Lawrence Talbot: Difference between revisions

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Lawrence Talbot, originally portrayed by Lon Chaney Jr., is the first and most famous incarnation of [[The Wolfman]], albeit not the first incarnation of werewolves in general. He's appeared, so far, in six movies (five of which feature Chaney in the role, and the sixth is a remake), two [[Neil Gaiman]] stories, various novels, and one shortlived (but rumored to return) [http://studiotriumph.com/talbot/?comic=1 webcomic]. He's the [[Trope Codifier]] for most werewolf tropes, and one of the more human and tragic iterations of the lycanthrope story.
Lawrence Talbot, originally portrayed by Lon Chaney Jr., is the first and most famous incarnation of [[The Wolf Man]], albeit not the first incarnation of werewolves in general. He's appeared, so far, in six movies (five of which feature Chaney in the role, and the sixth is a remake), two [[Neil Gaiman]] stories, various novels, and one shortlived (but rumored to return) [http://studiotriumph.com/talbot/?comic=1 webcomic]. He's the [[Trope Codifier]] for most werewolf tropes, and one of the more human and tragic iterations of the lycanthrope story.


In every incarnation (most of which fit more or less within the same continuity, 2010 remake exempted) he's the estranged son of Welsh lord John Talbot. After the events of the first movie, Talbot's appearances fall generally into one of three categories:
In every incarnation (most of which fit more or less within the same continuity, 2010 remake exempted) he's the estranged son of Welsh lord John Talbot. After the events of the first movie, Talbot's appearances fall generally into one of three categories:


* He's looking for someone to cure him (''[[Frankenstein Meets the Wolf Man (Film)|Frankenstein Meets the Wolf Man]]'' and ''[[House of Dracula (Film)|House of Dracula]]'').
* He's looking for someone to cure him (''[[Frankenstein Meets the Wolf Man]]'' and ''[[House of Dracula]]'').
* He's looking for somebody to kill him (''[[House of Frankenstein (Film)|House of Frankenstein]]'', briefly in ''[[House of Dracula (Film)|House of Dracula]]'').
* He's looking for somebody to kill him (''[[House of Frankenstein (film)|House of Frankenstein]]'', briefly in ''[[House of Dracula]]'').
* He's [[Genre Savvy|given up on trying to die]], and gone into business as a private eye and or monster hunter, trying to make up for his [[The Atoner|involuntary murderings]]. In the Gaiman and webcomic interpretations of this option, he's become a [[Deadpan Snarker]] and [[Knight in Sour Armor]].
* He's [[Genre Savvy|given up on trying to die]], and gone into business as a private eye and or monster hunter, trying to make up for his [[The Atoner|involuntary murderings]]. In the Gaiman and webcomic interpretations of this option, he's become a [[Deadpan Snarker]] and [[Knight in Sour Armor]].


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==== Original movie series: ====
==== Original movie series: ====


* ''[[The Wolf Man (Film)|The Wolf Man]]'' (1941)
* ''[[The Wolf Man]]'' (1941)
* ''[[Frankenstein Meets the Wolf Man (Film)|Frankenstein Meets the Wolf Man]]'' (1943)
* ''[[Frankenstein Meets the Wolf Man]]'' (1943)
* ''[[House of Frankenstein (Film)|House of Frankenstein]]'' (1944)
* ''[[House of Frankenstein (film)|House of Frankenstein]]'' (1944)
* ''[[House of Dracula (Film)|House of Dracula]]'' (1945)
* ''[[House of Dracula]]'' (1945)
* ''[[Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein (Film)|Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein]]'' (1948)
* ''[[Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein]]'' (1948)


==== Remake movie (series?): ====
==== Remake movie (series?): ====


* ''[[The Wolf Man (Film)|The Wolf Man]]'' (2010)
* ''[[The Wolf Man]]'' (2010)


==== Other works: ====
==== Other works: ====


* "Only the End of the World Again" and "Bay Wolf" (short stories by [[Neil Gaiman]])
* "Only the End of the World Again" and "Bay Wolf" (short stories by [[Neil Gaiman]])
* ''[[A Night in The Lonesome October]]'' (novel by [[Roger Zelazny]])
* ''[[A Night in the Lonesome October]]'' (novel by [[Roger Zelazny]])
* "Last Call for the Sons of Shock" (short story by David J. Schow)
* "Last Call for the Sons of Shock" (short story by David J. Schow)
* ''Frankenstein's Aunt'' (novel by Allan Rune Pettersson)
* ''Frankenstein's Aunt'' (novel by Allan Rune Pettersson)
* "[[Alvin and The Chipmunks (Animation)|Alvin and The Chipmunks]] Meet The Wolfman" (2000 DTV animated movie)
* "[[Alvin and The Chipmunks]] Meet The Wolfman" (2000 DTV animated movie)
* ''Talbot'' (webcomic)
* ''Talbot'' (webcomic)


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* [[Big Damn Heroes]]/[[Big Damn Villains]]: Has pulled a lot of these over the years. Hard to say which is which with him, as
* [[Big Damn Heroes]]/[[Big Damn Villains]]: Has pulled a lot of these over the years. Hard to say which is which with him, as
** His first attempt at doing this failed, and earned him his curse.
** His first attempt at doing this failed, and earned him his curse.
** In [[House of Dracula (Film)|House of Dracula]], he shows up just in time to save the day.
** In [[House of Dracula]], he shows up just in time to save the day.
** In [[Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein (Film)|Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein]], his transformation occurs just in time to fight off [[Dracula]].
** In [[Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein]], his transformation occurs just in time to fight off [[Dracula]].
** In [[Frankenstein Meets the Wolf Man (Film)|Frankenstein Meets the Wolf Man]], he transforms just in time to save the girl from the titular monster.
** In [[Frankenstein Meets the Wolf Man]], he transforms just in time to save the girl from the titular monster.
* [[Blessed With Suck]]: He's immortal and he heals very quickly... but he also regularly and involuntarily turns into a horrible monster that tries to kill his loved ones (and anybody else).
* [[Blessed with Suck]]: He's immortal and he heals very quickly... but he also regularly and involuntarily turns into a horrible monster that tries to kill his loved ones (and anybody else).
* [[Body Horror]]: Suffers through this at least once a month, and nightly throughout Autumn.
* [[Body Horror]]: Suffers through this at least once a month, and nightly throughout Autumn.
* [[Cassandra Truth]]: Talbot dutifully tells pretty much anyone who will listen that he's a werewolf. They never listen.
* [[Cassandra Truth]]: Talbot dutifully tells pretty much anyone who will listen that he's a werewolf. They never listen.
** They also never listen when he points out that [[Dracula]] [[Exactly What It Says On the Tin|is Dracula]].
** They also never listen when he points out that [[Dracula]] [[Exactly What It Says on the Tin|is Dracula]].
* [[Catch Phrase]]: Several.
* [[Catch Phrase]]: Several.
** "You don't understand!" Usually delivered while grabbing someone by their shirt and shaking them.
** "You don't understand!" Usually delivered while grabbing someone by their shirt and shaking them.
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* [[The Casanova]]: Talbot's a pretty suave ladies' man before becoming a werewolf, and every once in a while he stops angsting long enough for it to show through.
* [[The Casanova]]: Talbot's a pretty suave ladies' man before becoming a werewolf, and every once in a while he stops angsting long enough for it to show through.
* [[Complete Monster]]: Eventually averted. In the earlier movies, the Wolf itself was actively malicious. Eventually, though, it at least reaches a point where it would rather go after [[Dracula]] [[Even Evil Has Standards|than a helpless victim]] when given the choice.
* [[Complete Monster]]: Eventually averted. In the earlier movies, the Wolf itself was actively malicious. Eventually, though, it at least reaches a point where it would rather go after [[Dracula]] [[Even Evil Has Standards|than a helpless victim]] when given the choice.
* [[Continuity Nod]]: The villain of the second story arc in the webcomic is almost certainly Elsa Frankenstein, last seen in [[Frankenstein Meets the Wolf Man (Film)|Frankenstein Meets the Wolf Man]].
* [[Continuity Nod]]: The villain of the second story arc in the webcomic is almost certainly Elsa Frankenstein, last seen in [[Frankenstein Meets the Wolf Man]].
** The poem, which shows up in every movie (usually with Talbot lampshading it), as well as in the comic.
** The poem, which shows up in every movie (usually with Talbot lampshading it), as well as in the comic.
* [[Crowning Moment of Awesome]]: Talbot's racked up a few.
* [[Crowning Moment of Awesome]]: Talbot's racked up a few.
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* [[Dogged Nice Guy]]: [[Incredibly Lame Pun|Get it?]]
* [[Dogged Nice Guy]]: [[Incredibly Lame Pun|Get it?]]
* [[Downer Ending]]: Put it this way: the ''happiest'' ending to any of the movies is when Talbot has to kill the man who cured him.
* [[Downer Ending]]: Put it this way: the ''happiest'' ending to any of the movies is when Talbot has to kill the man who cured him.
* [[Dying As Yourself]]: Tablot's tried it without much luck a few times (including jumping off a cliff), but every time he dies, he dies hairy. He does revert to human form after dying, though.
* [[Dying as Yourself]]: Tablot's tried it without much luck a few times (including jumping off a cliff), but every time he dies, he dies hairy. He does revert to human form after dying, though.
* [[Evil Is Petty]]: Dracula goes out of his way to be a dick to Talbot.
* [[Evil Is Petty]]: Dracula goes out of his way to be a dick to Talbot.
* [[Expy]]: [[Freakazoid]] featured Lonny Talbut, who looked and exacted exactly like Larry.
* [[Expy]]: [[Freakazoid]] featured Lonny Talbut, who looked and exacted exactly like Larry.
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* [[Foe Yay]]: A bit with Elsa in the webcomic.
* [[Foe Yay]]: A bit with Elsa in the webcomic.
* [[Fur Against Fang]]: Against [[Dracula]]. Arguably the [[Trope Makers]], and almost certainly the [[Ur Example]].
* [[Fur Against Fang]]: Against [[Dracula]]. Arguably the [[Trope Makers]], and almost certainly the [[Ur Example]].
* [[Go-Karting With Bowser]]: He goes to a costume party with Dracula in one of the movies.
* [[Go-Karting with Bowser]]: He goes to a costume party with Dracula in one of the movies.
** [[Word of God]] claimed that had the webcomic continued, he and Dracula would have had an annual one-day truce to have dinner together on Christmas.
** [[Word of God]] claimed that had the webcomic continued, he and Dracula would have had an annual one-day truce to have dinner together on Christmas.
* [[Guile Hero]]: What he eventually evolves into in the Gaiman stories and the webcomic.
* [[Guile Hero]]: What he eventually evolves into in the Gaiman stories and the webcomic.
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* [[Narm Charm]]: The original makeup has not aged gracefully, and never looked much like a wolf to begin with and yet... it works.
* [[Narm Charm]]: The original makeup has not aged gracefully, and never looked much like a wolf to begin with and yet... it works.
* [[Nice Job Breaking It, Hero]]: He has this to say to anybody who brings him back from the dead, lets him out of a cage, or otherwise lets him loose. Not quite [[Once an Episode]], but pretty often.
* [[Nice Job Breaking It, Hero]]: He has this to say to anybody who brings him back from the dead, lets him out of a cage, or otherwise lets him loose. Not quite [[Once an Episode]], but pretty often.
** Talbot dicking around in Castle Frankenstein leads to the Monster being revived in [[Frankenstein Meets the Wolf Man (Film)|Frankenstein Meets the Wolf Man]].
** Talbot dicking around in Castle Frankenstein leads to the Monster being revived in [[Frankenstein Meets the Wolf Man]].
* [[Occult Detective]]: Ends up as one of these.
* [[Occult Detective]]: Ends up as one of these.
* [[Odd Friendship]]: When human, Talbot gets along very well with the Frankenstein monster.
* [[Odd Friendship]]: When human, Talbot gets along very well with the Frankenstein monster.
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* [[Private Eye Monologue]]: In the Gaiman stories and the second story arc of the webcomic.
* [[Private Eye Monologue]]: In the Gaiman stories and the second story arc of the webcomic.
* [[Screw Destiny]]: He's always trying to pull this off. He never manages it intentionally, sadly, but he is spared from killing his girlfriend in the first movie when his father beats him to death.
* [[Screw Destiny]]: He's always trying to pull this off. He never manages it intentionally, sadly, but he is spared from killing his girlfriend in the first movie when his father beats him to death.
* [[Sealed Evil in A Can]]: Talbot was actually briefly this when frozen under Castle Frankenstein. He gave a decent [[Nice Job Breaking It, Hero]] speech to the scientist who thawed him out. Only problem one, [[Mad Scientist|the scientist]] [[Wrong Genre Savvy|wasn't a hero]].
* [[Sealed Evil in a Can]]: Talbot was actually briefly this when frozen under Castle Frankenstein. He gave a decent [[Nice Job Breaking It, Hero]] speech to the scientist who thawed him out. Only problem one, [[Mad Scientist|the scientist]] [[Wrong Genre Savvy|wasn't a hero]].
* [[Serial Killer Killer]]: Later appearances depict him as this. Technically, he's been this since the first time he tried to kill himself.
* [[Serial Killer Killer]]: Later appearances depict him as this. Technically, he's been this since the first time he tried to kill himself.
* [[Shout-Out]]: Talbot's bookshelf in the webcomic is full of them, including [[Dracula]], [[The Necronomicon]], and [[Frankenstein|The Secrets of Life And Death]]:
* [[Shout-Out]]: Talbot's bookshelf in the webcomic is full of them, including [[Dracula]], [[The Necronomicon]], and [[Frankenstein|The Secrets of Life And Death]]:
** He has a copy of ''Donovan's Brain'' by Curt Siodmak... Curt Siodmak created Lawrence Talbot.
** He has a copy of ''Donovan's Brain'' by Curt Siodmak... Curt Siodmak created Lawrence Talbot.
** Finally, he has two large volumes titled "[[Our Werewolves Are Different]]" and "[[Our Vampires Are Different]]," both by [[TV Tropes|T. Tropes]].
** Finally, he has two large volumes titled "[[Our Werewolves Are Different]]" and "[[Our Vampires Are Different]]," both by [[TV Tropes|T. Tropes]].
** The list of victims that appears on his desk is full of famous [[Film Noir]] and horror characters, specifically: [[A Nightmare On Elm Street|N. Thompson]], [[Halloween (Film)|L. Strode]], [[The Big Sleep (Film)|E. Mars]], and [[The Maltese Falcon|J. Cairo]].
** The list of victims that appears on his desk is full of famous [[Film Noir]] and horror characters, specifically: [[A Nightmare on Elm Street|N. Thompson]], [[Halloween (film)|L. Strode]], [[The Big Sleep (film)|E. Mars]], and [[The Maltese Falcon|J. Cairo]].
* [[Sliding Scale of Idealism Versus Cynicism]]: He starts out as idealistic as they come. He's spent every appearance since falling further down the scale.
* [[Sliding Scale of Idealism Versus Cynicism]]: He starts out as idealistic as they come. He's spent every appearance since falling further down the scale.
* [[Super-Powered Evil Side]]: Talbot's wolf form is nigh-unkillable, and able to go toe-to-toe with the Frankenstein Monster and [[Dracula]].
* [[Super-Powered Evil Side]]: Talbot's wolf form is nigh-unkillable, and able to go toe-to-toe with the Frankenstein Monster and [[Dracula]].
* [[Tear Jerker]]: The ending of two out of five movies:
* [[Tear Jerker]]: The ending of two out of five movies:
** In [[The Wolfman]], he's beaten to death by his father.
** In [[The Wolf Man]], he's beaten to death by his father.
** In [[House of Frankenstein (Film)|House of Frankenstein]], he's killed by his love interest... seconds after mortally wounding her.
** In [[House of Frankenstein (film)|House of Frankenstein]], he's killed by his love interest... seconds after mortally wounding her.
** Also from [[The Wolfman]], his [[Hope Spot]] is over pretty quickly. His love interest accepts him, they make plans to run away together, and he pretty much immediately finds out that he's doomed to kill her [[Because Destiny Says So]].
** Also from [[The Wolf Man]], his [[Hope Spot]] is over pretty quickly. His love interest accepts him, they make plans to run away together, and he pretty much immediately finds out that he's doomed to kill her [[Because Destiny Says So]].
* [[Ten Minute Retirement]]: Any time he gets killed/cured/frozen solid. It never lasts.
* [[Ten-Minute Retirement]]: Any time he gets killed/cured/frozen solid. It never lasts.
* [[Ultimate Showdown of Ultimate Destiny]]: Talbot's involved in several of these; the final three movies in the original series involve not only Talbot, [[Dracula]], and the Frankenstein Monster, but an evil [[Mad Scientist]] and his hunchback ([[House of Frankenstein (Film)|House of Frankenstein]]), a good [[Mad Scientist]] who ends up a Mr. Hyde-esque monster ([[House of Dracula (Film)|House of Dracula]]), and finally [[The Invisible Man (Film)|The Invisible Man]] (althought he didn't do much) and a [[The Vamp|vampiric seductress]] ([[Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein (Film)|Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein]]).
* [[Ultimate Showdown of Ultimate Destiny]]: Talbot's involved in several of these; the final three movies in the original series involve not only Talbot, [[Dracula]], and the Frankenstein Monster, but an evil [[Mad Scientist]] and his hunchback ([[House of Frankenstein (film)|House of Frankenstein]]), a good [[Mad Scientist]] who ends up a Mr. Hyde-esque monster ([[House of Dracula]]), and finally [[The Invisible Man (film)|The Invisible Man]] (althought he didn't do much) and a [[The Vamp|vampiric seductress]] ([[Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein]]).
* [[What Could Have Been]]: The webcomic. [[Word of God]] states that it was going to span a 70+ year timeline, out of sequence, and attempt to marry [[Film Noir]] and classic horror tropes, but it ended up ending abruptly during the second story arc when the whole studio imploded. While it didn't last very long, it was by far the most successful comic on the site, and rumors persist that it's going to return, mostly fueled by the site recently being re-activated and cleaned up.
* [[What Could Have Been]]: The webcomic. [[Word of God]] states that it was going to span a 70+ year timeline, out of sequence, and attempt to marry [[Film Noir]] and classic horror tropes, but it ended up ending abruptly during the second story arc when the whole studio imploded. While it didn't last very long, it was by far the most successful comic on the site, and rumors persist that it's going to return, mostly fueled by the site recently being re-activated and cleaned up.
* [[What Happened to The Mouse?]]: Talbot attacks somebody in the last movie, and the guy lives through it. We never find out if he becomes a wolf himself, though. In fact, throughout the movies we never find out if Talbot's bite transfers the curse. In the older movies, this may be intentional; his wolf form is substantially different than the one that bit him, and it's not clear that he can pass it on. The 2010 remake implies pretty heavily that he can, though.
* [[What Happened to the Mouse?]]: Talbot attacks somebody in the last movie, and the guy lives through it. We never find out if he becomes a wolf himself, though. In fact, throughout the movies we never find out if Talbot's bite transfers the curse. In the older movies, this may be intentional; his wolf form is substantially different than the one that bit him, and it's not clear that he can pass it on. The 2010 remake implies pretty heavily that he can, though.
** Heck, the last time we see Talbot in the original series, he's falling off a cliff fighting Dracula. The movie doesn't bother to indicate what happens after they land.
** Heck, the last time we see Talbot in the original series, he's falling off a cliff fighting Dracula. The movie doesn't bother to indicate what happens after they land.
* [[Who Wants to Live Forever?]]: Not Lawrence.
* [[Who Wants to Live Forever?]]: Not Lawrence.
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* [[Yank the Dog's Chain]]: Lots. A particularly vicious one from the first movie is mentioned above, but the second movie isn't much better. He travels across Europe, hearing of a brilliant scientist who could help him ([[Frankenstein]]), but by the time he gets to the Doctor's castle, he's long since deceased. Talbot's persistent, though, and manages to find both Frankenstein's notes, and a scientist willing to use them. Then the scientist decides to re-power the monster [[For Science!]], and it all goes to Hell.
* [[Yank the Dog's Chain]]: Lots. A particularly vicious one from the first movie is mentioned above, but the second movie isn't much better. He travels across Europe, hearing of a brilliant scientist who could help him ([[Frankenstein]]), but by the time he gets to the Doctor's castle, he's long since deceased. Talbot's persistent, though, and manages to find both Frankenstein's notes, and a scientist willing to use them. Then the scientist decides to re-power the monster [[For Science!]], and it all goes to Hell.
** Again in the third movie, the [[Mad Scientist]] villain keeps promising to cure Talbot, but has no intention of doing so and both Talbot and his love interest end up dead because of it.
** Again in the third movie, the [[Mad Scientist]] villain keeps promising to cure Talbot, but has no intention of doing so and both Talbot and his love interest end up dead because of it.
** Again in between the fourth and fifth movies; he seems to be cured at the end of ''[[House of Dracula (Film)|House of Dracula]]'', but it doesn't last.
** Again in between the fourth and fifth movies; he seems to be cured at the end of ''[[House of Dracula]]'', but it doesn't last.


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