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If you like wisecracking, hard-hitting heroes, mysterious femme fatales and bad guys who’ve got old-school, velvet villainy down to a tee, you’re in luck. Or if you’re a fan of stories that serve up murder, mystery and romance with a dash of humour and a soupçon of noir, this one’s for you. Because the next title to be released by Hammer Films will be the glorious Whispering Smith Hits London (1952).
Sneered at, jeered at and pilloried, The Satanic Rites of Dracula (1974) has been routinely derided for over half a century. It has been tried in the court of public opinion and found to be guilty. Of being ‘weak’, ‘silly and dull’ and even ‘a disgrace’. Its closing moments, depicting the ultimate death of Dracula, has been condemned with particular scorn. (‘The last nail in this film’s coffin is its insulting finale…’) All these opinions are valid, of course, simply because they are just that. Opinions. But this then, is the case for the defence.
As we hurtle towards the end of October, we’re here to make sure you’re watching the very best movies to celebrate Hallowe’en. Films that will put a smile on your face and send a shiver down your spine! To arm you with the most effective recommendations we’ve selected 12 of the scariest scenes in Hammer’s output since the 1930s. From the chilling and unnerving to the downright terrifying, we hope there’s something here for everyone…
Part One was a tale of triumph and tragedy; star-crossed lovers and the end of an era. We traced Cybill Shepherd’s career throughout the 1970s, taking in The Last Picture Show, Taxi Driver, and her early forays into music before she climbed aboard Hammer’s final feature film of the twentieth century. Now we delve into the making of The Lady Vanishes, its unforeseen, major repercussions throughout cinema, and the continuation of Shepherd’s own astonishing journey. We also examine a novel beginning and see why Hammer director Anthony Page really was the best man…
The Forgotten Faces of Hammer is an occasional series in which we focus on actors who, although well-known, are overlooked in terms of their achievements with the studio. Last time around we featured Ursula Andress and here we’re celebrating another icon of the silver screen – Cybill Shepherd.