Reviews of movies directed by Terence Fisher.
Friday, September 21st 2007
Grade: B+
Synopsis: Sherlock Holmes (Peter Cushing) investigates the family curse surrounding a nobleman (Christopher Lee).
The Hound of the Baskervilles was Hammer’s take on Sherlock Holmes. Taking the same director and stars from their previous successes Dracula and The Curse of Frankenstein, the film was intended as the first in a series of Sherlock Holmes pictures, and while the series never materialized, The Hound of the Baskervilles is still quite good.
Peter Cushing and André Morell are great as Holmes and Watson. While purists could argue that Cushing was too short for the role, his sharp, piercing performance more than makes up for it. Christopher Lee complements him nicely and does a great job of keeping things moving when Cushing is off-screen. MORE »
Posted at 6:34 PM in Movie Reviews, Christopher Lee, Hammer Film, Peter Cushing and Terence Fisher.
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Monday, August 13th 2007
Grade: B
Synopsis: A producer tracks a mysterious figure that haunts a London opera house.
The Phantom of the Opera was director Terrance Fisher’s follow up to the disastrous The Curse of the Werewolf (1961). He seems to have learned from his mistakes though, as the film wastes little time in getting the Phantom on screen, and is solid from beginning to end.
The cast is great. Herbert Lom is excellent as the Phantom (a role that may, or may not, have been written for Cary Grant), finding the perfect balance between mania and melancholy. Opposite him, Edward de Souza exudes an easy charm as the film’s romantic lead (another role that may, or may not, have been written for Cary Grant). Topping them both though, is Michael Gough as the wonderfully wicked villain. MORE »
Posted at 4:02 PM in Movie Reviews, Hammer Film and Terence Fisher.
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Tuesday, August 7th 2007
Grade: D-
Synopsis: A man (Oliver Reed) is born cursed with the sign of the werewolf.
The Curse of the Werewolf is one of those movies that make you wonder what the filmmakers were thinking. Oliver Reed has a lot of charisma and looks great in the werewolf makeup, but he doesn’t even show up until the halfway point. And the actual werewolf doesn’t really show up until the movie is two-thirds over! Instead, the movie wastes a lot of time setting up the back-story behind Reed’s character, back-story that could have easily been reduced to a paragraph of opening text. Indeed, it’s no wonder the movie flopped, but watching it, I can’t help but wonder if a little editing couldn’t have at least made it marginally better. MORE »
Posted at 2:37 PM in Movie Reviews, Hammer Film and Terence Fisher.
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Monday, August 6th 2007
Grade: D
Synopsis: A teacher falls prey to a vampire baron in the German countryside.
The Brides of Dracula is s sequel to Hammer’s Dracula (1958). Unfortunately, this entry lacks both Christopher Lee, and a good supporting cast.
Peter Cushing returns as Van Helsing, and does what he can with the weak script. For every step forward it seems to take a step back. For instance, Van Helsing is clever enough to slide his cross across the table to halt the advance of a vampire, but also foolish enough not to pack a spare! And don’t get me started on how he lets a scrawny woman wrestle him to the ground. MORE »
Posted at 11:44 PM in Movie Reviews, Hammer Film, Peter Cushing, Terence Fisher and Vampire Movies.
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Sunday, July 29th 2007
Grade: B-
Synopsis: Two men (Christopher Lee and Leon Greene) discover their young friend has fallen in with a group of Satanists.
The Devil Rides Out is one of Hammer Film studios better efforts. The script by Richard Matheson starts out great. Christopher Lee chews up the scenery opposite an equally strong Charles Gray and the plot moves like gangbusters. Then, inexplicably, Lee disappears off on some errand and the movie begins to drag. Fortunately, Lee returns and the movie picks back up, only to drag again when he vanishes again before the finale. The net result is still a gain though, as when the movie’s on, it’s on. MORE »
Posted at 10:03 PM in Movie Reviews, Christopher Lee, Hammer Film and Terence Fisher.
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