Hammer’s ‘Other’ Films
Blog by James Oliver on November 5th, 2009
This month brings forth the long overdue release of three rarities from the archives of Hammer films. Two of the these three – The Camp on Blood Island and Yesterday’s Enemy – have never before appeared on any home video format while the third – that’s The Damned, directed by Joseph Losey – has been frustratingly difficult to see for many years.
Excellent stuff, then. Not just because these are worthwhile films in themselves (see reviews for proof of that): they also show us a very different side to one of the great institutions of British cinema.
Far more than a production company, Hammer represents a style, a genre even. Specifically, the Hammer brand is synonymous with a certain type of Gothic horror film. Dracula and Frankenstein provided the template but Hammer developed it into something characteristic and instantly recognisable, all fake blood and heaving bosoms (if we’re lucky, sometimes in the same shot.)
And yet… Despite a certain nostalgia for Hammer product, I find most of their horror films close to unwatchable. There are exceptions, notably some of the late-period pictures, principally those directed by Peter Sasdy (Countess Dracula and Taste the Blood of Dracula being especially worthwhile). And Christopher – sorry, Sir Christopher – Lee and Peter Cushing are always good value. Cushing in particular was one of the greatest screen actors this country ever produced: it’s a tragedy he played in so few films worthy of his talents.
But compare Hammer’s Gothics to the films created to cash in on their undeniable popularity, Roger Corman’s cycle of Edgar Allen Poe adaptations or Mario Bava’s psychedelic fairy tales. By contrast, Hammer’s efforts look dull and stolid, deficient not just in budget but also in atmosphere and ideas.
That’s why it’s exciting to see the Hammer vaults being prised open and their contents arrive onto DVD. Because amidst all the Gothics the studio churned out by the yard, they also found time to make rather more worthwhile films that have stood up surprisingly well.
Hammer were a prolific bunch – not for nothing awarded The Queen’s Award for Industry – and they produced films in many other genres beyond the one they’re celebrated for. Both Yesterday’s Enemy and Camp on Blood Island are war films and they made some useful crime pictures, notably the excellent Hell is a City.
Viewed today, however, it’s Hammer’s adventure films that stand up best of all. Most of these are still waiting to appear on DVD but at least we have The Sword of Sherwood Forest to be going on with. It’s amongst the best Robin Hood films – not quite in the Errol Flynn league but sprightly and well-paced, with the blessed Cushing on great form as the detestable Sheriff of Nottingham.
Hammer’s adventure yarns are unpretentious fun, walloping through their fights and derring-do with brio enough to satisfy anyone who’s ever been nine years old. It’s to be hoped that these new releases herald the forthcoming appearance of films like Captain Clegg and (let’s hope) Terror of the Tongs.
These ‘other’ Hammer films have been ignored for too long, overlooked for the more famous horrors. Now that they are finally available, perhaps its time to reappraise the studio’s achievements – for the better.
