The Wolf Man (1941)

Returning to his father's (Claude Rains) mansion in Wales after many years in America, a man (Lon Chaney Jr.) encounters the local legend of the werewolf. When a local girl (Fay Helm) is attacked by a wolf, he kills the wolf but not before he is bitten by the wolf. Directed by George Waggner (THE CLIMAX), this was the first entry in what would become another lucrative horror franchise for Universal studios. It was preceded by the 1935 WEREWOLF OF LONDON which was not a success. It's a simple and direct version of the Werewolf legend and Chaney would go on to play the Wolf Man in all the Universal sequels. Aided by Bela Lugosi and Maria Ouspenskaya as gypsies, Waggner is able to create a shroud of mystery and paranoia that is essential to provide the requisite atmosphere. With Ralph Bellamy, Patric Knowles and Universal's resident scream queen, Evelyn Ankers.