This, the final film in Hammer's original cycle is a mixed bag. In places it is genuinely disturbing and director Peter Sykes shows real flare. Christopher Lee is excellent as always and Nat Kinski has a innocense about her that makes Father Michael's corruption of her more shocking. The scene of the demon child's birth is grusome stuff too!
Good points aside the main negatives are the plot development and the non climax. My opinion is don't knock it til you've tried it!!
In the trailer, I noticed a scene where the Sherpa is in a tent and screams as the Yeti tries to enter the tent. The scene is not in the film, the sherpa's reaction is a bit comical, maybe that's why it was cut? Also when the Lhama is on the balcony it is a different actor??? But I think it is an excellent film.
Terence Fisher's vividly colorful, fairly lurid version of THE MAN IN HALF-MOON STREET is a class act, with Christopher Lee in his fourth leading role for Hammer. Lee is re-teamed with Hazel Court from THE CURSE OF FRANKENSTEIN. What keeps this film from the highest eschelon of the studio's prime is the absence of Peter Cushing as star. Replacing Cushing is character actor Anton Diffring (CIRCUS OF HORRORS), who is acceptable in supporting roles but lacks the depth to carry a film on his own. Because Diffring's ice-cold persona repels rather than draws one in as with Cushing, the film has no "soul" at its center. However, even a leading portrayal by a "Tinker Bell" spot-light would not detract from the fascination of Fisher's art and the film's visual beauty.
This movie has a lot of action near the end but it is also as creepy as hell.The suspense you get when Sir James Forbes is creeping into the house isn pretty good.So overall try and watch it!
Possibly the first Hammer film I ever saw.
I remember recording it on my parent's clunky old Ferguson VHS video recorder and watching it (and Twins Of Evil which was televised around the same time) to death.
chribio1
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23 Mar 2013, 11:01pm
This, the final film in Hammer's original cycle is a mixed bag. In places it is genuinely disturbing and director Peter Sykes shows real flare. Christopher Lee is excellent as always and Nat Kinski has a innocense about her that makes Father Michael's corruption of her more shocking. The scene of the demon child's birth is grusome stuff too! Good points aside the main negatives are the plot development and the non climax. My opinion is don't knock it til you've tried it!!
Related to: To The Devil A Daughter (1976)
chribio1
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28 Jan 2012, 7:28pm
How odd, the comment above is mine (glenconmc) but it has come up as someone else? OOoooohhhh, spooky!
Related to: The Abominable Snowman (1957)
chribio1
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28 Jan 2012, 7:24pm
In the trailer, I noticed a scene where the Sherpa is in a tent and screams as the Yeti tries to enter the tent. The scene is not in the film, the sherpa's reaction is a bit comical, maybe that's why it was cut? Also when the Lhama is on the balcony it is a different actor??? But I think it is an excellent film.
chribio1
28 Jan 2012, 7:28pm
How odd, the comment above is mine (glenconmc) but it has come up as someone else? OOoooohhhh, spooky!
Related to: The Abominable Snowman (1957)
chribio1
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25 Jan 2012, 5:39am
Terence Fisher's vividly colorful, fairly lurid version of THE MAN IN HALF-MOON STREET is a class act, with Christopher Lee in his fourth leading role for Hammer. Lee is re-teamed with Hazel Court from THE CURSE OF FRANKENSTEIN. What keeps this film from the highest eschelon of the studio's prime is the absence of Peter Cushing as star. Replacing Cushing is character actor Anton Diffring (CIRCUS OF HORRORS), who is acceptable in supporting roles but lacks the depth to carry a film on his own. Because Diffring's ice-cold persona repels rather than draws one in as with Cushing, the film has no "soul" at its center. However, even a leading portrayal by a "Tinker Bell" spot-light would not detract from the fascination of Fisher's art and the film's visual beauty.
Related to: The Man Who Could Cheat Death (1959)
chribio1
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23 Jan 2012, 4:44pm
that is meant to say is pretty good by the way
Related to: The Plague Of The Zombies (1966)
chribio1
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23 Jan 2012, 4:42pm
This movie has a lot of action near the end but it is also as creepy as hell.The suspense you get when Sir James Forbes is creeping into the house isn pretty good.So overall try and watch it!
chribio1
23 Jan 2012, 4:44pm
that is meant to say is pretty good by the way
Related to: The Plague Of The Zombies (1966)
chribio1
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27 Oct 2011, 12:57pm
Possibly the first Hammer film I ever saw. I remember recording it on my parent's clunky old Ferguson VHS video recorder and watching it (and Twins Of Evil which was televised around the same time) to death.
Related to: Countess Dracula (1971)
chribio1
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14 Sep 2011, 11:27am
yes, absolutley great film, well done hammer, keep them coming if they are as good as this one
Related to: Let Me In (2010)
chribio1
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29 May 2011, 2:10pm
I've also recently purchased the same DVD set. I found Never Take Sweets From A Stranger to be excellent.
Related to: Maniac (1963)
chribio1
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27 May 2011, 3:21pm
Has this movie ever been released on DVD?
Related to: The Old Dark House (1962)