The Absolutely Diabolical Hammer Films Thread

[John Hodson]

Originally Posted by bullybullair

IIRC the 8 films released on the amazing R1 Universal Hammer set are also Universal owned in the UK.
When Sky Movies show some of them they do have a Universal logo at the start

Weren't they distributed by Rank in the UK? And if that's the case, wouldn't the Home Video rights belong to Granada Ventures? Just speculating...

[bullybullair]

Originally Posted by John Hodson

Weren't they distributed by Rank in the UK? And if that's the case, wouldn't the Home Video rights belong to Granada Ventures? Just speculating...

One I recall on VHS was Curse of the Werewolf on Warner,but as it was cut I never got it,but I don't recall Warner releasing titles from Rank or Universal so its a mystery.
But the movies from the set that have been shown on BBC and Sky all have the Universal logo at the start.
While Granada Ventures own the Rank library I don't believe they own every title that Rank would have distributed in the UK.
Phantom of The Opera was released on VHS by CIC (Universal).

[Nebiroth]

I have a nasty feeling I've posted this before, but anyway - I've had an email from Optimum confirming that they intend to release each of the films in their mammoth upcoming Hammer boxset as individual titles, staggered over the coming months. Basically this seems to be all, or nearly all, of the Hammer titles to which Studio Canal hold the rights to in the UK; these were previously released on DVD in the UK by Warner, but they all went out of print last year.

Optimum were bought by Studio Canal, which seems to have gone into the DVD business, rather than by licensing out titles to other studios.

It looks as though many of the other films are also destined to be released by Optimum; the twelve Carry Ons have been recertified for Optimum at the BBFC, for example.

The two frankie Howerd "Up Pompeii/Up The Chastity Belt" films haven't yet been, which is a shame, cos the Warner edition was pan-and-scanned...

[bullybullair]

Why do these titles need certifying again?
If they are no different to the versions before then the BBFC need not be involved.
I wonder if new transfers are on.
If they are not then they won't be worth bothering with.
I just bough the Up Pompeii dvd from ebay and it stated it was widescreen

[Nebiroth]

Originally Posted by bullybullair

Why do these titles need certifying again?
If they are no different to the versions before then the BBFC need not be involved.
I wonder if new transfers are on.
If they are not then they won't be worth bothering with.
I just bough the Up Pompeii dvd from ebay and it stated it was widescreen

It is quite a common practise for studios to recertificate a film that has been previously certified/released under another label, even if both editions are the same.

Up Pompeii/Up The Chastity Belt - the Warner r2 double title - are both presented in 1.33:1 according to the back of the jacket.

[DanWilde1966]

Looked at The Devil Rides Out again over the weekend. I only have the old Lumiere VHS uncut tape of it, but I was hugely impressed. I suppose it was one of the last great Hammer movies and it still retains the the power to alarm even today, unlike much other Hammer fare. Favourite scenes include "don't look into the eyes!" in Patrick Mower's observatory, and of course the summoning of the title character in the forest. Chris Lee is great in the kind of Hammer role more often associated with Peter Cushing, and Charles Gray is suitably penetrating and evil. This is a cultish, guilty pleasure - hugely recommended if you haven't caught it.

[John Hodson]

Zeta Minor has confirmed that Sony is indeed releasing the aforementioned Curse of The Mummy's Tomb next month.

[Livius]

Originally Posted by John Hodson

Zeta Minor has confirmed that Sony is indeed releasing the aforementioned Curse of The Mummy's Tomb next month.

Great news .

[bullybullair]

Originally Posted by John Hodson

Zeta Minor has confirmed that Sony is indeed releasing the aforementioned Curse of The Mummy's Tomb next month.

With the wealth of interesting and rare Hammer titles in the Columbia library,its a shame Sony have decided to release crud like COTMT.
After the original Hammer Mummy,the sequels are dire retreads of the same story ,bar "Blood from ....".
Where's Stranglers of Bombay,Maniac,Paranoic,Never Take Sweets...,Crescendo,The Gorgon,Terror of the Tongs?

[Livius]

Originally Posted by bullybullair

With the wealth of interesting and rare Hammer titles in the Columbia library,its a shame Sony have decided to release crud like COTMT.

Very true, but it will fill in a missing piece in my Mummy collection - and for that I'm grateful.
I'm also keeping my fingers crossed for The Gorgon.

[bibmcfeck]

Originally Posted by bullybullair

With the wealth of interesting and rare Hammer titles in the Columbia library,its a shame Sony have decided to release crud like COTMT.
After the original Hammer Mummy,the sequels are dire retreads of the same story ,bar "Blood from ....".
Where's Stranglers of Bombay,Maniac,Paranoic,Never Take Sweets...,Crescendo,The Gorgon,Terror of the Tongs?

Paranoiac is on the recent 8 film Universal Hammer set.

[John Hodson]

DVD Times on Hands of The Ripper SE and Twins of Evil

[bullybullair]

Originally Posted by bibmcfeck

Paranoiac is on the recent 8 film Universal Hammer set.

I'm confusing my |Hammer psychological thrillers up.
There is another Columbia one bar Maniac but I can't remember its title.
They were both shown on Sky but in 4:3 so I let them go

[Jeffrey K]

Originally Posted by bullybullair

I'm confusing my |Hammer psychological thrillers up.
There is another Columbia one bar Maniac but I can't remember its title.
They were both shown on Sky but in 4:3 so I let them go

Taste of Fear (a.k.a. Scream of Fear) ?

[R-T-C]

Some more Hammer reviews for my fans....
A Peter Cushing double bill of the well written smuggling yarn Captain Clegg (1962) and the not so well written Brides of Dracula (1960). Both available in the decent although extra-free Universal Hammer Horror series set.

[Livius]

Keep up the good work R-T-C. .
That's a really useful site you're building there.

[John Hodson]

Good stuff R-T-C; but I'd put the transfer quality of the excellent 'Brides' a few steps above decent - it's a breathtaking transfer IMHO, with gorgeous, gorgeous colours. In fact the quality of the whole set is remarkable in this respect.

[bullybullair]

Originally Posted by Jeffrey K

Taste of Fear (a.k.a. Scream of Fear) ?

I discount that one as I have it on Japanese dvd,and it wasn't on Sky.
I think I may have just got mixed up between Maniac,Paranoic,Nightmare,Hysteria etc

[bibmcfeck]

Originally Posted by John Hodson

Good stuff R-T-C; but I'd put the transfer quality of the excellent 'Brides' a few steps above decent - it's a breathtaking transfer IMHO, with gorgeous, gorgeous colours. In fact the quality of the whole set is remarkable in this respect.

I agree. Brides leaps off of the screen. Beautiful transfer. A very enjoyable entry in the series too. I didn't realise it existed until very recently. I'd always thought Prince of Darkness was the first sequel. Just goes to show how a good film can be lost among the more famous series entries. The lack of Chris Lee probably buried it. Cushing is great in it though (as ever )

[R-T-C]

Originally Posted by John Hodson

Good stuff R-T-C; but I'd put the transfer quality of the excellent 'Brides' a few steps above decent - it's a breathtaking transfer IMHO, with gorgeous, gorgeous colours. In fact the quality of the whole set is remarkable in this respect.

Uploaded the review before finishing the DVD details. Corrected now.

I agree, Universal did a great job with the transfers and audio, a million miles better than the TV and old VHS tapes that were the only way to see these films for ages. Now if only Columbia would follow suit....