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Date Posted: 11:26:35 06/23/13 Sun
Author: Tim
Subject: Re: How would you grade Hammer Horror films (1957-1978)
In reply to: Rainbowcats 's message, "How would you grade Hammer Horror films (1957-1978)" on 00:19:31 06/19/13 Wed

Here are my Hammer favorites, the ones I would grade as A, A-plus or A-minus.

The Curse of Frankenstein (1957)
Hammer Studios had been around a long time, but this is the film that launched them to the top of the horror universe. It was a box office smash on both sides of the Atlantic. Peter Cushing and Christopher Lee star, and would soon be to Hammer what Karloff and Lugosi had been to Universal. Written by Jimmy Sangster and directed by Terence Fisher.

Horror of Dracula (1958)
Hammer takes on the Dracula legend, and does it well. Christopher Lee and Peter Cushing again take the lead roles, and Lee becomes strongly identified with the Dracula role just as Lugosi had been decades earlier. Many fans see this one as Hammer's finest hour. Another Terence Fisher (director) Jimmy Sangster (writer) classic.

The Hound of the Baskervilles (1959)
Peter Cushing is Sherlock Holmes and Christopher Lee is Sir Henry Baskerville in this outstanding version of the Conan Doyle novel. Andre Morell is an effective Dr Watson in what is perhaps the most overlooked and underrated of the gothic Hammers.

Brides of Dracula (1960)
There is no Dracula in this sequel, but Peter Cushing returns as the intrepid Van Helsing. David Peel is memorable as a charming yet menacing vampire. Martita Hunt, Freda Jackson and Yvonne Monlaur all give fine performances, with a little comic relief by Miles Malleson.

The Curse of the Werewolf (1961)
I consider this the best werewolf film ever made outside of Universal’s two classics, Werewolf of London (1935) and The Wolf Man (1941). A young Oliver Reed is excellent in the title role.

Dracula--Prince of Darkness (1966)
The third entry in the Hammer Dracula series, and the second to feature Christopher Lee as Count Dracula. Not as good as the first two, but still atmospheric and suspenseful. Andrew Keir, who plays Father Sandor, would show up a year later as Professor Quatermass in another Hammer winner.

Five Million Years to Earth (1967)
Hammer dabbled in science fiction in the Quatermass film series starting with The Creeping Unknown (1955) and Enemy from Space (1957). Previously there had been a television serial in Britain, The Quatermass Experiment (1953). X the Unknown (1956) was also intended to be a Quatermass film, but that was changed. Five Million Years to Earth (British title: Quatermass and the Pit) is the best of them all. Nigel Kneale provides the the superb script while Andrew Keir is excellent as Professor Quatermass.

Five Million Years to Earth (1967) Trailer
Uploaded December 2, 2008
40,562 Views

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v5xPvFjPhkQ

Quatermass and the Pit (1967) Trailer
Uploaded August 11, 2009
32,682 Views

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bsnunQ-NERI

Dracula Has Risen from the Grave (1968)
Christopher Lee is back again in his most famous role. This one was a tremendous success at the box office, and turned out to be the biggest Hammer hit of them all. With Veronica Carlson as "Dracula's most beautiful victim."

Dracula Has Risen from the Grave (1968) Trailer
Uploaded March 15, 2012
6,638 Views

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9k7sl9ni-Lk

Tim

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Replies:

[> [> Re: How would you grade Hammer Horror films (1957-1978) -- DAN, 13:28:47 06/24/13 Mon [1]

The Universal Horror films from 1931 to 1946 and a few into the 1950s are my favorite horror films.

The Hammer Horrors from the 50s to the 70s take second place for horror films.

The ratings for these films are based on how much I personally enjoy them.

A+
Curse of Frankenstein
Horror of Dracula
Brides of Dracula
Scars of Dracula
The Mummy
Curse of the Werewolf

A
Revenge of Frankenstein
Dracula Prince of Darkness
Dracula Has Risen from the Grave
Hound of the Baskervilles
Five Million Years to Earth

A-
Frankenstein Must be Destroyed
The Evil of Frankenstein

B+
Dracula AD
Frankenstein Created Woman

B
Frankenstein and the Monster From Hell
Curse of the Mummy's Tomb
Satanic Rites of Dracula
Horror of Frankenstein

B-
Kiss of the Vampire
Taste the Blood of Dracula
Legend of the 7 Golden Vampires

C+
Abomonable Snowman of the Himalayas

C
The Mummy's Shroud
One Million Years BC -
When I first saw this movie in 1966 at 17 I would have rated it A+ because of Raquel Welch running around half dressed.

D
Blood from the Mummy's Tomb

F
When Dinosaurs Ruled the Earth

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[> [> [> Re: How would you grade Hammer Horror films (1957-1978) -- Tim, 00:04:45 06/25/13 Tue [1]

A great job grading the Hammer Horror films, Dan. Your list makes me want to give Scars of Dracula another look (I have a copy of it) as well as Revenge of Frankenstein (I don't have a copy, though).

I agree with you about Raquel Welch in One Million Years B.C., she made quite a splash in that film. And I believe it is the only Hammer Film to include the stop-motion work of the great Ray Harryhausen.

When Dinosaurs Ruled the Earth deserved the low grade you gave it, it's pretty ridiculous. Some might find it worth watching for Victoria Vetri and the other ladies in fur bikinis, but there is little else to recommend it.

Scars of Dracula (1970) Trailer
Uploaded January 27, 2011
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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YCiJr9ZFLZQ

One Million Years B.C. (1966) Trailer
Uploaded July 9, 2010
15,255 Views

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iCeX2WkBhEY

When Dinosaurs Ruled the Earth (1970) Trailer
Uploaded July 9, 2009
32,317 Views

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n9-1kTDewh8

Tim

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