Hammer Films: An Exhaustive Filmography

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Summary: BEST BOOK EVER ON HAMMER FILMS!!!
Review: This is, without a doubt, the BEST book ever written on the legendary British film studio best known for their Gothic horror films of the 60's and 70's that starred Peter Cushing and Christopher Lee. It is indeed an "exhaustive" scholarly reference book on EVERY film the studio made, not just their horror/ fantasy pics. The authors go year-by-year, and give detailed info about the films, listing complete cast and credits, story synopsis, facts about the making of the movies, reviews and more. Illustrated with many fine b&w stills, this is THE volume to have for any Hammer fan interested in this fine studio and its very impressive output. Many of their films are not just horror classics but FILM CLASSICS as well (i.e., "HORROR OF DRACULA", "QUATERMASS AND THE PIT" and "THE HOUND OF THE BASKERVILLES"). The only negative for me was the fact that the authors see fit, every chance they get, to deify Peter Cushing and harshly criticize Christopher Lee. This appears to be something going on widely amongst Hammer fans and writers, ever since Mr. Cushing died. Cushing's role in the studios success is over-valued and Lee is under-valued. Many people point to the fact that Cushing is billed first in "CURSE OF FRANKENSTEIN", "HORROR OF DRACULA" and "THE MUMMY" ahead of Lee to lend weight to their arguement that Cushing made those films the success' they were. The fact is, Cushing was a popular actor at the time in England (gaining fame for a version of "1984" he did on the telly [TV]), and Lee was a struggling, unknown. And many say Lee had only 8 minutes of screen time in the Dracula picture and in "CURSE OF FRANK" didn't even appear until the movie was half over and in "THE MUMMY" he had no dialogue (except the Egyptian mumbo-jumbo in the flashback scenes). Well, as for having little screen time in "HORROR OF DRACULA", what does it matter? He makes a heck of an impression with his limited screen time. After watching the film, the scenes with Dracula really stick in your mind. They are what you remember. And, in fact, someone once said, "There are no small parts, only small actors." Indeed. And I think the creature is an important character in the Frankenstein picture and the mummy is kind of important in a mummy film, don't ya think? In truth, the early Hammer Gothics would not have been the hits they were without Peter Cushing AND Christopher Lee. Those two stars, TOGETHER, made those films and made Hammer a success. End of editorial. All in all, a great book. Buy it and enjoy! - George Bauch.