Which Hammers Have You Seen and Which Are Your Favorites

[thebloodfeaster]

I've seen:
Horror of Dracula
Dracula Has Risen from the Grave
Taste the Blood of Dracula
The Satanic Rites of Dracula
Legend of the Seven Golden Vampires
The Curse of Frankenstein
Frankenstein Must Be Destroyed
The Mummy
Blood from the Mummy's Tomb
Rasputin the Mad Monk
The Devil Rides Out


My favorites so far:
Frankenstein Must Be Destroyed
and
The Devil Rides Out

[spacemonkey]

Ive Seen:

Horror of Dracula
Dracula Prince of Darkness
Scars of Dracula
Taste the Blood of Dracula
The Satanic Rites of Dracula
Dracula Has Risen From the Grave
The Legend of the 7 Golden Vampires
Kiss of the Vampire
The Curse of Frankenstein
Frankenstein and the Monster from Hell
Frankenstein Created Women
Horror of Frankenstein
Blood from the Mummys Tomb
The Mummy
Rasputin The Madmonk
Plague of the Zombies
Vampire Circus
The Vampire Lovers
Countes Dracula
Kronos the Vampire Hunter

Ive really really liked:

The Vampire Lovers (Awesome flick!)
Vampire Circus
Horror of Dracula
Scars of Dracula
Taste the Blood of Dracula
Dracula has Risen from the Grave
The Legend of the Seven Golden Vampires
Curse of Frankenstein
Frankenstein and the Monster from Hell

[Ratlehed]

I cant remeber all the films i have seen but the ones I liked most are:
Horror of Dracula
Dracula prince of Darkness
Dracula has risen from the grave
The Vampire Lovers

[thebloodfeaster]

Well I can add Curse of the Werewolf and Captain Kronos Vampire Hunter to my list now. Both are great.

I really want to track down Vampire Circus and Plague of the Zombies, those sound really good.

[Axe Cold Killer]

Of here is my top 3 favorites...

1.) The Fart Hammer
2.) Horror of Dracula
3.) Curse of Frankenstein

[Cushing]

I've seen them all so I'll give you my top ten ( which constantly changes )

Horror Of Dracula
Curse Of Frankenstein
The Devil Rides Out
Blood From The Mummys Tomb
Quatermass And The Pit
Dr Jekyll And Sister Hyde
Frankestein And The Monster From Hell
Brides Of Dracula
The Mummy
Hound Of The Baskervilles

[42ndStreetFreak]

TOP 10: (only the first 2 in order).....

"Frankenstein & the Monster from Hell" (http://www.beardyfreak.com/rvfrankenmonsthell.htm)
"Twins of Evil" (http://www.beardyfreak.com/rvtwins.htm)
"Hands of the Ripper"
"Dr Jekyll and Sister Hyde" (http://www.beardyfreak.com/rvjekyllsister.htm)
"The Vampire Lovers"
"Satanic Rites of Dracula" (http://www.beardyfreak.com/rvsatanicrites.htm)
"Taste the Blood of Dracula" (http://www.beardyfreak.com/rvtastedracula.htm)
"Captain Kronos"
"Frankenstein must be Destroyed"
"Revenge of Frankenstein" (http://www.beardyfreak.com/rvrevengefranken.htm)


Also well worth a watch:
"Vampire Circus"
"Quatermas"
"Quatermass 2"
"Stranglers of Bombay" (http://www.beardyfreak.com/rvstrangbombay.htm)
""Curse of Frankenstein" (http://www.beardyfreak.com/rvcursefranken.htm)
"Horror of Frankenstein"
"The Lost Continent" (http://www.beardyfreak.com/rvlostcontinent.htm)
"Legend of the 7 Golden Vampires"
"Dracula Has Risen from the Grave" (http://www.beardyfreak.com/rvdracrisen.htm)
"Devil Rides Out"
"The Gorgon" (http://www.beardyfreak.com/rvgorgon.htm)
"Brides of Dracula"
"Rasputin"


Okay, but highly flawed:

"Countess Dracula"
"Quatermas and the Pit"
"The Abominable Snowman"
"Plague of Zombies"
"Lust for a Vampire"
"The Reptile"
"The Mummy"
"Frankenstein Created Woman"
"Evil of Frankenstein"
"To the Devil a Daughter"
"Horror of Dracula"
"Dracula prince of Darkness"
"Kiss of the Vampire"
"Hound of the Baskervilles"
"Fear in the Night"

Stinkers:

"Scars of Dracula"
"Dracula AD '72"

[spacemonkey]

Originally posted by 42ndStreetFreak
Okay, but highly flawed:

"Horror of Dracula"

Stinkers:

"Scars of Dracula"


You found HOrror of Dracula to be Highly Flawed? Just curious. I happen to think that movie is nearly perfect in its atmosphere and acting, I know it plays around a bit with the novel, but then again...what Dracula adaptation doesnt?

As for Scars...I thought it was one of the goriest entries in the series plus Dracs resurrection and demise are really cool in this one! I also like Dracula scaling walls like spiderman...that was a nice touch. Count Dracula is at his most vicious and sadistic in this one.

As for AD 1972, sadly I havent had the pleasure of checking it out because it aint out on DVD, thoug Im sure Warner Bros. will release it next halloween or something. That'll be the bomb!

[42ndStreetFreak]

All adaptions of the novel are indeed not very close to it (the closest is the BBC version) but "Horror of..." not only removes ALL the truly effective sequences from Stoker's novel but also changes things that there was no need to change and drops itself into a huge great and very stupid plot hole when it does.

There was no need to change Harker from an innocent ('Hammer' also seems to have forgotten that the reason the Harker part of the story works so well is that he is lost in a nightmare he knows nothing about) into a supposed 'Vampire hunter' who is specifically there to slay the Count!!

And yet they decide, 15/20 minutes or so into the film, to give Harker the chance to do the job he was there for and kill Dracula...but suddenly they have him IGNORE Dracula and decide to go and stake one of his Brides instead!
Thus giving Drac time to wake up and escape!
What the hell!?
They change the entire character to make him a Vampire Slayer and then have him decide not to stake the Vampire he has come to stake!
PURELY because they had written themselves into a situation where, if he stakes Drac, the film will end just as it has begun!

Lee is good as the 'feral' Vampire, but is given little to do as The Count because they remove almost all his dialogue and removemuch of his character by removing the entire plot of him wanting to move to the New World to escape the decay (literal and 'spiritual') that his existence has become.

The castle looks like a Disney World set, with none of the ancient decay that was such a vital part of Dracula's character.
the Castle used in jess Franco's adpation (again with Lee) was much more effective and atmospheric.

The plot is generally uneventful until the (excellent) finale.

As an adpation it's awful and as a film in it's own right it's rather dull and has that awful plot hole that is solely self-made.

One of the most overrated horror films ever.

[spacemonkey]

Originally posted by 42ndStreetFreak
All adaptions of the novel are indeed not very close to it (the closest is the BBC version) but "Horror of..." not only removes ALL the truly effective sequences from Stoker's novel but also changes things that there was no need to change and drops itself into a huge great and very stupid plot hole when it does.

There was no need to change Harker from an innocent ('Hammer' also seems to have forgotten that the reason the Harker part of the story works so well is that he is lost in a nightmare he knows nothing about) into a supposed 'Vampire hunter' who is specifically there to slay the Count!!

And yet they decide, 15/20 minutes or so into the film, to give Harker the chance to do the job he was there for and kill Dracula...but suddenly they have him IGNORE Dracula and decide to go and stake one of his Brides instead!
Thus giving Drac time to wake up and escape!
What the hell!?
They change the entire character to make him a Vampire Slayer and then have him decide not to stake the Vampire he has come to stake!
PURELY because they had written themselves into a situation where, if he stakes Drac, the film will end just as it has begun!

Lee is good as the 'feral' Vampire, but is given little to do as The Count because they remove almost all his dialogue and removemuch of his character by removing the entire plot of him wanting to move to the New World to escape the decay (literal and 'spiritual') that his existence has become.

The castle looks like a Disney World set, with none of the ancient decay that was such a vital part of Dracula's character.
the Castle used in jess Franco's adpation (again with Lee) was much more effective and atmospheric.

The plot is generally uneventful until the (excellent) finale.

As an adpation it's awful and as a film in it's own right it's rather dull and has that awful plot hole that is solely self-made.

One of the most overrated horror films ever.

When I watch the Hammer Draculas, I never see them as them as having anything to do with the original novel by Bram Stoker, I just let myself be entertained by them. And as a movie (without taking in consideration how it played around with the novel) I find it quite good, with its fair share of GREAt movie moments. Every time I watch, I cant help thinking what a classic it is.

I also noticed that plot hole that you mentioned as well, I was like "kill Dracula you dumb fuck!" but the movie would have been rather short had he done that, but because he did that we get that way cool shot of the vampire babe turning back into an old lady, wich I thought was awesome.

I havent seen that BBC version of Dracula your talking about, whats it called? Id be very interested in checking it out since I plan on seeing every Drac movie ever made. One of my favorites is Jhon Badhmas Dracula starring Frank Langela. Damn, what a fine Dracula film! Again, they played around with the novel but what the heck, the movie rocked!

[42ndStreetFreak]

BBC VERSION (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0075882/)

It's let down by a typical BBC budget and looks like it was shot in the UK iduring the Harker/Count portion...Most definatly not Europe.
And some of the optical effects are very dated.

But it follows the basic story almost to the letter and has a very effective sequence (cut from it's first American transmissions) involving the Brides and Dracula where he brings them a baby to feed on.

Louis Jourdan is good as The Count, but is not really scary enough (or animalistic enough) as the Vampire.

Frank Finlay is very good as Van Helsing (again close to the novel in his take on the role, and much better than hammy Hopkins) and the film has some good set pieces.

Only the budget and TV look' hurt it to any real degree, but fans of the novel should appreciate the close adaption.

[Masterbrain]

I´ve seen:

Horror of Dracula
The Legend of the 7 Golden Vampires
Dracula Prince of Darkness
Dracula Has Risen From the Grave
Scars of Dracula
Taste the Blood of Dracula
The Satanic Rites of Dracula
Frankenstein Created Women
Horror of Frankenstein
Rasputin the Madmonk
The Vampire Lovers
Lust for a Vampire
Frankenstein Must Be Destroyed
The Devil Rides Out


My favs are:

The Legend of the 7 Golden Vampires
Devil Rides Out
Scars of Dracula
Horror of Dracula
Taste the Blood of Dracula

[Ratlehed]

I have just seen Vampire Circus and have to add it as a fave. The music and atmosphere really help it and set it apart from most other Hammer films. The movie also moves pretty quick so there are no long boring stretches. Also most of the charectors are interesting. The story is also pretty solid.

[Cronos]

seen

Vampire Circus
The Legend of the 7 Golden Vampires
Dracula Prince of Darkness
The Satanic Rites of Dracula
Horror of Frankenstein
Frankenstein Must Be Destroyed
Twins of Evil
Revenge of Frankenstein
Curse of Frankenstein
Plague of Zombies
The Mummy
Blood From The Mummys Tomb

favs

The Legend of the 7 Golden Vampires
Dracula Prince of Darkness
Plague of Zombies

[The Claw]

Horror of Dracula
Taste the Blood of Dracula
Frankenstein Must Be Destroyed
Horror of Frankenstein
Dracula Has Risen From The Grave
The Abominable Snowman


All of them were pretty good, but my favorites were Horror of Dracula, Frankenstein Must Be Destroyed and The Abominable Snowman

I need to see more.

[Cap'n Kronos22]

I've seen quite a few. Some I can't remember because I haven't seen them in years. I'm always looking for Hammer DVDs or info on new release dates if there are any. Some of my favorites: Captain Kronos Vampire Hunter, The Vampire Lovers, and the first three or four Dracula films.

[Zing!]

Just watched 'The Satanic Rites of Dracula' last night and I thought it was terrific, although there wasn't enough Chris Lee in it as the Lord of the Undead. Peter Cushing was brilliant as always as the hero Van Helsing. The man just oozes cool. I love the scene where he serves tea and smokes to his guests while talking vampirism as if it's a perfectly ordinary and logical thing. Other than not enough Lee, and the bad guys atrocious leather vests and sunglasses, the effects were cool, the acting wonderful (for the most part - there were a couple bad lines) and the always lovely Miss Lumley looking hot as hell. The story was a little weak (why did Dracula want to destroy the population of earth again?) but it was easily overlooked. Overall, a fun little B-movie from Hammer that stands as one of the better I've seen.

[Bulman66]

I have seen just about every Hammer film ever released,
and own most of them on DVD.
My favourite is and always will be the Horror of Dracula.
The atmosphere and the performances by Lee and
Cushing are just incredible.
Plague of Zombies is awesome as well.

[Cushing]

Originally posted by Bulman66
I have seen just about every Hammer film ever released,
and own most of them on DVD.
.

Nice to see a fellow Hammer fan on this board .I'm with you on Dracula ( AKA Horror Of Dracula )
Now that Columbia are releasing their back catalogue we should finally see " The Gorgon " on dvd .About bloody time too !

[miceland1]

i realize now that there are so many Hammer films I have not seen.

Here are the ones I have seen and that I can remember.

The Quatermass Xperiment 1955
The Abominable Snowman 1957
The Curse of Frankenstein 1957
Dracula 1958
The Mummy 1959
The Brides of Dracula 1960
The Curse of the Werewolf 1961
The Phantom of the Opera 1962
Nightmare 1964
Paranoiac 1964
The Kiss of the Vampire 1964
Dracula: Prince of Darkness 1966
One Million Years B.C. 1966
Frankenstein Created Woman 1967
Quatermass and the Pit 1967
Dracula Has Risen from the Grave 1968
The Devil Rides Out 1968
Scars of Dracula 1970
The Vampire Lovers 1970
Twins of Evil 1971
Dracula AD 1972 1972
Vampire Circus 1972
Captain Kronos - Vampire Hunter 1974
The Legend of the Seven Golden Vampires 1974
The Satanic Rites of Dracula 1974
To the Devil a Daughter 1976


Probably my favorite is Brides of Dracula. I have said before and I will say it again. Brides is brimming with cheese and that is the way I like it. Twins of Evil is a new favorite. Lots of fun and twice the bossoms.


Are there any Hammer films I have not seen that I really should? Many of these I have seen on TV or on a PAL rip as they are not currently available on Anchor Bay or anywhere else in the US.

[Zing!]

Originally posted by miceland1
Probably my favorite is Brides of Dracula. I have said before and I will say it again. Brides is brimming with cheese and that is the way I like it. Twins of Evil is a new favorite. Lots of fun and twice the bossoms.

Yeah Brides of Dracula is cheesy good fun and a surprisingly entertaining movie considering Lee is nowhere to be found. But you just can't miss with Peter Cushing. Than man was just too cool for words and a legend of horror. He brought a little class to every movie he was in, whether it was cheesy or not.

[miceland1]

Yes. We are so used to Cushing playing second fiddle in the Dracula movies. This one he IS the star.

And Cushing's dignity and English demeanor are probably a big part of why I like Hammer. This ingrediant is missing from so many current Horror movies.

[Zing!]

Originally posted by miceland1
This ingrediant is missing from so many current Horror movies.

Amen to that. It's hard to build memorable characters with quirks, fears, and PERSONALITY when you're simply recycling old movies and not giving any one character screen time. Today's horror feature cardboard cut-out characters that you don't give a damn about. Hammer films would often take time to establish character traits and let screen greats like Cushing 'do his thing.' People wonder why fans like myself - who was too young to experience Hammer the first go-round - think horror films were so much better in the past, and that horror movies today are crap (with a few notable exceptions here and there, of course). One only has to watch 'Curse of Frankenstein,' 'Horror of Dracula,' 'Brides of Dracula,' or 'The Mummy' to understand why. Movies like this just don't get made anymore, and it's a damn shame.

[Cushing]

Miceland & Zing, I couldn't agree more. I'm a lifelong Hammer fan who seems to be getting more fanatical about the movies as the years go by.
I paid a visit to Bray studios and the surrounding area last week and had a great time. You might recognise the entrance to The Castle Meinster from Brides Of Dracula pictured below.It's a lovely hotel now.

http://img510.imageshack.us/img510/9977/pic0085gs8.jpg

[miceland1]

That is a great pic. We should create a Hammer Studios Tour where you go to Pinewood and other Hammer movie locations.

[franky4fingerz]

dracula has risen from the grave. number 1 with a bullet.

[miceland1]

Originally posted by franky4fingerz
dracula has risen from the grave. number 1 with a bullet.

Why?

Its not that I don't like it but for me its hard to remember why it was remarkable.

[Ratlehed]

Originally posted by franky4fingerz
dracula has risen from the grave. number 1 with a bullet.


That one is probably my favorite Hammer Dracula. I thought the movie had a good pace and a good story. I htink this one had a cool looking roof top chase. Dracula goes out in a pretty good way too. This one has some fine looking ladies as well. It was a step up from Dracula: Prince of Darkness.

Not bad for a G rated movie.

[miceland1]

OK I will watch it again. On your recommendations.

[Zing!]

Originally posted by miceland1
OK I will watch it again. On your recommendations.

Likewise - I will give this one a spin as well. I've had it on my shelf for years but I think I've only watched it one time. Obviously I don't remember too much about it. It's always good to hear what fellow Hammer/Dracula buffs think about certain movies and why they like them so much. I have a special place in my heart for 'The Satanic Rites of Dracula,' but I couldn't tell you exactly why. It's certainly not the best of the bunch, and most would rate it as pretty average I would guess. I suppose it has to do with which movies were the first you watched when you were younger. Anyway - I look forward to watching 'Dracula Has Risen From The Grave' again and perhaps seeing it in a new light.

[fletcher70]

try these....DR TERRORS HOUSE OF HORRORS....THE HOUSE THAT DRIPPED BLOOD.....FROM BEYOND THE GRAVE....all got 3 or 4 creepy stories...good stuff

[Cushing]

try these....DR TERRORS HOUSE OF HORRORS....THE HOUSE THAT DRIPPED BLOOD.....FROM BEYOND THE GRAVE....all got 3 or 4 creepy stories...good stuff

Three really enjoyable movies made by Amicus Films, not Hammer.

[miceland1]

I enjoy the Amicus films too. Though the more you watch them the more you notice the differences.

Peter C is great in these. He really shows his acting chops.

[FilmJunkie1114]

despite my usual abundance of films in general and especially horror, I am a Hammer virgin. But this gives me a pretty good starting point of films to watch.