Euro Cult Movie Forum => British Films => Topic started by: 13-13 on 24 Feb 2009 - 23:32

Title: Hammer Horror - What to buy?
Post by: 13-13 on 24 Feb 2009 - 23:32
my local indie dvd shop has started getting quite a few hammer dvds in, part of the hammer collection series and i've picked up a few (devil rides out, the nany, plague of zombies..etc) but was wondering what are the real gems to go for and what to avoid like the plague.

this is what they all look like(obviously with different picture and title and so on)

(http://www.hauntedshop.co.uk/images/draculapoddvd.jpg)

any suggestions would be most kind.

thx  ;)
Title: Re: hammer horror - what to buy?
Post by: Inspector Tanzi on 24 Feb 2009 - 23:57
you can't go wrong with this boxset Amy :D

http://hmv.com/hmvweb/displayProductDetails.do?ctx=285;5;-1;-1;-1&sku=566620
Title: Re: hammer horror - what to buy?
Post by: 13-13 on 25 Feb 2009 - 00:04
don't....2 or 3 fucking times i had to return my hammer house of horror boxsets to hmv, and everytime the first disc was faulty..until they run out. and they were cheap. well annoyed.

already got out of the boxset
Demons of the Mind
The Devil Rides Out
Scars of Dracula
The Plague of the Zombies
The Nanny
Blood from the Mummies Tomb

well i think thats every hammer dvd ive got i think.

but that bloody cheap...hhmmm..
Title: Re: hammer horror - what to buy?
Post by: R-T-C Tim on 25 Feb 2009 - 07:43
You have to see the first three Hammer gothic horrors: Curse of Frankenstein, Horror of Dracula and The Mummy. All are available in the UK from WB, good pq but no extras.


For horror, I would also recommend:
Revenge of Frankenstein
Frankenstein Must be Destroyed
Vampire Lovers


I believe these are all still available in the UK.

If you can play R1 discs, I would recommend Universal's 'Hammer Horror Series Boxset' which has 8 films, including the impressive 'Curse of the Werewolf' with Oliver Reed which is worth the asking price alone. You also get a couple of their black and white thrillers, an adventure film, sequels to Dracula and Frankenstein, plus Phantom of the Opera and Kiss of the Vampire - a very good vampire gothic horror, but without any links to the Dracula series.

Of course there is more to Hammer than just horror and their adventure films are certainly good fun - a four disc set came out in the US last year and I would recommend that too.

I've got reviews of 45 Hammer films, with DVD details, plus a background to the studio on my website: Hammer Films Guide (http://www.mondo-esoterica.net/links_pages/Hammer%20Films.html).
Title: Re: hammer horror - what to buy?
Post by: 13-13 on 25 Feb 2009 - 08:49
thank you!
i'll have a read of your site when a get i nfrom work later.

always been curious about the other non-horror hammer films, altho i think i'll draw the line at the on the buses films.
Title: Re: Hammer Horror - What to buy?
Post by: Jonny on 02 Dec 2010 - 10:28
The 21 disc Hammer Box set is currently down to £26.97  :P

The Ultimate Hammer Collection (21 Disc Box Set) - Amazon.co.uk (http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B000HN31KQ/ref=nosim?tag=lovelockandlo-21)

A superb price and a great starting point to any Hammer collection.
Title: Re: Hammer Horror - What to buy?
Post by: gaz1 on 02 Dec 2010 - 11:28

i saw this in hmv last week i'm sure its a tad cheaper in there,
i was tempted but haven't picked it up yet
Title: Re: Hammer Horror - What to buy?
Post by: cannibal man on 24 Dec 2010 - 16:00
The 21 disc Hammer Box set is currently down to £26.97  :P

The Ultimate Hammer Collection (21 Disc Box Set) - Amazon.co.uk (http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B000HN31KQ/ref=nosim?tag=lovelockandlo-21)

A superb price and a great starting point to any Hammer collection.

that is around 1 pound 20 per disc.
great value.
nice to see them released in a box set.

i just love the hammer films.
brit horror in general.
Title: Re: Hammer Horror - What to buy?
Post by: Inspector Tanzi on 24 Dec 2010 - 16:04
The 21 disc Hammer Box set is currently down to £26.97  :P

The Ultimate Hammer Collection (21 Disc Box Set) - Amazon.co.uk (http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B000HN31KQ/ref=nosim?tag=lovelockandlo-21)

A superb price and a great starting point to any Hammer collection.
£33.99 now but still a great price.
Title: Re: Hammer Horror - What to buy?
Post by: cannibal man on 19 Jan 2011 - 00:20
The 21 disc Hammer Box set is currently down to £26.97  :P

The Ultimate Hammer Collection (21 Disc Box Set) - Amazon.co.uk (http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B000HN31KQ/ref=nosim?tag=lovelockandlo-21)

A superb price and a great starting point to any Hammer collection.
£33.99 now but still a great price.

sure is mate.
not even an average of 2 quid per film.
and these hammer films remember are true classics.
some of the best films ive ever seen.
Title: Re: Hammer Horror - What to buy?
Post by: cannibal man on 16 Feb 2011 - 00:37

well i bought taste the bloof of dracula dor 3 quid last week.
not bad eh.

there  few more i will probably get.
like.
wicker man original for 6 quid i think it is.
dracula prince of darkness 3 quid.
Title: Re: Hammer Horror - What to buy?
Post by: CJ on 23 Mar 2011 - 15:11
You simply have to get the Warners DVD of Dracula Has Risen From the Grave, my favourite Hammer of all time and a good investment since I watch it about twice a year. Absolutely love it to bits. Seeing the Hammer films in their correct OAR and with DVD resolution has been an absolute revelation and you realise just how good these films are. Seeing Brides of Dracula on DVD was like seeing it for the first time - some of that primary colour lighting must surely have been an influence on Mario Bava and subsequently on Argento? Maybe the look of Italian cinema owes more of a debt to the talents of Terence Fisher than we realise..?
Title: Re: Hammer Horror - What to buy?
Post by: broonage on 23 Mar 2011 - 15:17
I'm a bit behind on what's what in Hammer (releases etc).

I have tons of them on DVD and maybe 3/4 on reissue VHS from the 2000s.
Not sure what is cut etc..and the best versions to get. I have a bunch of the boxsets from HMV too.
Title: Re: Hammer Horror - What to buy?
Post by: CJ on 23 Mar 2011 - 18:08
Most releases are uncut, or at least as uncut as they can be, some footage is probably lost forever ie: Vampire Circus.

The Warner releases of the early trio of classics, Frankenstein, Dracula and the Mummy, are the best currently available - but I really wish Warners had allowed the BFI to release their restored version of (Horror of) Dracula. Let's hope Warners revisits these titles for Blu-ray at some point. Word is also afoot that in a Japanese vault some of the long-lost footage for Dracula has been discovered and that Warners are being urged to approach them about it. Once Japan gets back on its feet, it'll be curious to see where this leads.

Some of the early Anchor Bay Hammer titles were a bit shoddy, but watchable - and at least Dracula - Prince of Darkness and The Satanic Rites of Dracula were uncut, even if they were non-anamorphic and somewhat poor in presentation. Satanic Rites is crying out for a decent release, but there's no sign of one yet, that I know of.

One gem worth getting hold of, and is another favourite of mine, is the unique Dr Jekyll and Sister Hyde. Never before was a sex change so sexy!  ;D
Title: Re: Hammer Horror - What to buy?
Post by: imaginaryforces on 19 Apr 2012 - 16:09
I would highly recommend Blood on Satans Claw and The Nanny. I only saw The Nanny recently but was really taken back by how great it is. It reminded me in some ways of early Polanski films like Repulsion. Very tense and dark.
Title: Re: Hammer Horror - What to buy?
Post by: Kevin Coed on 19 Apr 2012 - 16:22
I would highly recommend Blood on Satans Claw

Which isn't a Hammer film.
Title: Re: Hammer Horror - What to buy?
Post by: imaginaryforces on 20 Apr 2012 - 01:54
I would highly recommend Blood on Satans Claw

Which isn't a Hammer film.

Haha! Oops. I don't know why I wrote that when I was actually thinking of The Devil Rides Out.
Title: Re: Hammer Horror - What to buy?
Post by: Nuno on 04 Oct 2012 - 21:11
There is a Blu-ray release from Theater of Blood!??

(http://i49.tinypic.com/19s8kj.jpg)
Title: Re: Hammer Horror - What to buy?
Post by: the blob on 04 Oct 2012 - 21:49
There is a Blu-ray release from Theater of Blood!??

(http://i49.tinypic.com/19s8kj.jpg)

Not that I'm aware of. Where did you see the pic?
Title: Re: Hammer Horror - What to buy?
Post by: Inspector Tanzi on 04 Oct 2012 - 22:08
Not that I'm aware of. Where did you see the pic?
Mock design I reckon.


My favourite Price.


Why did you mention this in the Hammer thread Nuno?
Title: Re: Hammer Horror - What to buy?
Post by: Nuno on 04 Oct 2012 - 22:29
There is a Blu-ray release from Theater of Blood!??


Not that I'm aware of. Where did you see the pic?
In the net...
Title: Re: Hammer Horror - What to buy?
Post by: Nuno on 04 Oct 2012 - 22:30
Not that I'm aware of. Where did you see the pic?
Mock design I reckon.


My favourite Price.


Why did you mention this in the Hammer thread Nuno?
It isn't Hammer film?
Title: Re: Hammer Horror - What to buy?
Post by: Inspector Tanzi on 04 Oct 2012 - 22:48
It isn't Hammer film?
'fraid not  :D
Title: Re: Hammer Horror - What to buy?
Post by: Nuno on 04 Oct 2012 - 22:54
It isn't Hammer film?
'fraid not  :D

ups...
My mistake...so sorry!
Title: Re: Hammer Horror - What to buy?
Post by: Inspector Tanzi on 15 Jul 2013 - 14:02
The Evil of Frankenstein and The Brides Of Dracula out on Blu end of August.

(http://i437.photobucket.com/albums/qq98/spara73/Spara3/61Kj-EUNlqL.jpg)

(http://i437.photobucket.com/albums/qq98/spara73/Spara3/61ydItPH6EL.jpg)
Title: Re: Hammer Horror - What to buy?
Post by: broonage on 16 Jul 2013 - 12:10
I'm loving Hammer on blu!
Title: Re: Hammer Horror - What to buy?
Post by: broonage on 09 Oct 2013 - 15:08
I watched Brides last week, i had actually not seen it previously. Nice flick overall.
Need to get The Witches, The Mummy, and Hands of the Ripper.

Anymore on the horizon?
Title: Re: Hammer Horror - What to buy?
Post by: Jonny on 16 Sep 2014 - 17:28
THE CURSE OF THE WEREWOLF is out on Blu ray from Anolis and the transfer is being reported as being one of the best Hammer transfers. Anyone picked it up yet?
Title: Re: Hammer Horror - What to buy?
Post by: broonage on 16 Sep 2014 - 19:55
THE CURSE OF THE WEREWOLF is out on Blu ray from Anolis and the transfer is being reported as being one of the best Hammer transfers. Anyone picked it up yet?

 On the wish list. I have all blus so far apart from the Aussie ones and The Quiet Ones. Still need to watch Phantom of the Opera.
Title: Re: Hammer Horror - What to buy?
Post by: Jonny on 16 Sep 2014 - 20:22
Anyone picked up that boxset that's out in New Zealand? Looks like a right bargain.
Title: Re: Hammer Horror - What to buy?
Post by: Inspector Tanzi on 16 Sep 2014 - 21:18
Anyone picked up that boxset that's out in New Zealand? Looks like a right bargain.
Wasn't aware of it, what's on it, Jonny?

I recently got this Spanish set.

(http://i437.photobucket.com/albums/qq98/spara73/spara2/61ndKYMNZdL.jpg)




Title: Re: Hammer Horror - What to buy?
Post by: Jonny on 16 Sep 2014 - 21:48
My mate mentioned it today and said it's a massive Blu ray boxset that includes 13 films plus the WORLD OF HAMMER series
Title: Re: Hammer Horror - What to buy?
Post by: Inspector Tanzi on 16 Sep 2014 - 23:26
My mate mentioned it today and said it's a massive Blu ray boxset that includes 13 films plus the WORLD OF HAMMER series

This it?

http://www.mightyape.co.nz/product/Hammer-Horror-The-Collection--11-Blu-ray--2-DVD-Limited-Edition-Box-Set/21874671 (http://www.mightyape.co.nz/product/Hammer-Horror-The-Collection--11-Blu-ray--2-DVD-Limited-Edition-Box-Set/21874671)


Hammer Horror – The Collection (13 Disc Box Set) 11 Blu-ray / 2 DVD.

This exclusive Blu-ray collection features 11 of the finest restored Hammer Horror titles including:

    Dracula: Prince Of Darkness
    Plague Of The Zombies
    Quatermass And The Pit
    Rasputin: The Mad Monk
    The Devil Rides Out
    The Mummy’s Shroud
    The Reptile
    Frankenstein And The Monster From Hell
    Frankenstein Created Woman
    The Quatermass xperiment
    The Witches
    The World Of Hammer DVD.
    COLLECTOR’S EDITION hard back book packaging
    CONTAINS 11 Blurays of all fully restored Hammer Releases and 2 bonus ‘World of

Hammer’ DVD’s!

    RENOWNED as one of the oldest active British film production companies, and the pinnacle of cult horror.

Special Features:

    Audio Commentaries
    Behind the scenes footage
    Never before seen ‘Hammer Glamour’ Documentary
    Original restoration Comparisons
    Original Trailers
    Bonus Films ‘Quatermass II’ and ‘x The Unknown’



On UK amazon.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Hammer-Horror-Collection-Blu-Ray-Boxset/dp/B00I8DV76C/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1410909841&sr=8-1&keywords=hammer+horror+blu+ray (http://www.amazon.co.uk/Hammer-Horror-Collection-Blu-Ray-Boxset/dp/B00I8DV76C/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1410909841&sr=8-1&keywords=hammer+horror+blu+ray)
Title: Re: Hammer Horror - What to buy?
Post by: the blob on 16 Sep 2014 - 23:37
Anyone picked up that boxset that's out in New Zealand? Looks like a right bargain.
Wasn't aware of it, what's on it, Jonny?

I recently got this Spanish set.

(http://i437.photobucket.com/albums/qq98/spara73/spara2/61ndKYMNZdL.jpg)

Have you checked it yet? I've got one Llamentol disc and it's a BD-R and the Amazon reviews suggest these are too. They seem a bit dodgy and I wouldn't be surprised if they're just rips of the UK transfers.

I'm waiting to see what Final Cut come up with for Curse of the Werewolf before going for the Anolis one.

I've got most of the ones on that Aus box set already but definitely cheaper than buying them separate and generally comparable transfers to the UK ones as well as getting the ones that aren't out here. Kino are supposed to be using the MGM restoration of Quatermass Xperiment though for their upcoming BD.
Title: Re: Hammer Horror - What to buy?
Post by: demented_uk on 17 Sep 2014 - 07:26
And some of the Australian Blu-Rays of Hanmer films are 1080i rather than full HD, such as The Quatermass Experiment. The Kino release promises to be much better.
Title: Re: Hammer Horror - What to buy?
Post by: broonage on 17 Sep 2014 - 08:49
I think Quatermass (Aussie) has some bonus films too, the sequels?
Title: Re: Hammer Horror - What to buy?
Post by: Inspector Tanzi on 17 Sep 2014 - 11:03
Anyone picked up that boxset that's out in New Zealand? Looks like a right bargain.
Wasn't aware of it, what's on it, Jonny?

I recently got this Spanish set.

(http://i437.photobucket.com/albums/qq98/spara73/spara2/61ndKYMNZdL.jpg)

Have you checked it yet? I've got one Llamentol disc and it's a BD-R and the Amazon reviews suggest these are too. They seem a bit dodgy and I wouldn't be surprised if they're just rips of the UK transfers.

Not yet, I'll take a look.
Title: Re: Hammer Horror - What to buy?
Post by: Inspector Tanzi on 17 Sep 2014 - 11:05
Anyone picked up that boxset that's out in New Zealand? Looks like a right bargain.
Wasn't aware of it, what's on it, Jonny?

I recently got this Spanish set.

(http://i437.photobucket.com/albums/qq98/spara73/spara2/61ndKYMNZdL.jpg)

Have you checked it yet? I've got one Llamentol disc and it's a BD-R and the Amazon reviews suggest these are too. They seem a bit dodgy and I wouldn't be surprised if they're just rips of the UK transfers.

Not yet, I'll take a look.
Yes, the appear to be. Packaging looks professional enough though.
Title: Re: Hammer Horror - What to buy?
Post by: demented_uk on 17 Sep 2014 - 20:14

I think Quatermass (Aussie) has some bonus films too, the sequels?

It does, but they are upscales.

On the subject of the Spanish Blu-Rays there are a number BD-Rs of the Olive Films releases available that are nothing more than bootlegs.
Title: Re: Hammer Horror - What to buy?
Post by: Inspector Tanzi on 17 Sep 2014 - 20:47

I think Quatermass (Aussie) has some bonus films too, the sequels?

It does, but they are upscales.

On the subject of the Spanish Blu-Rays there are a number BD-Rs of the Olive Films releases available that are nothing more than bootlegs.
I've got two other Spanish Blu Rays I haven't opened yet, Motel Hell and Bigger Than Life, both Llamentol.No doubt they will be too then.
Title: Re: Hammer Horror - What to buy?
Post by: broonage on 18 Sep 2014 - 08:18
I just realised that I don't have Frankenstein Created Woman (US)! Wish list updated! I must have been keen to see if a UK release would be on the horizon.
Title: Re: Hammer Horror - What to buy?
Post by: Inspector Tanzi on 18 Sep 2014 - 13:50

I think Quatermass (Aussie) has some bonus films too, the sequels?

It does, but they are upscales.

On the subject of the Spanish Blu-Rays there are a number BD-Rs of the Olive Films releases available that are nothing more than bootlegs.
I've got two other Spanish Blu Rays I haven't opened yet, Motel Hell and Bigger Than Life, both Llamentol.No doubt they will be too then.
Motel Hell is BD-R, Bigger Than Life is a proper pressed disc.
Title: Re: Hammer Horror - What to buy?
Post by: babybreese on 05 Jul 2016 - 19:46
Universal is releasing their 8 film set on Blu ray on Sept 13th for $59.99, on 4 Blu ray discs.
https://www.amazon.com/Hammer-Horror-8-Film-Collection-Blu-ray/dp/B01I048O8W/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1467747527&sr=8-2&keywords=hammer+horror+8+film (https://www.amazon.com/Hammer-Horror-8-Film-Collection-Blu-ray/dp/B01I048O8W/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1467747527&sr=8-2&keywords=hammer+horror+8+film)
Title: What ( not ) to buy?
Post by: babybreese on 05 Sep 2016 - 22:35
Mill Creek in the US has released 2 double bill BD's from the Sony /Columbia catalog.
Sadly, they have crammed 2 films on a BD25 and there are the resulting issues ( artifact's reported ), plus REVENGE is the 15 yr old transfer and it looks very weak in 1080.

Mill Creek usually uses BD50 for their doubles so not sure why this went astray.

(https://s12.postimg.org/3mzay6l0t/2222.png) (https://postimg.org/image/64b25g4x5/)

http://www.blu-ray.com/movies/The-Revenge-of-Frankenstein-and-The-Curse-of-the-Mummys-Tomb-Blu-ray/159686/#Review (http://www.blu-ray.com/movies/The-Revenge-of-Frankenstein-and-The-Curse-of-the-Mummys-Tomb-Blu-ray/159686/#Review)
Title: Re: Hammer Horror - What to buy?
Post by: Jeffrey on 07 Sep 2016 - 13:06
Thanks, that info is much appreciated.