Question: At the time that this movie was made, nobody knew what made a werewolf, what could kill a werewolf, or when a werewolf would appear. Who decided that these things could happen?
The Wolf Man (1941)
1 question
Directed by: George Waggner
Starring: Claude Rains, Lon Chaney Jr., Ralph Bellamy, Warren William
Continuity mistake: Early in the film, when the gypsy Bela becomes a wolf that attacks Jenny and bites Talbot, he is in true four-legged animal form, sans clothing. After being killed, his human corpse is wearing clothes although it is remarked that his feet are bare. Later, when Talbot transforms, he is a Wolf-Man, wearing clothes and walking on two legs.
Frank Andrews: I couldn't take my eyes off that walking stick of his.
Trivia: Even though Maria Ouspenskaya plays Bela Lugosi's mother in the movie, she was only 6 years older than him.
Answer: Werewolves as a concept date back many years - this film originated many of the current conventions though, so the simple answer to your question is "the writers of this film". See the Wikipedia for more info - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Werewolf.