tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5344878851139332715.post5557737781153445021..comments2024-03-08T18:49:51.289-05:00Comments on Classic Film and TV Café: 3 on 3: Hammer FilmsRick29http://www.blogger.com/profile/08358116647815569722noreply@blogger.comBlogger10125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5344878851139332715.post-39157657497025310522011-08-24T20:39:31.780-04:002011-08-24T20:39:31.780-04:00Very enjoyable read and topic with a great panel o...Very enjoyable read and topic with a great panel of experts! i came by Hammer films as a child when they played on TV in the mid to late 70's. Having one television and an older brother, I had little choice in the matter. But, as with other films & series, I came to enjoy them. Interestingly, I only remember seeing the Dracula films, not the Frankenstein ones. Of those my favorite is the first in the series, Horror of Dracula. I will add one small note - I have a special affection for - or special fear of is probably moremlike it - Dracula Has Risen from the Grave. Though inferior to its predecessors, the title of that installment alone brings a chill thru my bones. I can still remember the TV trailor with the VOICE <br />that resonated through the house and sleepness nights while awaiting the day it would be on TV AND more sleepless nights thereafter. Thrilled and out-of-my-wits scrared! Ah, those fond memories!<br /><br />AuroraAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5344878851139332715.post-63436254985625355922011-08-23T21:36:11.812-04:002011-08-23T21:36:11.812-04:00This one is a favorite discussion because I love H...This one is a favorite discussion because I love Hammer films! In Question #1, it's difficult to choose, but I believe that Frankenstein Must Be Destroyed is No. 1. In this question, I elieve Sark's explanation stands out: "...completely unsympathetic doctor" ... "...revel in corruption and manipulation, and the more often he crosses the boundaries of good taste, the more he becomes the "monster" of the film" ... "showcase for Peter Cushing, whose energetic performance makes a lingering impression." Very well put! Cushing usually plays sympathetic characters, and he must have enjoyed this opportunity.<br /><br />In Question #2, I agreed with Kevin about The Horror of Dracula, and liked very much his description of the film's timeless appeal: "Even today the close-up of Lee’s shocked face as he opens his eyes and his blood stained lips as he hears his vampire wife being staked is spine chilling." Excellent, and so true!<br /><br />In Question #3, I have to go with Alex, in his choice of Quatermass and the Pit (aka Five Million Years to Earth), and in his description of its appeal: "... mostly medium shot and close-up, with urgent dialogue ... A thinking fan’s science fiction film, how delightful!" I totally agree, and I like Alex's assessment.<br /><br />All 3 of the writers did a standout job! Very enjoyable 3/3 post!ClassicBeckyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03591715859057540467noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5344878851139332715.post-28542629680551684722011-08-23T19:53:36.513-04:002011-08-23T19:53:36.513-04:00I've seen most the films mentioned, but I must...I've seen most the films mentioned, but I must agree Christopher Lee is the best Dracula. More passion, more athletic, more toothy. Plus he can put on the evil act far better than Bela.Tomhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16206243406054156058noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5344878851139332715.post-13886750978527409602011-08-23T17:10:24.626-04:002011-08-23T17:10:24.626-04:00Excellent discussion! I enjoyed reading the differ...Excellent discussion! I enjoyed reading the different takes on the Hammer Frankenstein and Dracula films. Alex, your take on "The Curse of Frankenstein" was intriguing. <br /><br />Regarding the third question, "Quatermass and the Pit" is one of my personal favorites. Thanks for giving a nod to Hammer's significant contribution to the sci-fi genre. Another great, albeit overlooked, Hammer sci-fi film is "These Are The Damned," which I reviewed recently. <br /><br />Kevin, I've heard a lot of good things about "The Devil Rides Out." I'll have to check this one out for sure!<br /><br />Fantastic job, everyone!Barry P.https://www.blogger.com/profile/11251536316431708240noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5344878851139332715.post-46332621260814393272011-08-23T17:02:49.739-04:002011-08-23T17:02:49.739-04:00A fascinating and impressively articulate discussi...A fascinating and impressively articulate discussion of a topic that was for me completely unexpected. A real primer for those of us not overly familiar with the Hammer output and a useful guide for future viewing. Also a good reminder of how diverse the Hammer films really were. Rick, when you called this a panel of "experts" you weren't exaggerating! One of the reasons these 3 on 3 discussions have been so great--and so readable--is that the questions are so precisely framed that they encourage succinct and focused responses.R. D. Finchhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05045080274131718843noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5344878851139332715.post-78776487492985478242011-08-23T16:58:30.075-04:002011-08-23T16:58:30.075-04:00This was a delightful discussion on Hammer Films--...This was a delightful discussion on Hammer Films--and that's high praise because I am a long-time Hammer fan. I agree with Sark and Kevin that FRANKENSTEIN MUST BE DESTROYED is the best of that series. Yes, Peter Cushing is fabulous and Fisher excels at showing Frankenstein at his most ruthless. However, the film also resonates emotionally because the "creature" is a victim here more than any other Hammer Frankenstein (and Freddie Jones is quite good). I'm also fond of FRANKENSTEIN CREATED WOMAN (which is, indeed, very sad), CURSE, and REVENGE. As for the Dracula series, I agree with Sark again--BRIDES OF DRACULA may be my favorite Hammer picture, period. However, I love the beginning and ending of DRACULA and have come to greatly admire the underrated DRACULA HAS RISEN FROM THE GRAVE (which features stunning cinemagraphy...no surprise since Freddie Francis directed). Finally, in regard to Hammer w/o Frankenstein and Dracula, I'll go with Alex's pick of QUATERMASS AND THE PIT, which pulls off a brilliant premise. I just recently saw NEVER TAKE CANDY FROM A STRANGER and was greatly impressed. THE DEVIL RIDES OUT is a fave, too (even with fakey spider); THE SNORKEL is a lot of fun; and, recently, I discovered DEVIL SHIP PIRATES, which was highly entertaining.Rick29https://www.blogger.com/profile/08358116647815569722noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5344878851139332715.post-47002908158569495242011-08-23T12:38:06.986-04:002011-08-23T12:38:06.986-04:00Wow! This 3 on 3 selection and panel is absolutely...Wow! This 3 on 3 selection and panel is absolutely phenomenal! I agree with Sark and Kevin that "Frankenstein Must Be Destroyed" is a tour de force for Peter Cushing. Alex, I really liked the quote you posted about "mankind's toying in the clockwork of heavenly conception" because that sums up the Frankenstein predicament very well.<br /><br />My favorite Dracula film is also "Brides of Dracula" and for that very reason you cited, Sark: It is so excellent you fail to notice that Christopher is nowhere to be found. "Brides" also features the most clever conundrum of all: a windmill. But I also love the climax of "Horror of Dracula" where curtains and candlesticks prove to be the most excellent of props as Peter and Christopher are at their impassioned best.<br /><br />The third question is tough. "Quatermass and the Pit" is very thought-provoking and easily the best entry in the Quatermass series. "The Devil Rides Out" is quite frightening and it was wonderful to have Christopher cast as the good guy opposite the elegant Charles Gray. Yet, I love the cleverness of "The Snorkel" and the atmosphere of "The Gorgon."<br /><br />This was truly a remarkable panel and I thoroughly enjoyed their posts!toto2https://www.blogger.com/profile/09652682900471649463noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5344878851139332715.post-8738967738427520172011-08-23T10:36:47.450-04:002011-08-23T10:36:47.450-04:00This has been a wonderful series to read, with so ...This has been a wonderful series to read, with so many interesting opinions and insights; I've found it educational. I'm just getting started in my Hammer Horror viewing, so I've been taking notes on what to see ("The Devil Rides Out" is on my list). I like Hammer's "Kiss of the Vampire" and its interweaving of vampirism and aristocratic depravity; it extends the vampire mythos past mere horror shocks and into culture and psychology; which I think is what can be said about Hammer's horror oeuvre as a whole. Fascinating point made by Alex on Frankenstein's creature as a symbol of atomic radiation effects. Great job, everyone!Grand Old Movieshttp://grandoldmovies.wordpress.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5344878851139332715.post-60457102593838098322011-08-23T10:01:35.889-04:002011-08-23T10:01:35.889-04:00This is more like it! Hammer films rock so it'...This is more like it! Hammer films rock so it's great to see them get some serious discussion. "Frankenstein Created Woman" is my favorite of the Frankenstein series though "Destroyed" is also excellent. I agree that "Brides" is the best Drac. The problem with the last question is that it precludes a lot of great Hammer vampire films that didn't have Dracula. I'm a big fan of "Vampire Circus," "Kronos," "Kiss of the Vampire" and the Karnstein films.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5344878851139332715.post-85768452483886764212011-08-23T09:32:47.699-04:002011-08-23T09:32:47.699-04:00Rick, you've done it again -- a great panel di...Rick, you've done it again -- a great panel discussion, with experts whose love of Hammer Films vibrates in every word of their "3 On 3" discussion! I was truly fascinated by what Sark, Kevin, and Alex had to say. I particularly liked this passage from Alex's discussion of Terence Fisher's version of DRACULA, which reminded me of the opening scene in Hitchcock's REAR WINDOW: "For example, as Van Helsing searches the castle for his cohort Jonathan Harker, he discovers a shattered picture frame. In one shot we learn the who, what, when, why, and where, of Dracula’s next appearance: he’s in search of the beautiful Lucy and her precious bodily fluids. This is compact storytelling that wastes little time with lengthy establishing shots or obtuse dialogue, and propels the journey towards its candelabra climax!" You've got me wanting to keep an eye out for many of the films you mentioned, some of which I haven't seen in years. Thanks for whetting my Hammer Film appetite; great job all around, guys!DorianTBhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01357778472575080022noreply@blogger.com