression I got from the movie.
The original wolfman movie had a lot of bad plot points also.  Why was Larry in America?  How did his brother die?  How come Larry has no british accent?  And REALLY, Claude Raines is Lon Chaney's father!?  Who is his mother?  A WWE wrestler?  At least this movie explained what happened to all the family members.
Do not go gently....

depressedlarrytalbot

QuoteSo even in the classics there is always considered three nights of the full moon although that may be technically or astrologically incorrect it has been a part of the werewolf story for a long time.
And in A&CMF there are at last four !
One, in London.
Two, assuming they could make a transatlantic flight in a day ["I'm flying out at dawn"], in Florida, in the hotel room.
Three, the following night at the masquerade.
And four, the night after that at the castle.

You know, since THE WOLF MAN [both versions] blame it on an Autumn moon not necessarily a full one, I wonder whether A&C takes place during the fall, and Larry has reverted to any ol' autumnal moon by then, despite his fear of the full moon particularly. I mean, really, he's such a distracted, babbling loon by then, anything is possible.  Witness the fact he asks Chick and Wilbur to lock him up at the party and still lets himself get distracted looking for Joan 'til moonrise, a few minutes later.   

Wolf Man

I never counted the ones in A&C M F but that does make sense.  Good catch. 
Even a man who is pure at heart......

Gillman-Fan

Strictly speaking, should A&C movies be considered canon in relation to U-Monsters?

Wolf Man

I wondered that myself.  I mean, the Wolf Man was cured at the end of House of Dracula and back to wolfie by A&C M F.  However, there are many who consider this film to be the true end of all the sequels.  So I guess it would count.  Maybe....
Even a man who is pure at heart......

depressedlarrytalbot

You're saying maybe that allows astronomy to be accorded comedic license?  :D

Well why not ....

Cinemacabre

This might be a small point or maybe I missed it altogether but how did Gwen know to come back after she left the first time? Larry got attacked and woke up in bed and she was back there at the estate to nurse him when the attack came just a few hours after she rode away.

Not trying to find more fault - just confused that I am missing something.

(Loved Baker's stuff!!!)
D'Entre les Morts,

Cinemacabre

Wolf Man

I hope this answers it for you but when Gwen left the first time and Lawrence was attacked that night, he was first cared for by the Gypsies and taken home the next morning.  Gwen was still not there yet.  Then there is a shot of the moon changing cycles so when Lawrence awoke and saw Gwen a month had passed.  It is unknown just when Gwen returned but it was most likely a few days after Lawrence was attacked then she stayed the rest of the month until the next full moon.  That is when Lawrence sent her away again on the night he made his first change. 
Even a man who is pure at heart......

Crazy1van

I just rewatched A&CMF last weekend, and I agree that Larry's behavior is not consistent with the level of concern he expresses.  I could always make excuses for it, by pointing out that the moon could have been closer to Florida's latitude than England's at the time, so there was enough moonlight to affect a transformation on the 4th night, and that Larry didn't initially expect this when setting out that day, but really, it was done for comedic affect to allow more wolfey madness and the mistaken identity at the costume ball.
Homo homini lupus
"Man is a wolf to man"

http://www.pjfarmer.com/woldnewton/Talbot.pdf

darkmonkeygod

Quote from: Wolf Man on March 02, 2010, 06:05:36 AM
In the original the first night was when Larry was attacked, the second was when he turns for the first time and kills Richards and the third was his last night when he attacks Gwen and is killed by Sir John. 

In Frankenstein meets the Wolf Man his first night is the night he is awakened in the crypt, the second is when he kills the constable in Cardiff and the third is referred to over the phone when Mannering calls to check on his patient only to discover that he bit through his straight jacket during the night with his teeth. 

So even in the classics there is always considered three nights of the full moon although that may be technically or astrologically incorrect it has been a part of the werewolf story for a long time. 

I've completely forgotten that about the original, gonna have to go back and watch it again soon. Thanks.
Shannon aka monsieurmonkey on UMA Y!

darkmonkeygod

Quote from: reactorfill on March 02, 2010, 09:12:57 PM
What was Gwen doing for a month?  Studying folklore and searching for Maleva before returning to the village.  Maleva and Gwen don't meet in Blackmoor, they meet  somewhere else.  Gwen took a train to find Maleva and then a coach back to Blackmoor.

I missed all of that completely. I thought Maleva turned up at the stable in Blackmoor when Gwen got back there. Now I'm almost tempted to go see it at the cheapo theatre just to take notes. Are you sure about her studying up and them meeting elsewhere?
Shannon aka monsieurmonkey on UMA Y!

Wolf Man

Your welcome, alas, how could I forget my three nights of agony each month.  It is glorious isn't it.  The beast will have his day.
Even a man who is pure at heart......

Memphremagog

Quote from: Wolf Man on March 02, 2010, 06:05:36 AM


So even in the classics there is always considered three nights of the full moon although that may be technically or astrologically incorrect it has been a part of the werewolf story for a long time. 

The most amazing thing is that during the 1941 Wolf Man film, as much as it is mentioned, not once do we even see the moon, full or otherwise.
DARK SHADOWS:

David Collins: "Dead people dont just get up and walk around.."

Sarah Collins: "Sometimes they do."