Duncan Marsh(Steven Ritch)is "poisoned by radiation" leading to his lycanthrope affliction at the hands of corrupt scientists Dr Morgan Chambers(George Lynn) & his assistant Dr. Emery Forrest. It's in Chambers head that he will inflict the human race with lycanthropy leading to their destroying themselves saying he wishes to "cure the world" of those he deems unworthy to live in. Marsh accidentally kills a man trying to steal from him and this leads to a manhunt with Sheriff Jack Haines(Don Megowan), his deputies, & fellow deer-hunting citizens trying to find the afflicted werewolf in the woodland near the sleepy town they occupy. Meanwhile, Chambers and Forrest head for Mountaincrest themselves with plans to murder Marsh so that they will not be implicated for their crimes against humanity and the natural order of things.

The film's strength, in my opinion, is the humanistic struggle to save a victim of man's evil scientific goals and corrupt convictions. The sheriff is stuck between a rock and a hard place, often seeking guidance in how to lead his men on the hunt for Marsh. His moral guidance often comes from town physician Dr. Gilchrist(Ken Christy)and girlfriend nurse Amy(Joyce Holden). They are his voices of reason and humanity in such a difficult search for a man who doesn't wish to harm anyone, but is plagued with a primal animal that is dangerous.

Good little werewolf movie, packs a bit of an emotional wallop thanks to Ritch's unfortunate situation and it's effects on his family and the paranoid, afraid community of Mountaincrest. The mountainous setting is rich with atmosphere and it's a breath of fresh air from the usual movie lot sets. This film uses dissolves when Ritch turns from human to werewolf and vice versa from the same make-up man behind "The Return of the Vampire."

In Mountaincrest, a stranger without memory arrives in a bar to have a drink. When he leaves the bar, a local tries to robber him but he turns into an animal and kills the attacker. Deputy Ben Clovey (Harry Lauter) hunts down the animal but is wounded by it. Sheriff Jack Haines (Don Megowan) organizes a party to find the beast. Meanwhile the nurse Amy Standish (Joyce Holden) and her father, the local doctor, receive a man called Duncan Marsh (Steven Ritch) that recalls that he had a car accident and two doctors have treated him. But he flees and Haines wants to hunt him down but Amy and her father wants to convince him to capture Duncan to see how they could treat him. When is wife Mrs. Helen Marsh (Eleanore Tanin) and her son Chris arrive in Mountaincrest, Sheriff Haines is convinced that shall capture the werewolf alive. But the doctors that conducted the experiment arrive in the town expecting to kill him.

"The Werewolf (1956)" is a film with the genre more drama than horror. The sad saga of the family man Duncan Marsh is heart breaking. The plot is interesting and the transformation is excellent for a 1956 movie. The performance of Steven Ritch is also great. My vote is six.

Title (Brazil): "O Lobisomem" ("The Werewolf")