DVD Hammer Horror Series (Brides of Dracula / Curse of the Werewolf / Phantom of the Opera (1962) / Paranoiac / Kiss of the Vampire / Nightmare / Night Creatures / Evil of Frankenstein):
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DVD Hammer Horror Series (Brides of Dracula / Curse of the Werewolf / Phantom of the Opera (1962) / Paranoiac / Kiss of the Vampire / Nightmare / Night Creatures / Evil of Frankenstein)
Review(s): DVD Hammer Horror Series (Brides of Dracula / Curse of the Werewolf / Phantom of the Opera (1962) / Paranoiac / Kiss of the Vampire / Nightmare / Night Creatures / Evil of Frankenstein)
Not Hammer's best known, but a few of its best
"Hammer Horror Series" presents some of the studios best films from the early sixties period, though they might not be the most familiar to Hammer fans. A few, in fact, might come with baggage attached, but this collection dispells some of that baggage. In particular, Hammer's "Phantom of the Opera" has suffered more abuse over the years than any other of its films. The hard truth is, it's pretty good. The reason it has such a bum reputation might be because most people first saw it on television, which seriously impaired it. In it's proper aspect ratio, and with the extra scenes filmed for American TV left out, it's really pretty good. Not perfect, but pretty good. The biggest liability with the film are the horrendous opera sequences. "Evil of Frankenstein" has similarly been dissed over the years, but it is also pretty good, with a particularly witty Cushing performance (offsetting a monster with the worst makeup Roy Ashton ever devised). "Brides of Dracula" stands as one of Hammer's all-time best, with the great Peter Cushing squaring off against a vampire -- not Christopher Lee, but David Peel as a delightfully creepy Dorian Grey-ish bloodsucker, while "Curse of the Werewolf," despite its acclaim, is one of Hammer's worst -- long, boring, and ridiculous. But at least it's colorful. "Night Creatures," one the other hand, is one of the most atmospheric films they ever produced -- not a horror film, but a pirate film with horror trappings. "Kiss of the Vampire" is good non-star Hammer, while "Paranoiac" and "Nightmare" are good thrillers, rather than gothic horrors. It's a worthwhile mix of films, worth the money even if it only included "Phantom," "Brides" and "Night Creatures."
A Collection Worth Having
It's good to see this collection released. Hammer Studios seldom had much of a budget to work with but they had a core group of talented people who brought a sense of style to what they did. Their period sets were never completely accurate but they had a distinctive look. Their cinematography was often stunning. Most importantly they had the ability to tell a story by making the eye follow it rather than by blowing it past the viewer. All of the films have been restored beautifully and show these facets to their fullest advantage.
Hammer also had a group of actors who were (and still are) largely unknown outside of the U.K. There were some notable exceptions though. One was the late Oliver Reed who appears in three of these films. Another was Peter Cushing. People seeing his work for the first time will be getting a look at one of the great stylists of the last century. This man could convey sweeping shifts in emotion with just the slightest variation in his manner. He was also a charismatic performer who brought flair, individualism and an immense amount of professionalism to his craft. There has never been, and likely never will be, enough actors of his sort.
Brides of Dracula ****
Dracula never makes an appearance in this film but that's no reason to avoid it. Peter Cushing is splendid as Van Helsing. David Peel matches him step for step as the villain of the piece and Martita Hunt gives a stunning performance as the mother of the cursed youth. Yvonne Monlaur (as the Baron's intended victim) isn't as strong but that's mostly because her character wasn't given as much depth as the other principals. The story flows decently and the action scenes are strong. The film (now restored to its original aspect ratio) is a feast for the eyes.
The Curse of the Werewolf ***
Anyone who hasn't seen this picture already is apt to wonder if the right movie has been put on the disc-it takes that long to really get going. The film's climax is worth the wait though. Oliver Reed (once he's finally introduced) gives a moving and chilling portrayal of the stricken young man. The supporting cast is solid and the make-up job for the creature is good enough that it stands the test of time well.
The Phantom of the Opera ****
This is an excellent version of this story, far superior to the one filmed in 1940, and even solid when compared to the 1925 classic. Herbert Lom gives a strong performance as the title character. His performance is supported by strong work from Heather Sears and Edward De Souza and nicely countered by a classic turn from Michael Gough. The story is told neatly and the look of the film is brilliant. The lighting is not as good as what was set up for "Brides of Dracula" and the overall "finish" is less lustrous (because the studio used Eastman Color rather than Technicolor) but it's still a fine example of the visual flair Hammer brought to the medium.
Paranoiac ****
Oliver Reed is cast as a young man who has even more bats in his belfry than the rest of is family does, which is saying something-this brood is a group of twisted bow-ties if ever there was one. The film is one of two in this set that's shot in black and white. It's also a pretty good one. There are plenty of twists and turns in the plot and most of them are believable. The cinematography is excellent and the performances are all good. Reed goes over the top with his part but does it with the type of flair that separates distinguished actors from half cooked hams.
Kiss of the Vampire (Rip Van Pickled: Vampire Hunter) ***
This (like a few others films in here) starts slowly but ends up being an intriguing tale. Showing vampires as cultured and educated beings and the designated slayer drowning his burden in booze are ideas that make absolute sense. Some terry-cloth undies from the 1960's show up in this piece that's set in the 19th century and the members of the vampire coven come off looking like a group of KKK disciples going hood-less but the story (after the first half hour) flows nicely and the performances are decent.
Nightmare ****
This is a chilling little gem that would be an excellent entry in any set of psychological thrillers. The performances from an ensemble cast of actors that had almost no exposure in North America are excellent. The cinematography is fabulous as well. This is one of the two films in the set that was shot in black and white and it's an excellent example of how the lack of colour can enhance the atmosphere of a film. All of it works in service of a story that flows nicely while taking enough twists and turns to satisfy any lover of classic whodunits.
Night Creatures ****
This may be the best film in this set (though it has strong competition from "Brides of Dracula"). Peter Cushing's performance as a man confronted by his own nature is riveting. The rest of the cast falls only marginally short of the standard he sets. There are some genuinely eerie moments but ultimately, it succeeds as well as it does because of how intelligently it addresses the themes of good, evil and redemption.
The Blockhead of Frankenstein **
Or at least that's what it should have been called. This version of the creature has a "head" that looks like papier-mâché mask with a brick glued to the forehead. "The Evil of Frankenstein" has some strong points but even Peter Cushing and a strong supporting cast aren't enough to save a film that's burdened with that makeup job and some laughable holes in the storyline. This is easily the weakest entry in the set.
Fun Stuff! A great trip back to my childhood.
This series is fantastic. Take the quality of production for what it's worth. Just great - Saturday night fun. Thanks Universal. Keep the rare & obscure horror material coming. P.S. When is Universal Studios going to release the "Six Million Dollar Man" & "Bionic Woman" TV series on DVD in the United States?
Related DVD's Hammer Horror Series (Brides of Dracula / Curse of the Werewolf / Phantom of the Opera (1962) / Paranoiac / Kiss of the Vampire / Nightmare / Night Creatures / Evil of Frankenstein)
THE BELA LUGOSI COLLECTION, from Universal Studios Home Entertainment, is the first Universal DVD I have bought in a while that was a dual density single disk with no technical problems. After having to return two different copies of ALFRED HITCHCOCK PRESENTS to Amazon.com because of technical glitches from two-sided printing, this technically flawless disk is a most welcome addition to the home of anyone who loves Mr. Lugosi. But I am still knocking it down one star because of laziness on the part of Universal in not having Sara Karloff or Bela Lugosi, Jr. chatting about their fathers. Or not having any real bonus material. Boris Karloff stars in three of these five movies, including one that has Lugosi in only a small role. Visual and sound quality are outstanding on all... More Info about this DVD Actor(s): Boris Karloff - Bela Lugosi - David Manners - Julie Bishop Director(s): Edgar G. Ulmer DVD Release Date: Released the 06 September 2005 Usually ships in 24 hours
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Val Lewton's name is synonymous with the subtlest, most mysterious brand of horror filmmaking in Hollywood's golden age, and the nine horror classics he produced at RKO between 1942 and 1946 constitute the most remarkable cycle of creativity in B-movie history. (For the record, the Lewton/RKO legacy also includes two non-horror entries, Youth Runs Wild and Mademoiselle Fifi.)
Before becoming a film producer, the Russian-born Lewton was a prolific writer of pulp fiction, nonfiction, and a couple of pornographic novels. He also worked for years as assistant to David O. Selznick, a legendary producer with a distinctive personal signature--and a flair for grandiosity Lewton himself never emulated. It's ever so revealing that, on Selznick's Gone With the Wind, it was... More Info about this DVD Actor(s): Boris Karloff DVD Release Date: Released the 04 October 2005 Usually ships in 24 hours
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It was only a matter of time before Christopher Lee's Dracula visited Swinging London, arriving fashionably late for the party in 1972. In the previous Hammer Films Drac picture, Scars of Dracula, the 19th century Count D was dispatched with a carriage-wheel spoke, a demise included in the opening sequence of Dracula A.D. 1972. The vampire's ashes and fancy ring are handed down to a young Londoner named Johnny Alucard (Christopher Neame) who looks as though he's seen A Clockwork Orange too many times. Proposing that his hippie posse look for new kicks ("yet as old as time"), he holds a Black Mass and summons you-know-who. Peter Cushing joins Lee yet again; luscious Stephanie Beacham, in an amazing shag haircut and purple velvet, is Cushing's granddaughter. She... More Info about this DVD Director(s): Alan Gibson DVD Release Date: Released the 04 October 2005 Usually ships in 24 hours
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The definitive screen adaptation of Henry James's The Turn of the Screw, the 1961 production of The Innocents remains one of the most effective ghost stories ever filmed. Originally promoted as the first truly "adult" chiller of the big screen (a marginally valid claim considering the release of Psycho a year earlier), the film arrived at a time when the thematic depth of James's story could finally be addressed without the compromise of reductive discretion. And while the Freudian anxiety that fuels the story may seem tame by today's standards, the psychological horrors that comprise the story's "dark secret" are given full expression in a film that brilliantly clouds the boundary between tragic reality and frightful imagination.
The acknowledged inspiration for The X-Files, and the basis for an updated 2005 network version, Kolchak: The Night Stalker was a short-lived 1974 series spun off from a pair of extremely popular made-for-TV movies about the supernatural adventures of dogged newspaper reporter Carl Kolchak (Darren McGavin). Though plagued by low ratings and critical brickbats, the show has cultivated a huge cult following over the past three decades, which has given rise to this three-disc set, which compiles all 20 episodes of the show. Though none of the episodic stories matches the suspense and writing strength of the Night Stalker or Night Strangler movies, TV horror fans will appreciate the parade of interesting and inventive monsters encountered by Kolchak (including a... More Info about this DVD Director(s): Allen Baron DVD Release Date: Released the 04 October 2005 Usually ships in 24 hours
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