Reviews of movies directed by Terence Fisher.
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.
No responses
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.
No responses
Monday, July 23rd 2007
Grade: D+
Synopsis: A young English woman (Jean Simmons) in Paris wakes up to find her brother (and his entire hotel room!) missing.
So Long at the Fair is built around a premise worthy of Hitchcock. Indeed, he would make a film built around a similar theme (person vanishes and nobody acknowledges them as even having existed) the following year with Strangers on a Train.
Unfortunately, So Long at the Fair lacks Hitchcock’s flair and suffers for it. Jean Simmons comes across as a whiny brat for much of the movie, and spends more time crying than she does looking for her brother. MORE »
Posted at 6:10 PM in Movie Reviews and Terence Fisher.
No responses
Tuesday, June 19th 2007
Grade: C-
Synopsis: Robin Hood (Richard Greene) attempts to foil the Sheriff of Nottingham (Peter Cushing).
After striking gold with Frankenstein and Dracula, Hammer Films tried their hand at starting a Robin Hood franchise.
They should have stuck with the monsters.
Terence Fisher’s direction is sound and Peter Cushing makes the best of a part that gives him nothing to do, but ultimately, Sword of Sherwood Forest fails because Richard Greene is simply not right for the leading role of Robin Hood. He has only marginal charisma, his arm shakes whenever he draws his bow, and he has zero chemistry with his leading lady.
Bottom Line: Watch The Adventures of Robin Hood (1938) instead.
Posted at 1:41 AM in Movie Reviews, Hammer Film, Peter Cushing and Terence Fisher.
No responses
newer →
