Roots of the wolf

Paul Naschy was born on September 6, 1934 in Madrid, Spain. His birth name was Jacinto Alvarez Molina. The Spanish Civil War broke out shortly after his birth, lasting from from July 1936 to April 1939. It was a violent war that affected the entire country, and an estimated 500,000 lives were lost during the conflict.

The post-war years had to make for a tough childhood. A new authoritarian, fascist regime had taken over and the country was trying to rebuild itself. Add to that World War II, which lasted from 1939 to 1945, and this was a highly volatile period of young Jacinto’s life. Spain was able to avoid directly entering WWII, but they were in constant danger of being dragged into the conflict, especially with fighting taking place in nearby France and Hitler demanding Spain join the Axis forces. There was warfare in Jacinto’s life until age 11 – a difficult thing to imagine nowadays.

During these years movies were a rare treat that Jacinto’s mother would take him to when possible. One can imagine how much these afternoon escapes must have meant to him. A chance to get away from the horrors of real life and disappear into a darkened room for an hour and a half (or so) must have been bliss, especially when the movie was one such as young Jacinto saw one afternoon at age 11.

Universal released the first of its monster rallies, FRANKENSTEIN MEETS THE WOLFMAN, in March of 1943. Studies have shown that during times of warfare there is an increase in production of horror films, and this was definitely the case with Universal in the 1940s, which put out no less than 23 horror pictures from 1939-1945. A print of FRANKENSTEIN MEETS THE WOLFMAN made its way from America to a theater in Madrid, Spain, in 1945, and it was there that a future film legend was born.

This film made a major impression on Jacinto and would later be cited by him as a leading influence on his own horror film career. I wonder what writer Curt Siodmak would say about his film being the catalyst for a future film legend? I also wonder if Naschy ever got a chance to meet any of the folks responsible for FRANKENSTEIN MEETS THE WOLFMAN, such as actors Lon Chaney and Bela Lugosi, writer Siodmak, or makeup artist Jack Pierce, whose amazing wolfman makeup undeniably influenced his own werewolf makeup as character Waldemar Daninsky.

Jacinto got into the film industry at age 26, working for years in mostly uncredited roles until 1968 when he made the first of his werewolf pictures, LA MARCA DEL HOMBRE-LOBO, a.k.a MARK OF THE WOLFMAN, best known as FRANKENSTEIN’S BLOODY TERROR, a film he himself wrote and starred in. This was the first of two werewolf pictures he would make that year, the other being LAS NOCHES DEL HOMBRE LOBO, a.k.a. NIGHTS OF THE WEREWOLF.

The influence of that fateful day in a movie theater in Madrid certainly showed through as Jacinto created a character that would go on to 12 “sequels:”

(1968) - La marca del Hombre-lobo aka Frankenstein's Bloody Terror
(1968) - Las noches del Hombre Lobo
(1970) - Los monstruos del terror aka Assignment Terror
(1971) - La noche de Walpurgis aka The Werewolf Versus the Vampire Woman
(1972) - La furia del Hombre Lobo... aka The Fury of the Wolf Man
(1972) - Dr. Jekyll y el Hombre Lobo ... aka Dr. Jekyll and the Wolfman
(1973) - El retorno de Walpurgis aka Curse of the Devil
(1975) - La maldición de la bestia aka Night of the Howling Beast
(1981) - El retorno del Hombre-Lobo ... aka The Night of the Werewolf
(1983) - La bestia y la espada mágica
(1987) - El aullido del diablo
(1996) - Licántropo: El asesino de la luna llena ... aka "Lycantropus: The Moonlight Murders"
(2004) - Tomb of the Werewolf (V) Played by Paul Naschy

So besides being a terrific film (it is one of my favorite Universal pictures), the fact it inspired young Jacinto to go on to an influential career as a horror star is yet another reason to love FRANKENSTEIN MEETS THE WOLFMAN.

You know, it’s ironic to think that, in a sense, Lawrence Talbot created Waldemar Daninsky. What is it that the old gypsy, Maleva, said in the first Wolf Man movie? “Whoever is bitten by a werewolf and lives becomes a werewolf himself.” Well, young Jacinto was bitten by a werewolf in that theater in 1945, and the curse came full circle with Frankenstein’s Bloody Terror in 1968. Who knows how many others Waldemar has, in turn, “bitten,” and so the curse continues…

Here’s to Waldemar and Lawrence, may they stalk the silver screens forever.

The Naschy Blogathon - Dr. Jekyll and the Werewolf continued further...

Dr. Jekyll y el Hombre Lobo
a.k.a. Dr. Jekyll and the Wolfman - 1972

Paul Naschy enjoyed the good fortune to be the man calling the shots in his films, as he wrote, starred in and even directed many of them. Therefore he, like most good filmmakers, surrounded himself with actors he knew and trusted. Many of the cast members from the film I've been discussing for the Naschy Blogathon, DR. JEKYLL AND THE WOLFMAN, had either already worked with Naschy or would go on to work with him again in the future. Let’s take a look at the principals in this picture, and their pictorial relation with the Spanish Lon Chaney…

Shirley Corrigan


Shirley plays Justine in this picture, and of course is unable to resist the charms of Waldemar Daninsky. Shirley is stunningly beautiful - I have to seek out more of her work.

She has 24 film credits on IMDB, including, interestingly, an uncredited bit as a partygoer in the Dario Argento film FOUR FLIES ON GREY VELVET. Her last film was THE LITTLE ARCHIMEDES in 1979. She is one of the few cast members who did not go on to work with Naschy again. This is what she had to say about Naschy in an interview from her website:

"When I first arrived in Madrid and was getting to know Paul Naschy, we would go to his house where he invited me to meet his family - they were all very lovely, and very hospitable. Then we decided we would go out together and talk about the script, but it became impossible because there were about 300 people waiting outside the restaurant for autographs! It was like a stampede, He kept saying to the public: "This is Senorita Shirley Corrigan, a beautiful girl from England. She's bringing me good luck. He was such a generous man. I liked working with him, he was very respectful to me and always said, 'You're much too good!'"
Her official website is: http://www.shirleycorrigan.com/

Jack Taylor – Dr. Henry Jekyll


Jack plays the cool Dr. Henry Jekyll, a man harboring a long secret love for Justine. He is the grandson of the infamous Dr. Jekyll, and tries to help cure Waldemar of his curse, thanks to the pleading of Justine.

He was born in Oregon City, Oregon in 1926. He made over a hundred movies ncluding CONAN THE BARBARIAN, THE VAMPIRE’S NIGHT ORGY, Jess Franco’s COUNT DRACULA (with Christopher Lee), and THE NINTH GATE. He worked with Paul Naschy in several films – EXORCISMO (1975), DR. JEKYLL AND THE WOLFMAN (1972), and THE MUMMY’S REVENGE (1973). Worked with Naschy again in 1973 in the giallo EL ASESINO ESTÁ ENTRE LOS TRECE. He is still acting to this day, averaging one or two films a year, and even had a film come out in 2010 called AGNOSIA.

Mirta Miller – Sandra

She plays Dr. Jekyll’s assistant and lover, Sandra. She is a bad, bad woman, and is insanely jealous of Justine. She is the catalyst of the chain of events that bring disaster to Waldemar in London.


Born in 1948, she appeared in 77 movies, including BOLERO with Bo Derek. Her most recent film came out in 2004 titled SUCEDIÓ EN ESPAÑA. She appeared in a number of movies with Paul Naschy including COUNT DRACULA’S GREAT LOVE (1972), VENGEANCE OF THE ZOMBIES (1973), DR. JEKYLL AND THE WOLFMAN (1972), TODOS LOS GRITOS DEL SILENCIO (1975), and EL ÚLTIMO KAMIKAZE (1984, written directed and starring Paul Naschy).

Jose Marco – Imre

Jose plays Justine’s husband in the beginning of this film. Naschy pulls a bit of a Hitchcockian fake out here, introducing us to Imre and leading us to believe he is the lead character. But, like the husbands of beautiful women in many Naschy films, he is quickly disposed of – the easier for Naschy to steal her heart!


Born in 1925 - Although he only appeared in DR. JEKYLL AND THE WOLFMAN for a brief period he is actually a very well known Spanish actor. He has appeared in close to 80 films including FOR A FEW DOLLARS MORE (bit part), and HORROR EXPRESS – in fact he had already appeared in more than 60 films by the time DR. JEKYLL AND THE WOLFMAN was made. He appeared in several other Naschy films including WEREWOLF VS. THE VAMPIRE WOMEN (1971), FURY OF THE WOLFMAN (1972), LOS CANTROBROS (1980 – written and directed by Paul Naschy who also has a role in this one) and EL VÉRTIGO DEL CRIMEN (1970).

Luis Induni – Otvos

Luis plays Otvos, leader of a local group of thugs. He and his men follow Imre and Justine to the graveyard, murder him, and try to rape Justine, before being foiled by an enraged Waldemar.

Born in 1920, Luis died in Dec 1979. He appeared in over 200 titles, including a number of spaghetti westerns. He appeared with Naschy in NIGHT OF THE HOWLING BEAST (1975), EXORCISMO (1975), DR. JEKYLL AND THE WOLFMAN (1972), DEVIL’S POSSESSED (1974), FURY OF JOHNNY KID (1967), LA DIOSA SALVAJE (1975), SECUESTRO (1976).

Barta Barri – Gyogyo, the inn-keeper

Barta plays Gyogo the Inn Keeper. I really like this character, as it feels like a nod to the Dracula pictures of old, where the local in keeper warns the travelers not to go near the Dracula’s castle. Plus he has a glorious moustache! In just one of many twists in this picture, the inn keeper isn’t exactly what he appears – in fact, he is working in cahoots with Otvos and his men.

Barta was born in 1911 – he made over 130 pictures. He worked with Naschy in the pictures WEREWOLF VS. THE VAMPIRE WOMEN (1971), DR. JEKYLL AND THE WOLFMAN (1972), THE PEOPLE WHO OWN THE DARK (1976), 1001 NIGHTS (1968).

Luis Gaspar – Thurko, Otvos's thug

I am not 100% sure the thug above is Luis - I could only find two other pictures of him, both recent ones, but I see some similarity between the two and think I have the correct thug...
Luis made close to 50 films, including several Naschy pictures: WEREWOLF VS. THE VAMPIRE WOMEN (1971), THE MUMMY’S REVENGE (1973), DR. JEKYLL AND THE WOLFMAN (1972)

Elsa Zabala – Uswika Bathory

Elsa plays the spooky old witch who lives with Waldemar in his black castle. The townsfolk are all scared of her - until one of them cuts her head off and presents it like a trophy to the angry mob!

Elsa appeared with Naschy in the CURSE OF THE DEVIL (1973), HORROR RISES FROM THE TOMB (1973), VENGEANCE OF THE ZOMBIES (1973), DR. JEKYLL AND THE WOLFMAN (1972).


Even this street walker, the second woman murdered by Daninsky once he wolfs-out in London (and who appears onscreen only for a minute or so), was in WEREWOLF VS THE VAMPIRE WOMAN the year before. She was played by actress Marissa Tovar.

So this was one cast that was pretty familiar with one another. Probably made for a smooth shoot, and certainly one Naschy felt comfortable with.

Naschy Blogathon - Dr. Jekyll and the Werewolf

Today is the beginning of the Paul Naschy Blogathon! Blogs all across the cybersphere will be writing about the Spanish actor, director, and screenwriter Paul Naschy this week. I was asked to contribute by the organizer of the event, The Vicar of VHS over at Mad Mad Mad Mad Movies, and was more than happy to join in the festivities! I am going to kick off my own Naschy tribute with a review of a Paul Naschy movie from 1972, "Dr Jekyll and the Wolfman."

Over the Thanksgiving weekend I got a chance to sit down and watch “Dr. Jekyll and the Wolfman”. This DVD has been on my “to watch” stack for years, and I felt it high time I finally took a look at it.

This is the 6th movie featuring Naschy as the character Waldemar (pronounced Valdemar) Daninsky, a man cursed with lycanthropy, or werewolfism. The werewolf pictures are the ones Naschy is best known for, although he did a ton of pictures outside the werewolf genre. They are an interesting lot – Naschy wrote and starred in them, and his character comes across as a mixture of monster and superhero, with a touch of James Bond thrown in for good measure. The women of his films are always strikingly beautiful and unable to resist his charms – hey, it pays to be the scriptwriter - and there is usually lots of nudity involved. He is the same character in each film yet they don’t necessarily follow one another continuity-wise – they are best taken as individual stories totally separate from one another. He also usually dies at the end of the movie.

The other thing about Paul Naschy films is he loves mashing monsters together like the old monster rallies of the Universal heyday (House of Frankenstein, House of Dracula, etc). In this film he combines the Wolfman and the Robert Louis Stevenson character, Dr. Jekyll. But he gives it a unique twist – Jekyll doesn’t turn into Hyde in this movie – NASCHY does!!

This film kind of works in three parts – the first part of the movie is almost a prologue, introducing us to a newlywed couple planning a vacation to Transylvania to visit the husband’s family burial grounds. We are also briefly introduced to Dr. Henry Jekyll here – but we won’t see him again until the third act.

The second part of the movie sets up Daninsky as the werewolf. It takes place primarily in Transylvania, where our vacationing couple meet with tragedy. The husband is murdered by local thugs while they are visiting his family’s graveyard, and his wife, Justine, is about to be raped when Daninsky shows up. He appears out of nowhere, like some black clothed superhero. He battles them off, killing two of them in the process – one by violently smashing his head with a giant rock! He takes Justine back to his home, a huge castle, and nurses her back to health. The two fall in love, and Justine discovers the truth about Daninsky – he is a werewolf.

She convinces him to return with her to London where she knows a doctor who may be able to help him with his affliction. This is where the third act begins. This doctor is the aforementioned Henry Jekyll, grandson of the infamous doctor who created a formula to release the dark side of one’s nature. Jekyll tells Daninsky he thinks he can help him. His plan is to inject Daninsky with a modified version of his Grandfather’s formula on the evening of a full moon. This will release the dark side of Daninsky’s personality, which will be stronger than the werewolf part of him, thus preventing him from changing into the werewolf. At that point Jekyll plans to inject Daninsky with the antidote, returning him to normal, and thus curing him of his lycanthropy. Uh-huh. Makes perfect sense.

As you can imagine, things take a turn for the worse and we soon have a Daninsky/Hyde character stalking the streets of disco London. He cruises bars and strip clubs, picks up prostitutes, and leaves a trail of naked, ravaged bodies.

Naschy does a great job playing the Hyde character here - with just minimal makeup he is able to pull off a totally different persona quite convincingly. He wears a top hat and coat while playing Hyde, giving a nice nod to the traditional Jekyll and Hyde movies. I really like that Dr. Jekyll wasn’t the one who is injected with the formula in this movie. It made for a neat twist to the story, which actually takes several unexpected turns throughout its 96 min run. It does have some pretty far-fetched plot points, but there are more than enough good things going for this film to make it worthwhile. Definitely worth watching – track down a copy if you get a chance, and make sure it’s the unedited 96 minute print with all the violence and nudity intact.