The Curse of the Werewolf (1961)

IMDb

The werewolf story, but not as we're use to it. If this story is not the source material from which our werewolf legends derive, it certainly feels like it should be. It has a literary quality, 18th century like its setting. It's primary protagonist Leon Corledo (aka 'the werewolf'') as portrayed by Oliver Reed evokes an (ironically) more principled version of Tom Jones or Barry Lyndon (yes my knowledge of 18th century literature is pretty much confined to its cinematic treatments).

There is a surprising amount of back story here, Leon is the son of a deranged former beggar who spent roughly 20 years in a dungeon, and a rather buxom mute girl he raped (I know, unexpectedly 'graphic' for lack of a better word (thankfully the rape is not shown)). Anyway Leon is raised by a well off family in Spain, he has a brief bought of werewolfism as a child, but his adoptive father and a Catholic priest seem to get that under control so that Leon's not even aware it happened. When he comes of age Leon sets off to make his way in the world, falls in love with a girl, but her father would never approve, so he reverts to werewolfism and in the end his adoptive father has to kill him. Pretty good actually, quite a lot different from your average horror film in structure and even plot. I liked it. Grade: B-