apart from the transformation, which is still the single best werewolf transformation of all time - Mazey Day coming in 2nd place, but that's another story - , it looks dated, but it is indeed a classic.
@@user-rj8gd9of1p Too lazy to google? 2011 Winner Oscar Best Achievement in Makeup The Wolfman 2001 Winner Oscar Best Makeup How the Grinch Stole Christmas 1998 Winner Oscar Best Makeup Men in Black 1997 Winner Oscar Best Makeup The Nutty Professor 1995 Winner Oscar Best Makeup Ed Wood 1988 Winner Oscar Best Makeup Harry and the Hendersons 1982 Winner Oscar Best Makeup An American Werewolf in London
@@user-rj8gd9of1p Google is free but I'll help: An American Werewolf In London, Harry and the Henderson, Ed Wood, The Nutty Professor, Men in Black, How the grinch stole Christmas and the Wolfman remake. Aside from that, he was nominated for 4 other ones.
@@user-rj8gd9of1p 1) An American Werewolf in London 2) Harry and the Hendersons 3) Ed Wood 4) The Nutty Professor 5) Men in Black 6) How the Grinch Stole Christmas 7) The Wolfman
@Attila Steele Landis said it was a combination of many animals, including a lion, a jaguar and an elephant, and mixed in with a locomotive horn. Once he mentioned the horn, I couldn't un-hear it.
I was a teenager in 1981 when I saw an issue of LIFE magazine, with a whole behind the scenes thing with AWIL featured. I saw a kid who had long hair and wore flannel shirts like me, who was doing all of this great work. I was determined, and DID become a professional Special Effects Makeup Artist and still am. All thanks to Rick Baker!
The scene Joe is talking about when the guy fell running up the escalator and the WW slowly creeping up is still the scariest horror scene for me ever.
I found the moors scene terrifying, and that bit with the escalator was a close 2nd for me. What a great movie we can all agree we had tons of nightmares 😀
@@vildanius My favourite moment is when the policeman finds it feasting on the disembowelled theatre usher. Classic brown trouser moment. The policeman was lucky to escape with his life.
This film has always been special to me. I watched it with about 8 friends from high school in 1982 at my home. We were 13 years old. It was our first video movie ever, so you can imagine it made a huge impression to us all.
My two favourite movies of all time. American werewolf in London & the Thing. Rick Baker & Rob Bottin are true artists & will both be remembered forever for their ground breaking Practical effects!
And part of the reason for that is both men on both of those movies were working for directors who werent interested in being in their way creatively. John Landis and john carpenter just let rick and rob go wild and it really shows. Only an idiot tells mozart how to compose.
I know I'm probably in the minority when I say this but I enjoyed An American Werewolf In London far more than the thing. The effect in the thing were great but american werewolf In london seemed more iconic to me especially as a kid watching that transformation scene and being traumatized by it.
Not only was it a great looking werewolf. Not only did this movie have the best transformation scene ever. Also the werewolf had the best and most terrifying howl.
Mr baker was unique with the wolf transformation because he brought the effect out of the shadows and into the full light and it is still the greatest wolf transformation put on film..the man is a pure genius.
@@doctorsocrates4413 I think the Howling transformation hasn't aged well. AWIL is the superior werewolf movie as far as that goes. It's freakier and I can't quite put my finger on as to why. I think It was more believable and ultimately scarier as a result.
My VCR broke a long time ago, and I've gotten rid of all my VHS, but I still have an American werewolf in London on VHS. Just couldn't let that one go.
They didn’t mention it but the music/songs played in the film (Blue Moon & Bad Moon Rising e.g.) really enhance the tone and set it apart from other horror movies. One of my favorites from childhood.
Rick Baker is way ahead of his time. The Werewolf design in An American Werewolf in London is still impressive to this day. Hopefully we'll get more Baker magic.
Aaaah...😔 ..the famous 'ahead of it's time ' comment... 😂 Are you sure it's Ahead and NOT of it's time⁉️ Because it is still effective today? What about Bela Lugosi's Dracula, it's still is good to watch today... was it also 'ahead of it's time'? And Alien? Also ahead? 😊
@@movid I to this day still haven't seen a Werewolf design or transformation that has matched that in An American Werewolf in London and considering it was made in 1981 and there's zero CGI that's damn impressive. Who cares what terminology is used to describe it? We have but a number of hours use them wisely.
@@lv2465 it's a comment that we see about everywhere for about almost everything on YT, related to music and film... it's lost it's meaning 😔 And I'm sorry to contradict, but other films used just as effective effects as these, which are as good if not better, seamless namely Alien, the Thing, the Exorcist , A Space odyssey , the Andromeda Strain, the Fly...and more. Werewolf is NOT an exception, although I like it very much...
Hell Yeah. This interview proves that if you let creative minds actually do what they want to do, you get masterpieces that will stand the test of time. American Werewolf In London is a masterpiece of cinema. The werewolf transformation simply cannot be matched. It set the bar that has yet to be moved. Thank you Rick Baker for your visions and dedication to your craft. It was very smart and respectable to have those who you inspire assist you. Brilliance across the board from thought to theatre. If you let brilliant people do their thing, these are the results. Positives create positives, negatives create negatives. Life, if looked at from a certain perspective is that simple.
I think the first attack scene was the best and scariest horror movie scene ever. The way they set it up, starting at the slaughtered lamb, and going to them walking on the Moors in the fog with the monster closing in, was absolutely genius! I could never go camping right after seeing that movie unless I had a handful of Adderall and an AK-47. The comedy intertwined with horror was perfect too!
Years ago when I was a kid, only days after watching The American Werewolf in London I got lost in local woods when it was getting dark. The film popped into my head and I ran so fast I think Usain Bolt would have struggled to catch me that day! Still to this day struggle to watch the transformation or moors scene with the sound on! Simply the best werewolf movie there is. Dog Soldiers was fun and The Howling and Silver Bullet watchable but dated now. The big difference with American Werewolf, as well as the Oscar winning special effects which put CGI to shame, was the fact Landis insisted on a four legged monster. A four legged "animal" with yellow eyes is far more terrifying than a wolfman on two legs¬!
Genius. I watched American WW a week or so ago and the effects still look amazing. Rick Baker is a genius. CGI still can't achieve the effects Rick came up with decades ago.
This film is a Masterpiece, what's so good about it in my opinion is that it is believable. The characters are well written, the snobby Doctor putting it down to hysterical behaviour, David in a no win situation. I'd love to see a prequal based on the residents of the village and how the werewolf come to be.
Yes American/British films can be very good. Just look at star wars. The brief provide a lot of creativity and good acting and the Americans just go for it they don't get phased. Brita have wonderful talent but they have an obsession with detail, social protocol and lack finance. The Americans can move past these obstacles. Then you get great movies.
Yeah but they'd fuck it up. It would have to be an indie movie with practical effects made by people who care. Woke Hollywood just ruins everything it touches with ham fisted political propaganda.
The scene when he’s sitting in the hospital bed in the middle of the forest and he opens his yellow eyes and shows his teeth. Freaked me the hell out as a kid.
He also retired and got out of the business when he knew when it was time to.I'm not a medical expert of any kind but I'm fairly sure that that and getting that kind of stress and studio interference out of his life could play a part in why he looks great for a guy who is almost 70 years old.
When I think of the movie, I think about the early days of HBO. They didn't have such a vast library of movies, so there were lots of movies repeated. AWIL was one of them. Tootsie, Annie, Animal House, Porky's, Kramer vs Kramer, etc. Certain movies I remember from the 1980-1984 era of HBO.
@@LaloLanderos16 fer SHER! Been a fan of Griffin Dunne ever since, After Midnight and Search and Destroy being two of my one of my all-time favorite films. If you haven't already, definitely check them out. ... Also his father was Dominique Dunne 🤨
That one dream sequence where David sees himself on the hospital bed in the woods with those creepy yellow eyes and sharp teeth still scares the shit out of me to this day. That face is forever burned into my brain.
Rick Baker is an absolute genius. Not only he had won the most oscars for best make up by by a landslide too. He has like 7 oscar wins while Stan Winston which finishes second place has 2 for best make up. Anyways, the transformation scene in this film takes the cake of any other werewolf film especially those crappy ass CGI. Even the Howling which was partially done by Rick can't touch this. Absolute work of art.
There is a HUGE difference between Stan Winston and Rick Baker. Without the team of the finest artists and the world that he uses, Stan Winston, on his own could never create the level of quality seen in the films he has done. On the other hand, working completely by himself, Rick Baker absolutely COULD create ALL of the work himself. Stan was a good and competent artist but Rick is a self taught genius in the art of special makeup effects.
Nothing on "The Howling" was "Partially done by Rick". Everything that you see onscreen is the work of Rob Bottin with his own crew of sculptors and technicians. Rick was originally hired and started a sculpture, but none of his work was used.
@@Valkonnenrob bottin worked for rick baler at the time. rick was booked to do the howling when john landis called him up for american werewolf. rick backed out but suggested rob who had been working on werewolf stuff with rick. thats why the techniques are similar while the approaches are totally different. they got thw protégé not the master.
I was 13 when this came out. Too young to see it. I was sleeping over at a childhood friend's house. His 16 year old sister came home after seeing this and was too scared to sleep in her own room. She crawled into bed with me, thinking it was her brother. Nothing happened obviously, but At 54, Probably one of the greatest moments of my childhood. I can still remember it like it was yesterday. :)
Very well said. I remember someone on UA-cam compiling up all of the time that the werewolf is actually seen on screen in An American Werewolf In London, I think the total amount came up to less than a minute and 50 seconds(I think that it might have been around somewhere a minute and 30 seconds or a minute and 32 seconds). As a film critic once said, a werewolf is a big, scary monster and if you see too much of it, it loses it's power. I plan to write books as well as comics in the future and I want to write a graphic novel about werewolves and in it, I don't intend to show the werewolves that much, An American Werewolf In London's approach had a big influence on how I want to write the story. The movie was truly ahead of it's time and I think that more movies-even with all of the amazing visual effects and technology available today could stand to take a page out of An American Werewolf In London's playbook. I disagree with Joe, I don't think that CGI is the problem at all. As long as it's done exceedingly well, looks convincing and helps to tell the story and it's used for scenes that would be otherwise impossible, too dangerous or too costly to film for real, I'm in favor of it. If it's used unnecessarily and to an excessive degree and done in place of practical effects when and where practical effects could be used or it's used to try to prop up a weak story and a weak movie with weak performances, than that's different. But I don't see CGI as being the problem.
Yes CGI ruined cinema, 100%. Show a kid a photo of a modern werewolf from a recent Werewolf film then show him the front cover of An American Werewolf in London. Everything about the American werewolf in London wolfman was bone chilling from the look of it and the sounds it makes. Its forever the scariest monster ever to come out of Hollywood film. Truly was the film that ingrained itself on me in my childhood. For years I had nightmares about it.
I've watched this movie alot and the werewolf scenes still scare the shit out of me. Been 40+ years and still the best werewolf movie by majority. Set the bar awfully high with the realism of the werewolf.
I was lucky enough to see the movie in a theater and the moor scene made me shit my pants. And I've watched this film over a hundred times. Holds up easily! A Masterpiece!
To this day the werewolf howl on the moors still gives me chills! My favorite movie genre is scary/monster flicks, and I have yet to hear a better howl. Now knowing more behind the scenes stuff, I look forward to my next re-watch.
I saw this film as a kid & just saw it again recently and it totally holds up. Classic. Perfect mix of horror & comedy. Rick Baker’s make up effects are so much realistic than most of today’s CGI. It’s sad that uncreative stuffed suits at Hollywood studios basically caused him to retire.
It's hilarious that a guy who is so famous for making all of these scary creatures and make up effects has such a soft and soothing voice. Seriously, he's like the Bob Ross of special effects make-up.
This dude was absolutely a genius. His grasp on special effect, look at the An American Werewolf in London film cover, the way the werewolf is designed is so animalistic in a way that CGI could never reproduce. That kind of special effects takes a master of his craft and time.
The fact that he had kids helping him with this awesome. Think, there are kids out there apart of one of the greatest horror/werewolf movies made to date.
American Werewolf and Escape from NY were my two favorite films as a kid. I saw both well over 20 times in the theater alone. Got to the point where I could recite the lines. Rick Baker was one of my heroes back in the day. So glad to hear this interview.
Rick is soooo right. Sculpture takes a LONG time. It's complete immersive. You can spend and hour on one inch if clay. You can tell he is passionate about his art.
I learned long ago, when I was a little kid watching Sat movies on TV on a rainy day. I would watch these old monster movies and realize the movie always stopped being scary once you saw the monster. Our imagination scares us more that what we see. The art of feeding us just enough visual to keep the mystery, but giving us a glimpse into the horror to come.
Loved the practical effects Rick has done for this film and would love to create a transformation scene like the one from American Werewolf in London with my own twist on it.
Holy crap! My mom took me to see it when I was 11 too. Scared the crap out of me. Not sure I’ve forgiven her yet, still working on it. Funny, though, it’s one of my favorite movies that gets funnier every time
My favorite specialfx artist and icon of all time! Rick Baker was amazing at what he produced for An American Werewolf in London. Good enough to create a special category to win an Oscar! Great interview never get enough listening to him!🎃🔪
I just watched an interview with Landis talking about how he kind of felt he showed the wolf a little too much during the transformation, just because it looked so cool. I think they did it perfectly, making the transformation so in your face with the bright lighting and longer shots, then making all the kills quick shots.
I saw AWIL with my big sister, I was in the 5th grade,,, we went to the 1at run on a Sunday afternoon,,, intense and it won't let you go. That movie had such an impact on me. Frightening!!
man this dude Rick Baker is a passionate genius man ( ofc credits to his team of fans who worked relentlessly with him nd painted the masks and all ) the makeups and the the whole procedure of making the moulds and the mechanical head thing that puffs up the head and all is terrific!! all that effort ended up paying off ,creating the most unbelievebly realistic transformation ever ! and the first one to win an oscar , when i was little it used to scare the shit out of me , i had trouble sleeping for months after watching it! a bloody unparalleled masterpiece ❤
I remember when American Werewolf in London first came out...I have to say it was a sight to see when you get to see the transformation of the werewolf....I was totally amazed
Fantastic movie, fantastic cast and out of this world special effects! An America Werewolf in London and The Thing is fantastic movies! I'm so glad that Rick Baker and Rob Bottin worked together, making so fantastic movies🥰
Watched it when I was about 9 mum and dad had it on the video shelf with delirious and up in smoke would get up early on the weekends and watch them big influence.
I'm a fan since 1981...!! I was 14 then...!! I even asked to use my father's 8mm camera to film the the transformation as it was shown in the Oscars presentation on TV that year. I've been passionate about werewolves since then...!! And I love Rick Baker...!!! ❤
I love how Rick keeps directing the credit to Landis. Pure class. He gave an awesome talk on the TCM cruise and explained how he did the werewolf change in his Q & A portion. He has a book? where do we get it?
My parents took me to see a double feature of Cats Eye followed by Werewolf in London when I was only 5. I got thru Cats Eye alright but not long after Werewolf started I became scared and one the carnage started I began screaming and hiding under the wooden folding theater seats for safety. We had to leave early because I was disturbing the maybe 20 other people in the theater. It became my favorite werewolf movie and one of my top horror movies.
The part that Joe is talking about at 18:52 I remember seeing a preview for the movie,. it was on a local late night horror show, I saw the movie with my uncle a week later, I was only 12 in the 7th grade, uncle is still alive today. Thanks life.
I had the awesome experience of meeting Rick Baker on the TCM cruise. He is so chill, and still a kid. We talked about building Aurora Monster models as kids. He is the G.O.A.T.
It's a film you can watch over and over. It doesn't look dated. It's still scary, it's still funny.
An absolute classic.
apart from the transformation, which is still the single best werewolf transformation of all time - Mazey Day coming in 2nd place, but that's another story - , it looks dated, but it is indeed a classic.
Best werewolf howl!
An American Werewolf in London is the best werewolf movie ever made!
Great movie! I like Bad Moon as it had a dog help out, the wolf makeup/costume was pretty good too. Dog Soldiers was another good werewolf movie
Defitnelly the best werewolf movie ever
Dog Soldiers is definitely up there but the makeup work in this is in its own class
Even after watching it at a young age I still love it to this day
The Howling is my favourite.
This man has 7 academy awards, Jesus Christ. American Werewolf in London still looks fantastic.
Still the very best
7 ? List them
@@user-rj8gd9of1p
Too lazy to google?
2011 Winner Oscar
Best Achievement in Makeup
The Wolfman
2001 Winner Oscar
Best Makeup
How the Grinch Stole Christmas
1998 Winner Oscar
Best Makeup
Men in Black
1997 Winner Oscar
Best Makeup
The Nutty Professor
1995 Winner Oscar
Best Makeup
Ed Wood
1988 Winner Oscar
Best Makeup
Harry and the Hendersons
1982 Winner Oscar
Best Makeup
An American Werewolf in London
@@user-rj8gd9of1p Google is free but I'll help: An American Werewolf In London, Harry and the Henderson, Ed Wood, The Nutty Professor, Men in Black, How the grinch stole Christmas and the Wolfman remake. Aside from that, he was nominated for 4 other ones.
@@user-rj8gd9of1p
1) An American Werewolf in London
2) Harry and the Hendersons
3) Ed Wood
4) The Nutty Professor
5) Men in Black
6) How the Grinch Stole Christmas
7) The Wolfman
The howl of the werewolf was so chilling.
The best. I think I remember them using part of that howl for the game "Altered Beast" every time the characters transformed.
@Attila Steele Landis said it was a combination of many animals, including a lion, a jaguar and an elephant, and mixed in with a locomotive horn. Once he mentioned the horn, I couldn't un-hear it.
@My Celly Weighs a Ton I watched it when I was 12 and it was fucking terrifying. Couldn't imagine it at 4, lol.
Right!? RIGHT!?? *RIGHT!!??* *_OF COURSE!!_*
Dude is so humble. Genius in his field. I hope this 18 year olds that worked with him went on to have great careers.
One of the 18 year olds was Steve Johnson. And he ended up doing ghostbusters, species and Spider-Man 2.
I was a teenager in 1981 when I saw an issue of LIFE magazine, with a whole behind the scenes thing with AWIL featured. I saw a kid who had long hair and wore flannel shirts like me, who was doing all of this great work. I was determined, and DID become a professional Special Effects Makeup Artist and still am. All thanks to Rick Baker!
This part of the story is amazing. Imagine being those teen? Incredible!
@@rokaanalzeer7148that’s awesome.
@@Valkonnencongratulations! That’s so cool you did it. Proper iconic.
Top 3 Werewolf Movies
1) An American Werewolf in London
2) The Howling
3) Dog Soldiers
Alot of people sleep on dog soldiers!!
Dog soldiers lmao that combo that dude threw..... gold.
Yea definitely the top 3 best. Check out my short skit Werewolf videos I make with my family on my channel.
1) An American Werewolf in London
2) Dog Soldiers
3) The Howling
Lol dog soldiers is the only sci-fi made movie i know that blew up so well That many think it was an actual theater performance 🤣
The scene Joe is talking about when the guy fell running up the escalator and the WW slowly creeping up is still the scariest horror scene for me ever.
Fk yes
I found the moors scene terrifying, and that bit with the escalator was a close 2nd for me. What a great movie we can all agree we had tons of nightmares 😀
@@vildanius My favourite moment is when the policeman finds it feasting on the disembowelled theatre usher. Classic brown trouser moment. The policeman was lucky to escape with his life.
The bit when he changes with bad moon rising
@@natureisallpowerful that bit is epic. One of the best cinematography shots of its time.
“An American Werewolf In London”, pure masterpiece of filmmaking. Without the immense talent of Rick Baker, the film wouldn’t work.
This film has always been special to me. I watched it with about 8 friends from high school in 1982 at my home. We were 13 years old. It was our first video movie ever, so you can imagine it made a huge impression to us all.
What a great memory. I wasn't born until '84 but this film was an important part of my childhood.
Same. Watched it as a youngun
My two favourite movies of all time.
American werewolf in London & the Thing.
Rick Baker & Rob Bottin are true artists & will both be remembered forever for their ground breaking Practical effects!
Fully agree...👏👏
And part of the reason for that is both men on both of those movies were working for directors who werent interested in being in their way creatively. John Landis and john carpenter just let rick and rob go wild and it really shows. Only an idiot tells mozart how to compose.
I know I'm probably in the minority when I say this but I enjoyed An American Werewolf In London far more than the thing. The effect in the thing were great but american werewolf In london seemed more iconic to me especially as a kid watching that transformation scene and being traumatized by it.
One of my favourite films of all time . " perhaps they'll be safe in the rain"
Wait! Do you hear it? I heard nothing.... You must go to them. David what is that? I say we go back to the Slaughtered Lamb.... Good idea
Here we are walking away 🎵 tralalalala🎵 isn’t this fun?
*howl*
Oh shit David what is that?!?
@@daveofosiris Maybe it's a bear....
Mine as well. I’ve seen this film more times than I can count.
My favourite part of the movie is when david and jack hear that wolf howl, imagine being in their situation terrifying shit
The werewolf at the end in the subway still gives me nightmares
Not kidding, this is a steady nightmare I’ve had since I was a child.
Not only was it a great looking werewolf. Not only did this movie have the best transformation scene ever. Also the werewolf had the best and most terrifying howl.
And the best Jenny Agutter😍
Mr baker was unique with the wolf transformation because he brought the effect out of the shadows and into the full light and it is still the greatest wolf transformation put on film..the man is a pure genius.
He said it was the directors idea but yeah anyways he's still a genius though
Even with today's technology you'd struggle to better it..probs makes it all the scarier
Even though he copied everything from Baker I still think Rob Bottin's transformation in The Howling is better
@@Paul-ew5st robs interpretation is different..
@@doctorsocrates4413 I think the Howling transformation hasn't aged well. AWIL is the superior werewolf movie as far as that goes. It's freakier and I can't quite put my finger on as to why. I think It was more believable and ultimately scarier as a result.
My VCR broke a long time ago, and I've gotten rid of all my VHS, but I still have an American werewolf in London on VHS. Just couldn't let that one go.
same ah ha
They didn’t mention it but the music/songs played in the film (Blue Moon & Bad Moon Rising e.g.) really enhance the tone and set it apart from other horror movies. One of my favorites from childhood.
Liberty or Death true
100%
Absolutly true, classy not tacky.
Rick Baker is way ahead of his time. The Werewolf design in An American Werewolf in London is still impressive to this day. Hopefully we'll get more Baker magic.
Aaaah...😔 ..the famous 'ahead of it's time ' comment... 😂
Are you sure it's Ahead and NOT of it's time⁉️
Because it is still effective today? What about Bela Lugosi's Dracula, it's still is good to watch today... was it also 'ahead of it's time'? And Alien? Also ahead?
😊
@@movid I to this day still haven't seen a Werewolf design or transformation that has matched that in An American Werewolf in London and considering it was made in 1981 and there's zero CGI that's damn impressive. Who cares what terminology is used to describe it? We have but a number of hours use them wisely.
@@lv2465 it's a comment that we see about everywhere for about almost everything on YT, related to music and film... it's lost it's meaning 😔
And I'm sorry to contradict, but other films used just as effective effects as these, which are as good if not better, seamless namely Alien, the Thing, the Exorcist , A Space odyssey , the Andromeda Strain, the Fly...and more. Werewolf is NOT an exception, although I like it very much...
@@movid Great movie's also that pushed boundaries in film making. I could add Fritz Langs Metropolis and The Forbidden Planet too.
Joe is right, American Werewolf in London is a masterpiece, definately one of my favorite movies of all Time
"it's circling us".... I still can't shake that scene. The wolf, out in the darkness, unseen.
"Heathcliff wasn't a dog "
"No but he lived in the moors."
Hell Yeah. This interview proves that if you let creative minds actually do what they want to do, you get masterpieces that will stand the test of time. American Werewolf In London is a masterpiece of cinema. The werewolf transformation simply cannot be matched. It set the bar that has yet to be moved. Thank you Rick Baker for your visions and dedication to your craft. It was very smart and respectable to have those who you inspire assist you. Brilliance across the board from thought to theatre. If you let brilliant people do their thing, these are the results. Positives create positives, negatives create negatives. Life, if looked at from a certain perspective is that simple.
I think the first attack scene was the best and scariest horror movie scene ever. The way they set it up, starting at the slaughtered lamb, and going to them walking on the Moors in the fog with the monster closing in, was absolutely genius! I could never go camping right after seeing that movie unless I had a handful of Adderall and an AK-47. The comedy intertwined with horror was perfect too!
The whole vibe in the slaughtered lamb Always scared me when I was a kid and it was the perfect build up to the attack scene
The scene where they leave the road, turning on to the moors & the first attack was filmed in the grounds of Windsor Castle.
No other werewolf movie has not even minutely come close to" An American werewolf in London!" and probably never will!...Cheers!...✌️👽🤖💜😷
I think the wolf man remake with Del Toro and Hopkins would be a close close 2nd.
@@Golfstar17lol ok...
Years ago when I was a kid, only days after watching The American Werewolf in London I got lost in local woods when it was getting dark. The film popped into my head and I ran so fast I think Usain Bolt would have struggled to catch me that day! Still to this day struggle to watch the transformation or moors scene with the sound on! Simply the best werewolf movie there is. Dog Soldiers was fun and The Howling and Silver Bullet watchable but dated now. The big difference with American Werewolf, as well as the Oscar winning special effects which put CGI to shame, was the fact Landis insisted on a four legged monster. A four legged "animal" with yellow eyes is far more terrifying than a wolfman on two legs¬!
Genius. I watched American WW a week or so ago and the effects still look amazing. Rick Baker is a genius. CGI still can't achieve the effects Rick came up with decades ago.
This film is a Masterpiece, what's so good about it in my opinion is that it is believable. The characters are well written, the snobby Doctor putting it down to hysterical behaviour, David in a no win situation. I'd love to see a prequal based on the residents of the village and how the werewolf come to be.
Would be amazing if this happend.
Yes American/British films can be very good. Just look at star wars. The brief provide a lot of creativity and good acting and the Americans just go for it they don't get phased. Brita have wonderful talent but they have an obsession with detail, social protocol and lack finance. The Americans can move past these obstacles. Then you get great movies.
Yeah but they'd fuck it up.
It would have to be an indie movie with practical effects made by people who care.
Woke Hollywood just ruins everything it touches with ham fisted political propaganda.
Definitely a prequel, ending with Jack and David entering the Slaughtered Lamb.
Transformation scene scarred (and scared) me so bad as an 11yo. Also the hospital scene. Had nightmares for so long. Great fuckin movie.
I pissed my pants at the hospital scene when his friend was there with his throat all torn up
The scene when he’s sitting in the hospital bed in the middle of the forest and he opens his yellow eyes and shows his teeth. Freaked me the hell out as a kid.
Same bro!!!
Same. I bailed on it in the theater in 1982 right after the first attack. I was expecting Lon Chaney.
I was not prepared.
I saw an American Werewolf in London on VHS as a kid back in the 80’s as a 10 year old. Good fucking movie🕺
If you see a pub named the Slaughtered Lamb, stay out of the Moors & just stay on the road😂🤘
Been to Slaughtered Lamb Pub many times in NYC...only thing scarey is the expensive menu
Think I’d rather just stay in the pub
always wanted to start a bar like that
I always wondered how helpful staying on the road would have actually been. Like, what? The wolf won't walk on gravel?
@@themagiccaster3455 lol I know right. ah ha ha maybe they are afraid of the cars
He looks amazing for 69.
That's how you stay looking young people...be passionate about what you love and keep that young mind stimulated.
:)
Luv this comment
I’m convinced he stopped aging after 1998.
@@rokaanalzeer why 1998 ?
He also retired and got out of the business when he knew when it was time to.I'm not a medical expert of any kind but I'm fairly sure that that and getting that kind of stress and studio interference out of his life could play a part in why he looks great for a guy who is almost 70 years old.
When I think of the movie, I think about the early days of HBO. They didn't have such a vast library of movies, so there were lots of movies repeated. AWIL was one of them. Tootsie, Annie, Animal House, Porky's, Kramer vs Kramer, etc. Certain movies I remember from the 1980-1984 era of HBO.
As a kid it was Griffin Dunn's role as Jack that stuck with me MOST!
Especially the piece of flesh hanging while he was talking. Incredible
@@LaloLanderos16 fer SHER! Been a fan of Griffin Dunne ever since, After Midnight and Search and Destroy being two of my one of my all-time favorite films. If you haven't already, definitely check them out.
... Also his father was Dominique Dunne 🤨
Can I have a piece of toast?
I watched the movie in 1982 HBO I was 6 years old
I like the beginning the most
Bad Moon and Dog Soldiers were a couple of my favorites for werewolf movies
Great movie.
Funny, scary, atmospheric, sad.
One of my favorites of all time.
That one dream sequence where David sees himself on the hospital bed in the woods with those creepy yellow eyes and sharp teeth still scares the shit out of me to this day. That face is forever burned into my brain.
Oh me too since I watched it on HBO in early 80’s
That still catches me out🤣🤣
Same here
Rick Baker is an absolute genius. Not only he had won the most oscars for best make up by by a landslide too. He has like 7 oscar wins while Stan Winston which finishes second place has 2 for best make up. Anyways, the transformation scene in this film takes the cake of any other werewolf film especially those crappy ass CGI. Even the Howling which was partially done by Rick can't touch this. Absolute work of art.
There is a HUGE difference between Stan Winston and Rick Baker. Without the team of the finest artists and the world that he uses, Stan Winston, on his own could never create the level of quality seen in the films he has done. On the other hand, working completely by himself, Rick Baker absolutely COULD create ALL of the work himself. Stan was a good and competent artist but Rick is a self taught genius in the art of special makeup effects.
Nothing on "The Howling" was "Partially done by Rick". Everything that you see onscreen is the work of Rob Bottin with his own crew of sculptors and technicians. Rick was originally hired and started a sculpture, but none of his work was used.
@@Valkonnenrob bottin worked for rick baler at the time. rick was booked to do the howling when john landis called him up for american werewolf. rick backed out but suggested rob who had been working on werewolf stuff with rick. thats why the techniques are similar while the approaches are totally different. they got thw protégé not the master.
the other reason the howling doesnt come close is while the wolf stuff is comparable the movie itself is nowhere near as good.
@@bloodlinefilms I've been a special effects makeup artist since 1983, so you're preaching to the choir.
I was 13 when this came out. Too young to see it. I was sleeping over at a childhood friend's house. His 16 year old sister came home after seeing this and was too scared to sleep in her own room. She crawled into bed with me, thinking it was her brother. Nothing happened obviously, but At 54, Probably one of the greatest moments of my childhood. I can still remember it like it was yesterday. :)
I was 12 when I watched it. Burned into my brain is an understatement with this movie.
Less is more.. it builds up the suspense and fear.
Very well said. I remember someone on UA-cam compiling up all of the time that the werewolf is actually seen on screen in An American Werewolf In London, I think the total amount came up to less than a minute and 50 seconds(I think that it might have been around somewhere a minute and 30 seconds or a minute and 32 seconds). As a film critic once said, a werewolf is a big, scary monster and if you see too much of it, it loses it's power. I plan to write books as well as comics in the future and I want to write a graphic novel about werewolves and in it, I don't intend to show the werewolves that much, An American Werewolf In London's approach had a big influence on how I want to write the story.
The movie was truly ahead of it's time and I think that more movies-even with all of the amazing visual effects and technology available today could stand to take a page out of An American Werewolf In London's playbook. I disagree with Joe, I don't think that CGI is the problem at all. As long as it's done exceedingly well, looks convincing and helps to tell the story and it's used for scenes that would be otherwise impossible, too dangerous or too costly to film for real, I'm in favor of it. If it's used unnecessarily and to an excessive degree and done in place of practical effects when and where practical effects could be used or it's used to try to prop up a weak story and a weak movie with weak performances, than that's different. But I don't see CGI as being the problem.
That dream sequence when David Naughton has those yellow eyes and fangs still gives me the creeps.
Me too, every single time.
Scared me to tears as a child.
Yeah, that scenes is one of the best “jump scene” in film history 😎
Same but as an adult I die laughing because of how insane it is.
David has stated that due to the contact lenses, that scene was the most painful scene he had to film.
Thank you Rick for your work on this, the Howling etc.
You're a legend that even CGI creators envy with your work ethic and vision.
Yes CGI ruined cinema, 100%. Show a kid a photo of a modern werewolf from a recent Werewolf film then show him the front cover of An American Werewolf in London. Everything about the American werewolf in London wolfman was bone chilling from the look of it and the sounds it makes. Its forever the scariest monster ever to come out of Hollywood film. Truly was the film that ingrained itself on me in my childhood. For years I had nightmares about it.
I'm not gonna be threatened by a walking meatloaf "
I'm sorry I called you meatloaf.
@@casucasueq4479 😂
Wow. Rick Baker the legend himself!
What an impactful film. Made an impression on me when I was a kid. Also remembered the name Rick Baker. 👍
I've watched this movie alot and the werewolf scenes still scare the shit out of me. Been 40+ years and still the best werewolf movie by majority. Set the bar awfully high with the realism of the werewolf.
I was lucky enough to see the movie in a theater and the moor scene made me shit my pants. And I've watched this film over a hundred times. Holds up easily! A Masterpiece!
That's a lotta pants
To this day the werewolf howl on the moors still gives me chills! My favorite movie genre is scary/monster flicks, and I have yet to hear a better howl. Now knowing more behind the scenes stuff, I look forward to my next re-watch.
Probably the number one movie that scared me when I was a kid.
I saw this film as a kid & just saw it again recently and it totally holds up. Classic. Perfect mix of horror & comedy. Rick Baker’s make up effects are so much realistic than most of today’s CGI. It’s sad that uncreative stuffed suits at Hollywood studios basically caused him to retire.
I watch this movie faithfully
American Werewolf had the best transformation and its not even close.
It's hilarious that a guy who is so famous for making all of these scary creatures and make up effects has such a soft and soothing voice. Seriously, he's like the Bob Ross of special effects make-up.
This dude was absolutely a genius. His grasp on special effect, look at the An American Werewolf in London film cover, the way the werewolf is designed is so animalistic in a way that CGI could never reproduce. That kind of special effects takes a master of his craft and time.
By far the most terrifying werewolf and the most terrifying unique sounding howl ever in any film
“I didn’t mean to call you a meatloaf jack” during the transformation scene. Dam this movie was so far ahead of it’s time.
You know it’s real when you apologize lol
One of my fav interviews ever and I’ve never even looked into these topics good job y’all
The fact that he had kids helping him with this awesome. Think, there are kids out there apart of one of the greatest horror/werewolf movies made to date.
This Guy is amazing and for me American werewolf in London is the best movie about werewolf
American Werewolf and Escape from NY were my two favorite films as a kid. I saw both well over 20 times in the theater alone. Got to the point where I could recite the lines. Rick Baker was one of my heroes back in the day. So glad to hear this interview.
I used to say this is the"Best werewolf movie of all time" now I say "This my favorite movie of all time". Just my opinion.
Finally an interview I’ll actually watch. Baker is a genius
Rick is soooo right. Sculpture takes a LONG time. It's complete immersive. You can spend and hour on one inch if clay. You can tell he is passionate about his art.
American Werewolf in London, Silver Bullet, the werewolf in Waxwork were great accomplishments of the 1980s.
All these years I didn't realize he was the guy that played the drug dealer in Into the Night. Always remembered that scene he was great.
So enjoyed this interview. Such a great movie
Great stuff Joe. Thanks! My favorite scene is the escalator scene too.
Have you ever talked to a corpse? IT’S BORING! 😂
I learned long ago, when I was a little kid watching Sat movies on TV on a rainy day. I would watch these old monster movies and realize the movie always stopped being scary once you saw the monster. Our imagination scares us more that what we see. The art of feeding us just enough visual to keep the mystery, but giving us a glimpse into the horror to come.
Loved the practical effects Rick has done for this film and would love to create a transformation scene like the one from American Werewolf in London with my own twist on it.
One of my favorite movies of all time. My dad showed it to me when I was only 11. 👍
Holy crap! My mom took me to see it when I was 11 too. Scared the crap out of me. Not sure I’ve forgiven her yet, still working on it. Funny, though, it’s one of my favorite movies that gets funnier every time
I wonder if Joe got a picture of Rick with the wearwolf out in his lobby
Brendan Lake I can happily confirm this happened
Yeah. It's on his Instagram.
My favorite specialfx artist and icon of all time! Rick Baker was amazing at what he produced for An American Werewolf in London. Good enough to create a special category to win an Oscar! Great interview never get enough listening to him!🎃🔪
This is one of the few podcasts ive watched twice.
I just watched an interview with Landis talking about how he kind of felt he showed the wolf a little too much during the transformation, just because it looked so cool. I think they did it perfectly, making the transformation so in your face with the bright lighting and longer shots, then making all the kills quick shots.
We love you, Rick!
Still the freakest and most amazing film editing ever!!!👋
Dwayne yeah no
100%
I saw AWIL with my big sister, I was in the 5th grade,,, we went to the 1at run on a Sunday afternoon,,, intense and it won't let you go. That movie had such an impact on me. Frightening!!
love Rick Baker love his work love American werewolf scared the shit out of me still the best werewolf film EVER MADE
Landis was awesome! Werewolf, Kentucky Fried movie, animal house! Classics
I didn't know Kentucky fried movie was his.... hmmmm...
man this dude Rick Baker is a passionate genius man ( ofc credits to his team of fans who worked relentlessly with him nd painted the masks and all ) the makeups and the the whole procedure of making the moulds and the mechanical head thing that puffs up the head and all is terrific!! all that effort ended up paying off ,creating the most unbelievebly realistic transformation ever ! and the first one to win an oscar , when i was little it used to scare the shit out of me , i had trouble sleeping for months after watching it!
a bloody unparalleled masterpiece ❤
I watched It part 2 last night and the cgi made me laugh. Practical effects have always been so much scarier.
His effects in the movie...brilliant! Love the transformation sequence, and also how Jack just keeps decomposing. Such a great movie
LOVE this film. And Rik, rest in peace.
I remember when American Werewolf in London first came out...I have to say it was a sight to see when you get to see the transformation of the werewolf....I was totally amazed
Love Elmer Bernstein's short but oh so very sweet score music.
The ending was so unique, favorite horror film ever
Fantastic movie, fantastic cast and out of this world special effects! An America Werewolf in London and The Thing is fantastic movies! I'm so glad that Rick Baker and Rob Bottin worked together, making so fantastic movies🥰
In my 40s now and this film still terrifies me.
One of my favorite movie's...
Watched it when I was about 9 mum and dad had it on the video shelf with delirious and up in smoke would get up early on the weekends and watch them big influence.
This movie is a legend. Rick is sharing so many interesting details.
I'm a fan since 1981...!! I was 14 then...!! I even asked to use my father's 8mm camera to film the the transformation as it was shown in the Oscars presentation on TV that year. I've been passionate about werewolves since then...!! And I love Rick Baker...!!! ❤
I love how Rick keeps directing the credit to Landis. Pure class. He gave an awesome talk on the TCM cruise and explained how he did the werewolf change in his Q & A portion. He has a book? where do we get it?
The guy who was attacked in the subway is the same actor that played Bib Fortuna (Jabba's majordomo) in Return of the Jedi
What still amazes me is that these were all practical effects. No CGI. Just wow.
My parents took me to see a double feature of Cats Eye followed by Werewolf in London when I was only 5. I got thru Cats Eye alright but not long after Werewolf started I became scared and one the carnage started I began screaming and hiding under the wooden folding theater seats for safety. We had to leave early because I was disturbing the maybe 20 other people in the theater. It became my favorite werewolf movie and one of my top horror movies.
Cat's Eye!!!
Cool you brought that up.
Great flick!
I just want an 8 hour video of this guy talking like this so I can sleep to it
The part that Joe is talking about at 18:52 I remember seeing a preview for the movie,. it was on a local late night horror show, I saw the movie with my uncle a week later, I was only 12 in the 7th grade, uncle is still alive today. Thanks life.
"Not everything is jolly in jolly old London"
That was the first promo I saw for the film.
I LOVED this interview. Huge fan.
Great interview
GREAT MOVIE. John Landis was a brilliant film maker. If not for Vic morrow and those two children, who knows what kind of career he could have had.
I had the awesome experience of meeting Rick Baker on the TCM cruise. He is so chill, and still a kid. We talked about building Aurora Monster models as kids. He is the G.O.A.T.