Villain(s)  Werewolf

Actor(s):  Henry Hull, Warner Oland, Lester Matthews, Spring Byington

Brief Description  Released on May 13, 1935, Universal Pictures' Werewolf of London is the first feature-length Hollywood werewolf film. It stars Henry Hull as Dr. Wilfred Glendon, a botanist who gets bitten in Tibet while hunting for a rare nocturnal flower that serves as a temporary cure for lycanthropy. While it was later overshadowed by Universal’s highly popular The Wolf Man (1941), Werewolf of London established the definitive cinematic rules of werewolf mythology that persist to this day.

Plot:
The Tibetan Expedition: Dr. Wilfred Glendon travels deep into the Himalayas to find the rare, phosphorescent Mariphasa lupina flower. While harvesting it, a mysterious creature attacks and bites him.

Warning in London: Back in his London laboratory, Glendon is approached by a fellow scientist, Dr. Yogami (Warner Oland). Yogami explains that the Mariphasa plant is the only known antidote to suppress the curse of the werewolf. Glendon laughs off the warning.

The Transformation: During the next full moon, the curse takes hold. Glendon transforms into a half-man, half-wolf beast and begins prowling the foggy streets of London on a murderous spree.

The Climax: As Yogami steals the remaining Mariphasa blossoms to curb his own transformation, Glendon descends further into madness. Driven by the curse, he targets his own wife, Lisa (Valerie Hobson), leading to a tragic final confrontation.

Pioneering Tropes: The film established foundational cinematic lore for the genre, including the connection between lycanthropy and the full moon, and the rule that the curse is transmitted via a bite.

Unique Aesthetic: Unlike the heavy, fur-covered makeup later designed by Jack Pierce for Lon Chaney Jr. in The Wolf Man (1941), lead actor Henry Hull wore a lighter makeup appliance that let his own face remain recognizable—giving the 1935 creature a distinct, almost dapper look complete with an overcoat and cap.