Horror Films

The Saloon
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[quote=“scherpschutter, post:260, topic:405”]Scars of Dracula (1970)

Not counting Taste the Blood of Dracula of the same year (in which Dracula only made a brief ‘guest appearance’) this one follows (the rather dissapointing) Dracula has risen from the Grave.

Always been one of my favourite Hammers, with great atmosphere and fine thrills. Probably the last to take the Dracula myth seriously enough to be scary, before the series deteriorated into parody and silly efforts to breathe new life in it by transporting Dracula to the 20th century, which doesn’t make sense. Dracula, as the creature who defies death, and therefore becomes the evil force who rivals the resurrected Christ, can only succesfully function in a time and place in which the christian faith was still vivid. There are some hints at parody here, but most of them are outings of the typical sixties attitude to ridicule dignitaries (der burgemeister for instance)

For Dracula purists there may be two problems: the count uses a knife (instead of his fangs) to kill one of the girls, and in rivalling contemporary horror movies, this late entry has become so gory and violent that some of the old charm has gone. This is no longer suitable for family entertainment

The angelic girl who has to be saved at all cost (the other girls are all sluts, hardly worth defending) is not just angelic, she is an angel. I just read on the net that she made herself a name in a children’s programme called Magpie. Right, Jenny Hanley, an angel:

[url]http://img121.imageshack.us/i/dinahsdaughterjennyhanl.jpg/[/url][/quote]

Aaahh, Jenny Hanley :-*
Flashback to impressionable, romantic minded boy watching kids TV

I mentioned the lovely Jenny a few days ago the “What film are you watching tonight” thread as she appeared in Pete Walker’s The Flesh and Blood Show. She really was an angel and, according to Walker in an interview on the subject, a delightful person to work with too. I’d forgotten she was in Scars for Dracula. This one will need to be viewed again very soon.

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i always preferred Magpie to Blue Peter. Jenny Hanley was the daughter of stalwart stiff upper lip British “B” movie star and t.v star Jimmy Hanley.

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Blue Peter was, and still is, a great show for kids but in a Jenny Hanly v Valerie Singleton head to head there can only be one winner :slight_smile:

You are right about Hanley’s Dad. I’d forgotten that.

264

I watched Sssssss from 1973, surprised it isn’t more famous. Impressive and chilling movie about snakes, everything looked real (apart from one certain transformation scene) they used real snakes. It has become one of my favourite horror movies.

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I had never even heard of it (I would’ve remembered that title), but found this clip on you tube:

Looks promising …

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Nice to see more fans of the lesser known Scars of Dracula. I remember renting it on VHS and really digging it a lot. I have watched it a couple times since on DVD and it still a fun movie with some very cool images - seeing Lee scale the wall while not the best does have a sense of menace to it. Also having Michael Gwynn (Jason and the Argonauts, Revenge of Frankenstein, and the memorable Lord Melbury on Fawlty Towers) in it is a bonus.

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Oh my God, now I now …

I’ll let Basil know the bats gave that upper class twat just desserts

268

just be glad you are not his car…

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The Terror
Roger Corman’s infamouse movie was shot over a weekend as Boris Karlof owed him two more shooting days. A lot of directors helped on it (notably Francis Ford Coppala, who even gets a screen credit!), and a young Jack Nicholson stars. Critics tend to maintain that it is one of the worse movies ever made; but I really enjoyed it, and the film has some suitably creepy moments in it. It’s very fun to watch. 3[size=1][sup]3/[sub]4[/sub][/sup][/size]/5.

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[quote=“Frank Talby, post:268, topic:405”]just be glad you are not his car…

[/quote]
…or this…

271

I’m a big Hammer fan (Idiot, not so much) and I like SCARS OF DRACULA. I must say Sherp. is right though about Dracula in this one. Not the scourge o the lovely ladies in the same way as in previous films. TASTE THE BLOOD is one of my favorites for two main reasons:

  1. The over the top bordello scenes complete with snake dancers and proper upper class boors being ridden around like horses by “women of ill repute”.
  2. The graveyard scenes were filmed at the beautiful Highgate Cemetary where, so they say, a real vampire lives! :smiley:
    If I was a vampire that would be the place to go for me, too! :smiley:
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Frank Langella’s Dracula is on tonight. I was wondering, is it worth watching?

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Yes but don’t expect too much.

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I, on the other hand recomend this film. It’s closer to the book (which some people care deeply about!) and the sets and costumes are beautiful. Aside from Donald Pleasence, who steals every scene he’s in, as usual(!), the performances are not over the top. Dracula is an intellegent vampire. This does turn into a love story of sorts, and the scenes are a bit cheesy, but overlook this and I think you will enjoy it. :slight_smile:

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Okay, thanks. I wasn’t expecting too much anyhow. I’ll go and tape it.

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I fall on the same side of the fence as I…I…Idiot when it comes to Hammers. Though i do enjoy HOUND OF THE BASKERVILLES and CAP’N KRONOS. And i recently picked up the pirate collection. THE STRANGLERS OF BOMBAY and THE TERROR OF THE TONGS look like fun.

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Any one like Twins of Evil from Hammer like me ? Cushing is great as always…he is obsessed.

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I have not seen that in a LONG time! I’ll have to see it again soon. Peter Cushing is at the top of a very short list of favorite actors for me. He’s always a pleasure to watch. :slight_smile:

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Like devil Bunny I’d have rewatch this first before saying much about it

I saw it once, it has some erotic influences, right?

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I liked it: Gorgeous evil Twins and a mean Peter Cushing … What can you expect more from a Hammer Movie? :slight_smile: