This week we get together again with Erik Kristopher Myers, and William Hopkins to talk about Hammer Horror films.
Here is a right up with some links provided by William Hopkins.
Best of Hammer Horror and related films... Despite their lavish look and many positive qualities, Hammer's horror films were made as "programmers" – quickly and cheaply made entertainment product that was almost always released as part of a double bill. So the films should be viewed and judged in that light. The Curse of Frankenstein (1957): The first in Hammer's Frankenstein series. An enormously successful (and controversial) film in its day – and it still holds up very well even now. You can buy or rent the film on YouTube here: https://youtu.be/FCNrxjaVf2M The Horror of Dracula (1958): The first in Hammer's Dracula series. Inventive script by Jimmy Sangster; clever direction by Hammer's best director, Terence Fisher; beautiful cinematography, sets, costumes. And a rousing, memorable climax that Hammer never topped. One of the top five Dracula adaptations. Buy or rent on YouTube: https://youtu.be/atQr_Eac11k The Revenge of Frankenstein (1958): The second in Hammer's Frankenstein series. A smart, well-crafted follow-up to the first film. Buy or rent on YouTube: https://youtu.be/IkXx3MeZNvU Brides of Dracula (1960): The second in Hammer's Dracula series. A lavish, colorful, fast-paced gothic melodrama that doesn't suffer at all from the absence of Dracula himself. A favorite of mine; I think it's one of Hammer's best. Buy or rent on YouTube: https://youtu.be/NEQHTxU63ls The Evil of Frankenstein: (1964): The first of the Hammer Frankenstein films to be produced in cooperation with Universal (who made the original Frankenstein in 1931). With an infusion of cash from Universal, this is one of most visually impressive of Hammer's Frankenstein films, with great sets that recall the Universal original. But the monster is one of the weakest of the Hammer series and the script is not up to par. Not one of Hammer's best but still enjoyable. Buy or rent on YouTube: https://youtu.be/cTyJWBF22zA Dracula: Prince of Darkness (1966): Christopher Lee returns to the role of Dracula - though he has no lines and is only briefly onscreen - in the third film in Hammer's series. Very well produced, and for once a genuinely suspenseful and even scary Dracula film. Frankenstein Created Woman (1967): An off-beat entry in Hammer's Frankenstein series. Not the best of the series, but surprisingly well-done and enjoyable. Dracula Has Risen From the Grave (1968): Fourth in the Hammer Dracula series, with Christopher Lee returning in the role of the Count. Entertaining, smart, fast-paced. Lee is only on screen briefly and has little dialog, but his snarling, red-eyed, demonic appearance in this film (and it's follow-up) are probably the reason he came to be thought of, by a generation of film fans, as the ultimate screen Dracula. Apparently, at the time this was Hammer's highest grossing film. Buy or rent on YouTube: https://youtu.be/s9gGa4t4sHc Taste the Blood of Dracula (1970): Christopher Lee had determined not to play Dracula again, so Hammer cast Ralph Bates as his replacement for this film. (Also in 1970, Bates briefly replaced Peter Cushing in Hammer's Frankenstein series.) But at the last minute Hammer managed to change Lee's mind, so here he is again - with Bates shifted over to the role of Dracula's would-be acolyte. Beautifully shot, fun, solid Hammer entertainment, though not the best of the Dracula films. One of two (!) Dracula films Hammer released in 1970. Buy or rent on YouTube:
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