The HAMMER Collection:
DVD Box Set - Part 1 of 3 (1965-66)
DVD Box Set - Part 1 of 3 (1965-66)
It's a tidy package that takes up very little space on a shelf. It's roughly about the size of a cube made from standard size CD jewel cases. The discs are housed securely in four multi-disc digi tray booklets. I dislike digi trays, usually, but they're better than crappy card wallets, which is what I feared the discs would be presented in.
I'm splitting the collection into three parts with seven films apiece and in chronological order.
That's not the order they're arranged in the box, but it means that the post for each of the three parts will be roughly equal in size (besides this one, which has a slightly longer intro). As for putting them in chronological order - it makes sense to me, more so than the unusual order they're presented in the actual box. Part 2 of the collection is HERE, while Part 3 is HERE.
SHE (1965)
Dir. Robert Day | Release: 18th April, 1965 (UK)
Three Brits, Peter Cushing, Bernard Cribbins and John Richardson hunt for a fabled lost city wherein the titular high priestess She, a dubbed-over Ursula Andress in her nightie, holds dominion over the entire population.
The arduous traipse across the desert sands feels too brief, and therefore too easy, but it leaves more time for events within the exotic locale, and the actors keep it mildly interesting.
She's showy royal garb is fantastic, making her look like an ancestor of the Sorceress character from the Masters of the Universe franchise, but the film itself is a lot less memorable.
The Nanny (1965)
Dir. Seth Holt | Release: 7th November, 1965
It stars Bette Davis as nanny to ten-year-old Joey (William Dix). The boy's father is rarely home, and his mother is an apprehensive wreck, unable to face the challenges that parenting, and indeed daily life, present. It's nanny that keeps the household running. But not everyone feels safe when she's around.
It goes without saying that Bette Davis is great, but her child co-star holds his own alongside her. As does a young Pamela Franklin. It's the rest of the adults that let the side down. But not enough to prevent it being an underappreciated gem in the British studio's catalogue.
Dracula, Prince of Darkness (1966)
Dir. Terence Fisher | Release: 9th January, 1966 (UK)
Christopher Lee returns to the Dracula role, so expectation is understandably high. He doesn't have much to say, though, and by 'much' I mean anything! He hisses but no words come out.
It's not the handicap it may sound because Lee's screen presence is so strong that all he needs to do is look the part and the illusion is sustained.
In some areas it sacrifices logic for drama, but its HAMMER drama! I loved how when he walks across a room he goes into and out of shadow.
Plague of the Zombies (1966)
Dir. John Gilling | Release: 9th January, 1966
The last thing he expected was to hear tales of restless dead walking the moors, but in horror films you often get what you least expect.
It's a zombie movie that's a little formulaic, with the familiar HAMMER pairing of an educated older gent carrying out an investigation with a younger, less experienced aide by his side.
The zombies aren't particularly threatening, or even the major threat of the piece. Still, while it's no Night of the Living Dead (1968), it's engaging in its own way, with the majority of the cast well-suited to their respective roles.
Rasputin, the Mad Monk (1966)
Dir. Don Sharp | Release: 6th March, 1966
Lee's fake beard makes him look a little like an ancestor of British author and magician Alan Moore, but his astonishing screen presence and powerful gaze are as strong as ever - the latter is even used as a defining trait of the so-called 'mad monk', whose hypnotic stare and fierce unyielding will aid him in influencing his way into a Russian ruler's confidence.
Despite the setting it's fully in English. Lee doesn't attempt any kind of Eastern European accent, it's simply the legendary actor doing what he alone did better than anyone else.
The Reptile (1966)
Dir. John Gilling | Release: 6th March, 1966
You're not likely to find it on many best of HAMMER lists, but overall The Reptile is a decent slice of period horror with enough intrigue, dramatic moments and dialogues amid the occasional silliness to please genre fans.
Perhaps best of all was seeing HAMMER regular Michael Ripper in a sizeable role; they ought to have given him more to do in their oeuvre.
One Million Years BC (1966)
Dir. Don Chaffey | Release: 30th December, 1966
It's a story of early humans (after they'd learned sewing and modesty) with minimal dialogue, most of which is a made-up Prehistoric language. Despite that, it does manage to be entertaining, least of all in its good girl falls for bad boy scenario; i.e. Loana (Welsh) for the savage Tumak (John Richardson).
Lovers of 'fur' bikinis should enjoy the scenery, while kids and fans of stop-motion animation can appreciate the wonderful Ray Harryhausen creature effects. Beyond that, there's some character growth, some righting of wrongs, and enough tragedy to enable anyone who's seeking an actual story to get their money's worth.
