My "Hammer Horror" Top 20 (16-20)

Sixteen 

This film is a horror with a darkly funny undercurrent and a daring twist.

Ralph Bates and Martine Beswick are both great in this movie and Beswick is simply stunning in this. What is a plus and a negative for this film is it incorporates into the plot aspects of the historical Jack the Ripper case and the killers Burke and Hare. This is very creative but from an actual historical point of view it makes my head hurt.  

If you haven't seen this I recommend you check it out it is a highly imaginative take on this classic story the film has a good pace it builds tension nicely and where the plot can be seen as ludicrous the cast play it straight so that all seems credible. He tops chills and gruesome murders with a dose of subtle fun. Bates and Beswick are both strong and attractive personalities and do bear a strange resemblance to each other making the transitions somewhat believable. The film is let down by the final make-up effect but don't let that discourage you.  

Seventeen

Hammer were originally planning a film called "Vampire Virgins" BUT! producer Harry Fine saw the Collinson twins in Playboy magazine and thought a film project based around them would be successful.  

This film is the third in a trio of films made by Hammer that are referred to as

"The Karnstein Trilogy" is not a film trilogy in the regular sense but are three films inspired by the 1872 Gothic novella "Carmilla" by Irish author Sheridan Le Fanu. 

  The Vampire Lovers (1970), Lust for a Vampire (1971) & "Twins of Evil (1971)

Film critic Leonard Maltin gave the film two and a half stars, calling it "engaging" and "inspired" in its use of the Collinson twins.

A.H. Weiler wrote in The New York Times that the Collinson twins made the film "interesting".

In Cinefantastique Robert L. Jerome observed: "The film is done with Hammer's obvious care for details and a sobriety which creates the proper mood of unexpected evil in attractive, tranquil surroundings."

At the risk of sounding repetitive this film earns it's place in my top 20 because of what it lacks in other areas it makes up for in fun.  

Eighteen

This film provided a rare leading role for the actress Valerie Leon and it is one of my favourites even though it is notable for having a very troubled production.

The film was the last project that Hammer boss James Carreras put into production before he completely retired from the film industry. The screen writer Christopher Wicking wanted to use the title of the source material "The Jewel of Seven Stars" but Carreras really didn't. The two brainstormed titles, and came up with "Blood from the Mummy's Tomb" which Wicking thought was just a working title that they would never actually use, but they did.

Seth Holt, whose films were admired by producer Howard Brandy was hired to direct. Holt had directed "The Nanny" for Hammer which was critically well regarded, but he had not made a movie in two years. Wicking and Holt began working on the script but were suddenly told the film had to go into production early because there was a gap in the production schedule. Wicking said he had a huge falling out with producer Howard Brandy and was then banned from the set but he continued to work with Holt in the evenings.

The producer Howard Brandy later claimed that  Wicking's script was "unshootable" and that Holt constantly had to rewrite it. Brandy also says he and Holt wanted to cast Amy Grant in the lead role but James Carreras insisted on Valerie Leon.

Peter Cushing was cast in the role of Professor Julian Fuchs and completed one day's filming but had to leave the production due to his wife being diagnosed with emphysema. Cushing was replaced by actor Andrew Keir.

Director Seth Holt died from a heart attack five weeks into the six-week shoot, collapsing into cast member Aubrey Morris's arms and dying on set.

Hammer boss Michael Carreras asked director Don Sharp to finish the film but he was unavailable so Carreras took it on himself to direct the final week's filming.

I have always enjoyed this film and any shortcomings that maybe on display in this film are totally understandable considering. The film was made for £200,000. (£2.4m in 2024) The film was shown in some markets in a double bill with The film "Dr. Jekyll and Sister Hyde".

looking through reviews the film is described as being "glamorous" and having a "creepy atmosphere", "tremendous fun, skilful and wonderfully energetic", "polished and well-acted".

Nineteen 

"Captain Kronos – Vampire Hunter" is a much misunderstood film and for some reason it  has quite a negative reputation. I think people don't understand what they are getting themselves into so they are disappointed... This is a "Vampire" flick but it is more of a swashbuckling action / detective movie... Kronos is like Errol Flynn mashed up with Sherlock Holmes complete with a sidekick who appears to be an "Igor type" but is a professor and is incredibly smart and knowledgeable in the vein of a Dr. Watson. It's almost like they have taken the Cushing Van Helsing and split him into 2 characters, one being the dashing, leaping on tables and stabbing monsters part and the other is a bookish expert on the occult.       

The film was released on 7 April 1974, It was intended to be the first in a series of films focused on the title character and his companions but due to a mix of circumstances... that sadly didn't happen. But it is a true cult classic and if you have never seen it I highly recommend you do ASAP!

Twenty

This film is a martial arts horror film and was a British-Hong Kong co-production between Hammer Film Productions and Shaw Brothers Studio. The film was directed by Hammer regular Roy Ward Baker with Hong Kong director Chang Cheh coming onboard to direct martial arts sequences. It was shot between 22 October and 11 December 1973, at the Shaw Brothers Studios in Hong Kong with mountain scenes shot on location at Kowloon Peak.

There was a general culture clash with the production, for example Renee Glynee who was the continuity supervisor for the film stated that working with the Shaw Brothers Studios was       "a big experience" due to the language barrier and told stories about director Roy Ward Baker having tantrums on set and screaming at the Chinese actors because he could't handle them spitting on set.

Shaw Brothers were not happy with how Roy Ward Baker was directing the film, Shaw Brothers were a prolific and very successful  movie studio who had made 463 films since 1951 by the time they were involved in this production so they were no slouches! Shaw's unhappiness is what lead to Chang Cheh coming on to direct the combat sequences and actually shoot additional footage for the "Eastern version" of the film which ran at 110 min where the UK version was 95 min and the film was then slashed again down to 75 min and renamed "The 7 Brothers Meet Dracula" for its North American release. 

I really like this movie! it is Bat Shit crazy! The mash up between Hammer style Horror and kung fu was such a good idea and if their was a director at the time with the a vision who was well versed in both genres I think this could have been something really special.  A film made by committee is never good especially when members are pulling things in different directions.  All that being said this film is loads of fun, bonkers and really worth a watch. I rank it in the top 20 Hammer Horrors because it is just so different and has the DNA to be great! 

There was a planned sequel to be titled "Kali, Devil Bride of Dracula", which was to be filmed in India, but it was never made.

This should come as no surprise but "The Legend of the 7 Golden Vampires" was not a box office success. 

Director Roy Ward Baker later spoke about the film, declaring that,

"the whole set-up was slip-shod, and nobody knew what anyone was doing." and that the film was "a failure, an absolute failure."

Hammer boss Michael Carreras later said this "wasn't such a good idea" although he felt

"some of the film is quite good."