Sven- Curse of the Werewolf (1961)

 

Leon, born of a rape, is cursed to be a werewolf.  IHe was also born on Christmas Day, which is bad luck with some people.  He falls in love with an upper class woman and cannot marry her.  He seems a pretty nice fellow, though.  The local priest is the expert on lycanthropy, and informs Leon's foster parents what is going on.  He tells them love is the only cure, but alas, Leon is denied his true love, Christina.  This leads to him becoming a werewolf for the final time before being shot by a silver bullet fired by his father.  The end.

Like most Hammer movies of this time frame, this movie is gorgeous.  However, we only get about 10 minutes of werewolf action at the end of the movie.  I get what they were going for, but I am sure most people wanted more monster action.  The movie was not as successful as Hammer's other adaptions, and never got a sequel.  It is well acted, and well directed, but it is really predictable.  I want to like it more, but I will take Larry Talbot any day.

Next- Island of Lost Souls (1932)