Legend of the Werewolf (1975) User Reviews

Decent enough, but can't touch Hammer

[The_Void · 6/10 · 11 October 2006]

Legend of the Werewolf was released by the Tyburn production company, who only released a handful of horror films during the mid-seventies. It's obvious that the studio was trying to imitate the successful Hammer films, and indeed they've succeeded in capturing the right style as Legend of the Werewolf looks and feels like a Hammer movie, and the company have even managed to get prolific Hammer director Freddie Francis on board, as well as one of the heavyweights of horror; Peter Cushing. The obvious film to compare this one to is the sixties classic 'Curse of the Werewolf', and indeed the two films share a lot of plot elements in common. The film takes place in 19th century France, and focuses on a young boy who was kidnapped and brought up by wolves. Naturally, it's not long before the circus roll into town and spots this boy. He soon becomes the main attraction at the circus, and in spite of this; he manages to grow into a strapping young man. However, the wolf in him soon comes to surface and he begins to rampage through the local population.

Despite capturing the right atmosphere, this film isn't as good as the best that Hammer has to offer. The plot simply isn't all that interesting, and the film doesn't manage to capture that mini epic feel of the earlier Hammer classic. The plot is also rather mundane and if you've seen more than a handful of werewolf movies, you're likely to have already seen all that this film has to offer. Not even Peter Cushing manages to lift this above the mundane in genre terms, as his performance here doesn't feature his usual enthusiasm, and is really just a variation on his classic portrayal of vampire hunter Van Helsing. Cushing starred in a handful of low budget films in the seventies in which he barely had any screen time, and I'm pleased to say that here he features quite prominently. The plot line is more than a little bit stretched, and the film suffers quite often because of this. Simply put; there isn't enough distraction from the central plot idea. Overall, however, this film adequately provides ninety minutes of entertainment, and even though it can't stand up to most of Hammer's films; I did enjoy watching it.

"This case is beginning to interest me." Decent enough Werewolf film.

[poolandrews · 6/10 · 2 August 2006]

Legend of the Werewolf is set in 19th century France & starts with a travelling side show run by Maestro Pamponi (Hugh Griffith) stopping off in the middle of the French countryside where his dumb assistant Tiny (Norman Mitchell) discovers a young boy (Mark Weavers) who has been brought up by a pack of Wolves, sensing an attraction for his side show Pamponi takes the boy in & exhibits him to the general public as the 'Wolf boy'. Unfortunately for Pamponi as the years pass & the boy now named Etoile (David Rintoul) grows up he disappointingly turns into a rather handsome but never the less dull & somewhat ordinary man which puts an end to his 'Wolf boy' days. However Etoile isn't completely normal as Tiny finds out one night when the animal inside Etoile is woken & he transforms into a blood thirsty Werewolf! Having killed Tiny Etoile runs away to a little place known as Paris to it's locals, there he is given a job by a zoo keeper (Ron Moody) & he falls for attractive prostitute Christine (Lynn Dalby) who at first hides what she does for a living but when Etoile finds out the beast within him is yet again woken & it's up to local police inspector Max Gerard (Stefan Gryff) & police surgeon Professor Paul Cataflaque (Peter Cushing) to wade through the resultant dead bodies & try to figure out what's going on...

This English production was directed by Freddie Francis & was one of only three films made by short lived British studio Tyburn Films (founded by Freddie's son Kevin Francis apparently) before it shut up shop, the other two films are Persecution (1974) & The Ghoul (1975). One thinks they entered the Anglo horror arena a few years too late... Anyway back to Legend of the Werewolf, you know when I found a copy of this I thought the title sounded familiar & I actually thought it was going to be the one with Oliver Reed in it, Curse of the Werewolf (1961) which it obviously isn't so when I realised it was a completely different film I thought I'd give it a chance. The script by Anthony Hinds (who also wrote Curse of the Werewolf...) under his usual pseudonym of John Elder is a little slow & talky at times but manages to entertain, there are some nicely written eccentric character's here including the Maestro, Professor Paul, the zookeeper & Madame Tellier who make the film that bit easier to watch & care about. I liked the climax set in the sewers & there's even a bit of comic relief here in the shape of a photographer as well who didn't annoy me that much. There are plenty of stupid plot holes, the idea that a baby was brought up by a pack of Wolves is nonsense, the idea that this boy then changes into a Werewolf for no reason whatsoever & that 19th century Paris consists of three streets, one zoo, a morgue & a brothel. As a whole Legend of the Werewolf isn't anything special but it passed 85 minutes painlessly enough.

Director Francis does a decent job, it's got a nice look & feel to it. Now, I have to say now that I adore these period horror films the likes of which Hammer, Amicus & Tigon used to make. I love the whole atmosphere, the costumes, the period sets & props, the detail, just everything about them really. You could just imagine how superstitious people were back then & films like this that rely on legends benefit greatly, I doubt Legend of the Werewolf would have been half as good if it were contemporary. There's no graphic gore whatsoever so don't worry about that, just some blood soaked fangs.

Technically the film is solid, the Werewolf make-up isn't as good as it could have been as it looks like an ordinary bloke with long hair, a beard & some fangs. It's well made & it has nice if limited production values. The acting is fine with Cushing putting in another great performance & he's just about the best thing in Legend of the Werewolf.

Legend of the Werewolf isn't a classic by any stretch of the imagination but it's decent enough little British horror flick when taken for what it is, it's not up there with Hammer's or Amicus's best but a nice effort anyway. Most horror fans would probably get something out of it although those not so interested in the genre may have a harder time liking it.

LEGEND OF THE WEREWOLF (Freddie Francis, 1975) **

[Bunuel1976 · 5/10 · 2 December 2006]

This was among my earliest recollections of watching a horror film, which occurred in the early 80s via a local TV broadcast (when my family still had a black-and-white set); therefore, I was very much looking forward to re-acquainting myself with it - though, as it doesn't seem to have much of a reputation, it's proved virtually impossible to find until now!

Anyway, I'm glad to say that I liked it quite a bit still: in essence, it's a revamping of Hammer Films' CURSE OF THE WEREWOLF (1961) - by the same writer, John Elder (aka Anthony Hinds), no less - but made this time for the short-lived Tyburn company. The script, in fact, returns the story to its original Paris setting - CURSE having been inspired by Guy Endore's "The Werewolf Of Paris" - and again pits our hirsute hero in the midst of a complicated romantic attachment (a prostitute rather than a merchant's daughter) whose development (the girl is unwilling to give up her profession at first) could or could not control his affliction; still, this element isn't quite as well integrated into the narrative here as it was in the Hammer version - and the decision to allow the lycanthrope to speak briefly, WEREWOLF OF London (1935)-style, was perhaps a mistake. Of course, the film features several other Hammer alumni - director Francis, composer Harry Robinson and, from the cast, Peter Cushing and Michael Ripper (in a cameo as a tramp and one of the werewolf's victims).

The visibly reduced budget allows for little real period atmosphere - despite traveling show, zoo and brothel - but the film is pacy and enjoyable enough to overcome such limitations; still, the werewolf scenes aren't exactly inspired - resorting mainly to either red-tinted POV shots (which, obviously, didn't register during my first viewing of the film) or close-ups of its bare and bloodied fangs - and, while I've always been partial to the silver-haired make-up myself, it's only seen in full at the very end (much like CURSE OF THE WEREWOLF, actually)!

David Rintoul offers no real challenge to Lon Chaney Jr.'s definitive werewolf - or Oliver Reed from CURSE, for that matter; in fact, the most notable cast members are the three top-billed veterans: Hugh Griffith is the owner of the traveling show who raises the wolf-boy (though he disappears from the narrative after the first 20 minutes or so) and Ron Moody plays the eccentric zoo-keeper who employs Rintoul (and whose grounds are used as recreation area by the prostitutes, which is how the young man meets his beloved!), but the film truly belongs to Cushing as the unflappable police surgeon - I've rarely seen him so relaxed (particularly during this latter phase of his career) and he's clearly enjoying every minute of it...though his character gradually turns sleuth and, ultimately, bent on 'treating' Rintoul rather than capturing him (but such radical ideas are not shared by his convention-bound colleagues).

The film also generates some tension during Rintoul's confrontation scenes with his girl's madame (at one point, he even breaks into the brothel through a window to assault a client), as well as the climax set in the Paris sewers (which had allowed the werewolf to move about without being seen).

No classic, but . . .

[Tommy-5 · 22 May 2002]

The Legend of The Werewolf was produced by Tyburn productions, the same people who made 1975's The Ghoul, also with Peter Cushing. Although many involved in the making of these films have been associated with the House of Hammer, it is obvious that Tyburn was a poor imitation for Hammer. Which is not to say Legend of The Werewolf is not entertaining. Indeed, the presence of Peter Cushing alone makes it interesting to horror buffs such as myself. Many films of this ilk are surprisingly hard to find today and valuable to collectors. My copy, distributed by Interglobal Home video, was purchased many years ago and today is next to impossible to find. Interglobal had the distinction for a time in the late 1980's and early 90's for making available films such as these and for that we owe them a considerable debt. Legend of The Werewolf covers no new ground and few surprises. A baby is left for dead and is raised among the wild animals. A few years pass and he is rescued by a traveling carney and spends the rest of his youth performing as "Wolfboy." Finally he embarks out on his own and goes to work as a zookeeper in Paris. Murders begin to happen and Peter Cushing, a medical examiner dabbling in detective work, begins to piece the mystery together. Regrettably, the finale holds little in the way of surprise and is anything but shocking or mysterious. Production values are acceptable given the low budget constraints but one is aware that the House of Hammer could have done much better with similar resources. One bright spot other than Cushing's presence is Ron Moody as the seedy head zookeeper. What a sleazebag! The plotline is fairly creative as a house of ill repute is used to frame the story of the murders and "animal" attacks. Our wolfman's love interest is a prostitute whom he has sadly placed on a pedestal of virtue. Ah well - even low budget B flicks contain their poignant moments of human frailty. If you are a fan of Peter Cushing, obscure horror films, or both, this is required viewing. If you are neither you may not wish to bother. Still, when I viewed this film recently after having not seen it for several years, I enjoyed it much more than I thought I would.

" I see the bad moon arising, I see trouble on the way, I see earthquakes and lightnin', I see those bad times today."

[morrison-dylan-fan · 5/10 · 6 October 2014]

With the IMDb Horror board's October Challenge coming up,I started to search round for Hammer Horror titles to view for the challenge.Originally thinking that I'd stumbled across a forgotten Hammer title,I was surprised to discover,that despite having a Hammer cast,the film itself was not a Hammer Horror!,which led to me getting ready to uncover the legend of the werewolf.

The plot:

19th century Paris-

Going against their tradition of killing an entire family,a pack of wolves decide to raise a baby human called Etoile.Going passed the woodland area one day,a travelling circus suddenly run into a "wolf boy",who the circus owner decides to grab,so that he can make the boy the star attraction.

Years later:

Having found a family in the circus which he has never had in his life before,Etoile finds his family turning their back on him,when Etoile discovers that he is a werewolf.Running away from the circus,Etolie soon gets a job looking after animals in a rusting zoo.One day as he is cleaning the cages,Etoile catches a glimpse of some women visiting the zoo from a near by brothel.Getting left breathless after catching a glimpse of brothel girl Christine for the first time,Etoile soon discovers that he is unable to control his primal instincts.

View on the film:

Whilst the title takes place in Paris,each of the cast members leave behind any attempt to do a French accent,by instead focusing on the movies dissection of the werewolf.Making his film debut, David Rintoul gives a striking performance as Etolie,with Rintoul making sure that no matter how much blood the werewolf gets covered in,that Etolie's desperation to break out of the werewolf cycle can be clearly seen from behind the fangs.Searching for the mysterious creature,Peter Cushing gives an ultra-smooth performance as amateur detective Prof. Paul Cataflanque,whilst Ron Moody hits the movie with some fantastic seedy charm as the zoo keeper.

Initially appearing to set its sights straight for the jugular,the screenplay by Anthony Hinds instead allows the viewer to slowly uncover the sense of fear & confusion that Etolie discovers. Whilst this rather daringly approach does allow for the audience to enter Etolie's mind,it also does lead to moments of paternal terror feeling rather dry.

Following the route of Hinds screenplay,director Freddie Francis uses extremely stylised first person shots to show the horror that Etolie inflicts,with Francis also showing a sharp eye for quick edits during the gore scenes,which allow the viewer to make their own full image of the terror taking place.Along with the sharp violence,Francis also cleverly uses misty colours which give the title an unexpected Beauty and the Beast atmosphere,as Francis shows this legendary werewolf to be one with a real bite.

Obscure British werewolf film from Tyburn studios

[Red-Barracuda · 6/10 · 28 August 2015]

This is a decidedly rarely seen werewolf movie that I hadn't even heard of prior to a very kind fellow IMDber sending me a copy to check out. It was directed by Freddie Francis who helmed quite a lot of British genre films in the 60's and 70's including the impressive Amicus horror omnibus movie Tales from the Crypt (1972), although he is probably most famous now as a fantastic cinematographer who shot many great films including classics such as The Straight Story (1999). Legend of the Werewolf is a film made very much in the style of a Hammer movie, with its period setting and traditional horror monster, as well as the presence of genre legend Peter Cushing. But it turns out it was made by an obscure British production company called Tyburn, who it appears were a lower budget competitor and whose small output has ensured that they are all but forgotten now compared to other more successful smaller studios like Amicus and the very similarly named Tygon.

Set in 19th century France, a young orphaned boy is raised by wolves in a forest. A travelling carnival discovers him one day and takes him under their wing. Once an adult he relocates to a town and it's here that his lycanthropy really kicks in and needless to say, a series of unexplained violent murders ensue in the vicinity.

The fate of Tyburn, and this movie, probably wasn't helped by them coming in at the tail end of the popularity of the costume horror cycle. By 1975 this sub-genre had waned in popularity and the main draws in the genre were contemporary-set films featuring the occult, deranged psychopaths and…giant sharks. So this one is more a throwback to an older style of horror and probably suffered at the box office as a consequence. It benefits from the presence of the always reliable Cushing as a coroner/amateur sleuth and Ron Moody as a shady zoo-keeper. But in truth this is a fairly middling effort overall. Nothing really wrong with that though, as most of Hammer's horror output were solid efforts rather than great on account of this particular sub-genre suffering from a certain predictability and cosiness. However, also like those films, this one is still a decent effort. The period detail serves it well now, in that it gives it a certain timelessness, although the obvious low budget renders the 'Paris' of this film to appear as if it is no more than a small village. From a werewolf film perspective its business as usual really and like several films of this type, it's not until near the end before we finally see the werewolf in all his glory. There's nothing especially new here overall but I would say this is an essential item for werewolf film completists at the very least and it does have a definite extra interest value on account of its Tyburn origins.

Half-hearted werewolf bloodcurdler, watchable for a handful of interesting moments.

[barnabyrudge · 5/10 · 4 March 2014]

Freddie Francis is at the helm for Legend Of The Werewolf, made for his son Kevin's short-lived production company Tyburn. It is surprising, given the sheer quantity of British horror films between the late '50s and mid '70s, that werewolves feature so little in the terror pictures of the period. The only other really notable films to deal with lycanthropic chills are Curse Of The Werewolf and The Beast Must Die. Legend Of The Werewolf is scripted by Anthony Hinds (using the pseudonym John Elder), the same writer behind the earlier Hammer entry, 'Curse Of…'. Sadly, the script is not really the strong point this time around, coming across as alternately clichéd and clumsy. It is a generally accepted truth that good films don't ensue from bad scripts, but Francis has a very respectable go at disproving this theory with Legend Of The Werewolf, coaxing a refreshingly witty performance from Peter Cushing and generating atmospheric POV werewolf shots through red-tinted filters. It also builds to a fairly exciting climax in the Parisian sewer system. Yes, the film is haphazardly scripted and all-too-familiar in tone… but somehow it rises above its flaws to become a moderately enjoyable slice of werewolf hokum.

Raised from birth by wolves, a feral boy is eventually found by travelling circus performers and taken in as part of their act. Many years later, the grown-up boy, Etoile (David Rintoul), finds himself undergoing a strange transformation during the full moon and in a fit of rage murders one of his circus colleagues, taking a huge bite out of his jugular vein. Disturbed by his own actions, Etoile runs away and ends up at a zoo on the outskirts of Paris. Here he is offered work by the lecherous old zookeeper (Ron Moody). He also meets a group of local ladies who frequent the zoo every afternoon, taking a particular liking to one of them, a pretty young thing named Christine (Lynn Dalby). Only later does Etoile learn that Christine is actually a prostitute from the local whorehouse and, upon discovering this, he flies into another of his lycanthropic rages and savages to death several men that frequent the brothel. The Parisian police are baffled by the killings and assume that they are the work of a rogue wolf. The local pathologist Paul Cataflanque (Cushing) investigates further and, piece by piece, establishes that the killer at large is actually a werewolf.

The film's unexpected sense of humour really helps, with Cushing in particular having fun as the outspoken pathologist and Moody as the sleazy zookeeper. It's also interesting to find a film which shows a curiously compassionate werewolf, distressed at his own propensity for killing and desperate to be cured of his condition. This notion that the man inside the beast is aware of his own crimes, disturbed by them even, is unusual and rather effective. Although not perfect by a long shot, Legend Of The Werewolf has its moments and is worth a look.

There is a werewolf lurking in the sewer tunnels

[GSeditor · 7/10 · 2 July 2012]

My first exposure to horror cinema was seeing the poster of this movie when I was 10 years old. I wasn't old enough to be taken to a horror movie then, so I hadn't been able to watch it on big screen at the time. Since then, it had become a holy grail for me. Unfortunately, it wasn't easily available. A second-hand VHS I had bought from ebay had turned out to be unwatchable. It hasn't been released on DVD as of yet. Recently, someone uploaded an apparently fan-made transfer from an old 35 mm print on to you-tube and I've finally watched it. I wasn't disappointed with it. A boy raised by wolves in the wilderness becomes a werewolf when there is full moon. As a grown-up, he falls in love with a prostitute and begins to kill her customers. Perhaps the frustration and jealousy driving him might have been more developed, but this premise is nevertheless OK as it stands. Visually, the movie boasts some very gory close-ups of the werewolf's blood-soaked mouth at the violent scenes and the underground sewer tunnels where some of the action takes place are a welcome setting. Peter Cushing as the police surgeon and Ron Moody as the wolf-man's employer excel in their roles. In sum, LEGEND OF THE WEREWOLF is worth a view if you don't set your expectations at the level of masterpieces.

Peter Cushing Analyzes Corpses in an Otherwise Unspectacular Werewolf Flick

[Witchfinder-General-666 · 5/10 · 4 February 2010]

I am an avid fan of British Horror in general, and of anything starring the great late Peter Cushing in particular. I am also a great fan of Werewolf-flicks, and yet I cannot deny that I was a bit disappointed with "Legend of the Werewolf" of 1975. Directed by prolific director Freddie Francis, whose filmography includes many collaborations with Cushing, be it "The Creeping Flesh" or several productions for major British Horror studios Hammer ("The Evil of Frankenstein") and Amicus ("Torture Garden", "Dr. Terror's House of Horror"), is an acceptably entertaining little film, but it mostly lacks the thick atmosphere that usually makes British Gothic Horror so irresistibly great. The plot isn't terribly interesting, and features nothing that anyone who has seen a few Werewolf films hasn't seen. Still it is worth seeing, though mainly for Peter Cushing (who makes everything worth seeing, as far as I am concerned).

In 19th century France, an orphan boy is raised by wolves, until he is picked up by a traveling circus. He is named Etoile and grows to become a relatively normal young adult; one day, he runs away and becomes a hand in a Paris zoo. He falls in love with a beautiful girl. It isn't long, however, until his upbringing as a Wolf catches up with him...

Peter Cushing, who plays a pathologist here, is great as always in his role. Ron Moody is fun as a drunken Zookeeper. While the rest of the cast isn't bad, there are no particular highlights either. The storyline is very predictable and bears no surprises. David Rintoul, who plays the lead, is neither good nor bad. The film is too slow for its own good, and it features little gore and no sleaze or nudity (in spite of a large part of it being set in a bordello). Most of the film is supposed to be set in Paris, which is quite ridiculous as the place looks like a little village. The Werewolf makeup is pretty good though, and the parts that are done from the Werwolf's perspective are done quite well. Occasionally, the film also has a nice sense of humor. Overall, most of the film is pretty dull and is mainly saved by Peter Cushing, who is fantastic as always. It is beyond me how some people seem to mistake this Tyburn production for a Hammer film, as the quality simply is worlds apart from the usual Hammer greatness.

Overall, this review may sound a bit too negative for a film that isn't really bad; "Legend of the Werewolf" has its qualities, but it simply doesn't compete with most other Brithish Gothic Horror productions as the blend of this Country and subgenre usually stands for greatness. This film is watchable, and worth the time for my fellow Peter Cushing fans, but it isn't anything special and can easily be skipped.

Even for a horror film, this one doesn't make a lot of sense.

[planktonrules · 6/10 · 24 March 2017]

A baby was raised by wolves and when he looked to be about 8, he was captured and put on display in a traveling show as 'the Wolf Boy'. Well, this kid (dubbed 'Etoile') continued the act for sometime...even though he had become civilized and a nice guy. Then, suddenly and for no reason I can think of, one day he goes berserk, turns into a wolf-man and kills someone--all after being with the show many years.

On the run, Etoile makes his way to Paris where he gets a job working at the zoo....all because of his natural affinity with animals. He soon falls for a prostitute but is naive enough to think she's just some nice lady. When he catches her with a john (after all, this IS her job), he goes berserk again...turning into a wolf-man and savaging the guy. He later does the same to other johns who frequent this lady. There is no full moon involved...and it seems that when Etoile gets upset he becomes a human-animal hybrid.

Investigating the case is a very intelligent professor (Peter Cushing). He uses modern investigative techniques to determine what is going on...though the dopey police seem to hold little of what he says to heart. Can this professor sort all this out and help the police stop this menace? Or, can he somehow manage to cure Etoile of this weird malady?

Let's cut to the chase. There have been quite a few werewolf films before this and most of them are simply better. This one just doesn't make a lot of sense and it ignores the wolfman canon. It also isn't as entertaining and atmospheric as many of these other films. Worth seeing...but far from a must-see horror flick.

Legend of the Werewolf

[BandSAboutMovies · 4/10 · 30 June 2021]

No matter what you think of this movie, you have to give it up for the poster. This is truly one of my all-time favorite movie posters of all time, one that punches you in the face and says, "You're gonna watch this werewolf movie!"

It has a different origin story than a normal werewolf film, as here Russian werewolves kill a man who has just watched his wife die in childbirth and then raise the dead parents' son to become a human wolf.

He's known as Etoile the Wolf Boy in the circus, but soon loses his lupine look until the full moon rises. When that does - and he kills a member of the traveling carnival - he goes on the run.

This is really the sad tale of a wolf boy - a wolf young adult, I guess - who falls in love with a courtesan with a heart of gold who keeps on entertaining her clients, who soon get devoured by said wolf young adult.

Enter Professor Paul Cataflanque (Peter Cushing). He's a forensic pathologist, who quickly figures out that a wolf is behind all the murders. And seeing how Etoile now takes care of the wolves in the zoo, he's going to have to deal with putting every one of them to sleep under the orders of the police.

There's no way he isn't going to turn into a werewolf and kill just about everyone, right?

Legend of the Werewolf is one of seven Tyburn Film Productions, a studio that tried to fill the void felt after Hammer stopped producing new movies. Their other films include The Ghoul, Persecution, Sherlock Holmes and the Masks of Death, Murder Elite, G'olé! And Peter Cushing: A One-Way Ticket to Hollywood.

Directed by Freddie Francis, this was written by Anthony Hinds under his pseudonym John Elder. Under that name, he also wrote Hammer's werewolf film The Curse of the Werewolf as well as Frankenstein Created Woman, Scars of Dracula, The Reptile and many more.

An all around highly enjoyable werewolf tale

[Smokey-13 · 8/10 · 8 July 1999]

As a collector of the horror genre I always try and seek out some of the rarest titles I can find, so you can imagine my delight when I came across this seldom seen werewolf yarn at my local flea market. Not only is it no longer available for distribution but it had Peter Cushing's name in the credits! That's reason enough for me to purchase it. The story centers around a young boy named Etoile, whose parents were slaughtered by wolves when he was a baby. The wolves then took it upon themselves to raise Etoile as one of their own. Years later a traveling sideshow stumbles upon Etoile in the forest and they take him along as an attraction for their show dubbing him "wolf boy". As Etoile grows into a man he finds that some unusual characteristics have come along with his adulthood, especially when the moon is full. The rest of the movie details Etoile's obsession with a prostitute he has fallen in love with. When her clients turn up brutally murdered the police start a full investigation. Who will turn up as the guilty party? You'll have to watch the movie to find out and believe me it's worth tracking down. Outstanding performances from Peter Cushing as a coroner who tries to play detective and track down the killer, and Ron Moody as a sleazy and truly creepy zookeeper that Etoile works for. This British werewolf flick is probably now long forgotten and in my opinion deserves to be rescued from obscurity. With names like Peter Cushing and Freddie Francis attached to it, how can you resist?

Adopted by wolves, raised in a traveling freakshow and employed in a zoo... Who wouldn't turn into a savage beast under those conditions?

[Coventry · 7/10 · 28 August 2019]

Hammer undoubtedly ruled the horror industry during the sixties & seventies, but there were several other production studios that released a couple of noteworthy gems, particularly Amicus ("The House that Dripped Blood", "Tales from the Crypt", "The Beast Must Die") and Tigon ("The Witchfinder General", "Blood on Satan's Claw", "The Creeping Flesh"). Tyburn was another very modest and rather anonymous studio, but they did manage to contract both director Freddie Francis and veteran actor Peter Cushing for their fairly original, suitably violent and delightfully raunchy lycanthrope tale "Legend of the Werewolf". The always-reliable and fantastic Sir Cushing has a lovely role as cynical police surgeon, but his distinct voice also serves for the narration of the atmospheric opening sequences. The titular "Legend" is that of a young infant whose parents are devoured by a pack of wolves but then raised by the same animals. When he's about 7, the boy is captured by a travelling freakshow and exploited as the main attraction in a cage. But upon the first full moon after his 18th birthday, he transforms into a werewolf for the first time, kills a man and is forced to run off again. He ends up in the sleazier part of Paris where he sneaks into a zoo and connects with the wolves there. The sleazy and drunk caretaker (a fabulous performance by Ron Moody) takes him in and offers him shelter and a job, but he cannot control his savage nature. When the moon is full, he prowls the streets and sewers and particularly targets the clients of his beloved cabaret girl Christine. "Legend of the Werewolf" is engaging 70s horror with a raw atmosphere and gruesome make-up effects, as well as a large dose of dry and wit British humor; - mainly provided by Cushing when he's performing autopsies, or Moody when he's trying to score free drinks.

So so werewolf movie

[dworldeater · 5/10 · 14 January 2019]

Legend Of The Werewolf is somewhat passable entertainment, but is ultimately dated and tame for the time of its release. There is very little gore and the werewolf f/x look less than fantastic. The storytelling plays out in a fairly typical fashion and has poor editing and no atmosphere. This was made towards the end of Hammer's run in films by a rival company(Tyburn Films) and employed lots of talented people who were known for working at Hammer. This was directed by Freddy Francis and has Peter Cushing and Michael Ripper. Of course, Peter Cushing's performance is good and one of the standout performances in the film only rivaled by creepy zoo keeper played by Ron Moody. I am guessing the lack of funds is what gets in the way of this being good, nothing about this film comes across as fresh or exciting. I did find this to be watchable, however don't expect much else. My dvd copy of The Legend Of The Werewolf is released by a company called Cheesy Flicks, so go figure. But, to be honest, the film really is not cheesy, its bland.

"I Know Hammer...and This is Nothing Like Hammer."

[BaronBl00d · 29 June 2003]

Hammer Studios provided the BEST horror films for nearly two decades but sputtered out of production near the mid-seventies. What were all those Hammer folk to do? Well, Tyburn Studios utilized many of them in two of their films: The Ghoul & The Legend of the Werewolf. This production has at its directorial helm Hammer stalwart Freddie Francis, actor and Hammer star Peter Cushing, Hammer character actor supreme Michael Ripper, Hammer make-up artist Roy Baker, and scriptwriter Anthony Hinds under the name John Elder. The movie has all the ingredients to be a Hammer success but falls decidedly short. The budget on the film seems to be one of the biggest problems. The special effects are reminiscent of Curse of the Werewolf but seem to lack the craftsmanship of that film(over a decade made). Why? Wasn't Baker the same fellow that made COTW's make-up? The only answer must be budget. The biggest problem for me is the script. Anthony Hinds, who by the way also wrote the script for COTW, just doesn't seem to get any real continuity in the script. The story tells of a "wolf" boy who is picked up by a traveling showman(played very nicely I might add by Hugh Griffith). The boy befriends these people and we advance say some six-ten years and find him traveling with his newly-found friends as a young adult. The moon is full and some wolves bay - and presto chango he turns into a werewolf. This was the first time there had been a full moon in six-ten years? I just found much of what Hinds was trying to do very forced. The film begins also with a red tint to show what the wolf sees. An innovative idea but better employed in films like Wolfen. The film, despite its relatively cheap budget, does have some plusses. Peter Cushing gives a very good performance(when does he not?)as a police surgeon/detective who seems to be the only person working in the city of Paris with any brains. Cushing has some fine moments and seems to really be enjoying his role. In one scene he eats his lunch while reviewing a newly-fresh corpse. Another good scene is his interplay with a madam of a neighborhood whore-house. Always the master of props, Cushing "plays" with a frilly garter the whole scene. Ron Moody as a nasty, dirty zoo keeper also shines in his role. Despite all its efforts to be like Hammer, the film does indeed fall short of those lofty expectations - which is unfortunate given all the Hammer personnel involved. Nonetheless the film is an enjoyable ninety minutes even though it neither adds or detracts anything to the lycanthrope sub-genre.

Not all Peter Cushing performances were created equal.

[bensonmum2 · 5/10 · 20 July 2006]

I'll keep this brief as there is really not much to say about this movie. The Legend of the Werewolf is a fairly enjoyable, although predictable, Hammeresque werewolf movie. The story is decent, just not overly original. There's very little in the way of new ground covered here. It's all "been there, done that" type stuff. The werewolf makeup is the real strong point to this movie. One of the best I've ever seen, which is surprising considering Legend of the Werewolf's relative obscurity. Other than that, I don't have much positive to say. Peter Cushing made several bad movies in his carrier, but he usually was able to rise above it and give terrific performances. Not here. In my opinion, this is one of the only movies I can think of where Cushing appears to be just going through the motions.

Very enjoyable watch, unexpectedly humorous.

[sgraf_x · 7/10 · 23 May 2019]

I came across this on youtube and thought I would give it a try, as I am going through an old horror film phase right now. Its not scary at all, not many old horror films are, but it was unexpectedly funny especially in the first and second act. The always dependable Peter Cushing is awesome as the medical examiner trying to solve the case, I really like him in this role. The werewolf in full make up, when we finally get to see him in the third act, is very good for this time period. The direction is solid and the shots of the bloody teeth were a nice touch as well as the werewolf vision. The production values are good and though it does not contain many sets, what it does have is well used. The story is decent although there are some questionable plot devices, like what exactly caused him to be/turn into a werewolf the first time?? And there was only one scene I absolutely hated and it seemed completely unnecessary involving real wolves. The first act is a little slow but it does build over time and by the end the werewolf has knocked off what seems like half of the town. I even thought that the music/score was pretty good as well. I found it to be on par with a Hammer film and would strongly recommend it to anyone who enjoys these old "horror" films. It was more entertaining than I expected. 7/10

Mediocre werewolf horror from Tyburn Studios.

[BA_Harrison · 5/10 · 14 May 2017]

Raised by wolves, feral child Etoile becomes the star exhibit in a travelling show, eventually growing up to be a seemingly normal young man (played by David Rintoul). One night, however, his animal side takes over, transforming him into a werewolf.

After killing a man, Etolie flees the scene, eventually reaching Paris where he lands a job at a zoo and falls for Christine (Lynn Dalby), a girl from the local brothel. Unfortunately, every full moon sees Etoile wolf out and kill, and soon he is being hunted by the authorities, who are helped in their task by police surgeon Paul (Peter Cushing).

By the early-to-mid '70s, Gothic horror was in serious decline, but that didn't prevent Tyburn Studios from trying to continue the trend. Appropriating the cast and crew of the virtually defunct Hammer Studios, Tyburn delivered a couple of traditional period horrors before realising the futility of their venture.

Tyburn's Legend of the Werewolf features Hammer legend Peter Cushing and was helmed by Freddie Francis (Dracula Has Risen from the Grave, The Evil of Frankenstein), but despite the pedigree of its star and director, the film offers very little to get excited about, the story-line over familiar (the plot is essentially a retread of Hammer's Curse of the Werewolf) and the handling uninspired, with few scares, virtually no gore, little atmosphere and zero nudity (despite several scenes in a brothel).

A strong performance from Cushing, and a fun turn by Ron Moody as the zoo's sleazy head keeper help keep things ticking along, but in the end, Legend of the Werewolf brings nothing new to the table.

Tyburn horror tale about a werewolf carrrying out slaughter in the countryside and París

[ma-cortes · 6/10 · 4 March 2021]

This Tyburn Tale of terror deals with a second-class travelling circus troupe in 19th Century run by Hugh Griffith who adopts a wolf boy previously brought-up by a pack of wolves after they attacked his parents. The child who once ran with wolves has forgotten his past , except when the moon is full . The circus appears at isolated locations , but early instead of bringing happines and fun , it brings mutilation and death . As the young : introducing David Rintoul leaves a trail of gruesome murders across the countryside and he then runs off to París where goes on his bloody massacres . In the capital he has an overprotective crush on a call-girl while he follows his criminal spree and joins a rundown local menagerie run by Ron Moody .

This werewolf movie packs thrills , chills , suspense, eerie events and grisly killings . Lurching from a hopeless opening sequence in which a voice-over explains the werewolf in decidedly bland terms into a disastrously unfocused section featuring Hugh Griffith as a travelling showman , it ultimately settles down to being an only faintly more coherent tale of werewolf killings , set in a grade-school version of late century París. Although the screenplay results to be some disconcerting and preposterous and even the great Peter Cushing looks sometimes confuse by the shambles around him . As Peter Cushing plays as a meticulous forensic who investigates the astonishing killings and the unknown newcomer David Rintoul performs a jealous Wolfman who attacks the clients of a beautiful prostitute with whom fell in love . Being accompanied by a good cast, such as : Hugh Griffith , Ron Moody , Renee Houston and Roy Castle .

It displays a brilliant cinematography by cameraman John Wilcox, though a perfect remastering being really necessary . As well as thrilling and suspenseful musical score by Harry Robertson. The picture was uneven but professionally directed by Freddie Francis . He was a craftsman , expert on horror genre , shooting a number of films of this kind , such as : Nightmare , Doctor Terror's House of Horrors , The Skull, Torture Garden, Dracula has risen from the Grave , The Creeping Flesh , Craze , The Ghoul, The Doctor and the devils, among others . Rating : 5.5/10. Passable and acceptable horror movie .

Tolerated but not really recommended

[VisionExile · 5/10 · 9 October 2019]

Legend Of The Werewolf starts out ok and ends ok, but much of the middle drags and had me looking at remaining runtime starting about half way through. Overall fair, and not a wasted viewing, but indifferent at best. The werewolf storyline is acceptable, and nothing new is presented....but it seems competent, with the bases covered (silver bullet, Lycanthropy, quasi-Gothic setting both rural and urban). Maybe this being a Peter Cushing movie is part of the attraction. Maybe the English filmmakers (thanks to influence of Hammer Studios) were operating in a waning context of excellence.....good lighting and score/ sound effects and costumes and sets do help keep the atmosphere proper to allow belief (and negate the shlocky cringe factor). As if they had a good formula going that prevented collapse. Some ongoing colorful characters, especially the Popeye-like Innkeeper and skeptical Madamé, enhance much of the film. Same with the sewer fisherman. And the photographer. Good Werewolf, and he almost seemed a sympathetic character worth rooting for, especially after seeing his sideshow exploitation beginnings. Maybe a flashback or two would have helped flesh out the character a bit more? No deficiency, though. Good Werewolf makeup, and the transformations seemed pretty good for 1975. Not expecting too much is key with this flick. It seemed like a glorified TV movie- slightly intense but competent. Solid with no real zing.

Curse of the Werewolf it ain't...

[poe426 · 7/10 · 20 October 2014]

CURSE OF THE WEREWOLF had several things going for it, not the least of which was Oliver Reed as the adult Leon (the werewolf). Besides Reed, the other truly memorable thing about CURSE OF THE WEREWOLF was the makeup: for my money, it was by FAR the coolest werewolf makeup in Horror Movie history until Rick Baker's stab at the remake of THE WOLFMAN a few years ago. THE LEGEND OF THE WEREWOLF revives the CURSE OF THE WEREWOLF look, to good effect. Here we have a Wild Boy, Etoile, raised by wolves, who becomes a werewolf when he reaches adulthood. When he's on the prowl, we see things from his tinted-red point of view, a la THE WOLFEN. He works at the zoo and uses the sewer system to access back alleys and other unlit hunting grounds. Peter Cushing turns up as a pathologist who begins to put two and two together, which results in a brief but violent encounter in the sewer. Cushing, interestingly enough, wants to STUDY the werewolf- who actually SPEAKS to him at one point-, but the men with guns have other ideas about what to do with a werewolf. Not a bad little movie, all things considered.

Laughs of the Werewolf

[daniewhite-1 · 4/10 · 4 April 2020]

There's no doubt that any Horror fan has seen everything that there is to offer from 'Legend of the Werewolf'; and seen it done better in many films predating and post-dating it's release. Everything that is except for a comedy role performance from Peter Cushing, I have to say that for me this was a remarkable viewing experience! In what is essentially a comedy-horror werewolf film that is both intentionally and unintentionally funny Cushing gives a nicely balanced turn with a reserved tongue half in cheek almost all the way through until the necessary melodramatics of the films climax.

In any other way this film is a poor relation to its bedfellow 'The Ghoul', which is not itself a good film but is of a consistently better overall standard than this effort from the same producers, director and star Peter Cushing.

The comedic highlights of 'Legends of the Werewolf' however elevate it's best moments somewhat higher.

Otherwise it has bland characters, poorly defined and moderately played. Also lax writing and unconvincing production design hinder it's attempt to convince and engage.

The makeup department do reasonably with the werewolf but practical special effects and makeup for the dead and dying are less good.

Sadly the director does what he can with such badly arranged ideas, essentially the film doesn't seem to bother to explain how or why it's werewolf actually IS a werewolf, at least as far as I could tell, but there's a limit to what a director can add when writing and production are underweight.

I rate 4/10 and that is because of the scenes with Peter Cushing giving an understated comedic performance in a more unusual character for him. Otherwise I would have strictly considered this a 3 rating.

Out of the Vault

[Rainey-Dawn · 8/10 · 19 June 2014]

Legend of the Werewolf is a classic tale of the "wolf-man".

Legend of the Werewolf should come "out of the vault" and back in circulation of good horror films to watch! I feel this movie is a must see among those of us interested in lycanthropy.

Peter Cushing is at his finest in this film! Cushing's role as Prof. Paul the corner playing detective is reminiscent of Sherlock Holmes (which he played in a 1964-68 TV series). He is one of the main attractions in this movie outside of the werewolf Etoile.

I think the special effects were great for an older film. The acting and the costuming is superb and an interesting story to go with it all.

The red filter on the camera lens actually enhances the film - giving it a terrifying look and feel to the action.

For me, the most gut-wrenching scene is when Etoile was forced to beat the wolves... it was like he was made to kill his own family.

The ending was very sad. All Etoile wanted was some help for his condition - Prof. Paul was willing to give him all the help he was able to give. I will say no more as I do not want to spoil the ending for those who have not seen the film.

8/10

"Curse of the Werewolf" Part 2 (sort of)

[Wuchakk · 6/10 · 26 June 2023]

A young man with a wild past (David Rintoul) drifts into 19th century Paris where he lands a job at a small zoo and courts a woman of dubious occupation (Lynn Dalby). Grisly deaths start to mount up each full moon and the coroner (Peter Cushing) believes the culprit is not a wolf, but a...

"Legend of the Werewolf" (1975) is very similar to Hammer's "Curse of the Werewolf" from 14 years earlier, made by key Hammer alumni and at the studio Hammer often used. Even the lycanthrope looks the same, yet the production company is different (Tyburn, which only has seven films to its credit).

What's interesting is that the book "Curse of the Werewolf" was based on had the events take place in France, which was changed to Spain because an 18th century Spanish set was available. This film fixes this by placing the events in France and Paris.

The two movies are of about the same quality, but I give the edge to "Curse of" even though this one has more gore. It has everything for a great Hammer-esque werewolf flick, yet fumbles the ball with not knowing how to utilize their feminine resources (not talkin' 'bout nudity or sleaze, just how to shoot women effectively). Also, the Paris set is one-dimensional and isn't very convincing. It smacks of low-rent.

Still, if you liked "Curse of" and Jack the Ripper-styled flicks in general, there's a lot to appreciate here, such as the professor's polite discussions with the brothel madame.

The flick runs 1 hour, 26 minutes, and was shot just west of London at Pinewood Studios and Black Park in Iver Heath, Buckinghamshire.

GRADE: B-

Third Tyburn feature in one year

[kevinolzak · 4/10 · 12 January 2023]

As the third Tyburn feature in one year, 1975's "Legend of the Werewolf" brought back all the personnel from "The Ghoul," including director Freddie Francis, screenwriter Anthony Hinds (as John Elder), and star Peter Cushing, less a remake of Hammer's "The Curse of the Werewolf" (also scripted by Hinds) than a second adaptation of Guy Endore's 1933 "The Werewolf of Paris" (even set in a British equivalent of Paris). The basic elements are recycled however: a difficult childbirth on Xmas Eve, the death of the mother, the youth's bestial side held in check until adulthood, the tragic end to a love denied. Some details differ, such as the infant taken in by a pack of wolves, later adopted by a small time circus troupe as their star attraction, the now grown Etoile (David Rintoul) appropriately finding employment at a run down Paris zoo, which several ladies of the evening frequent during their afternoons off. Needless to say, once Etoile falls in love with Christine (Lynn Dalby), completely unaware of her vocation, things begin to get a little hairy, and police surgeon Paul Cataflanque (Peter Cushing) finds himself trying to keep up with a growing number of savaged corpses. Terence Fisher had the benefit of a strapping, magnetic Oliver Reed at an incredibly youthful 22, one of the screen's most feral monsters; makeup man Roy Ashton recreates his work here but to much lesser effect. An air of finality hangs over the picture, producer Kevin Francis hardly blazing new trails for Tyburn, simply 'more of the same' in the Hammer tradition at a time when even Hammer was played out (only "To the Devil a Daughter" and "The Lady Vanishes" lay ahead for Michael Carreras). It's a pleasure to see many familiar faces making the rounds at this stage, like Michael Ripper as a doomed sewerman, Hugh Griffith the circus ringmaster, Roy Castle a timid photographer, even legendary figure model Pamela Green, rarely seen since her classic turn in Michael Powell's "Peeping Tom." As a werewolf picture it's mostly a bland washout, Cushing easily the standout performer in his official capacity, not above a bit of fun in exposing the pomposity of his stuffy superiors, not surprised that the ineffective prefect of police, being a frequent visitor to the local brothel, wants to prematurely close the case. His climactic encounter with Etoile below the streets of Paris had the makings of something different, the monster able to reason that Cushing is not his enemy, but the extremes of pathos and ferocity just isn't present for Rintoul as it had been for Oliver Reed. From here on, Tyburn would remain essentially dormant, only a brief flicker of extravagant life 10 years later to allow Peter Cushing a final bow as Sherlock Holmes opposite John Mills' splendid Watson in "The Masks of Death," followed by a 1989 documentary, "Peter Cushing: A One Way Ticket to Hollywood."