The ruins of the church in that movie were built by the movie studio and taken down later. It was clearly visible from the 2 train during filming. At that time something like 90% of the population of that neighborhood was gone. Now it is completely filled in with new and some renovated buildings. It wasn't a slum; it was just empty.
I saw the filming of the scene where Warren was killed in the car on Wall Street. It took two nights in February, 1980. On the first night, the crew had real wolves available, but I missed that. On the second night, the crowd waited about four hours to watch the car blow up. They didn't want any retakes on that scene.
So how come the wolfen didn't object when they starting losing their hunting grounds starting in 1989, but they didn't want even one development in 1981? I know, it's allegorical and I'm so literal-minded that I'm missing the point. That's just how I am.
The wolften wanted certain concessions from Orion Pictures, and the studio decided against that. They thus figured that wolves looked identical and they would have to make do with that. Besides, wolves are easier to handle.
