Where's the Wolf, Man?

I love these old Universal Horrors. They've been lovingly restored and are generally first-class transfers. The major works ('Frankenstein', 'Dracula' 'The Wolf Man' et al) usually come with an array of top-notch extras that are entertaining and incredibly informative, setting standards for audio commentaries that few can match with film historians ready to impart their extensive knowledge. They inspire incredible passion amongst film lovers of all ages who enjoy the make-shift effects and melancholy air they seem to evoke.
'She Wolf of London' is something of an anomaly though. It's not actually a part of the 'Wolf Man' canon but rather a 'who-dunnit' mystery that has superstition at its heart. Whilst plenty of lycanthropic creepiness ensues, there's not a single werewolf to be seen!

But this is less a complaint than a fact. It's no less enjoyable for that, though is certainly a lesser movie in most respects than 'The Wolf Man' or even 'The Werewolf of London' for that matter.
It's a movie very much of its time with plummy upper crust accents and strange goings on in a large gothic house.



Set in the tale end of Victorian times in smoky London, heiress Phyllis Allenby (June Lockhart - the mum from 'Lost in Space' and one of the most familiar guest star faces of fifties, sixties and seventies television) is about to be married to her devoted fiancé Barry Lanfield (Don Porter), a young, wealthy solicitor with a lantern jaw and a stiff upper lip.



But poor Phyliss seems plagued by the remnants of a family curse that means more shaving is required every full moon. Murders start happening during the night, and Phyliss is waking up with mud on her slippers and blood on her night-dress, remembering nothing but a few vague nightmares. It's not looking good though naturally things are not as they first seem…



The film is very atmospheric though somehow fails to terrorize or spook - even when the real murderer is revealed.
In the UK, the film was released under the title 'The Curse of the Allenby's' - presumably for fear of a visit from the trade-descriptions people.



But what it lacks in werewolves, it makes up for in period charm - this is pure 1940's fayre, and the dialogue and action may appear dated now but charmingly so.

'She Wolf of London' is perhaps perfect for late night viewing where you want to be mildly chilled without ever being truly terrified. And at a running time of just 60 minutes it doesn't out stay its welcome.

It's probably worth remembering that films like 'She Wolf' were turned out by the Universal Studio factory at an alarming rate of knots. Without television, the public demanded an endless sea of new material and Universal had these formulaic mysteries down to a fine art. 'She Wolf of London' is rumoured to have been shot in under two weeks.

Sadly there are no extras on the disc.

This will certainly not be the film to start your collection of Universal Horrors, but as a completist you won't be disappointed slotting this one in alongside its more monster-filled counterparts.