The Wolf Man

The Wolf Man, the classic 1941 horror film starring Lon Chaney, Jr. (Frankenstein Meets the Wolf Man and other horror movies as well as High Noon, and the Bob Hope comedy My Favorite Brunette), is a sad and tragic story. Not at all a bad introduction to horror if you're new to the genre.

"The way you walked was thorny through no fault of your own, but as the rain enters the soil the river enters the sea, so tears run to a predestined end. Your suffering is over. Now you will find peace for eternity."

Also starring: Claude Rains, Bela Lugosi and Maria Ouspenskaya, whom I did really love in Love Affair.

Even a man who is pure in heart and says his prayers by night

may become a wolf when the wolfbane blooms and the autumn moon is bright.

I've seen The Wolf Man before, in fact I watch it every year in October. It's one of my favorites of these old horror movies, and I always enjoy it.

Deep Focus Review has a fascinating article with a consideration of the psychological meaning and closes with this:

The signs are everywhere, whether hidden in the subtext or through careful analysis of what the audience is not shown. Along with its complete invention of the werewolf myth, that the film is not about werewolves at all remains The Wolf Man’s little secret, waiting to be rediscovered.

The Hollywood Reporter has a positive review. HorrorNews.net says, "This classic tale has since visited the big screen on so many occasions and incarnations, but few compare to this groundbreaking film". Classic Horror calls it "the last of [the Universal Pictures'] truly great monster movies". Rotten Tomatoes has a critics rating of 94%.