Scars Of Dracula (1970)

While I admit that I was a little disappointed to see that this Hammer movie was missing my particular favourite actor known for his work with the studio, Peter Cushing, I knew that I would be in for something reasonably entertaining with Christopher Lee reprising, arguably, his most famous performance and the fact that it was directed by Roy Ward Baker and written by Anthony Hinds (two names probably familiar to fans of horror from this era).

The movie starts off with Dracula being resurrected thanks to the help of a daft, rubber bat. Then the fun really begins as the Count gets straight back to reprising his reign of terror, making some trouble for himself when he takes in a stranger (Paul, played by Christopher Matthews) and then doesn't let him leave. It's not long until Paul's brother (Simon, played by Dennis Waterman) comes looking for him with the beautiful Sarah (Jenny Hanley) by his side.

While this is not really a GREAT Hammer movie it is a damn entertaining one, despite how silly and slight it may be. Dennis Waterman makes for a decent enough leading man, Patrick Troughton is great as a servant of the fanged Count (even if he does resemble Oddbod from Carry On Screaming!), the lovely Jenny Hanley is quite lovely and everyone else does their bit portraying Hammer standards such as the scared priest (Michael Gwynn), the grouchy innkeeper (Michael Ripper), etc.

Nothing really feels too slick or polished but it doesn't ever feel like a rushed hatchet job either, falling somewhere in between the two and doing just enough to smooth over the more ludicrous moments in the movie. The ending is a bit of an anti-climax but such a slip-up is allowed when the rest of the movie is so much fun.

I actually found it more endearing than irritating whenever there was someone getting overly dramatic or whenever anyone was threatened by a distinctly rubbery bat but others may not feel the same way. That is, of course, their choice. If nobody agrees with me then I'll happily keep this treat all to myself.

7/10

Available in this super duper bargain boxset - http://www.amazon.co.uk/The-Ultimate-Hammer-Collection-Disc/dp/B000HN31KQ/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1353949514&sr=8-1

The Revenge Of Frankenstein (1958)

Following on from The Curse Of Frankenstein, and with the three main players back for more (Terence Fisher directing, Jimmy Sangster writing - with additional dialogue from Hurford Janes and an uncredited George Baxt - and the irreplaceable Peter Cushing as the Baron) we get a lot of familiar fun in this Hammer horror movie.

Taken to the guillotine for the deaths that resulted from his handiwork in the previous movie, Baron Frankenstein stages a sneaky escape and sets himself up in practice far away in an area where he hopes not to be recognised. He even completely changes his name to Doctor Victor Stein. However did he think that one up? The bad news is that he is recognised by someone but the good news is that the person who recognises him wants to help him carry on his scientific work. The venue may have changed but the song remains the same as Frankenstein and his new assistant (Doctor Hans Kleve, played by Francis Matthews) set about to take the brain of trusty Karl (Michael Gwynn) and place it in a superior body. Let's just hope that nothing happens to knock the brain while it's adjusting to it's new home as that could lead to madness, murder and cannibalism. But I'm sure nothing will disturb the Baron's good work. Aren't you?

Cushing is as great as ever in this film with Baron Frankenstein being, arguably, his greatest characterisation. The mix of superiority, charm, intelligence and arrogance so superbly moulded into one of the most likable rogues in horror movie history is a result of both the great writing and Cushing's own delivery of the material. Matthews is very good as the eager assistant who shares Frankenstein's progressive thinking and Gwynn is very good, whether playing a damaged human being or a damaged experiment gone awry. Eunice Gayson is the lady unwittingly endangering herself this time around and she does fine with her role. Michael Ripper fans will be pleased to see the actor in a small role (his first for Hammer) and George Woodbridge is either amusing or annoying, depending on how you react to his character.

Full of many moments of black humour, as most of the Frankenstein movies are (the subject matter seems to practically beg for it), the film is a swift, entertaining romp that may not really scare anyone but that does have one or two shocking moments here and there en route to it's enjoyable final scene, a fun if implausible punchline that will hopefully make viewers smile as opposed to scowl.

7/10

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