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Hammer Film Productions Ltd. is a British film production company based in London. Founded in 1934, the company is best known for a series of
Gothic Gothic or Gothics may refer to: People and languages *Goths or Gothic people, the ethnonym of a group of East Germanic tribes **Gothic language, an extinct East Germanic language spoken by the Goths **Crimean Gothic, the Gothic language spoken b ...
horror and fantasy films made from the mid-1950s until the 1970s. Many of these involve classic horror characters such as Baron Victor Frankenstein, Count Dracula, and the Mummy, which Hammer reintroduced to audiences by filming them in vivid colour for the first time. Hammer also produced science fiction, thrillers, film noir and
comedies Comedy is a genre of fiction that consists of discourses or works intended to be humorous or amusing by inducing laughter, especially in theatre, film, stand-up comedy, television, radio, books, or any other entertainment medium. The term origin ...
, as well as, in later years, television series. During its most successful years, Hammer dominated the horror film market, enjoying worldwide distribution and considerable financial success. This success was, in part, due to its distribution partnerships with American companies United Artists, Warner Bros., Universal Pictures, Columbia Pictures, Paramount Pictures, 20th Century Fox, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, American International Pictures and Seven Arts Productions as well as fellow European film companies. During the late 1960s and 1970s, the saturation of the horror film market by competitors and the loss of American funding forced changes to the previously lucrative Hammer formula with varying degrees of success. The company eventually ceased production in the mid-1980s. In 2000, the studio was bought by a consortium including advertising executive and art collector Charles Saatchi and publishing millionaires Neil Mendoza and William Sieghart. The company announced plans to begin making films again, but none was produced. In May 2007, the company name was sold to a consortium headed by Dutch media tycoon John de Mol, who announced plans to spend some $50 million (£25m) on new horror films. The new organization acquired the Hammer group's film library of 295 pictures. Simon Oakes, who took over as CEO of the new Hammer, said, "Hammer is a great British brand—we intend to take it back into production and develop its global potential. The brand is still alive but no one has invested in it for a long time." Since then, Hammer has produced several films, including ''
Beyond the Rave ''Beyond the Rave'' is a British horror film, initially published on MySpace, that marked the return of Hammer Films in 2008. Plot The story follows the last hours of freedom of local soldier Ed, who is flying out to Iraq the following mornin ...
'' (2008), '' Let Me In'' (2010), '' The Resident'' (2011), ''
The Woman in Black ''The Woman in Black'' is a 1983 gothic horror novel by English writer Susan Hill. The plot concerns a mysterious spectre that haunts a small English town. A television film based on the story, also called '' The Woman in Black'', was produce ...
'' (2012), '' The Quiet Ones'' (2014), and '' The Lodge'' (2019).


Hammer before horror


Early history (1935–1937)

In November 1934,
William Hinds William Hinds (21 November 1887 – 1 June 1957), stage name Will Hammer, was one of the founders of Hammer Film Productions. Jeweller Hinds was a jeweller from London who, with his brother Frank, owned and ran Hinds Jewellers. Hinds and h ...
, a comedian and businessman, registered his film company, Hammer Productions Ltd. It was housed in a three-room office suite at Imperial House, Regent Street, London. The company name came from Hinds' stage name, Will Hammer, which he had taken from the area of London in which he lived, Hammersmith. Work began almost immediately on the first film, now
lost Lost may refer to getting lost, or to: Geography * Lost, Aberdeenshire, a hamlet in Scotland *Lake Okeechobee Scenic Trail, or LOST, a hiking and cycling trail in Florida, US History *Abbreviation of lost work, any work which is known to have bee ...
, ''
The Public Life of Henry the Ninth ''The Public Life of Henry the Ninth'' is a 1935 British comedy film directed by Bernard Mainwaring and starring Leonard Henry, Betty Frankiss, and George Mozart. This film was the first film made by Hammer Productions, and was Henry's fil ...
'' at the MGM/ATP studios. Filming concluded on 2 January 1935. The film tells the story of Henry Henry, an unemployed London street musician, and the title was a "playful tribute" to Alexander Korda's '' The Private Life of Henry VIII'' which was Britain's first Academy Award for Best Picture nominee in 1934. During this time Hinds met Spanish émigré Enrique Carreras, a former cinema owner, and on 10 May 1935 they formed the film distribution company Exclusive Films, operating from an office at 60-66 National House, Wardour Street. Hammer produced four films distributed by Exclusive: * ''
The Bank Messenger Mystery ''The Bank Messenger Mystery'' is a 1936 British crime film directed by Lawrence Huntington and starring George Mozart, Francesca Bahrle and Paul Neville. It was an early production of Hammer Film Productions, Hammer Films.Wood p.93 It follows a ...
'' (1936) * ''
The Mystery of the Mary Celeste ''The Mystery of the Mary Celeste'' is a 1935 British mystery film directed by Denison Clift and starring Béla Lugosi, Shirley Grey and Arthur Margetson. It is one of the early films from Hammer Film Productions. It is based on the story of th ...
'' (1935; ''Phantom Ship'' in the U.S.), featuring Bela Lugosi * '' Song of Freedom'' (1936), featuring Paul Robeson * '' Sporting Love'' (1937) A slump in the British film industry forced Hammer into bankruptcy, and the company went into liquidation in 1937. Exclusive survived and on 20 July 1937 purchased the leasehold on 113-117 Wardour Street and continued to distribute films made by other companies.


Revival (1938–1955)

James Carreras joined Exclusive in 1938, closely followed by William Hinds' son, Anthony. At the outbreak of World War II, James Carreras and Anthony Hinds left to join the armed forces and Exclusive continued to operate in a limited capacity. In 1946, James Carreras rejoined the company after demobilisation. He resurrected Hammer as the film production arm of Exclusive with a view to supplying ' quota-quickies', cheaply made domestic films designed to fill gaps in cinema schedules and support more expensive features. He convinced Anthony Hinds to rejoin the company, and a revived Hammer Film Productions set to work on ''
Death in High Heels ''Death in High Heels'' is a 1947 British crime film directed by Lionel Tomlinson and starring Don Stannard, Elsa Tee and Veronica Rose. It was based on the 1941 novel of the same title by Christianna Brand. It was a very early Hammer Films ( ...
'', ''The Dark Road'', and ''Crime Reporter''. Not able to afford top stars, Hammer acquired the film rights to BBC radio series such as '' The Adventures of PC 49'' and '' Dick Barton: Special Agent'' (an adaptation of the successful
Dick Barton ''Dick Barton – Special Agent'' is a radio thriller serial that was broadcast in the BBC Light Programme between 7 October 1946 and 30 March 1951. Produced and directed by Raymond Raikes, Neil Tuson, and Charles Lefaux, it was aired in 15-m ...
radio show). All were filmed at Marylebone Studios during 1947. During the production of ''
Dick Barton Strikes Back ''Dick Barton Strikes Back'' is a 1949 British spy film about special agent Dick Barton. It was the third of three films that Hammer Film Productions made about the agent, although it was the second released. Plot Captain Richard 'Dick' Barton ...
'' (1948), it became apparent that the company could save money by shooting in country houses instead of studios. For the next production, '' Dr Morelle – The Case of the Missing Heiress'' (another radio adaptation), Hammer rented Dial Close, a 23 bedroom mansion beside the
River Thames The River Thames ( ), known alternatively in parts as the The Isis, River Isis, is a river that flows through southern England including London. At , it is the longest river entirely in England and the Longest rivers of the United Kingdom, se ...
, at Cookham Dean, Maidenhead. On 12 February 1949, Exclusive registered "Hammer Film Productions" as a company with Enrique and James Carreras, and William and Tony Hinds as directors. Hammer moved into the Exclusive offices in 113-117 Wardour Street, and the building was rechristened "Hammer House". In August 1949, complaints from locals about noise during night filming forced Hammer to leave Dial Close and move into another mansion,
Oakley Court Oakley Court is a Victorian Gothic country house set in overlooking the River Thames at Water Oakley in the civil parish of Bray in the English county of Berkshire. It was built in 1859 and is currently a hotel. It is a Grade II* listed bu ...
, also on the banks of the Thames between Windsor and Maidenhead. Five films were produced there: '' Man in Black'' (1949), ''Room to Let'' (1949), '' Someone at the Door'' (1949), '' What the Butler Saw'' (1950), '' The Lady Craved Excitement'' (1950). In 1950, Hammer moved again to Gilston Park, a country club in Harlow Essex, which hosted '' The Black Widow'', '' The Rossiter Case'', '' To Have and to Hold'' and ''The Dark Light'' (all 1950). In 1951, Hammer began shooting at their most fondly-remembered base, Down Place, on the banks of the Thames. The company signed a one-year lease and began its 1951 production schedule with ''
Cloudburst A cloudburst is an extreme amount of precipitation in a short period of time, sometimes accompanied by hail and thunder, which is capable of creating flood conditions. Cloudbursts can quickly dump large amounts of water, e.g. 25 mm of prec ...
''. The house, virtually derelict, required substantial work, but it did not have the construction restrictions that had prevented Hammer from customising previous homes. A decision was made to remodel Down Place into a substantial, custom-fitted studio complex that became known as Bray Studios. The expansive grounds were used for much of the later location shooting in Hammer's films and are a key to the 'Hammer look'. Also in 1951, Hammer and Exclusive signed a four-year production and distribution contract with Robert Lippert, an American film producer. The contract meant that
Lippert Pictures Lippert Pictures was an American film production and distribution company controlled by Robert L. Lippert. History Robert L. Lippert (1909-1976) was a successful exhibitor, owning a chain of movie theaters in California and Oregon. He was frustrat ...
and Exclusive effectively exchanged products for distribution on their respective sides of the Atlanticbeginning in 1951 with '' The Last Page'' and ending with 1955's '' Women Without Men'' (a.k.a. ''Prison Story''). It was Lippert's insistence on an American star in the Hammer films he was to distribute that led to the prevalence of American leads in many of the company's productions during the 1950s. It was for ''The Last Page'' that Hammer made a significant appointment when they hired film director Terence Fisher, who played a critical role in the forthcoming horror cycle. Towards the end of 1951, the one-year lease on Down Place expired, and with its growing success Hammer looked towards more conventional studio-based productions. A dispute with the Association of Cinematograph Technicians blocked this proposal, and the company purchased the freehold of Down Place instead. The house was renamed Bray Studios after the nearby village of Bray, and it remained Hammer's principal base until 1966. In 1953, the first of Hammer's science fiction films, ''
Four Sided Triangle ''Four Sided Triangle'' is a 1953 British science-fiction film directed by Terence Fisher, adapted from the 1949 novel by William F. Temple. It stars Stephen Murray, Barbara Payton and James Hayter. It was produced by Hammer Film Production ...
'' and ''
Spaceways ''Spaceways'' is a 1953 science fiction drama film from Hammer Film Productions Ltd. and Lippert Productions Inc., produced by Michael Carreras, directed by Terence Fisher, that stars Howard Duff and Eva Bartok, and co-stars Alan Wheatley. ' ...
'', were released.


The birth of Hammer Horror (1955–1959)

Hammer's first significant experiment with horror came in a 1955 adaptation of
Nigel Kneale Thomas Nigel Kneale (28 April 1922 – 29 October 2006) was a Manx screenwriter who wrote professionally for more than 50 years, was a winner of the Somerset Maugham Award, and was twice nominated for the BAFTA Award for Best British Scr ...
's BBC Television science fiction serial '' The Quatermass Experiment'', directed by Val Guest. As a consequence of the contract with Robert Lippert, American actor
Brian Donlevy Waldo Brian Donlevy (February 9, 1901 – April 6, 1972) was an American actor, noted for playing dangerous tough guys from the 1930s to the 1960s. He usually appeared in supporting roles. Among his best-known films are ''Beau Geste'' (193 ...
was imported for the lead role and the title was changed to '' The Quatermass Xperiment'' to cash in on the new
X certificate An X rating is a rating used in various countries to classify films that have content deemed suitable only for adults. It is used when the violent or sexual content of a film is considered to be potentially disturbing to general audiences. Aust ...
for horror films. The film was unexpectedly popular, and led to the popular 1957 sequel '' Quatermass 2''again adapted from one of Kneale's television scripts, this time by Kneale and with a budget double that of the original: £92,000. In the meantime, Hammer produced another ''
Quatermass Professor Bernard Quatermass is a fictional scientist, originally created by the writer Nigel Kneale for BBC Television. An intelligent and highly moral British scientist, Quatermass is a pioneer of the British space programme, heading the Brit ...
''-style horror film, '' X the Unknown'', originally intended as part of the series until Kneale denied them permission to use his characters (the writer is known to have disliked Donlevy's performance as Quatermass). At the time, Hammer voluntarily submitted scripts to the British Board of Film Censors (BBFC) for comment before production. Regarding the script of ''X the Unknown'', one reader/examiner (Audrey Field) commented on 24 November:
Well, no one can say the customers won't have had their money's worth by now. In fact, someone will almost certainly have been sick. We must have a great deal more restraint, and much more done by onlookers' reactions instead of by shots of 'pulsating obscenity', hideous scars, hideous sightless faces, etc, etc. It is keeping on and on in the same vein that makes this script so outrageous. They must take it away and prune. Before they take it away, however, I think the President
f the BBFC F, or f, is the sixth Letter (alphabet), letter in the Latin alphabet, used in the English alphabet, modern English alphabet, the alphabets of other western European languages and others worldwide. Its name in English is English alphabet#Let ...
should read it. I have a stronger stomach than the average (for viewing purposes) and perhaps I ought to be reacting more strongly.


Hammer Horror contributors


Directors and writers

*
Michael Carreras Michael Henry Carreras (21 December 1927 – 19 April 1994) was a British film producer and director. He was known for his association with Hammer Films, being the son of founder James Carreras, and taking an executive role in the company ...
, a.k.a. Henry Younger, writer/director of '' The Curse of the Mummy's Tomb'', and director/producer of '' The Lost Continent'' * Terence Fisher, director of '' The Curse of Frankenstein'', '' Dracula'', ''
The Mummy A mummy is an unusually well preserved corpse. Mummy or The Mummy may also refer to: Places * Mummy Range, a mountain range in the Rocky Mountains of northern Colorado in the United States * Mummy Cave, a rock shelter and archeological site in P ...
'' and others * Freddie Francis, director of '' The Evil of Frankenstein'' and ''
Dracula Has Risen from the Grave ''Dracula Has Risen from the Grave'' is a 1968 British supernatural horror film directed by Freddie Francis and produced by Hammer Film Productions. It is the fourth entry in Hammer's ''Dracula'' series, and the third to feature Christopher Lee ...
'' * Roy Ward Baker, director of '' Quatermass and the Pit'', ''
Dr. Jekyll and Sister Hyde ''Dr. Jekyll and Sister Hyde'' is a 1971 British horror film directed by Roy Ward Baker based on the 1886 novella ''Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde'' by Robert Louis Stevenson. The film was made by British studio Hammer Film Productions ...
'', ''
The Legend of the 7 Golden Vampires ''The Legend of the 7 Golden Vampires'' () is a 1974 martial arts horror film. The film opens in 1804, when seven vampires clad in gold masks are resurrected by Count Dracula, played by John Forbes-Robertson. A century later, Peter Cushing as P ...
'' and others * Tudor Gates, writer of ''
The Vampire Lovers ''The Vampire Lovers'' is a 1970 British Gothic horror film directed by Roy Ward Baker and starring Ingrid Pitt, Peter Cushing, George Cole, Kate O'Mara, Madeline Smith, Dawn Addams and Jon Finch. It was produced by Hammer Film Productions. I ...
'', '' Lust for a Vampire'', and ''
Twins of Evil ''Twins of Evil'' (also known as ''Twins of Dracula'') is a 1971 British horror film directed by John Hough and starring Peter Cushing, with Damien Thomas and the real-life identical twins and former ''Playboy'' Playmates Mary and Madeleine ...
'' * John Gilling, writer and director of ''
The Shadow of the Cat ''The Shadow of the Cat'' is a 1961 British horror film directed by John Gilling for Hammer Film Productions. It stars André Morell and Barbara Shelley. It was photographed in black-and-white by Arthur Grant. It was released in May 1961 on a ...
'', ''
The Plague of the Zombies ''The Plague of the Zombies'' is a 1966 British horror film directed by John Gilling and starring André Morell, John Carson, Jacqueline Pearce, Brook Williams, and Michael Ripper. The film's imagery influenced many later films in the zombie g ...
'', ''
The Reptile ''The Reptile'' is a 1966 horror film made by Hammer Film Productions. It was directed by John Gilling, and starred Noel Willman, Jacqueline Pearce, Ray Barrett, Jennifer Daniel, and Michael Ripper. Plot summary In the 20th century in the fi ...
'', and '' The Mummy's Shroud'' * Anthony Hinds, a.k.a. John Elder, writer of '' The Curse of the Werewolf'', '' Frankenstein Created Woman'' and others * Jimmy Sangster, writer of '' The Curse of Frankenstein'', '' Dracula'' and others; director of ''
The Horror of Frankenstein ''The Horror of Frankenstein'' is a 1970 British horror film by Hammer Film Productions that is both a semi-parody and semi-remake of the 1957 film ''The Curse of Frankenstein'', of Hammer's ''Frankenstein'' series. It was produced and directed ...
'' and '' Lust for a Vampire'' * Peter Sasdy, director of ''
Taste the Blood of Dracula ''Taste the Blood of Dracula'' is a 1970 British supernatural horror film produced by Hammer Film Productions. Directed by Peter Sasdy from a script by Anthony Hinds, it is the fifth installment in Hammer's ''Dracula'' series, and the fourth to ...
'' and '' Hands of the Ripper'' * Seth Holt, director of ''
Taste of Fear ''Taste of Fear'' is a 1961 British thriller film directed by Seth Holt. The film stars Susan Strasberg, Ronald Lewis, Ann Todd, and Christopher Lee in a supporting role. It was released in the United States as ''Scream of Fear''. Plot After ...
'', '' The Nanny'' and '' Blood from the Mummy's Tomb'' *
Don Sharp Donald Herman Sharp (19 April 192114 December 2011) was an Australian film director. His best known films were made for Hammer in the 1960s, and included '' The Kiss of the Vampire'' (1963) and '' Rasputin, the Mad Monk'' (1966). In 1965 he d ...
, director of ''
The Kiss of the Vampire ''The Kiss of the Vampire'' (also known as ''Kiss of Evil'' on American television) is a 1963 British vampire film made by the film studio Hammer Film Productions. The film was directed by Don Sharp and was written by producer Anthony Hi ...
'' and ''
Rasputin the Mad Monk ''Rasputin the Mad Monk'' is a 1966 Hammer horror film directed by Don Sharp and starring Christopher Lee as Grigori Rasputin, the Russian peasant- mystic who gained great influence with the Tsars prior to the Russian Revolution. It also feat ...
'' * Alan Gibson, director of '' Crescendo'', '' Dracula A.D. 1972'' and '' The Satanic Rites of Dracula'' *
Don Houghton Donald Herbert Houghton (2 February 1930 – 2 July 1991) was a British television screenwriter and producer. Career Born in Paris to Scottish parents, Houghton started writing for radio in 1951 before moving into film and television in 1958. In ...
, writer of '' Dracula A.D. 1972'', '' The Satanic Rites of Dracula'', ''
The Legend of the 7 Golden Vampires ''The Legend of the 7 Golden Vampires'' () is a 1974 martial arts horror film. The film opens in 1804, when seven vampires clad in gold masks are resurrected by Count Dracula, played by John Forbes-Robertson. A century later, Peter Cushing as P ...
'' and '' Shatter'' * Peter Sykes, director of ''
Demons of the Mind ''Demons of the Mind'' is a 1972 British horror film, directed by Peter Sykes and produced by Anglo-EMI, Frank Godwin Productions and Hammer Film Productions. It was written by Christopher Wicking, based on a story by Frank Godwin and was rel ...
'' and ''
To the Devil a Daughter ''To the Devil...a Daughter'' is a 1976 British-West German horror film directed by Peter Sykes, produced by Hammer Film Productions and Terra Filmkunst, and starring Richard Widmark, Christopher Lee, Honor Blackman, Nastassja Kinski and Denho ...
''


Other personnel

The scores for many Hammer horror films, including '' The Curse of Frankenstein'' and '' Dracula'', were composed by James Bernard. Other Hammer musical personnel included Malcolm Williamson,
John Hollingsworth John Hollingsworth (20 March 191629 December 1963) was a British orchestral conductor prominent in the concert hall, the ballet and opera theatre, and the film studio. He was Sir Malcolm Sargent's assistant conductor at The Proms, where he condu ...
, and Harry Robertson. Production designer Bernard Robinson and cinematographer Jack Asher were instrumental in creating the lavish look of the early Hammer films, usually on a very restricted budget.


Actors

Hammer's horror films featured many actors who appeared repeatedly in a number of movies, forming an informal "Hammer repertory company". * Ralph Bates appeared in a number of Hammer films in the early 1970s when the company considered him as a possible replacement both for Peter Cushing in the role of Frankenstein and for Christopher Lee in the role of Dracula. Despite appearing in one film in each of these horror series, ultimately he permanently replaced neither actor. *
Shane Briant Shane Briant (17 August 1946 – 26 May 2021) was an English actor and novelist. Briant studied law at Trinity College Dublin but became a professional actor playing the lead in '' Hamlet'' at the Eblana Theatre, Dublin. Briant is best known ...
had leading roles in several well-regarded Hammer films of the early 1970s, such as '' Straight On till Morning'' and '' Frankenstein and the Monster from Hell''. * Veronica Carlson was a leading lady in Hammer films of the late 1960s. * Peter Cushing was Hammer's pre-eminent star from the late 1950s to the mid-1970s and remains, along with Christopher Lee, the actor most commonly associated with the company; in Hammer films he played Baron Victor Frankenstein six times and Doctor Van Helsing five times, along with many other characters, both heroic and villainous. *
Michael Gough Francis Michael Gough ( ; 23 November 1916 – 17 March 2011) was a British character actor who made more than 150 film and television appearances. He is known for his roles in the Hammer Horror Films from 1958, with his first role as Sir Arthu ...
had supporting roles in Hammer's '' Dracula'' and '' The Phantom of the Opera''. Like Peter Cushing and Christopher Lee, Gough also appeared in horror films made by Hammer's main U.K. rival, Amicus Productions, amongst others. *
Andrew Keir Andrew Keir (né Buggy, 3 April 19265 October 1997) was a Scottish actor who appeared in a number of films made by Hammer Film Productions in the 1960s. He was also active in television, and especially in the theatre, in a professional career ...
was a Scottish actor who appeared in leading roles for Hammer in films such as '' Quatermass and the Pit'' and '' Blood from the Mummy's Tomb''. * Christopher Lee was propelled to international stardom when he played Count Dracula in Hammer's 1958 version of the classic horror tale, a role he would play a further six times for Hammer in various sequels. He is today regarded as one of the biggest horror stars in film history. * Miles Malleson was employed by Hammer to provide comic relief in their earlier Gothic horror films, such as '' The Brides of Dracula''. * Francis Matthews played second leads in several Hammer films, such as '' The Revenge of Frankenstein'' and '' Dracula: Prince of Darkness''. * André Morell was employed mainly in supporting parts in British films of the 1950s and 1960s, but took lead roles for Hammer in films like ''
The Shadow of the Cat ''The Shadow of the Cat'' is a 1961 British horror film directed by John Gilling for Hammer Film Productions. It stars André Morell and Barbara Shelley. It was photographed in black-and-white by Arthur Grant. It was released in May 1961 on a ...
'' and ''
The Plague of the Zombies ''The Plague of the Zombies'' is a 1966 British horror film directed by John Gilling and starring André Morell, John Carson, Jacqueline Pearce, Brook Williams, and Michael Ripper. The film's imagery influenced many later films in the zombie g ...
''. * Ingrid Pitt had the lead roles in the Hammer vampire films ''
The Vampire Lovers ''The Vampire Lovers'' is a 1970 British Gothic horror film directed by Roy Ward Baker and starring Ingrid Pitt, Peter Cushing, George Cole, Kate O'Mara, Madeline Smith, Dawn Addams and Jon Finch. It was produced by Hammer Film Productions. I ...
'' and '' Countess Dracula''. * David Prowse, best known for physically portraying Darth Vader in the original '' Star Wars'' trilogy, appeared in the Hammer films ''
The Horror of Frankenstein ''The Horror of Frankenstein'' is a 1970 British horror film by Hammer Film Productions that is both a semi-parody and semi-remake of the 1957 film ''The Curse of Frankenstein'', of Hammer's ''Frankenstein'' series. It was produced and directed ...
'', '' Vampire Circus'', and '' Frankenstein and the Monster from Hell''. In both ''Frankenstein'' films, Prowse played the Monster. *
Oliver Reed Robert Oliver Reed (13 February 1938 – 2 May 1999) was an English actor known for his well-to-do, macho image and "hellraiser" lifestyle. After making his first significant screen appearances in Hammer Horror films in the early 1960s, his ...
had his international film career launched by Hammer, for whom he gave powerful performances in films like '' The Curse of the Werewolf'', '' Paranoiac'' and '' The Damned''. * Michael Ripper was Hammer's most prolific actor, appearing in dozens of supporting roles for the company, usually as publicans, coach drivers, and minor officials, throughout the company's most successful years. His final Hammer horror film appearance was in ''
Scars of Dracula ''Scars of Dracula'' is a 1970 British horror film directed by Roy Ward Baker for Hammer Films. It stars Christopher Lee as Count Dracula, along with Dennis Waterman, Jenny Hanley, Patrick Troughton, and Michael Gwynn. Although disparaged by som ...
'' in 1970. * Barbara Shelley was a prolific actress who performed in Hammer films, such as '' The Gorgon'' and '' Quatermass and the Pit''. * Madeline Smith transitioned from a modelling career to acting and appeared in Hammer's ''
Taste the Blood of Dracula ''Taste the Blood of Dracula'' is a 1970 British supernatural horror film produced by Hammer Film Productions. Directed by Peter Sasdy from a script by Anthony Hinds, it is the fifth installment in Hammer's ''Dracula'' series, and the fourth to ...
'' before gaining more prominent roles in ''
The Vampire Lovers ''The Vampire Lovers'' is a 1970 British Gothic horror film directed by Roy Ward Baker and starring Ingrid Pitt, Peter Cushing, George Cole, Kate O'Mara, Madeline Smith, Dawn Addams and Jon Finch. It was produced by Hammer Film Productions. I ...
'' and '' Frankenstein and the Monster from Hell''. * Thorley Walters was a well known comedy actor in British films who played semi-comic supporting roles in Hammer films, such as '' The Phantom of the Opera'', '' Frankenstein Created Woman'' and '' Vampire Circus''. * George Woodbridge played many supporting roles and minor characters in films such as '' Dracula'', '' The Revenge of Frankenstein'', and ''
The Mummy A mummy is an unusually well preserved corpse. Mummy or The Mummy may also refer to: Places * Mummy Range, a mountain range in the Rocky Mountains of northern Colorado in the United States * Mummy Cave, a rock shelter and archeological site in P ...
''.


Key horror films


''The Curse of Frankenstein''

As production began on ''Quatermass 2'', Hammer started to look for another U.S. partner willing to invest in and handle the American promotion of new product. They eventually entered talks with Associated Artists Productions (a.a.p.) and head, Eliot Hyman. During this period, two young American filmmakers, Max J. Rosenberg and Milton Subotsky, who later established Hammer's rival Amicus, submitted to a.a.p. a script for an adaptation of the novel '' Frankenstein''. Although interested in the script, a.a.p. were not prepared to back a film made by Rosenberg and Subotsky, who had just one film to their credit. Eliot Hyman however, sent the script to his contact at Hammer. Rosenberg would often claim he 'produced' ''The Curse of Frankenstein'', an exaggeration repeated in his obituary. Although the novel by Mary Shelley was long since in the public domain, Anthony Hinds was unsure about the story, as Subotsky's script adhered closely to the plot of the 1939 Universal film '' Son of Frankenstein'', featuring a second-generation Baron Frankenstein emulating his father, the original monster-maker. This put the project at risk of a copyright infringement lawsuit by Universal. In addition a great deal of polishing and additional material was needed, as the short script had an estimated running time of just 55 minutes, far less than the minimum of 90 minutes needed for distribution in the U.K. Accordingly, comments on the script from Hammer's Michael Carreras (who had joined his father James as producer in the early 1950s) were less than complimentary:
The script is badly presented. The sets are not marked clearly on the shot headings, neither is DAY or NIGHT specified in a number of cases. The number of set-ups scripted is quite out of proportion to the length of the screenplay, and we suggest that your rewrites are done in master scene form.
Further revisions were made to the script, and a working title of ''Frankenstein and the Monster'' was chosen. Plans were made to shoot the film in Eastmancolora decision which caused worry at the BBFC. Not only did the script contain horror and graphic violence, but it would be portrayed in vivid colour. The project was handed to Tony Hinds, who was less impressed with the script than Michael Carreras, and whose vision for the film was a simple black-and-white 'quickie' made in three weeks. Concerned that Subotsky and Rosenberg's script had too many similarities to the Universal films, Hinds commissioned Jimmy Sangster to rewrite it as '' The Curse of Frankenstein''. Sangster's treatment impressed Hammer enough to rescue the film from the 'quickie' treadmill and to produce it as a colour film. Sangster submitted his script to the BBFC for examination. Audrey Field reported on 10 October 1956:
We are concerned about the flavour of this script, which, in its preoccupation with horror and gruesome detail, goes far beyond what we are accustomed to allow even for the 'X' category. I am afraid we can give no assurance that we should be able to pass a film based on the present script and a revised script should be sent us for our comments, in which the overall unpleasantness should be mitigated.
Regardless of the BBFC's stern warnings, Hinds supervised the shooting of an unchanged script. The film was directed by Terence Fisher, with a look that belied its modest budget. British TV star Peter Cushing portrayed Baron Victor Frankenstein, and supporting actor Christopher Lee was cast as the imposingly tall, brutish Creature. With a budget of £65,000 and a cast and crew that would become the backbone of later films, Hammer's first Gothic horror went into production. The use of colour encouraged a previously unseen level of gore. Until ''The Curse of Frankenstein'', horror films had not shown blood in a graphic way, or when they did, it was concealed by monochrome photography. In this film, it was bright red, and the camera lingered on it. The film was an enormous success, not only in Great Britain, but also in the U.S., where it inspired numerous imitations from, amongst others, Roger Corman and American International Pictures (with their series largely based on Edgar Allan Poe – the so-called "Poe Cycle"). It found success on the European continent also, where Italian directors and audiences were particularly receptive.


''Dracula''

The huge box office success of ''The Curse of Frankenstein'' led to the inevitable desire for a sequel in '' The Revenge of Frankenstein'', and an attempt to give the Hammer treatment to another horror icon. Dracula had been a successful film character for Universal in the past, and the copyright situation was more complicated than for Frankenstein. A legal agreement between Hammer and Universal was not completed until 31 March 1958after the film had been shotand was 80 pages long. Meanwhile, the financial arrangement between a.a.p. and Hammer had broken down when money promised by a.a.p. had not arrived. Hammer began looking for alternatives, and with the success of ''The Curse of Frankenstein'' signed with Columbia Pictures to distribute ''The Revenge of Frankenstein'' and two films from the defaulted a.a.p. deal, ''
The Camp on Blood Island ''The Camp on Blood Island'' is a 1958 British World War II film, directed by Val Guest for Hammer Film Productions and starring André Morell, Carl Möhner, Edward Underdown and Walter Fitzgerald. The film is set in a Japanese prisoner of war ...
'' and '' The Snorkel''. Hammer's financial success also meant the winding-down of the parent film distribution company Exclusive, leaving Hammer to concentrate on filmmaking. Work continued on the script for ''Dracula'', and the second draft was submitted to the BBFC. Audrey Field commented on 8 October 1957:
"The uncouth, uneducated, disgusting and vulgar style of Mr Jimmy Sangster cannot quite obscure the remnants of a good horror story, though they do give one the gravest misgivings about treatment. ..The curse of this thing is the Technicolor blood: why need vampires be messier eaters than anyone else? Certainly strong cautions will be necessary on shots of blood. And of course, some of the stake-work is prohibitive."
Despite the success of ''The Curse of Frankenstein'', the financing of ''Dracula'' proved awkward. Universal was not interested, and the search for money eventually brought Hammer back to a.a.p.'s Eliot Hyman, through another of his companies, Seven Arts (which later merged with Warner Bros., now the successor-in-interest to a.a.p.). Although an agreement was drawn up, it is alleged that the deal was never realised and funding for ''Dracula'' eventually came from the National Film Finance Council ( £33,000) and the rest from Universal in return for worldwide distribution rights. However, recent research suggests that the issue of who exactly funded ''Dracula'' is still not entirely clear (see Barnett, 'Hammering out a Deal: The Contractual and Commercial Contexts of ''The Curse of Frankenstein'' (1957) and ''Dracula'' (1958)’, ''Historical Journal of Film, Radio and Television'', published online 19 November 2013). With a final budget of £81,412, '' Dracula'' began principal photography on 11 November 1957. Peter Cushing again had top-billing, this time as Doctor Van Helsing, whilst Christopher Lee starred as Count Dracula, with direction by Terence Fisher and a set design by Bernard Robinson that was radically different from the Universal adaptation; it was so radical, in fact, that Hammer executives considered paying him off and finding another designer. ''Dracula'' was an enormous success, breaking box-office records in the U.K., the U.S. (where it was released as ''Horror of Dracula''), Canada, and across the world. On 20 August 1958, the ''Daily Cinema'' reported:
"Because of the fantastic business done world-wide by Hammer's Technicolor version of ''Dracula'', Universal-International, its distributors, have made over to Jimmy Carreras' organisation, the remake rights to their entire library of classic films."
Establishing the fanged vampire in popular culture, Lee also introduced a dark, brooding sexuality to the character. The academic Christopher Frayling writes, “''Dracula'' introduced fangs, red contact lenses, décolletage, ready-prepared wooden stakes and – in the celebrated credits sequence – blood being spattered from off-screen over the Count's coffin". The film magazine '' Empire'' ranked Lee's portrayal as Dracula the 7th Greatest Horror Movie Character of All Time. 1960 saw the release of the first in a long line of sequels, '' The Brides of Dracula'', with Cushing returning to the role of Van Helsing, though Lee did not play Dracula again until '' Dracula: Prince of Darkness'', released in 1966.


''The Mummy''

With the agreement in place, Hammer's executives had their pick of Universal International's horror icons and chose to remake '' The Invisible Man'', '' The Phantom of the Opera'', and '' The Mummy's Hand''. All were to be filmed in colour at Bray Studios, by the same team responsible for ''The Curse of Frankenstein'' and ''Dracula''. ''
The Mummy A mummy is an unusually well preserved corpse. Mummy or The Mummy may also refer to: Places * Mummy Range, a mountain range in the Rocky Mountains of northern Colorado in the United States * Mummy Cave, a rock shelter and archeological site in P ...
'' (the title used for the remake of ''The Mummy's Hand'', which also incorporated significant story elements from that film's first two sequels, '' The Mummy's Tomb'' and '' The Mummy's Ghost'') was made in 1959, '' The Phantom of the Opera'' followed in 1962, and Hammer collaborated with
William Castle William Castle (born William Schloss Jr.; April 24, 1914 – May 31, 1977) was an American film director, producer, screenwriter, and actor. Orphaned at 11, Castle dropped out of high school at 15 to work in the theater. He came to the attenti ...
on a remake of '' The Old Dark House'' in 1963. ''The Invisible Man'' was never produced. Principal photography for ''The Mummy'' began on 23 February 1959 and lasted until 16 April 1959. Once again it starred both Peter Cushing (as John Banning) and Christopher Lee (as Kharis the Mummy), and was directed by Terence Fisher from a screenplay from Jimmy Sangster. ''The Mummy'' went into general release on 23 October 1959 and broke the box-office records set by ''Dracula'' the previous year, both in Great Britain and the U.S. when it was released there in December.


Sequels

Hammer consolidated their success by turning their most successful films into series. This was a practice they had making ''Dick Barton'' movies which they continued to their horror movies and other genres.


Quatermass

The success of '' The Quatermass Xperiment'' (1955; ''The Creeping Unknown'' in the U.S.) led to two sequels: *'' Quatermass 2'' (1957; ''Enemy from Space'' in the U.S.) *'' Quatermass and the Pit'' (1967; ''Five Million Years to Earth'' in the U.S.) There were also two ''Quatermass''-style films: *'' X the Unknown'' (1956) *'' The Abominable Snowman'' (1957; ''The Abominable Snowman of the Himalayas'' in the U.S.) – also based on a script by Nigel Kneale and directed by Val Guest


Frankenstein

Six sequels to '' The Curse of Frankenstein'' were released between 1958 and 1974: * '' The Revenge of Frankenstein'' (1958) * '' The Evil of Frankenstein'' (1964) * '' Frankenstein Created Woman'' (1966) * '' Frankenstein Must Be Destroyed'' (1969) * ''
The Horror of Frankenstein ''The Horror of Frankenstein'' is a 1970 British horror film by Hammer Film Productions that is both a semi-parody and semi-remake of the 1957 film ''The Curse of Frankenstein'', of Hammer's ''Frankenstein'' series. It was produced and directed ...
'' (1970) * '' Frankenstein and the Monster from Hell'' (1973) All starred Peter Cushing as Baron Frankenstein, except ''The Horror of Frankenstein'' (which was not a sequel, but a tongue-in-cheek remake of ''The Curse of Frankenstein''), in which Ralph Bates took the title role. ''The Evil of Frankenstein'' stars Cushing but due to an agreement made with Universal to more closely pastiche their version of the Frankenstein story, it re-tells the Baron's history in flashbacks that bear no resemblance to the two earlier Hammer Frankenstein films and it portrays the Baron with a very different personality, resulting in a film which permanently breaks the chronological continuity of the series. Each subsequent movie in the series contains elements that do not relate to (or flatly contradict) the events of the movie that went before, whilst the characteristics of Cushing's Baron vary wildly from film to film, resulting in a series that does not progress as a self-contained narrative cycle. David Prowse was the only actor to star as the creature twice in the Hammer Frankenstein series; he reprised the role from ''The Horror of Frankenstein'' in ''Frankenstein and the Monster from Hell''. Hammer also produced a half-hour pilot titled '' Tales of Frankenstein'' (1958) that was intended to premiere on American television; it was never picked up, but is now available on DVD.
Anton Diffring Anton Diffring (born Alfred Pollack, 20 October 1916 – 19 May 1989) was a German-born character actor who had an extensive career in the United Kingdom from the 1940s to the 1980s, latterly appearing in international films. He appeared in ove ...
took over Cushing's role of Baron Frankenstein.


Dracula

Eight sequels to '' Dracula'' were released between 1960 and 1974: * '' The Brides of Dracula'' (1960) * '' Dracula: Prince of Darkness'' (1965) * ''
Dracula Has Risen from the Grave ''Dracula Has Risen from the Grave'' is a 1968 British supernatural horror film directed by Freddie Francis and produced by Hammer Film Productions. It is the fourth entry in Hammer's ''Dracula'' series, and the third to feature Christopher Lee ...
'' (1968) * ''
Taste the Blood of Dracula ''Taste the Blood of Dracula'' is a 1970 British supernatural horror film produced by Hammer Film Productions. Directed by Peter Sasdy from a script by Anthony Hinds, it is the fifth installment in Hammer's ''Dracula'' series, and the fourth to ...
'' (1969) * ''
Scars of Dracula ''Scars of Dracula'' is a 1970 British horror film directed by Roy Ward Baker for Hammer Films. It stars Christopher Lee as Count Dracula, along with Dennis Waterman, Jenny Hanley, Patrick Troughton, and Michael Gwynn. Although disparaged by som ...
'' (1970) * '' Dracula A.D. 1972'' (1972) * '' The Satanic Rites of Dracula'' (1973; ''Count Dracula and his Vampire Bride'' in the U.S.) * ''
The Legend of the 7 Golden Vampires ''The Legend of the 7 Golden Vampires'' () is a 1974 martial arts horror film. The film opens in 1804, when seven vampires clad in gold masks are resurrected by Count Dracula, played by John Forbes-Robertson. A century later, Peter Cushing as P ...
'' (1974; ''The 7 Brothers Meet Dracula'' in the U.S.), featuring John Forbes-Robertson as Dracula in place of Christopher Lee. Peter Cushing appeared in the first and final three sequels (with archive footage also used in ''Dracula: Prince of Darkness''). Christopher Lee appeared in all the sequels except the first and last. The first five sequels were direct sequels to the original. ''The Brides of Dracula'' did not include Dracula but is still considered part of the series since Peter Cushing reprises his role as Doctor Van Helsing and battles vampire Baron Meinster ( David Peel) and the film makes several direct references to the 1958 original. Christopher Lee returned as Dracula for the following six films, which employed ingenuity in finding new ways to resurrect the Count. Only archive footage of Cushing was used in ''Dracula: Prince of Darkness'' and he wouldn't return to the Dracula series until ''Dracula A.D. 1972''. Hammer upped the graphic violence and gore with ''Scars of Dracula'' in an attempt to re-imagine the character to appeal to a younger audience, but the movie performed poorly at the box-office which led to a further change of style with the remaining three films. ''Dracula A.D. 1972'' and ''The Satanic Rites of Dracula'' were not period pieces like their predecessors, but had a contemporary 1970s London setting. Now set in a new timeline, Peter Cushing appeared in both films, playing Professor Lorrimer Van Helsing, as well as his own grandfather (Lawrence Van Helsing) in the prologue of the first of the two films. Cushing returned for a final time as Professor Van Helsing in the horror / martial arts crossover ''The Legend of the 7 Golden Vampires'', a movie this time set primarily in 1904. Christopher Lee grew increasingly disillusioned with the direction the character was being taken and with the poor quality of later scripts, although he did improve these slightly himself by adding lines of dialogue from the original novel. Lee speaks at least one line taken from Bram Stoker in every Dracula film he appeared in, except for ''Dracula: Prince of Darkness'' in which the Count does not talk at all (Lee claimed repeatedly he was appalled by his dialogue in that film and refused to speak it, but Jimmy Sangster rebutted that no dialogue was written for the character). He was also concerned about typecasting, and after filming ''The Satanic Rites of Dracula'' he finally quit the series. John Forbes-Robertson took over the role for one final outing as the Count.


The Mummy

Three sequels to ''
The Mummy A mummy is an unusually well preserved corpse. Mummy or The Mummy may also refer to: Places * Mummy Range, a mountain range in the Rocky Mountains of northern Colorado in the United States * Mummy Cave, a rock shelter and archeological site in P ...
'' were released between 1964 and 1971: * '' The Curse of the Mummy's Tomb'' (1964) * '' The Mummy's Shroud'' (1966) * '' Blood from the Mummy's Tomb'' (1971) Peter Cushing and Christopher Lee appeared in none of the Mummy sequels, which had stories and characters unrelated to the 1959 film and all three were relegated to second feature status, as by the mid-1960s, Hammer's films were often intended for double features. Often two films would be shot back-to-back with the same sets and costumes to save money, and then each film would be shown on a separate double feature to prevent audiences noticing any recycling, as for example in ''
The Plague of the Zombies ''The Plague of the Zombies'' is a 1966 British horror film directed by John Gilling and starring André Morell, John Carson, Jacqueline Pearce, Brook Williams, and Michael Ripper. The film's imagery influenced many later films in the zombie g ...
'' and ''
The Reptile ''The Reptile'' is a 1966 horror film made by Hammer Film Productions. It was directed by John Gilling, and starred Noel Willman, Jacqueline Pearce, Ray Barrett, Jennifer Daniel, and Michael Ripper. Plot summary In the 20th century in the fi ...
'' (both 1966). '' The Curse of the Mummy's Tomb'' supported the slightly more prestigious '' The Gorgon'', whilst '' The Mummy's Shroud'' was a second feature for '' Frankenstein Created Woman''. '' Blood from the Mummy's Tomb'' was a modern-day take on Bram Stoker's ''
The Jewel of Seven Stars ''The Jewel of Seven Stars'' is a horror novel by Irish writer Bram Stoker, first published by Heinemann in 1903. The story is a first-person narrative of a young man pulled into an archaeologist's plot to revive Queen Tera, an ancient Egypti ...
'' and featured Valerie Leon as a reincarnated Egyptian princess, rather than a mummy. The same novel served as the basis for the 1980 Charlton Heston film, '' The Awakening'', and a later direct-to-video feature, '' Bram Stoker's Legend of the Mummy'', starring
Lou Gossett Jr. Louis Cameron Gossett Jr. (born May 27, 1936) is an American actor. Born in Coney Island, Brooklyn, New York City, He had his stage debut at the age of 17, in a school production of ''You Can't Take It with You (play), You Can't Take It with You ...


Other films


Horror films

Other horror films produced by Hammer included: *''
The Hound of the Baskervilles ''The Hound of the Baskervilles'' is the third of the four crime novels by British writer Arthur Conan Doyle featuring the detective Sherlock Holmes. Originally serialised in ''The Strand Magazine'' from August 1901 to April 1902, it is set ...
'' (1958), starring Peter Cushing as Sherlock Holmes *''
The Man Who Could Cheat Death ''The Man Who Could Cheat Death'' is a 1959 British horror film, directed by Terence Fisher and starring Anton Diffring, Hazel Court, and Christopher Lee. Jimmy Sangster adapted the screenplay from the play '' The Man in Half Moon Street'' by ...
'' (1959) *''
The Two Faces of Dr. Jekyll ''The Two Faces of Dr. Jekyll'' is a 1960 British horror film produced by Hammer Film Productions. It was directed by Terence Fisher, and stars Paul Massie as Dr. Jekyll, and co-stars Dawn Addams, Christopher Lee and David Kossoff. The screenp ...
'' (1960; ''House of Fright'' on U.S. TV), a version of Robert Louis Stevenson's '' Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde'' *'' The Curse of the Werewolf'' (1961), Hammer's only werewolf film, and
Oliver Reed Robert Oliver Reed (13 February 1938 – 2 May 1999) was an English actor known for his well-to-do, macho image and "hellraiser" lifestyle. After making his first significant screen appearances in Hammer Horror films in the early 1960s, his ...
's first starring role *''
The Shadow of the Cat ''The Shadow of the Cat'' is a 1961 British horror film directed by John Gilling for Hammer Film Productions. It stars André Morell and Barbara Shelley. It was photographed in black-and-white by Arthur Grant. It was released in May 1961 on a ...
'' (1961) *'' The Phantom of the Opera'' (1962), starring Herbert Lom *'' The Gorgon'' (1964), again starring Peter Cushing and Christopher Lee *'' The Witches'' (1966), starring Joan Fontaine *''
The Plague of the Zombies ''The Plague of the Zombies'' is a 1966 British horror film directed by John Gilling and starring André Morell, John Carson, Jacqueline Pearce, Brook Williams, and Michael Ripper. The film's imagery influenced many later films in the zombie g ...
'' (1966), directed by John Gilling *''
The Reptile ''The Reptile'' is a 1966 horror film made by Hammer Film Productions. It was directed by John Gilling, and starred Noel Willman, Jacqueline Pearce, Ray Barrett, Jennifer Daniel, and Michael Ripper. Plot summary In the 20th century in the fi ...
'' (1966), directed by John Gilling *''
Rasputin the Mad Monk ''Rasputin the Mad Monk'' is a 1966 Hammer horror film directed by Don Sharp and starring Christopher Lee as Grigori Rasputin, the Russian peasant- mystic who gained great influence with the Tsars prior to the Russian Revolution. It also feat ...
'' (1966) *''
The Devil Rides Out ''The Devil Rides Out'' is a 1934 novel by Dennis Wheatley telling a disturbing story of black magic and the occult. The four main characters, the Duke de Richleau, Rex van Ryn, Simon Aron and Richard Eaton, appear in a series of novels by Whea ...
'' (1968), adapted from the novel by Dennis Wheatley *'' Countess Dracula'' (1971), directed by Peter Sasdy, based on the stories surrounding the "Blood Countess" Elizabeth Báthory *'' Hands of the Ripper'' (1971), also directed by Peter Sasdy, about the daughter of Jack the Ripper *''
Dr. Jekyll and Sister Hyde ''Dr. Jekyll and Sister Hyde'' is a 1971 British horror film directed by Roy Ward Baker based on the 1886 novella ''Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde'' by Robert Louis Stevenson. The film was made by British studio Hammer Film Productions ...
'' (1971), another version of Robert Louis Stevenson's '' Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde'', this time with a gender-swapping twist


Vampire films

In addition to their ''Dracula'' series, Hammer produced a number of other horror movies on the vampire theme, including: * ''
The Kiss of the Vampire ''The Kiss of the Vampire'' (also known as ''Kiss of Evil'' on American television) is a 1963 British vampire film made by the film studio Hammer Film Productions. The film was directed by Don Sharp and was written by producer Anthony Hi ...
'' (1962; ''Kiss of Evil'' on U.S. TV), directed by
Don Sharp Donald Herman Sharp (19 April 192114 December 2011) was an Australian film director. His best known films were made for Hammer in the 1960s, and included '' The Kiss of the Vampire'' (1963) and '' Rasputin, the Mad Monk'' (1966). In 1965 he d ...
* '' Vampire Circus'' (1972), directed by Robert Young * ''
Captain Kronos, Vampire Hunter Captain is a title, an appellative for the commanding officer of a military unit; the supreme leader of a navy ship, merchant ship, aeroplane, spacecraft, or other vessel; or the commander of a port, fire or police department, election precinct, e ...
'' (1974), directed by Brian Clemens Hammer also made a loose trilogy of films, known as ″ The Karnstein Trilogy″, based on Sheridan Le Fanu's early vampire novella '' Carmilla'', written by newcomer Tudor Gates. These films include: * ''
The Vampire Lovers ''The Vampire Lovers'' is a 1970 British Gothic horror film directed by Roy Ward Baker and starring Ingrid Pitt, Peter Cushing, George Cole, Kate O'Mara, Madeline Smith, Dawn Addams and Jon Finch. It was produced by Hammer Film Productions. I ...
'' (1970), featuring Polish actress Ingrid Pitt in the central role and directed by Roy Ward Baker * '' Lust for a Vampire'' (1970; ''To Love a Vampire'' on U.S. TV), directed by Jimmy Sangster * ''
Twins of Evil ''Twins of Evil'' (also known as ''Twins of Dracula'') is a 1971 British horror film directed by John Hough and starring Peter Cushing, with Damien Thomas and the real-life identical twins and former ''Playboy'' Playmates Mary and Madeleine ...
'' (1971), directed by John Hough


Psychological thrillers

Running alongside production of their 1960s gothic horror films, Hammer made a series of what were known as "mini-
Hitchcock Sir Alfred Joseph Hitchcock (13 August 1899 – 29 April 1980) was an English filmmaker. He is widely regarded as one of the most influential figures in the history of cinema. In a career spanning six decades, he directed over 50 featur ...
s" mostly scripted by Jimmy Sangster, and directed by Freddie Francis and Seth Holt. These low-budget suspense thrillers, often in black-and-white, were made in the mould of '' Les Diaboliques'' (1955), although more often compared to the later '' Psycho''. This series of mystery thrillers, which all had twist endings, comprised: * ''
Taste of Fear ''Taste of Fear'' is a 1961 British thriller film directed by Seth Holt. The film stars Susan Strasberg, Ronald Lewis, Ann Todd, and Christopher Lee in a supporting role. It was released in the United States as ''Scream of Fear''. Plot After ...
'' (1961; ''Scream of Fear'' in the U.S.) * ''
Maniac Maniac (from Greek μανιακός, ''maniakos'') is a pejorative for an individual who experiences the mood known as mania. In common usage, it is also an insult for someone involved in reckless behavior. Maniac may also refer to: Film * '' ...
'' (1963) * '' Paranoiac'' (1963) * '' Nightmare'' (1964) * '' Hysteria'' (1965) * '' Fanatic'' (1965; ''Die! Die! My Darling!'' in the U.S.) * '' The Nanny'' (1965) * '' Crescendo'' (1970) * '' Fear in the Night'' (1972) *''
Demons of the Mind ''Demons of the Mind'' is a 1972 British horror film, directed by Peter Sykes and produced by Anglo-EMI, Frank Godwin Productions and Hammer Film Productions. It was written by Christopher Wicking, based on a story by Frank Godwin and was rel ...
'' (1972) *'' Straight On till Morning'' (1972) In addition to these were more traditional thrillers such as: *'' The Snorkel'' (1958) *'' Passport to China'' (1960) a Cold War thriller *''
The Full Treatment ''The Full Treatment'' (also known as ''The Treatment'' and ''Stop Me Before I Kill!'') is a 1960 black-and-white, British thriller film directed by Val Guest and starring Claude Dauphin, Diane Cilento and Ronald Lewis. It was based on the 19 ...
'' (1960)


Prehistoric films

Hammer had some success with films set in (or with strong connections to) the prehistoric/ancient world, including: *''
She She most commonly refers to: *She (pronoun), the third person singular, feminine, nominative case pronoun in modern English. She or S.H.E. may also refer to: Literature and films *'' She: A History of Adventure'', an 1887 novel by H. Rider Hagga ...
'' (1965), based on the novel of the same name by
H. Rider Haggard Sir Henry Rider Haggard (; 22 June 1856 – 14 May 1925) was an English writer of adventure fiction romances set in exotic locations, predominantly Africa, and a pioneer of the lost world literary genre. He was also involved in land reform t ...
, this starred
Ursula Andress Ursula Andress (born 19 March 1936) is a Swiss-German actress, former model and sex symbol who has appeared in American, British and Italian films. Her breakthrough role was as Bond girl Honey Ryder in the first James Bond film, '' Dr. No'' (1962 ...
and John Richardson alongside Cushing and Lee *'' One Million Years B.C.'' (1966), with Raquel Welch and John Richardson *'' Slave Girls'' (1967; ''Prehistoric Women'' in the U.S.), with
Martine Beswick Martine Beswick (born 26 September 1941) is Jamaica-born British actress and model perhaps best known for her roles in two James Bond films, '' From Russia with Love'' (1963) and '' Thunderball'' (1965), who went on to appear in several other n ...
*'' The Viking Queen'' (1967) *''
The Vengeance of She ''The Vengeance of She'' is a 1968 British fantasy film directed by Cliff Owen and starring John Richardson, Olinka Berova, Edward Judd, André Morell and Colin Blakely. It bears little in common with the 1905 novel '' Ayesha: The Return of She ...
'' (1967) *'' The Lost Continent'' (1968), starring
Eric Porter Eric Richard Porter (8 April 192815 May 1995) was an English actor of stage, film and television. Early life Porter was born in Shepherd's Bush, London, to bus conductor Richard John Porter and Phoebe Elizabeth (née Spall). His parents hope ...
, adapted from another Dennis Wheatley novel *''
When Dinosaurs Ruled the Earth ''When Dinosaurs Ruled the Earth'' (titled ''When Dinosaurs Ruled the World'' in the U.K.) is a 1970 British prehistoric dinosaur film from Hammer Films, written and directed by Val Guest, and starring Victoria Vetri. It was produced by Aida Y ...
'' (1970), directed by Val Guest *''
Creatures the World Forgot ''Creatures the World Forgot'' is a 1971 adventure film directed by Don Chaffey and produced and written for Hammer Films by Michael Carreras. The film concentrates on the daily struggle to survive of a tribe of Stone Age men. Very little dialogu ...
'' (1971), directed by Don Chaffey


War films

Hammer made several war films over the years: *'' The Steel Bayonet'' (1957) *''
The Camp on Blood Island ''The Camp on Blood Island'' is a 1958 British World War II film, directed by Val Guest for Hammer Film Productions and starring André Morell, Carl Möhner, Edward Underdown and Walter Fitzgerald. The film is set in a Japanese prisoner of war ...
'' (1958) *'' Ten Seconds to Hell'' (1959) *''
Yesterday's Enemy ''Yesterday's Enemy'' is a 1959 Hammer Films British war film in MegaScope directed by Val Guest and starring Stanley Baker, Guy Rolfe, Leo McKern and Gordon Jackson set in the Burma Campaign during World War II. It is based on a 1958 BBC tel ...
'' (1959) *''
The Secret of Blood Island ''The Secret of Blood Island'' is a 1964 British war film directed by Quentin Lawrence and starring Jack Hedley, Barbara Shelley and Patrick Wymark. The film is a prequel to the 1958 film '' The Camp on Blood Island''. Premise British Prisoners ...
'' (1965)


Comedies

Hammer were less well known for their comedies, but they made a number in the 1950s and early 1960s, returning to the genre in the 1970s: *'' Up the Creek'' (1958) and its sequel ''
Further Up the Creek ''Further Up the Creek'' is a 1958 British comedy film written and directed by Val Guest and starring David Tomlinson, Frankie Howerd, Shirley Eaton, Thora Hird, Desmond Llewelyn and Lionel Jeffries. It served as a follow up to '' Up the C ...
'' (1958) *''
I Only Arsked! ''I Only Arsked!'' is a 1958 British comedy film directed by Montgomery Tully and starring Bernard Bresslaw, Michael Medwin and Alfie Bass. It was based on the television series ''The Army Game'' and was made by Hammer Films. Plot Slapstick ens ...
'' (1958) *''
Don't Panic Chaps! ''Don't Panic Chaps!'' is a 1959 British comedy film directed by George Pollock and starring Dennis Price, George Cole, Thorley Walters and Terence Alexander. The film was produced by Teddy Baird for ACT Films. Originally called ''Carry On Ch ...
'' (1959) *'' The Ugly Duckling'' (1959) *'' Watch It, Sailor!'' (1961) *''
A Weekend with Lulu ''A Weekend with Lulu'' is a 1961 British comedy film directed by John Paddy Carstairs and starring Bob Monkhouse, Leslie Phillips, Alfred Marks, Shirley Eaton and Irene Handl. Plot Young couple Timothy (Leslie Phillips) and Deirdre (Shirley Ea ...
'' (1961) *'' The Old Dark House'' (1963) *''
The Anniversary The Anniversary is an American band formed in Lawrence, Kansas, in 1997 by Josh Berwanger, James David, Christian Jankowski, Adrianne Verhoeven and Justin Roelofs. The Anniversary was the solidification of a line-up that had been in flux for a ...
'' (1968), with Bette Davis


Science fiction

Hammer occasionally made science fiction movies. Notable examples were: *'' The Damned'' (1963) *'' Moon Zero Two'' (1969)


Swashbucklers

Hammer made a number of swashbucklers, including: *''
The Men of Sherwood Forest ''The Men of Sherwood Forest'' is a 1954 British adventure film directed by Val Guest and starring Don Taylor, Reginald Beckwith, Eileen Moore and David King-Wood. The film follows the exploits of Robin Hood and his followers. Doreen Carwith ...
'' (1954) *'' Sword of Sherwood Forest'' (1960) *''
The Pirates of Blood River ''The Pirates of Blood River'' is a 1962 British adventure film directed by John Gilling and starring Kerwin Mathews, Glenn Corbett, Christopher Lee and Oliver Reed. Plot While in a penal colony, Huguenot Jonathan Standing (Kerwin Mathews) is c ...
'' (1961), a swashbuckler starring Christopher Lee *'' Captain Clegg'' (1962; ''Night Creatures'' in the U.S.), an adventure starring Peter Cushing and Oliver Reed *''
The Scarlet Blade ''The Scarlet Blade'' (released in the United States as ''The Crimson Blade'') is a 1963 British adventure film directed by John Gilling and starring Lionel Jeffries, Oliver Reed, Jack Hedley and June Thorburn. It is a period drama set duri ...
'' (1963) *''
The Devil-Ship Pirates ''The Devil-Ship Pirates'' is a 1964 British pirate adventure film directed by Don Sharp. The film was the first of several collaborations between Don Sharp and star Christopher Lee. Plot A pirate ship, involved in 1588 battles on the side of ...
'' (1964), a period adventure starring Christopher Lee and
Barry Warren Barry Warren (born 12 July 1933 in London, died 22 February 1994 in Chichester, Sussex) was a British actor, born as Barry Christopher J. Warren. He trained at RADA, graduating in 1955. As well as several stage and TV appearances, including on ...
*''
A Challenge for Robin Hood ''A Challenge for Robin Hood'' is a 1967 British adventure film directed by C. M. Pennington-Richards and starring Barrie Ingham, Peter Blythe and John Arnatt. Plot When the father of the De Courtenay family dies, the brothers argue about the ...
'' (1967)


Imperial adventure films

Hammer had some success with films set in the British Empire, such as: *'' The Stranglers of Bombay'' (1959) *''
The Terror of the Tongs ''The Terror of the Tongs'' is a 1961 British adventure film directed by Anthony Bushell and starring Geoffrey Toone, Christopher Lee and Yvonne Monlaur. Plot In the year of 1910, Hong Kong members of the secret Red Dragon Tong crime family pr ...
'' (1961) *'' The Brigand of Kandahar'' (1965)


Crime films

*'' Hell is a City'' (1959), a crime thriller starring Stanley Baker *'' Never Take Sweets from a Stranger'' (1960; ''Never Take Candy from a Stranger'' in the U.S.), a drama about child abuse starring Patrick Allen and Felix Aylmer *''
Cash on Demand ''Cash on Demand'' is a 1961 British black and white neo noir crime thriller film directed by Quentin Lawrence and starring Peter Cushing and André Morell. The film company Hammer Film Productions invested approximately £37,000 to produce ...
'' (1961) On 29 May 1968, Hammer was awarded the Queen's Award to Industry in recognition of their contribution to the British economy. The presentation ceremony took place on the steps of the Castle Dracula set at Pinewood Studios, during the filming of ''Dracula Has Risen from the Grave''.


Last years of film production

Hammer films had always sold, in part, on their violent and sexual content. In the late 1960s, with the release of Hollywood films like '' Bonnie and Clyde'', '' Rosemary's Baby'', and '' The Wild Bunch'', the studio struggled to maintain its place in the market.
Roman Polanski Raymond Roman Thierry Polański , group=lower-alpha, name=note_a ( né Liebling; 18 August 1933) is a French-Polish film director, producer, screenwriter, and actor. He is the recipient of numerous accolades, including an Academy Award, tw ...
's ''Rosemary's Baby'' was a successful example of psychological horror, while ''Bonnie and Clyde'' and ''The Wild Bunch'' exposed mainstream audiences to more explicit gore, and were more expertly staged than Hammer films. Meanwhile,
George A. Romero George Andrew Romero (; February 4, 1940 – July 16, 2017) was an American-Canadian filmmaker, writer, editor and actor. His ''Night of the Living Dead'' series of films about an imagined zombie apocalypse began with the 1968 film of the ...
's '' Night of the Living Dead'' (1968) had set a new standard for graphic violence in horror films. In 1969 Tony Hinds resigned from the Hammer board and retired from the industry."Obituary: Anthony Hinds,"
''The Guardian'' (7 October 2013).
Hammer was not the same without him; it responded to the new reality by bringing in new writers and directors, testing new characters, and attempting to rejuvenate their vampire and Frankenstein films with new approaches to familiar material. (1974's '' Frankenstein and the Monster from Hell'', for example, features a scene where the Baron treads on a discarded human brain.) The company soon realised, however, that if they could not be as gory as the new American productions, they could follow a trend in European films of the time and instead play up the sexual content of their films. While the studio remained true to previous period settings in their 1971 release '' Vampire Circus'', ''
Dracula AD 1972 ''Dracula A.D. 1972'' is a 1972 British horror film, directed by Alan Gibson and produced by Hammer Film Productions. It was written by Don Houghton and stars Christopher Lee, Peter Cushing and Stephanie Beacham. Unlike earlier films in Hammer' ...
'' and '' The Satanic Rites of Dracula'' (1973), for example, abandoned period settings in pursuit of a modern-day setting and a "
swinging London The Swinging Sixties was a youth-driven cultural revolution that took place in the United Kingdom during the mid-to-late 1960s, emphasising modernity and fun-loving hedonism, with Swinging London as its centre. It saw a flourishing in art, mu ...
" feel. ''The Satanic Rites of Dracula'', then called ''Dracula is Dead... and Well and Living in London'', indulged the turn toward self-parody suggested by the title, with some humour appearing in the script, undercutting any sense of horror. These latter films were not successful and drew fire not only from critics but from Christopher Lee himself, who refused to appear in any more Dracula films after these. Speaking at a press conference in 1973 to announce ''Dracula is Dead... and Well and Living in London'', Lee said:


TV adaptations

Hammer Films had commercial success with some atypical output during this period, with film versions of several British TV situation comedies, most notably the ITV series '' On the Buses'' (1971). The first spin-off made was Hammer's biggest domestic earner of the 1970s and was popular enough to produce two sequels, ''
Mutiny on the Buses ''Mutiny on the Buses'' is a 1972 British comedy film directed by Harry Booth and starring Reg Varney and Doris Hare. The film is the second spin-off film from the TV sitcom ''On the Buses'' and succeeded ''On the Buses'' (1971). It was followe ...
'' (1972) and ''
Holiday on the Buses ''Holiday on the Buses'' is a 1973 British comedy film directed by Bryan Izzard and starring Reg Varney and Doris Hare. The film is the third and final spin-off film from the ITV sitcom ''On the Buses'' and succeeded the films ''On the Buses'' ...
'' (1973), seeing Hammer return to their pre-horror practice of adapting television properties for the cinema as they had once done with ''PC 49'' and ''Dick Barton''. Other adaptations included: *'' Nearest and Dearest'' (1972) *'' That's Your Funeral'' (1972) *'' Love Thy Neighbour'' (1973) *'' Man at the Top'' (1973) *'' Man About the House'' (1974)


Final films

In the latter part of the 1970s, Hammer made fewer films, and attempts were made to break away from the then-unfashionable Gothic horror films on which the studio had built its reputation. ''
The Legend of the 7 Golden Vampires ''The Legend of the 7 Golden Vampires'' () is a 1974 martial arts horror film. The film opens in 1804, when seven vampires clad in gold masks are resurrected by Count Dracula, played by John Forbes-Robertson. A century later, Peter Cushing as P ...
'' (1974), a co-production with
Hong Kong Hong Kong ( (US) or (UK); , ), officially the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China (abbr. Hong Kong SAR or HKSAR), is a List of cities in China, city and Special administrative regions of China, special ...
's Shaw Brothers which attempted to combine Hammer's brand of horror with the then popular martial arts genre, and ''
To the Devil a Daughter ''To the Devil...a Daughter'' is a 1976 British-West German horror film directed by Peter Sykes, produced by Hammer Film Productions and Terra Filmkunst, and starring Richard Widmark, Christopher Lee, Honor Blackman, Nastassja Kinski and Denho ...
'' (1976), their third adaptation of a Dennis Wheatley novel, were both quite successful at the U.K. box office, but Hammer was unable to capitalise on them as most of the profits went to other financial backers. Hammer Films struggled on throughout the 1970s before going into liquidation in 1979. Hammer's last production, in 1979, was a remake of Alfred Hitchcock's 1938 thriller '' The Lady Vanishes'', starring Elliott Gould and Cybill Shepherd. (''The Encyclopedia of British Film'' characterized the remake as "about as witless and charmless as could be conceived".)


Brand-name resurrection (2007–present)

In the 2000s, although the company seemed to be in hibernation, frequent announcements had been made of new projects. In 2003, for example, the studio announced plans to work with Australian company Pictures in Paradise to develop new horror films for the DVD and cinema market. On 10 May 2007, it was announced that Dutch producer John De Mol had purchased the Hammer Films rights via his private equity firm Cyrte Investments. In addition to holding the rights to over 300 Hammer films, De Mol's company plans to restart the studio. According to an article i
Variety
detailing the transaction, the new Hammer Films was to be run by former Liberty Global execs Simon Oakes and Marc Schipper. In addition, Guy East and Nigel Sinclair of L.A.-based Spitfire Pictures are on board to produce two to three horror films or thrillers a year for the U.K.-based studio. The first output under the new owners is ''
Beyond the Rave ''Beyond the Rave'' is a British horror film, initially published on MySpace, that marked the return of Hammer Films in 2008. Plot The story follows the last hours of freedom of local soldier Ed, who is flying out to Iraq the following mornin ...
'', a contemporary vampire story which premièred free online, exclusively, on Myspace in April 2008 as a 20 × 4 min. serial. The company began shooting a new horror/thriller film in
Donegal Donegal may refer to: County Donegal, Ireland * County Donegal, a county in the Republic of Ireland, part of the province of Ulster * Donegal (town), a town in County Donegal in Ulster, Ireland * Donegal Bay, an inlet in the northwest of Ireland b ...
in 2008, backed by the
Irish Film Board Fís Éireann / Screen Ireland, formerly known as Bord Scannán na hÉireann / the Irish Film Board, is the Republic of Ireland's state development agency for the Irish film, television and animation industry. It provides funds for the develop ...
. The film is titled '' Wake Wood'' and was scheduled for release in the United Kingdom in the autumn of 2009. The film was produced in collaboration with the Swedish company Solid Entertainment, makers of the vampire film ''
Frostbiten ''Frostbite'' ( sv, Frostbiten) is a Swedish comedy horror film from 2006 directed by Anders Banke. As well as the horror theme, various parts also have pure humour elements, and it is considered a horror/comedy by some newspapers that rated it. ...
'', which pays homage to the Hammer vampire films among others. It was given a limited UK/Ireland theatrical release in March 2011. In the summer of 2009, Hammer produced in the U.S. '' The Resident,'' a thriller directed and co-written by Finnish filmmaker Antti Jokinen and starring Hilary Swank, Jeffrey Dean Morgan and Christopher Lee. It was released in the US and UK in March 2011. In 2010, Hammer, in partnership with Overture Films and Relativity Media, released '' Let Me In'', a remake of Swedish vampire film '' Let the Right One In''. In June 2010, it was announced that Hammer acquired ''Wake'', a script by Chris Borrelli for an action feature to be directed by Danish filmmaker Kasper Barfoed. In February 2012, the Hammer and Alliance Films adaptation of ''
The Woman in Black ''The Woman in Black'' is a 1983 gothic horror novel by English writer Susan Hill. The plot concerns a mysterious spectre that haunts a small English town. A television film based on the story, also called '' The Woman in Black'', was produce ...
'' was released. Daniel Radcliffe stars as lawyer Arthur Kipps. Jane Goldman wrote the film's screenplay, with James Watkins in the director's chair. In April 2012, the company announced it was to make a sequel to ''The Woman in Black'' titled ''The Woman in Black: Angel of Death''. Also in 2012, Hammer and Alliance Films announced two more films going into production during 2012, entitled '' The Quiet Ones'' and ''Gaslight''. ''The Quiet Ones'' tells the story of an unorthodox professor ( Jared Harris) who uses controversial methods and leads his best students off the grid to take part in a dangerous experiment: to create a poltergeist. It was released on 10 April 2014 in the UK and 25 April in the US. After a few quiet years, the film '' The Lodge'' had its world premiere at the Sundance Film Festival on 25 January 2019. It was scheduled to be released on 15 November 2019, by NEON. In September 2019, Hammer signed a worldwide distribution deal with StudioCanal for its catalogue. In November 2021, it was announced Network Distributing had united with Hammer to form Hammer Studios Ltd.


Current films

* ''
Beyond the Rave ''Beyond the Rave'' is a British horror film, initially published on MySpace, that marked the return of Hammer Films in 2008. Plot The story follows the last hours of freedom of local soldier Ed, who is flying out to Iraq the following mornin ...
'' (2008) * '' Let Me In'' (2010) * '' The Resident'' (2011) * '' Wake Wood'' (2011) * ''
The Woman in Black ''The Woman in Black'' is a 1983 gothic horror novel by English writer Susan Hill. The plot concerns a mysterious spectre that haunts a small English town. A television film based on the story, also called '' The Woman in Black'', was produce ...
'' (2012) * '' The Quiet Ones'' (2014) * '' The Woman in Black: Angel of Death'' (2015) * '' The Lodge'' (2019)


Critical response

Hammer's horror films were often praised by critics for their visual style, although rarely taken seriously. "Altogether this is a horrific film and sometimes a crude film, but by no means an unimpressive piece of melodramatic storytelling" wrote one critic of ''Dracula'' in '' The Times'' in 1958. Critics who specialise in cult films, like Kim Newman, have praised Hammer Horror more fully, enjoying their atmosphere, craftsmanship and occasional
camp Camp may refer to: Outdoor accommodation and recreation * Campsite or campground, a recreational outdoor sleeping and eating site * a temporary settlement for nomads * Camp, a term used in New England, Northern Ontario and New Brunswick to descri ...
appeal. In ''
A History of Horror ''A History of Horror'' (also known as ''A History of Horror with Mark Gatiss'') is a 2010 three-part documentary series made for the BBC by British writer and actor Mark Gatiss. It is a personal exploration of the history of horror film, inspire ...
'', Mark Gatiss remarked that Hammer's earlier films were taken seriously at the time, in comparison to the trademark camp appeal of their later works. In a 2013 retrospective for '' The Guardian'', Michael Newton wrote:
Shot in Eastmancolor, the first batch of Hammer Horror movies – Terence Fisher's ''The Curse of Frankenstein'' (1957), ''Dracula'' (1958) and ''The Mummy'' (1959) – are among the loveliest-looking British films of the decade... The early Hammer films offer a last gasp of British romanticism, the solid sets drenched in a soft brilliance of shadows, of greys, reds and blues; when these films stray into the far woods, it's always autumn there, never spring. The leaves fall, and the light shines golden and clear; compared with the well-lit contemporary look of the "angry young men" films, Hammer's mournful sumptuousness must have been even more striking. They play out a 1950s reverie of contagion, lust and post- Suez anxiety. Questions of guilt circulate in these films, where the virtuous can be transformed into vampires through one moment of sexual weakness...


Television series


''Journey to the Unknown''

This was a fantasy, science fiction and supernatural anthology series which dealt with normal people in everyday situations that found themselves having to experience something out of the ordinary. 17 episodes of approximately 50 minutes each were produced by Hammer Film Productions and 20th Century Fox Television. In America, eight episodes from the series were broadcast as four made-for-television films consisting of twinned episodes along with new segment introduction footage provided by actors Patrick McGoohan, Sebastian Cabot and Joan Crawford serving as hosts. The series was first aired on ABC from 26 September, 1968 to 30 January, 1969, prior to broadcast in the UK on ITV in 1969.


''Hammer House of Horror''

In 1980, Hammer Films created an anthology series for British television, ''Hammer House of Horror''. Shown on ITV, it ran for 13 episodes with a running length of approximately 51 minutes each. In a break from their cinema format, these self-contained episodes featured plot twists which usually saw the protagonists fall into the hands of that episode's horror at the end. The series featured a different kind of horror each week, including witches, werewolves, ghosts, devil worship and voodoo, but also included non-supernatural horror themes such as cannibalism, confinement and serial killers. All the stories were set in contemporary England.


''Hammer House of Mystery and Suspense''

A second television anthology series, ''
Hammer House of Mystery and Suspense ''Hammer House of Mystery and Suspense'' is a short-lived (one season) anthology television series produced in Britain in 1984/85 by Hammer Film Productions. Though similar in format to the 1980 series ''Hammer House of Horror'', the ''Mystery a ...
'', was produced in 1984 and ran for 13 episodes. The stories were originally to have been the same 51 min. length as their previous series, but it was decided to expand them to feature-length to market them as 'movies of the week' in the US. The running time varied from 69 to 73 minutes. The series was made in association with 20th Century Fox (who broadcast films as ''Fox Mystery Theater'') and as such, the sex and violence seen in the earlier series was toned down considerably for US television. Each episode featured a star, often American, known to US viewers. This series was Hammer's final production of the 20th century, and the studio went into semi-permanent hiatus.


See also

* Hammer filmography * ''
House of Hammer ''The House of Hammer'' was a British black-and-white magazine featuring articles and comics related to the Hammer Film Productions series of horror and science fiction films. The brainchild of Dez Skinn,Dakin, John. "'Marvel Revolution' in E ...
'' * Cinema of the United Kingdom


References


Bibliography

* Frankenstein, Dracula et les autres sous les feux de la Hammer, Daniel Bastié, Editions Grand Angle, 2015, 227 p. * * * * * * * *


External links


Official Hammer web site


BFI The British Film Institute (BFI) is a film and television charitable organisation which promotes and preserves film-making and television in the United Kingdom. The BFI uses funds provided by the National Lottery to encourage film production, ...
Screenonline article
Hammer Horror Films List
{{Authority control British companies established in 1934 Film production companies of the United Kingdom Mass media companies based in London Mass media companies established in 1934 1934 establishments in England