I grew up watching Hammer Horror films on late night horror hosted TV shows like “Creature Feature” and became an instant fan. Busty babes, bloody gore, gothic atmosphere they had it all while reinventing the films of classic monsters like Frankenstein, Dracula, The Mummy and The Wolfman, as well as a heaping helping of Psycho’s, Maniacs, Monsters, Satanist, Dinosaurs, Vikings, Pirates and even Sherlock Holmes. Between 1956 and 1979 the studio unleashed a wave of horror producing 116 films. Here’s a quick rundown on some of my favorites in chronological order.

X The Unknown
d. Leslie Norman 1956 78 min B&W
Anchor Bay DVD w/ Trailer 1.37:1
Here’s a case where the Tagline: “It rises from 2000 miles below the earth to melt everything in its path”! pretty much sums it up. Before Irvin S. Yeaworth Jr.’s “The Blob” ‘58 or Mario Bava’s “Caltiki: The Immortal Monster” ’61, in 1956 Hammer Studios unleashed X, a growing black oozing glob of death that creates plenty of tension at a British Army base. Making for an excellent black & white sci-fi classic for the 50’s freaks like me. However brief, you gotta love the melting face.

The Curse of Frankenstein
d. Terence Fisher 1957 83 min Color
Warner Bros. DVD w/ Trailer 1.66:1
The first of 7 Frankenstein films this is a classic through and through that saw great success . Starring Hammer vets Christopher Lee as the Monster and Peter Cushing as the tireless maniacal Dr. Baron Von Frankenstein, Terence Fisher directs a gothic revamping of the tale based on Mary Shelly’s classic novel. With his tutor turned unwilling assistant Paul [have you ever notice that almost every Hammer film has someone named Paul?] the Baron gives his all to create life from corpses. The necessary laboratory filled with gadgets, madness, murder, gothic gloom and but of course the horribly scarred monster. The unmasking of the monster is a sight that will stick with you. Followed by “The Revenge of Frankenstein” ’58, The Evil of Frankenstein” ’64, “Frankenstein Created Woman” ’67, “Frankenstein Must Be Destroyed” ’69, “The Horror of Frankenstein” ’70, “Frankenstein and The Monster from Hell” ’74.

Mummy, The
d. Terence Fisher 1959 88 min Color
Warner Brothers Video Fullframe
Tagline: “Its evil look brings MADNESS! Its evil spell ENSLAVES! Its evil touch KILLS KILLS KILLS!” Like Universal, those Brits over at Hammer Studios had success with Frankenstein and Dracula, so it just makes sense to follow with a Mummy series. Peter Cushing’s father discovers/desecrates the tomb of Princess Ananka and despite the warnings of a high priest “he who robs the tombs of Egypt…dies”, enters the tomb and goes insane. 3 years later that high priest manages to resurrect Kharis the Mummy [Christopher Lee] to kill, kill, KILL the sacred tombs defilers with his evil death grip. Terence Fisher directs another Hammer signature classic. Followed by “Curse of the Mummy’s Tomb” ’64, The Mummy’s Shroud” ’69, and “Blood from the Mummy’s Tomb” ’71.

The Kiss of the Vampire
d. Don Sharp 1962 78 min Color
MCA Universal Video
A lost newly wed couple finds themselves stranded in a small 19th century Bavarian town accept the hospitality of a vampire family and their evil leader Dr. Ravna. Gerald and his bride Marianne attend a party at Ravnas mountainside chateau; Marianne is taken, made a vampire and a disciple of a demonic society. In order to save his bride Gerald enlists the aid of Professor Zimmer. Together they manage to get Marianne back and perform an ancient ritual in a attempt to stop Ravnas evil doings. A classic in true Hammer Studio’s fashion now Unrated and re-mastered for Universals Hammer Horror Collection.
a. k. a. Kiss of Evil

The Nanny
d. Seth Holt 93 min 1965 B&W
Universal DVD w/ Restoration Comparison, Trailer, TV Spots, Press Book Gallery, Poster Gallery, Lobby Card & Still Gallery
An excellent Hammer film that doesn’t look like a Hammer film. What we have is more of a take on “The Bad Seed” in Hitchcock psychological thriller territory. Master Joey is a deplorable 10 year old [woman hating] lad who’s having a bit of a conflict with his Nanny Bette Davis. He is now back at home after a stay at a mental hospital---his little sister was drowned in the bath tub and he is the prime suspect after all he is a mischievous little fellow, yet he claims the nanny is responsible. All the while mom turns into an alcoholic mess and Dad is gone on business. Direction is top notch as this spicy little thriller unfolds with the usual twists and acting is top notch by Davis and especially William Dix as Joey. Creepier than one might think this is one that goes well with the lateness of the evening. Now available in an awesome restored DVD from Universal.

Plague of the Zombies
d. John Gilling 1966 90 min Color
Anchor Bay Entertainment w/ Theatrical Trailer, Combo Trailer 1.85:1
These are not you usual gut munching zombies mind you. One of Hammer’s better films finds pushy Andre Morell in a village where the dead has risen from the grave. Shot back to back with “The Reptile” utilizing many of the same sets, director John Gilling delivers the goods with lots of great atmosphere. Hammer Studios, classic, looks right, feels right…is right. I thank you Anchor Bay.
a. k. a. The Zombies

Scars of Dracula
d. Roy Ward Baker 1970 95 min Color
Anchor Bay Entertainment DVD w/ Commentaries, Trailers, Poster & Still Gallery, Talent Bios
Opening with a bloody bang director Roy ward Baker delivers the goodies in this 5th entry of 7 that is easily my favorite in the so-so Dracula series. And it just so happens to be the bloodiest of Hammer’s Dracula series. Yet another Paul [why is there always a Paul?] escapes from the Burgomaster after ‘interfering’ with his daughter, soon finds himself in the gloomy abode of Count Dracula [Christopher Lee in his 5th role] and his overly eye-browed and abused assistant. So his brother and his cleavage wielding blond bride come looking for him. By now we all know what Dracula does. Although Lee, who was fed up with the role at this point, doesn’t get a hell of a lot of screen time. This one is bursting with blood, cleavage, angry villagers, a sense of humor and gloom and doom that make it well worthwhile. You just have to over look those really fake looking bats. UNCUT on Anchor Bay. It original double billed with “Horror of Frankenstein” and was followed by the abysmal “Dracula A. D. 1972”.
Here’s the rest of ‘em: “Horror of Dracula” ’57, “Dracula: The Prince of Darkness” ’66, “Dracula Has Risen From the Grave” ’68, “Taste the Blood of Dracula” ’70, “Dracula A. D.” ’72, “The Satanic Rites of Dracula”.

The Vampire Lovers
d. Roy Ward Baker 1970
MGM DVD w/ Countess Dracula, Trailers 1.66:1
The same year as the entertaining “Scars of Dracula” Roy Ward Baker directed the first film in “The Karnstein Trilogy” followed by “Lust for the Vampire” ‘71 and “Twins of Evil” ’72. One of a number of films like “The Blood-Spattered Bride” ’72 that tells of lesbian vampires based on J. Sheridan Frau’s Carmilla. Paired with “Countess Dracula” on the same MGM Midnite Movies Double feature DVD, “The Vampire Lovers” is a very strong entry. Hammer babe Ingrid Pitt is Carmilla, a lusty vampire vixen that moves from house to house in a small town seducing beautiful young women for lesbian lust and to drink their blood as they slowly die. As the bodies pile up suspicions grow among the towns men who look for a means to end the massacre. This a time when Hammer started injecting nudity into the mix of, foggy grave yards, haunting imagery, castle ruins, beautiful nightgown clad women at every turn and even Hammer regular Peter Cushing has a small role.

Countess Dracula
d. Peter Sasdy 1970 93 min Color
MGM DVD w/ The Vampire Lovers, Trailers 1.66:1
Now you didn’t think Hammer passed on a Elizabeth Bathory film did you? Here they take on the tale of the Countess who bathed in virgin’s blood. Elizabeth [Ingrid Pitt] is old aging woman that [like Jorge Grau’s “The Legend of Blood Castle”] is splashed with some blood of her servant . Much to her delight she discovers it restores her youth. With her new beauty she starts up a romance with a young man but soon discovers the effect doesn’t last. SO BRING ON THE VIRGINS!! Rife with gothic period piece settings, a little nudity, mild gore, murder and while a bit on the routine side with the usual Hammer trappings, I like Countess Bathory. So this one’s in the club.

Countess Bathory in model form:

Hands of the Ripper
d. Peter Sadsy 1971 82 min Color
VidAmerica Video Fullframe
Seemingly forgotten and wrongly overlooked this unusual take on Jack the Ripper is a excellent Hammer vehicle as well as one of my all time favorites from our British friends. As a small child Anna watches her father, Jack the Ripper, murder her mother. Now as an adult with nowhere to go she is taken in by one Dr. John Prichard who uses psychoanalysis to see if she is the one responsible for a series of ‘Jack the Ripper’ like murders. We as the viewer know the anytime Anna sees a reflecting sparkle from a gem or mirror it triggers a uncontrollable desire that causes her to kill. Could it be that she is possessed by her fathers spirit? 19th century setting, and gory kills are just the beginning of this classic.

Vampire Circus
d. Robert Young 1972 87 min Color
Luminous Film and Video Fullframe
This my friends, is an excellent vampire outing that serves up plenty of gore and nudity---easily one of the best and strangest on Hammer’s roster. A 19th century village is the scene where the locals kill a vampire that promises to kill there children in order to come back to life. Now 15 years later a strange circus of vampires with a relative of the slain Count come to the plague ridden village to see that he will be avenged. Good atmosphere, script, twins transforming into bats, a lion lady, the Mirror of Life room and a barrage of blood has just about all of the cast eliminated. UNCUT at 87 minutes be wary of prints cut to 84.

Straight on Till Morning
d. Peter Collinson 1972 96 min Color
Anchor Bay DVD w/ Trailer, 1.78:1
Do yourself a favor and find this recommended psychedelic psycho drama/thriller produced by Hammer Studios. Rita Tushinghsam nails the role of a timid on edge chick living in a bit of a fantasy fairy tale world that wants to have a baby and travels to London to pick the wrong potential father in the form of Shane Briant, who just so happens to be a wacked out killer that despises beauty. Taut and mildly on the disturbed side the frenzied editing helps exemplify the cracking psyche of the main characters. Tensely directed by Peter Collinson the director of the baby sitter in peril “Fright” ’71 and the first remake of “The Spiral Staircase” ’71. a. k. a. Dressed for Death, The Victim, Til Dawn Do Us Part

To the Devil...A Daughter
d. Peter Sykes 1976 93 min Color
Anchor Bay Entertainment DVD w/ Theatrical Trailer, The death of Hammer featurette, Poster and still gallery, Talent bios 1.85:1
Video prints were trimmed by 5 minutes but this Anchor Bay DVD is UNCUT with the violence, brief orgy scene and Nastassja Kinski’s full frontal nudity back where it belongs. Based on the novel by Dennis Wheatly [who was most displeased with the film] of the same name, this stars Christopher Lee in top form as a heretic priest [best kind I say] that looks to use teenage nun Kinski [in her first major role] to spawn Satan’s unholy child. But pesky occult novelist Richard Whitmark discovers his plans and is out to find a way to stop him. Can this black magic marriage be stopped before the innocent girl is defiled as the womb of Satan? A little on the slow side with a goofy ending, this Hammer shocker fares well on these eyes. This proceeded Hammer’s final film, a remake of Alfred Hitchcock’s “The Lady Vanishes” in 1979.

Flesh and Blood: The Hammer Heritage of Horror
d. Ted Newsom 199 100 min Color, B&W
Image DVD w/ Trailer
I [obviously] have loved Hammer films since I was but a wee lad. I can’t remember my first Hammering, but I’m sure thinking it was “Frankenstein Created Woman”, yes that guillotine intro takes me way back. So it goes with saying that this DVD is a must have. So with no further ado I let the Hammer fall. Here we have is an in depth documentary hosted by Christopher Lee and Peter Cushing that covers just about every thing the studios ever did. Starting with musicals and westerns this concentrates mainly on our beloved horror genre, Frankenstein, Dracula, Mummy, Werewolf and so on. Hammer glamour babes, and there are a lot of them, with thoughts from actors, actresses, writers, producers, directors etc. If you are a fan, were a fan or just want to be a fan of the almighty Hammer Studios, this is MANDATORY.

During the 80’s Hammer produced 2 TV series’, Hammer’s House of Horror” 13 episodes and “Hammer’s House of Mystery and Suspense” 13 episodes.

Final Note:
After years of hibernation Hammer Studios film rights were bought by a Dutch producer and is now back in business. The first film “Beyond the Rave” was free exclusively on Myspace. The next film “Wake Wood” is scheduled for a fall release in 2009, followed by “The Resident” now in production. Most recently they have secured the right’s to remake the Swedish vampire sensation “Let the Right One In”. To quote Dr. Smith: “Oh The Pain”.