Werewolf of London (1935) in Color — Starring Henry Hull & Warner Oland

Werewolf of London (1935) – Buy This Classic Horror in Color

Experience the chilling Werewolf of London (1935) in stunning colorized HD. Directed by Stuart Walker, this is the first major werewolf film produced by a Hollywood studio — predating Universal’s more famous The Wolf Man by six years. Henry Hull stars as Dr. Wilfred Glendon, a distinguished British botanist who travels to Tibet in search of a rare flower, the mariphasa lumina lupina — said to bloom only by moonlight. During his expedition, Glendon is attacked and bitten by a mysterious creature in the remote mountains. Returning to London with the flower, he discovers to his horror that the bite has infected him with lycanthropy: when the moon is full, he transforms into a savage, intelligent werewolf who prowls the fog-shrouded streets of London, killing without mercy while his conscious mind watches helplessly. The mariphasa flower is the only known antidote — but a mysterious fellow scientist, Dr. Yogami (Warner Oland), claims to need the flower for the same desperate reason. With atmospheric London settings, groundbreaking makeup effects, and a sophisticated treatment of lycanthropy as both physical affliction and psychological metaphor, this is essential classic horror. Now available as a premium digital download for just €15.00 — DRM-free and yours to keep forever.

Plot Summary

Dr. Wilfred Glendon (Henry Hull) is a brilliant but emotionally distant botanist whose obsessive pursuit of rare specimens has led him to the remote mountains of Tibet, where he seeks the legendary mariphasa lumina lupina — a flower that blooms only under the light of the full moon. In a remote valley, Glendon finds the flower — but he also encounters something else: a creature that attacks him savagely, biting him on the arm before disappearing into the darkness.

Glendon returns to London with the flower, nursing the wound and dismissing the attack as an encounter with a wild animal. He resumes his research, his neglected wife Lisa (Valerie Hobson) accepts his emotional distance with quiet resignation, and his laboratory becomes his world.

But as the next full moon approaches, Glendon experiences disturbing changes. His behaviour becomes erratic. His senses sharpen. The wound on his arm, which should have healed, seems to pulse with a life of its own. And when the moon rises full and bright over London, Glendon undergoes a horrifying transformation — his features coarsening, his hands becoming clawed, his mind overtaken by an animal hunger that no amount of reason or willpower can suppress.

As the werewolf, Glendon prowls the streets of London, killing with savage efficiency. As himself, he is horrified by what he has become and desperate for a cure. The mariphasa flower, he discovers, can temporarily suppress the transformation — but the flowers are dying in his laboratory, and the mysterious Dr. Yogami (Warner Oland) — who seems to know far more about the curse than any scientist should — is stealing the remaining blooms for his own use.

Glendon’s race to find a cure before the next full moon becomes a race against his own nature, against a rival whose motivations are ambiguous, and against the growing suspicion of the London police, who are hunting the beast responsible for the killings without suspecting that the monster they seek is a respected member of the scientific community.

Cast & Crew

Director: Stuart Walker
Stars: Henry Hull, Warner Oland, Valerie Hobson, Lester Matthews, Spring Byington, Lawrence Grant, Clark Williams

Henry Hull brings intelligence, dignity, and genuine tragedy to Dr. Glendon — a man whose emotional coldness toward his wife makes him sympathetic rather than villainous, and whose horror at his own transformation is deeply affecting. Warner Oland — best known as Charlie Chan — is fascinating as the enigmatic Dr. Yogami, whose knowledge of the curse suggests a personal understanding that goes beyond academic research.

Why Buy This Classic in Color?

The atmospheric London settings — fog-shrouded streets, moonlit botanical gardens, the shadowy lanes of Whitechapel, and the elegant interiors of Glendon’s home and laboratory — are gorgeously enhanced through expert colorization. The transformation sequences gain particular power in colour, as the warm tones of human skin give way to the grey-brown of the werewolf’s features. The moonlit night scenes, so central to the film’s atmosphere, achieve a luminous beauty in full colour. Now also available in colour. Own this pioneering horror classic for just €15.00 — the first howl of the werewolf on screen.

Historical Significance

Werewolf of London holds the distinction of being the first major werewolf film from a Hollywood studio, establishing conventions that would define the genre for decades: the full-moon trigger, the connection between emotional torment and physical transformation, the tragic protagonist who is horrified by what he becomes, and the desperate search for a cure. While Universal’s later The Wolf Man (1941) became more famous, Werewolf of London pioneered the template on which that film was built. The makeup effects by Jack Pierce — who would later create the iconic Wolf Man look — are impressive for 1935, and the film’s treatment of lycanthropy as a metaphor for the beast within civilised man gives it an intellectual sophistication unusual for horror films of the era. Through colorization, this pioneering horror classic has been preserved for modern audiences.

Technical Details

• Format: MP4 digital download
• Resolution: HD 720p
• Colorized: Yes – professionally colorized from the original black-and-white
• Audio: Original English mono soundtrack
• Runtime: Approximately 75 minutes
• DRM-free: Yes – no restrictions on playback
• Instant download: Available immediately after purchase
• Price: €15.00

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Movie-Specific Questions

Q: How does this compare to The Wolf Man (1941)?
A: While The Wolf Man is more famous, Werewolf of London is actually the more sophisticated film — its protagonist is more intellectually complex, its scientific framework more detailed, and its treatment of lycanthropy as metaphor more nuanced.

Q: Are the transformation scenes effective?
A: Very — Jack Pierce’s pioneering makeup effects, particularly the innovative transformation sequence filmed as the werewolf walks behind a series of pillars, remain impressive and atmospheric.

Q: Is Henry Hull good as the werewolf?
A: Excellent — Hull brings genuine tragedy and intellectual weight to a character whose transformation horrifies him precisely because he remains intelligent enough to understand what he has become.

Digital Download Questions

Q: What format is the download?
A: The film is delivered as a high-quality MP4 file in 720p HD resolution, compatible with all major devices and media players.

Q: Is there DRM on this download?
A: No. The download is completely DRM-free, meaning you can watch it on any device without restrictions or expiration dates.

Q: How quickly can I watch after purchasing?
A: Your download link is available immediately after payment. You can start watching within minutes of completing your purchase.

Related Colorized Classics

• Frankenstein Meets the Wolf Man (1943)
• Bride of Frankenstein (1935)
• Dracula (1931)
• Bud Abbott and Lou Costello Meet the Invisible Man (1951)
• Abbott and Costello Meet the Mummy (1955)