This Lassie Is A Tad More Vicious
June Lockhart, star of such television programs as Lost In Space and Lassie, heads up a strong cast in a werewolf film that has everything but the werewolf in 1946’s She-Wolf Of London. The film is considered a part of Universal’s classic monster films despite being a psychological thriller and not a traditional monster movie.
In the film, Phyllis Allenby (Lockhart) is preparing to marry her boyfriend, Barry Lanfield (Don Porter). Unfortunately for Phyllis, her “Aunt” Martha (Sara Haden) has a few plans of her own. Martha has been keeping a secret from not only Phyllis, but her own daughter, Carol (Jan Wiley), as well and the family’s housekeeper, Hannah (Eily Malyon). I won’t reveal that secret here, but I will say that Phyllis and Barry’s wedding has something to do with it.
Phyllis is supposed to be happily preparing for her wedding but instead, she’s battling with the possibility that she has fallen under the “curse of the Allenbys.” What’s the curse? Apparently the Allenby family has a few werewolves in the family tree.
Bodies are starting to pile up in the park near the Allenby home and Phyllis is waking up each morning with blood on her hands, a wet robe, and muddy shoes. Aunt Martha feeds Phyllis’ suspicions by encouraging her to keep her “curse” and her late night activities a secret from everyone, including her “cousin,” Carol, and her fiancee, Barry.
Scotland Yard is attempting to figure out who or what might be behind the vicious murders in the park. Barry is doing a little investigating of his own. Martha forbids Phyllis from seeing anyone and stops Carol from seeing her own boyfriend, Dwight (Martin Kosleck). Hannah, loyal to both Phyllis and Carol, attempts to help both of them see their suitors. Eventually she discovers Martha’s dark secret, and things become deadly inside Allenby Mansion.
The film might be called She-Wolf Of London, but there’s no actual werewolf in the film. Throats are being ripped out, but it’s part of a huge scheme to eliminate Phyllis from the picture so that Martha can remain in the Allenby home. The film works very well as a thriller, but horror fans might be turned off by the fact that no fur or fangs come into play.
Despite zero werewolves, the film is still enjoyable. The cast features Lockhart in an early film role and Don Porter, who would go on to star in the successful television show, Private Secretary. He also starred in Gidget along with Sally Field and The Ann Sothern show. Sara Haden is devilishly wonderful as Phyllis’ wicked aunt. Eily Malyon stole the show as Hannah.
Lockhart and Porter had exceptional chemistry on the screen. I immediately bought into the fact that these two people were deeply in love. Lockhart’s spiral into madness was believable as well. There were no weak members in the cast.
I really liked this film. It’s not a traditional horror movie nor is it even that long. It clocks in at just over an hour, so if you’re looking for a quick movie full of deception and a sinister matriarchal figure, She-Wolf Of London is exactly what you need to watch.
As always, thanks for reading my post. We’re nearing the halfway point in our Thirty-One Days O’Horror! Stay tuned for even more spooky posts!
Ken's Alternate Universe! 