This year marks the 90th anniversary of Universal's WEREWOLF OF LONDON. Released on May 13, 1935, it is notable as being the first and only werewolf feature film of the 1930's. It starred Henry Hull (as the titular character), Werner Oland (as his nemesis, Dr. Yogami),Valerie Hobson, Lester Matthews, Lawrence Grant and Spring Byington.
Character actor Egon Brecher played an uncredited bit part. Brecher also appeared in the genre films THE BLACK CAT (1934) MARK OF THE VAMPIRE (1935), THE BLACK ROOM (1935) and THE DEVIL DOLL (1936). Reginald Barlow was also cast in a bit part and had small roles in KING KONG (1933), BRIDE OF FRANKENSTEIN (1935), TOWER OF LONDON (1939) and THE MAD MONSTER (1942).
Despite it's title, WEREWOLF OF LONDON was filmed entirely in California. The interiors were shot on the backlot of Universal Studios and the opening sequence exteriors at Vasquez Rocks less than an hour's drive away (maybe longer these days with traffic!).
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| Tibet camp exterior shot at Vasquez Rocks. |
Largely a result of Henry Hull's cachet, Universal heavily promoted this picture and dedicated nearly a full issue of their in-house publication, UNIVERSAL WEEKLY to it.
For a geographical feature, those rocks sure get around!
ReplyDeleteYessir. They "walked" onto many a' film over the years. Red Rock Canyon in CA was also used extensively, especially for westerns. Some exterior scenes for 1932 The Mummy were shot there and later, Beneath the Planet of the Apes and The Andromeda Strain.
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