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RE: Hammer Horror - 22/3/2008 9:17:20 PM

Manchurian candidate

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From: A Clear-Thinking Oasis

Kate Bush did a song called Hammer Horror.

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Post #: 31

RE: Hammer Horror - 26/3/2008 4:09:54 PM

matty_b

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Three of the more atypical Hammer films I've watched recently:

Phantom of the Opera - certainly the best version of this tale I've seen (not seen the silent one though) and lurid enough to make ti easily watchable if not one of Hammers best.

The Nanny - excellent. I knew virtually nothing of this one going on and was suitably rewarded with an eerie gem and a superb Bette Davis performance.

The Witches - just terrible. Starts off well, but descends into sub-Wicker Man rubbish, with the climax a cross between an episode of League of Gentlemen and a drama class for 7 year olds "Quickly, children - pretend you're possessed!"

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Post #: 32

RE: Hammer Horror - 26/3/2008 6:39:08 PM

evil bill

Posts: 6560
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From: mordor/ uk

quote:

ORIGINAL: matty_b

Three of the more atypical Hammer films I've watched recently:

Phantom of the Opera - certainly the best version of this tale I've seen (not seen the silent one though) and lurid enough to make ti easily watchable if not one of Hammers best.

The Nanny - excellent. I knew virtually nothing of this one going on and was suitably rewarded with an eerie gem and a superb Bette Davis performance.

The Witches - just terrible. Starts off well, but descends into sub-Wicker Man rubbish, with the climax a cross between an episode of League of Gentlemen and a drama class for 7 year olds "Quickly, children - pretend you're possessed!"

Two brillant hammer movie's there,and i'd forgot about both,seen them some tiome ago on the BBC late at night.Bette Davis was on fine form,a brillant actress who just kept going,and the rest of the cast ended up in the shade.
Phantom Of The Opera was the best version after Lon Channeys silent version.

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Post #: 33

RE: Hammer Horror - 29/3/2008 4:22:38 PM

matty_b

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From: Outpost 31 calling McMurtle.

The Viking Queen is an...interesting watch. To be fair to it, it's nowhere near as terrible as the title suggests, but it's a loooooong way from Spartacus!

It's an intriguing glimpse to the films that Hammer did besides horror though

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Post #: 34

RE: Hammer Horror - 30/3/2008 7:32:00 PM

evil bill

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From: mordor/ uk

SHE (1965) was a great bit of Fantasy film entertainment by Hammer,and for it's age still look's well.

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Post #: 35

RE: Hammer Horror - 31/3/2008 11:31:31 AM

Monkeyshaver

Posts: 4734
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From: La Planete Des Singe

All Hammer fans will want to tune in to Radio4 this tuesday afternoon - http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio4/history/greatlives/index.shtml

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Post #: 36

RE: Hammer Horror - 31/3/2008 2:03:46 PM

matty_b

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Good spot Monkeyshaver

I'm not a fan of She, but compared to the utterly tedious Vengeance of She it's a friggin' masterpiece!

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Post #: 37

RE: Hammer Horror - 3/4/2008 8:49:59 PM

evil bill

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From: mordor/ uk

Made in 1966 this is one of the great early Zombie movies,yet get's very little mention by other horror fan's.Set in a cornish village,it's a real chiller with a sub plot about greed and colonilism,might have given Romero his slant on how to make a Zombie with a message.

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Post #: 38

RE: Hammer Horror - 4/4/2008 8:22:55 AM

matty_b

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From: Outpost 31 calling McMurtle.

One of my absolute favourites there evil bill - a shame that Hammer only made on zombie film.

Just watched Fear of the Night - an intriguing departure for Hammer and an interesting pointer as to where their films would develop. It starts off slowly,but builds to an eerie and unsettling climax. Very underrated, I feel.

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Post #: 39

RE: Hammer Horror - 9/4/2008 11:43:37 AM

matty_b

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Just watched a bunch more.

Demons of the Mind was complete toss. Dull, poorly shot and largely incomphrensible despite a manic ending.

Night Creatures was a decent enough smuggling yarn. Worth watching just for Peter Cushing's villanious turn.

Paranoiac (unwieldy title or what?) and Nightmare would make a great double bill however, and are superb examples of how Hammer was often at its best when it explored more psychological horrors than gore. Both revolve around a young woman being driven insane by those around her and both are quite reminiscent of Hitchcock at his most straightforward.

Straight On Till Morning is a curio. Slightly strange to see Hammer trying to be contemporary (set in the 70s) and the direction is deliberately jagged and psychedelic at times. It's ultimately quite unsettling with a dsitrubing fairytale quality to it, even if it is a big rip off of Peeping Tom.

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Post #: 40

RE: Hammer Horror - 9/4/2008 9:08:05 PM

evil bill

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From: mordor/ uk

I just rewatched TO THE DEVIL A DAUGHTER and forgot how great it was,worth a watch.But it ended up being the final gothic horror movie they made,which was a shame as it was a great story and well acted all round.It got me thinking of those more erotic horror movie's they made like VAMPIRE LOVERS with Imgrid Pitt.Notting like a bit of bare feamale chests and blood to heat thing's up,as also seen in The Satanic Rites Of Dracula the final appearence of Lee's Dracula.

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Post #: 41

RE: Hammer Horror - 9/4/2008 9:35:42 PM

paul.mccluskey

Posts: 4945
Joined: 15/4/2007
From: Port Glasgow, Scotland, UK

I also like To the Devil a Daughter Bill, even though some of it is a little unpleasant! Chilling performance from Christopher Lee. I think Father Michael Rayner is one of his best Hammer performances.

The Satanic Rites of Dracula, or How MI5 Got Involved with Satanism and Vampires

. Not exactly the way I imagined Lee bowing out, but still a good flick. The modern-day Dracula stories were brilliantly imagined.

< Message edited by paul.mccluskey -- 10/4/2008 12:39:10 PM >

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Post #: 42

RE: Hammer Horror - 10/4/2008 9:11:41 AM

matty_b

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I've only got two films left in the Hammer bok set to watch, To The Devil a Daughter being one of them.

Watched Evil of Frankenstein - nicely shot, but fairly standard with rubbish make up for the monster - and Prehistoric Women last night. The latter has a surprisingly fun and sprightly last 20 minutes (particularly the patently fake killer rhino trundling around the jungle!), but it's not as sleazy as the title suggests and the studio never convinces as a lost valley.

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Post #: 43

RE: Hammer Horror - 15/4/2008 3:52:45 PM

Monkeyshaver

Posts: 4734
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From: La Planete Des Singe

I'm an avid Hammer fan, not just of their horrors but other classics like the On The Buses trilogy. I know there are a few books about Hammer but anyone recommend one? Incidentally really think it would be good to see a return to gothic horror, the so-called torture porn cycle is boring as are the asian horror remakes.

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Post #: 44

RE: Hammer Horror - 16/4/2008 7:59:17 AM

matty_b

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Yeah, I'd heartily appreciate a good book recommednation on Hammer as well.

Just watched Scars of Dracula - fairly average with cheap sets and a wooden Dennis Waterman as the hero. Still, the ending is vivid as is an earlier scene in a church where Dracula takes his vengeance on some rebellious villagers.

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Post #: 45

RE: Hammer Horror - 16/4/2008 7:34:25 PM

evil bill

Posts: 6560
Joined: 19/7/2006
From: mordor/ uk

quote:

ORIGINAL: matty_b

Yeah, I'd heartily appreciate a good book recommednation on Hammer as well.

Just watched Scars of Dracula - fairly average with cheap sets and a wooden Dennis Waterman as the hero. Still, the ending is vivid as is an earlier scene in a church where Dracula takes his vengeance on some rebellious villagers.

Try this,it was bought to me at Christmas;

It's a great read and has plenty of photos etc,covers Hammer from start to finish.
Scars Of Dracula was by far the goreist Hammer Horror movie ever,and it's hard to belive but they added even more gore for the Japanese cinema goers.

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Post #: 46

RE: Hammer Horror - 25/4/2008 12:52:50 PM

DAVID GILLESPIE

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From: Glasgow

I have very fond memories of watching Hammer movies late on BBC 1 when I was very young. I thought they were brilliant and still enjoy watching them.

As a by-the by is Horror Express (1973) a Hammer production? It certainly has a number of the regular actors.

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RE: Hammer Horror - 25/4/2008 1:37:23 PM

Monkeyshaver

Posts: 4734
Joined: 30/9/2005
From: La Planete Des Singe

quote:

ORIGINAL: DAVID GILLESPIE
As a by-the by is Horror Express (1973) a Hammer production? It certainly has a number of the regular actors.

Although its got the feel, & some of the cast of Hammer, its not one of theirs, nor is it an Amicus movie another company who regularly used Hammer actors/directors. I think its a spanish or italian production. Either way its a great movie!

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Post #: 48

RE: Hammer Horror - 25/4/2008 3:52:58 PM

matty_b

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Well I've finished both boxsets now - watched To The Devil A Daughter last night, and as you guys say quite unpleasant in places! Definitely a superior late era entry though.

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Post #: 49

RE: Hammer Horror - 28/4/2008 4:48:58 PM

paul.mccluskey

Posts: 4945
Joined: 15/4/2007
From: Port Glasgow, Scotland, UK

Bought this on Saturday, and it's pretty fascinating. With each film, it shows a list of what the BBFC wanted cut out. Surprisingly, they wrote to Hammer saying there was no need to cut anything from The Devil Rides Out!

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RE: Hammer Horror - 29/4/2008 7:10:58 PM

evil bill

Posts: 6560
Joined: 19/7/2006
From: mordor/ uk

quote:

ORIGINAL: paul.mccluskey

Bought this on Saturday, and it's pretty fascinating. With each film, it shows a list of what the BBFC wanted cut out. Surprisingly, they wrote to Hammer saying there was no need to cut anything from The Devil Rides Out!

I know for the home market they had at time's to make cuts,but for Europe mainland and certainly Japan they put in more blood and gut's.Now would'nt it be great to get those copys on remastered DVD.And before i forget the newly Restored DRACULA(1958) has had scenes never seen before in this country or the US also restored.

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Post #: 51

RE: Hammer Horror - 29/4/2008 7:47:12 PM

paul.mccluskey

Posts: 4945
Joined: 15/4/2007
From: Port Glasgow, Scotland, UK

quote:

ORIGINAL: evilbill

Try this,it was bought to me at Christmas;

It's a great read and has plenty of photos etc,covers Hammer from start to finish.
Scars Of Dracula was by far the goreist Hammer Horror movie ever,and it's hard to belive but they added even more gore for the Japanese cinema goers.

I have the original paperback version, but I'm going to update it to this brilliant hardback

!

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Post #: 52

RE: Hammer Horror - 4/5/2008 1:50:08 PM

deeplydisturbed

Posts: 24
Joined: 20/11/2006
From: Utopia

I adore Hammer Horror! I've just spent the last year doing my dissertation on it - had really good fun too! I have to say my favourie Hammer films have to be the vampire ones, particularly the Dracula series but also Vampire Circus. Also some of the Mummy series is good.
Also little bit of knowledge for you all, though some of the people that had read various books on Hammer may know this. Hammer originally planned to do an adaptation of I AM LEGEND. Now that would've been something worth seeing. Better than the new one anyway.

Also i know this is knida off topic, but anyone been watching 'Beyond the Rave'? I personally hate it. The idea of loading it up in 5 minuite segements is crap. But how can it compare to the originals? HOW? When all the tools hammer had back in the day such as exploitation of colour and so forth are commonplace today. All they have on their side now is blood and gore, and that's it. Oh and perhaps the look of the vampires but that's nothing special. The head vampire looks like Lestat from QotD. Ok, i've ranted enough.

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Post #: 53

RE: Hammer Horror - 4/5/2008 1:57:17 PM

Porrohman

Posts: 627
Joined: 3/10/2005
From: Nottingham

quote:

ORIGINAL: deeplydisturbed

I adore Hammer Horror! I've just spent the last year doing my dissertation on it - had really good fun too! I have to say my favourie Hammer films have to be the vampire ones, particularly the Dracula series but also Vampire Circus. Also some of the Mummy series is good.
Also little bit of knowledge for you all, though some of the people that had read various books on Hammer may know this. Hammer originally planned to do an adaptation of I AM LEGEND. Now that would've been something worth seeing. Better than the new one anyway.
Also i know this is knida off topic, but anyone been watching 'Beyond the Rave'? I personally hate it. The idea of loading it up in 5 minuite segements is crap. But how can it compare to the originals? HOW? When all the tools hammer had back in the day such as exploitation of colour and so forth are commonplace today. All they have on their side now is blood and gore, and that's it. Oh and perhaps the look of the vampires but that's nothing special. The head vampire looks like Lestat from QotD. Ok, i've ranted enough.

Just can`t bring myself to watch it yet.the title alone just makes my nose bleed.

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Post #: 54

RE: Hammer Horror - 5/5/2008 7:43:50 PM

evil bill

Posts: 6560
Joined: 19/7/2006
From: mordor/ uk

quote:

ORIGINAL: Porrohman

quote:

ORIGINAL: deeplydisturbed

I adore Hammer Horror! I've just spent the last year doing my dissertation on it - had really good fun too! I have to say my favourie Hammer films have to be the vampire ones, particularly the Dracula series but also Vampire Circus. Also some of the Mummy series is good.
Also little bit of knowledge for you all, though some of the people that had read various books on Hammer may know this. Hammer originally planned to do an adaptation of I AM LEGEND. Now that would've been something worth seeing. Better than the new one anyway.
Also i know this is knida off topic, but anyone been watching 'Beyond the Rave'? I personally hate it. The idea of loading it up in 5 minuite segements is crap. But how can it compare to the originals? HOW? When all the tools hammer had back in the day such as exploitation of colour and so forth are commonplace today. All they have on their side now is blood and gore, and that's it. Oh and perhaps the look of the vampires but that's nothing special. The head vampire looks like Lestat from QotD. Ok, i've ranted enough.

Just can`t bring myself to watch it yet.the title alone just makes my nose bleed.

Could be fun ,but i never have enough time to download that much,and Hammer of old still holds a special place in my heart so i'm with you on this one.

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Post #: 55

RE: Hammer Horror - 6/5/2008 1:08:11 PM

Monkeyshaver

Posts: 4734
Joined: 30/9/2005
From: La Planete Des Singe

Watched Brides Of Dracula & Frankenstein Created Woman last night. The latter being not as good as I remember it, takes a while for things to get going. Brides Of Dracula on the other hand was excellent, even better than my memory of it! No Chris Lee but a great little vampire movie, with a nice caddish villain, lots of spooky goings on & one of the best climaxes, all set in an abandoned windmill. Cushing is of course superb, he is the definitive Van Helsing!! A man of brawn as well as brains, not afraid to tussle with the vamps!!

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Post #: 56

RE: Hammer Horror - 9/5/2008 7:54:37 PM

evil bill

Posts: 6560
Joined: 19/7/2006
From: mordor/ uk

Think i'll watch The Seven Golden Vampires tonight just for a laugh,and then THE MUMMY with Cushing and Lee.

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Post #: 57

RE: Hammer Horror - 10/5/2008 4:38:28 PM

Porrohman

Posts: 627
Joined: 3/10/2005
From: Nottingham

quote:

ORIGINAL: evil bill

quote:

ORIGINAL: Porrohman

quote:

ORIGINAL: deeplydisturbed

I adore Hammer Horror! I've just spent the last year doing my dissertation on it - had really good fun too! I have to say my favourie Hammer films have to be the vampire ones, particularly the Dracula series but also Vampire Circus. Also some of the Mummy series is good.
Also little bit of knowledge for you all, though some of the people that had read various books on Hammer may know this. Hammer originally planned to do an adaptation of I AM LEGEND. Now that would've been something worth seeing. Better than the new one anyway.
Also i know this is knida off topic, but anyone been watching 'Beyond the Rave'? I personally hate it. The idea of loading it up in 5 minuite segements is crap. But how can it compare to the originals? HOW? When all the tools hammer had back in the day such as exploitation of colour and so forth are commonplace today. All they have on their side now is blood and gore, and that's it. Oh and perhaps the look of the vampires but that's nothing special. The head vampire looks like Lestat from QotD. Ok, i've ranted enough.

Just can`t bring myself to watch it yet.the title alone just makes my nose bleed.

Could be fun ,but i never have enough time to download that much,and Hammer of old still holds a special place in my heart so i'm with you on this one.

Got a bit of time on my hands tonight so i may just attempt to view a wee bit of it.

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Post #: 58

RE: Hammer Horror - 14/5/2008 2:05:02 PM

Dr Lenera

Posts: 3450
Joined: 19/10/2005

I saw this the other day too......

At the turn of the century,a monk from China arrives in Dracula's castle in Transylvania,and asks Dracula to help the Seven Golden Vampires dominate China. Dracula takes the form of the monk and begins a reign of terror in Asia. However,he's reckoned without his arch-enemy Professor Van Helsing,who along with his son,a rich woman who funds the expedition and seven martial arts experts,sets out to destroy the vampires,who also have zombies under their control....

I love this film,and yet I'm fully away of it's flaws. The film was a co-production between Hammer,who had lost their dominance of the horror market and were looking for something new to attract their public,and the Hong Kong studio Shaw Brothers who were the leading studio of martial arts films responsible for many classics of the genre such as The 36th Chamber Of Shaolin. The film was not the success it should have been but it's enormous fun.

Rather disappointingly,Dracula is hardly in the film,perhaps just as well when he's played by a guy who wears so much makeup he looks like a drag queen. He's dispatched ludicrously easily too and in a rather unimaginative way though as with other scenes the special effects really aren't bad. You could actually remove the Count from the movie and it wouldn't really matter!

However,looked at not as a Dracula film but a martial arts movie with horror elements the movie works much better. The many battle scenes [of which he Hong Kong version apparently has more] are very well staged and extremely gory,while there are some vivid horror scenes too,such as some bloody vampire attacks and quite atmospheric scenes of the zombie army raising out of the ground which are reminiscent of the Blind Dead movies. There is a superb set piece early on in the film where a villager tries to destroy the vampires and he kills one whereupon they summon the zombies to kill him. East meets west quite well here.

With Peter Cushing at his best,looking like he's enjoying himself as he shouts "strike at their hearts"! during the battle scenes,some really garish but appropriate lighting which sometimes looks like Mario Bava's,and an exciting music score by Hammer's best composer James Bernard [although it does sometimes recycle cues from previous films],this should never be considered up there with the likes of Dracula or The Devil Rides Out,but it's very entertaining. Best enjoyed with a couple of mates,a six pack and a curry!
7/10

< Message edited by Dr Lenera -- 25/6/2010 2:28:03 PM >

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Post #: 59

RE: Hammer Horror - 14/5/2008 2:55:34 PM

deeplydisturbed

Posts: 24
Joined: 20/11/2006
From: Utopia

Just got a copy of 'Dracula has risen from the grave' which i'll be watching soon. Let the good times roll...

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Post #: 60