IMDb > An American Werewolf in London (1981)
An American Werewolf in London
Quicklinks
Top Links
trailers and videosfull cast and crewtriviaofficial sitesmemorable quotes
Overview
main detailscombined detailsfull cast and crewcompany creditstv schedule
Awards & Reviews
user commentsexternal reviewsnewsgroup reviewsawardsuser ratingsparents guiderecommendationsmessage board
Plot & Quotes
plot summarysynopsisplot keywordsAmazon.com summarymemorable quotes
Fun Stuff
triviagoofssoundtrack listingcrazy creditsalternate versionsmovie connectionsFAQ
Other Info
merchandising linksbox office/businessrelease datesfilming locationstechnical specslaserdisc detailsDVD detailsliterature listingsNewsDesk
Promotional
taglines trailers and videos posters photo gallery
External Links
showtimesofficial sitesmiscellaneousphotographssound clipsvideo clips

An American Werewolf in London (1981) More at IMDbPro »

Photos (see all 46 | slideshow) Videos
An American Werewolf in London (1981) -- CineMagia.ro - Trailer (Flash)

Overview

User Rating:
7.5/10   21,754 votes
MOVIEmeter: ?
Up 7% in popularity this week. See why on IMDbPro.
Director:
John Landis
Writer:
John Landis (written by)
Contact:
View company contact information for An American Werewolf in London on IMDbPro.
Release Date:
21 August 1981 (USA) more
Genre:
Comedy | Horror | Romance | Thriller more
Tagline:
John Landis - the director of Animal House brings you a different kind of animal. more
Plot:
Two American tourists in England are attacked by a werewolf that none of the locals will admit exists. full summary | full synopsis
Plot Keywords:
more
Awards:
Won Oscar. Another 2 wins & 2 nominations more
NewsDesk:
(158 articles)
Director updates on Creature from the Black Lagoon and The Brood
 (From The Geek Files. 19 December 2009, 7:13 AM, PST)
Carl Rinsch To Direct ‘Black Lagoon’ Remake?
 (From Screen Rant. 15 December 2009, 10:01 AM, PST)
User Comments:
Our Dual Natures Served Up Hollywood Style more (272 total)

Cast

  (in credits order) (verified as complete)

David Naughton ... David Kessler

Jenny Agutter ... Nurse Alex Price

Griffin Dunne ... Jack Goodman
John Woodvine ... Dr. J. S. Hirsch
Lila Kaye ... Barmaid
Joe Belcher ... Truck Driver
David Schofield ... Dart Player
Brian Glover ... Chess Player
Rik Mayall ... 2nd Chess Player
Sean Baker ... 2nd Dart Player
Paddy Ryan ... First Werewolf
Anne-Marie Davies ... Nurse Susan Gallagher

Frank Oz ... Mr. Collins / Miss Piggy
Don McKillop ... Inspector Villiers
Paul Kember ... Sergeant McManus
Colin Fernandes ... Benjamin - Boy in Hospital

Albert Moses ... Hospital Porter
Michele Brisigotti ... Rachel Kessler
Mark Fisher ... Max Kessler
Gordon Sterne ... Mr. Kessler
Paula Jacobs ... Mrs. Kessler
Claudine Bowyer ... Creepy Little Girl
Johanna Crayden ... Creepy Little Girl
Nina Carter ... Naughty Nina
Geoffrey Burridge ... Harry Berman
Brenda Cavendish ... Judith Browns
Christopher Scoular ... Sean
Mary Tempest ... Sean's Wife
Cynthia Powell ... Sister Hobbs
Sydney Bromley ... Alf
Frank Singuineau ... Ted
Will Leighton ... Joseph
Michael Carter ... Gerald Bringsley
Elizabeth Bradley ... Woman in Zoo
Rufus Deakin ... Little Boy with Balloons
Lesley Ward ... Little Boy's Mother
George Hilsdon ... News-Vendor
Gerry Lewis ... Man in Bus Queue
Dennis Fraser ... 2nd Man in Bus Queue
Alan Ford ... Taxi Driver
Peter Ellis ... Bobby in Trafalgar Square
Denise Stephens ... Girl in Trafalgar Square
Christine Hargreaves ... Ticket Lady
Linzi Drew ... Brenda Bristols - 'See You Next Wednesday' Porno Film

Lucien Morgan ... Lance Boyle - 'See You Next Wednesday' Porno Film (as Lucienne Morgan)
Gypsy Dave Cooper ... Chris Bailey - 'See You Next Wednesday' Porno Film
Susan Spencer ... Georgia Bailey - 'See You Next Wednesday' Porno Film
Bob Babenia ... Usher
Ken Sicklen ... Bobby at Cinema
John Salthouse ... Bobby at Cinema
John Altman ... Assorted Police
Keith Hodiak ... Assorted Police
John Owens ... Assorted Police
Roger Rowland ... Assorted Police
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Vic Armstrong ... Bus Driver (uncredited)
John Cannon ... Villager (uncredited)
Simon van Collem ... Shop Owner (uncredited)
Harry Fielder ... Man outside cinema (uncredited)

Laurie Goode ... Hospital Porter (uncredited)

John Landis ... Man Being Smashed Into Window (uncredited)
James Payne ... Taxi driver (uncredited)
Create a character page for: ?

Directed by
John Landis 
 
Writing credits
John Landis (written by)

Produced by
George Folsey Jr. .... producer
Peter Guber .... executive producer
Jon Peters .... executive producer
 
Original Music by
Elmer Bernstein 
 
Cinematography by
Robert Paynter 
 
Film Editing by
Malcolm Campbell 
 
Casting by
Debbie McWilliams 
 
Art Direction by
Leslie Dilley 
 
Costume Design by
Deborah Nadoolman 
 
Makeup Department
Elaine Baker .... makeup effects crew
Rick Baker .... special makeup effects
Doug Beswick .... makeup effects crew
Kevin Brennan .... makeup effects crew
Robin Grantham .... makeup artist
Tom Hester .... makeup effects crew
Steve Johnson .... makeup effects assistant
Beryl Lerman .... makeup artist
Shawn McEnroe .... makeup effects crew
Joseph Ross .... makeup effects crew
Bill Sturgeon .... makeup effects crew
Craig Reardon .... makeup effects crew (uncredited)
 
Production Management
Joyce Herlihy .... production manager
 
Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Russell Lodge .... third assistant director
Michael Murray .... second assistant director
David Tringham .... first assistant director
 
Art Department
Peter Childs .... assistant art director
Keith Pain .... assistant art director
Simon Wakefield .... set dresser
 
Sound Department
Don Banks .... sound camera
Gerry Humphreys .... sound re-recording mixer
Tony Lenny .... foley artist
John Poyner .... sound editor
Don Sharpe .... sound editor
Ivan Sharrock .... production sound mixer
 
Special Effects by
Neil Corbould .... special effects assistant
Martin Gutteridge .... special effects
Garth Inns .... special effects
 
Stunts
Roy Alon .... stunts
Vic Armstrong .... stunts
Ken Barker .... stunts
Dickey Beer .... stunts
Marc Boyle .... stunts
Sue Crosland .... stunts
Clive Curtis .... stunts
Peter Diamond .... stunts
Tracey Eddon .... stunts
Sadie Eden .... stunts
Terry Forestal .... stunts
Romo Gorrara .... stunts
Fred Haggerty .... stunts
Frank Henson .... stunts
Nick Hobbs .... stunts
Billy Horrigan .... stunts
Arthur Howell .... stunts
Alf Joint .... stunt gaffer
Carl La Fong .... stunts
Gareth Milne .... stunts
Valentino Musetti .... stunts (as Val Musetti)
Terence Plummer .... stunts (as Terry Plummer)
Greg Powell .... stunts
Doug Robinson .... stunts
Ken Shepherd .... stunts
Colin Skeaping .... stunts
Tony Smart .... stunts
Rocky Taylor .... stunts
Terry Walsh .... stunts
Paul Weston .... stunts
Nick Wilkinson .... stunts
John Landis .... stunts (uncredited)
 
Camera and Electrical Department
Ray Andrew .... Steadicam operator
Alan Barry .... best boy
Peter Bloor .... electrician
Dennis Fraser .... grip
David Garfath .... camera operator
Maurice Gillett .... gaffer
Malcolm MacIntosh .... Steadicam operator
Robin McDonald .... Steadicam operator
Robert Willoughby .... special still photographer
Costas Charitou .... titles & opticals: Camera Effects Ltd (uncredited)
 
Costume and Wardrobe Department
Sue Wain .... wardrobe assistant
 
Editorial Department
Simon Battersby .... associate editor
Roy Benson .... assistant editor (uncredited)
Jonathan Lucas .... assistant editor (uncredited)
 
Transportation Department
Dave Bickers .... action vehicles coordinator
 
Other crew
Ray Freeborn .... location manager
Pamela Mann .... continuity
Joseph Ross .... location crew
Bill Sturgeon .... puppeteer
 
Thanks
Jim Henson .... thanks (as Mr. Jim Henson)
James C. O'Rourke .... dedicatee (as Jim O'Rourke)
 

Production CompaniesDistributorsSpecial EffectsOther Companies
Create a character page for: ?

Additional Details

Also Known As:
The American Werewolf (Philippines: English title)
more
Parents Guide:
View content advisory for parents
Runtime:
97 min | Sweden:92 min (heavily cut)
Country:
UK | USA
Language:
English
Colour:
Colour (Technicolor)
Aspect Ratio:
1.85 : 1 more
Sound Mix:
DTS (re-release) | Mono
Certification:
Singapore:R21 | Canada:13+ (Québec) | Canada:R (Manitoba/Nova Scotia/Ontario) | UK:X (theatrical rating) | Australia:MA (DVD rating) | USA:R (Certificate #26418) | Italy:VM18 | UK:15 (re-rating) (2009) | Argentina:18 | Australia:M | Chile:18 | Finland:K-18 | France:-12 | Norway:18 | Sweden:15 | UK:18 | West Germany:16 | Peru:18 | Brazil:12 | Iceland:16
Filming Locations:
64 Coleherne Road, Earl's Court, London, England, UK more
Company:
American Werewolf Inc. more

Fun Stuff

Trivia:
Director Trademark: [John Landis] [SYNW]the porno film showing when David meets Jack and his zombie friends. A poster for the film appears in the London Underground when the man is killed. more
Goofs:
Continuity: When Gerald Bringsley is running from the werewolf and trips on the escalator on the long shot down the escalator where it shows the wolf come in there's a clock above the escalator. Though the scene is suppose to be set at night the clock shows the time as being 13:01. more
Quotes:
David: [while transforming] I didn't mean to call you a meat loaf, Jack! more
Movie Connections:
Spoofed in "Spaced: Chaos (#1.5)" (1999) more
Soundtrack:
MOONDANCE more

FAQ

What's with the naked dead guy?
more

User Comments

   (Comment on this title)
29 out of 31 people found the following comment useful.
Our Dual Natures Served Up Hollywood Style, 26 September 2005
10/10
Author: jstock426 from United States

John Landis reveals a philosophical take on mankind in this film, namely, that we have two natures: one benign, one monstrous. The werewolf legend handily serves as that proposition's allegorical vehicle, and compared to the alluded-to Nazi atrocities in two scenes, the legend actually pales. Sadly, under the dark impetus of our arrogance and vanity, our metaphorical "full moon", man is perfectly capable of transforming into nightmarish beast.

As a director, Landis approaches Hitchcock in terms of scene economy and symbolism. For example, the opening sequence set on the moors of northern England features the tragic hero David and his friend Jack climbing out of the bed of a truck laden with sheep - benign animals destined for slaughter. Biped "sheep" David and Jack meander to "The Slaughtered Lamb", a pub sheltering cowering, xenophobic locals from the monster afoot on the moors during full moon. Soon the inhospitality of the town folk compels the two lambs to leave - virtually sending them to their slaughter.

And so it goes throughout this brilliant film. Without revealing the ending, it can be stated that Landis makes his case against the idea that love conquers all; instead, he suggests that love only gives the beast within us pause.

Beware the moon.

Was the above comment useful to you?
more (272 total)

Message Boards

Discuss this movie with other users on IMDb message board for An American Werewolf in London (1981)
Recent Posts (updated daily)User
Best werewolf howl... ever? Vaux1916
What a stupid movie! mrsbookbabe
The scene on the moors jmsfan
I'd forgotten how brilliant this was. jamie147
An American Werewolf in Paris, again? Thomas Dunson
Oh God the ReMake.. (Insert Eye Roll Here) tennavision
more

Recommendations

If you enjoyed this title, our database also recommends:
- - - - -
The Howling An American Werewolf in Paris Freeway Hot Fuzz The Ruling Class
IMDb User Rating:
IMDb User Rating:
IMDb User Rating:
IMDb User Rating:
IMDb User Rating:
Show more recommendations

Related Links

Full cast and crew Company credits External reviews
News articles IMDb Comedy section IMDb UK section
Add this title to MyMovies

You may report errors and omissions on this page to the IMDb database managers. They will be examined and if approved will be included in a future update. Clicking the 'Update' button will take you through a step-by-step process.