The Best Of Hammer Boxset [DVD]

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Extensive image galleries with promotional and on-set photography, original lobby cards and poster art Commentary with filmmaker/film historian Constantine Nasr and author/film historian Steve Haberman. Hammer Volume Six: Night Shadows revives four consummate Hammer classics from the early sixties, exemplifying some of Hammer Films' best work in the horror and thriller genres. Edgar Allan Poe looms large in The Shadow of the Cat, a macabre ‘old dark house’ tale of feline revenge, starring André Morell ( Cash on Demand) and Barbara Shelley ( The Camp on Blood Island); Peter Cushing ( The Gorgon, Corruption) and Oliver Reed ( The Scarlet Blade) star in Captain Clegg, which sees Hammer fuse horror and adventure in an eighteenth-century-set tale of smugglers and marsh phantoms; Herbert Lom ( Mysterious Island) stars as The Phantom of the Opera in Hammer’s acclaimed production of Gaston Leroux’s Gothic classic, whilst Freddie Francis ( Torture Garden) directs Nightmare, a spooky psychological thriller in the Les Diaboliques vein, which benefits from full-blooded central performances by Moira Redmond ( Jigsaw) and Jennie Linden ( A Severed Head). Herbert Lom: The Soul Behind the Mask (2020, 16 mins): film historian and screenwriter C Courtney Joyner shares personal memories of time spent with the legendary actor Hammer’s Women: Jeanne Roland (2017): Diabolique magazine’s editor-in-chief Kat Ellinger offers an appreciation of the Burmese-born actor’s short career

Shadow Play: Inside ‘The Shadow of the Cat’ (2014, 26 mins): documentary featuring Hammer historians Alan Barnes, Marcus Hearn, Denis Meikle, Jason Morell and Jonathan Rigby The final film of this boxed set, Vampire Circus truly goes off the beaten path. The evil Count Mitterhaus (Robert Tayman) is defeated by the local villagers, cursing them and vowing to return one day. Years later, a traveling circus comes to the village, entrancing many of its patrons, especially its young children. Talented performers though they are, this circus turns out to be made up of a band of vampires who are the loyal disciples of Count Mitterhaus. Once the villagers and their children begin disappearing, it becomes clear that this circus is more than it seems and that the performers are attempting to resurrect the long dead Count Mitterhaus. In the Shadow of Shelley (2020, 25 mins): in-depth interview with the legendary horror actor Barbara ShelleyCountess Dracula is an uneven film, but is ultimately driven by a terrific leading performance by Ingrid Pitt. The film borrows heavily from the exaggerated (and now considered mostly unsubstantiated) tales of serial murderer Countess Elizabeth Bathory in telling its story of a woman obsessed with her own youth and beauty, but with its own particular spin. Along with The Vampire Lovers, Countess Dracula essentially turned Ingrid Pitt into one of Hammer’s most beloved stars.

From the vaults of the legendary Hammer Film Productions come 21 classic movies, the cream of Hammer's horror, science fiction and fantasy productions, featuring iconic performances from Peter Cushing, Christopher Lee, Bette Davis and many others. Madhouse: Inside Hammer’s ‘Nightmare’ (2016, 15 mins): Hammer historians Alan Barnes, John J Johnston, Kevin Lyons and Jonathan Rigby revisit the production The BEHP Interview with Freddie Francis (1994, 83 mins): career-spanning audio interview, made as part of the British Entertainment History Project, featuring Francis in conversation with Alan Lawson and Syd Wilson Two presentations of the film: Captain Clegg, with the original UK title sequence, and Night Creatures, with the alternative US titles For Twins of Evil, the differences are not as obvious. The Synapse presentation is cooler with pinker flesh tones and, once again, a slightly more narrow aspect ratio. The Imprint presentation is not as bright, though only by several degrees. Which is the more favorable is difficult to say as being darker benefits certain shots, yet slightly hampers others. The same level of detail and grain are on display, the latter much more moderate and even than the previous two presentations. It’s also the cleanest presentation thus far. As far as which is superior, it’s a toss up, though I tend to prefer Synapse’s cooler color palette overall.

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In Countess Dracula (released on a double bill with Vampire Circus), 17th century Hungarian Countess Elisabeth Nadasdy (Ingrid Pitt) discovers that by bathing in the blood of young virgin girls she can revitalize her appearance—turning her from an old crone into a beautiful young woman. Attempting to hide her transformation, she sends her daughter into the woods to be held captive while she poses as her, but as the bodies pile up and the Countess’ sanity begins to collapse, suspicion about her private bloodletting activities draws closer and closer. Focus Puller Trevor Wrenn and Clapper Loader Ray Andrew on ‘Maniac’ (2017): original crew members share their memories of working on the film The Two Faces of Dr. Jekyll Retrospective (10 minutes) finds Klemense sharing details on the history of this Hammer film in a thoughtful audio essay. Special FX Catastrophe (2014, 4 mins): audio interview with assistant special effects artist Ian Scoones Though 20-year-old Playboy playmates Mary and Madeleine Collison were chosen mostly for their beauty and their bodies, they actually turn in solid performances in what is a surprisingly strong effort by Hammer during this late run of films. Peter Cushing is excellent as always, but the enticement of the Collinson twins and their vampiric activities allow Twins of Evil to shine brightest among the films presented here. The third film in The Karnstein Trilogy (preceded by The Vampire Lovers and Lust for a Vampire), it’s also one of the sexiest and most compelling.

The Gorgon' Comic-Strip Adaptation: Goodall, Goring & Coyas’ 1977 comic strip, originally published in House of Hammer magazine With a story that’s needlessly complicated at times with far too many characters and plot threads, Vampire Circus certainly swings for the fences in terms of doing something radically different. It never really works and suffers from pacing issues, but it’s an interesting film in its own right, complete with an essentially naked woman dancing erotically in heavy animal make-up. Though known primarily for their Gothic horror features, Hammer Films’ released a number of high-quality dramas and psychological thrillers. Never Take Candy from a Stranger is a dark tale involving a young girl’s accusations of pedophilia involving a respected town elder. The story examines the lengths to which lawyers will go to discredit a child and protect the wealthy, no matter their guilt. The subject matter is uncomfortable and the ending is devastating, which lends this picture a haunting quality. The anti-war drama Yesterday’s Enemies spotlights the brutality of war through the actions of a depleted company of British soldiers in conflict with the Japanese army in a Burmese village and their struggle to maintain the moral high ground. This is a gripping tale full of tension and suspense. Taking a break from all of the doom and gloom, legendary director William Castle ( The Tingler) contributes a lighthearted haunted house movie, The Old Dark House, starring comedian Tom Poston ( Newhart). Alternative TV cut (99 mins): extended version with unique scenes, presented open matte in Standard Definition

The Actors of Hammer Film (8 minutes) is a short segment with film historian David Del Valle in which he shares interesting trivia about several performers in these pictures. domestically and abroad maintaining acache of loyal followers. Although the studio delved into, noir, Making of ‘Captain Clegg’ (2014, 32 mins): documentary narrated by actor John Carson, with insights from film historian Wayne Kinsey Hammer’s Women: Molly Arbuthnot and Rosemary Burrows (2021, 14 mins): overview of the prolific Hammer wardrobe mistresses by film historian Josephine Botting