Hammer Films - Ultimate Collection [Blu-ray]

Hammer Films: The Ultimate Collection (20 film set)The title is a bit off a bit mislead for this surely isn’t the ultimate collection of films produced by the famous Hammer company for that would be impossible for the distribution rights are among many. However this is a very fine collection of Hammer’s collaboration with Columbia for a very fine price and even though Mill Creek released this box set stating it is region A blocked, all 10 discs play very well on my region B player.Hammer And ColumbiaAfter Hammer made a huge success with there sci-fi and horror films from the late 50s and even saved Universal from bankrupt, Columbia was very keen on making a deal with Hammer for distribution rights. This being the hey days of Hammer Films they made a deal that brought them more freedom compared to their Warner of Universal deals. Therefore their 31 (if I’m not mistaken) collaborations are from a various line of genres and some of the studios most creative outputs. The 20 films in this box set have been ordered by genre.Would You Buy This?YES! With 20 films the price is very good. Maybe it only has 4 classic Hammer Horrors but hey, Hammer also did some great suspense films! And with with the exception of The Snorkel, the films look very good. I bought this because there are some hard to get titles in here, they all have English subtitle and (being a film lover) it only takes less than 3 cm to fill my shelf with 20 titles!NO! Well okay the quality is very good but isn’t perfect. There is a big difference between the archive footage (less) to the shot for the film shoots. The extra’s are just a few with audio commentaries on 6 films and 4 featurettes with a length of approx 15 minutes. But lets not forget that a indicator/powerhouse box-set of 4 films is the half price of this one with 20. And they haven’t released all these film (yet) and let’s not forget how much space there releases take on your shelf.The Films includedDisc 1: The Revenge Of Frankenstein (starring Peter Cushing, Francis Matthews. directed by Terence Fisher) and The Curse From The Mummy’s Tomb (starring Terence Morgan, Michael Ripper. Directed by Michael Carreras). Both of these films are classic Hammer Horror. The first one is a direct sequel to the first Frankenstein film and is a real threat. The second very funny stand alone Mummy film based on American exploitation of a historic artifact as a carnival-like freak show.Disc 2: These Are The Damned (aka The Damned. starring Oliver Reed, MacDonald Carey. directed by Joseph Losey) and The Two Faces Of Dr. Jekyll (aka Jekyll’s Inferno. starring Paul Massie, Christopher Lee. directed by Terence Fisher). The Damned is a unique one that starts with a feel of Clockwork Orange but ends up being a scary science fiction film that makes one wonder. Dr. Jekyll but not like you expect. I think this is a great classic Hammer horror but somehow less known than most. Maybe it was the confusing of the rough looking Jekyll and the clean looking Hyde.Disc 3: The Old Dark House (starring Tom Poston, Robert Morley. directed by William Castle) The Gorgon (starring Peter Cushing, Christopher Lee, Richard Pasco. directed by Terence Fisher) Cash On Demand (starring Peter Cushing, Andre Morell. directed by Quentin Lawrence) Three films one disc? Don’t worry they still look good. The one and only collaboration between Hammer and William Castle is here! The Old Dark House is a who-done-it comedy in an old spooky house. The Gorgon is the last Classic Hammer Horror in this box set. But what a great one it is. The suspense film Cash On Demand has one of Cushing’s best performance as his bank is gets robbed during Christmas.Disc 4: The Snorkel (starring Peter Van Eyck. directed by Guy Green) Maniac (starring Kerwin Mathews. directed by Michael Carreras). As I mentioned above The Snorkel has on my version a lot of noise and is almost unwatchable. I contacted Mill Creek about this and they said: “The print of The Snorkel did pass all inspections by our replicator and our manufacturing department staff. We have not had any other complaints about the picture quality for this title.” So it could be that I just had bad luck. It did not bother me much for I also have the film from the powerhouse box set. Having said that I really do like the suspense film about an impossible murder. Maniac does look great and is another great suspense film.Disc 5: Die! Die! My Darling! (aka Fanatic. starring Tallulah Bankhead, Stefanie Powers. directed by Silvio Narizzano) Stop Me Before I Kill! (aka the full treatment. Starring Claude Dauphin, Diane Cilento. directed by Val Guest) The first one was a hard to get film but really is very enjoyable. Written by the great Richard Matheson it is a story of extreme religion and being locked up. Also has an early role of Donald Sutherland. Stop Me Before I Kill is another in the suspense genre with a lot of twists that are hard to predict. The story line sounds silly: “A guy who sometimes has the urge to strangle his wife” but it really isn’t as bad as it sounds.Disc 6: Never Take Candy From A Stranger (aka never take sweets from a stranger. Starring Gwen Watford, Janina Faye. directed by Cyril Frankel) Scream Of Fear (aka taste of fear. Starring Susan Strasberg, Christopher Lee. directed by Seth Holt) Two great ones. The first is for most probably the most scary one Hammer made. In the opening credits it says it is not basted on true events but it could be. And that is just what makes this film about a child abuser who has a lot of power in a little town so scary. Janina Faye give a great performance just like she did in Hammer’s first Dracula film. The second is probably Hammers best suspense film. It is said that Christopher Lee sees this as his best film for the famous company.Disc 7: The Stranglers Of Bombay (starring Guy Folfke. directed by Terence Fisher) The Terror Of The Tongs (starring Christopher Lee, Yvonne Monlaur. directd by Anthony Bushell) Starring this disc of with a good thriller about a group of indian stranglers the second is my least favorite. Yes it does have Christopher Lee as a Fu Manchu like character but there is a lot of acting that feels just like that acting. Did enjoyed it but just not there best.Disc 8: The Pirates Of Blood River (starring Christopher Lee, Kerwin Mathews, Andrew Kier, Michael Ripper. directed by John Gilling) Sword Of Sherwood Forest (Richard Greene, Peter Cushing, Richard Pasco. directed by Terence Fisher) Adventure time! Full packed with Hammers finest. Not my favorite genre but I really liked Pirates Of Blood River. It is creative I mean a pirate film without a ship! And the sword fight of Christopher Lee is amazing. Sword Of Sherwood Forest is probably best liked by those who liked the tv series. It probably is a good film but I’m just not that into Robin Hood.Disc 9: The Camp On Blood Island (starring Andre Morell, Barbara Shelley. directed by Val Guest) Yesterday’s Enemy (starring Stanley Baker, Guy Rolfke. directed by Val Guest) War films are not one that come to mind when talking about Hammer but these two film are really good. The first is about an Japanese camp on an island that will kill all prisoners if they lose the war. While the prisoners learn about the end of the war there comes the struggle to keep the news from the Japanese and the fight for freedom. Yesterday’s Enemy is one of the few Hammer films that actually won prices when released. This one is about English soldiers in the jungle of Burma. And deals allot with the human psyche during war.Disc 10: Creatures The World Forgot (starring Julie Ege, Tony Bonner. directed by Don Chaffey) This last of Hammer’s prehistoric movies is probably their most gruesome film and also the one with most nudity. The subtitles for hoh are great fun. For this film is set before languages so the is allot of “grunt” and “enthusiastic yell” in there. This disc also has the bonus featurettes: Hammer at Columbia Pictures, The Actors of Hammer, The Curse From The Mummy’s Tomb Retrospective and The Two Faces Of Dr. Jekyll Retrospective.

great selection of films. was a present the the recipient just loves these movies. Good quality and great price

Great quality and fast delivery. The box itself is good sample of the Hammer universe, with lots of interesting information to boot. A must have for Hammer fans.

Advertises booklet as an included bonus. False advertising, do not expect to get this booklet as it looks like it was left out. I’m grateful for this collection of movies all on one set, however. Hammer movies are not easy to obtain in one set here in the US. The rights to these movies are all over the place, but they seem to have started becoming more available. Still sad that Curse of Frankenstein is not available on Blu Ray here, but I’m sure Shout Factory will get it eventually.This particular set has some good films and some not so good films. Highlights include Revenge of Frankenstein, The Gorgon, and The Two Faces or Dr Jekyll.Disappointing about the booklet, but I will contact the manufacturer to get it sent to me. I’ll continue to enjoy the set regardless.

For anyone looking to add some Hammer films to their collection this is perfect.

great value

This review describes the physical parts of this collection, not the movies viewed, as I haven’t watched them. The Blu-ray case is very strong. It has 4 pages which are flipped like a book. Each page holds 2 discs. Last 2 discs are on back and front of case. Discs do not overlap, or stack. (Hoorah!) About 24 mm wide. Packaging (from I-deals) was very good in airtight cardboard envelope.Blu-rays have English Subtitles (SDH), on the discs. Not CC, (Closed Captions), which only come thru the player using old style cable w red, yellow, and white ends. CC can’t be accessed thru HDMI cables, so are useless for most people. Movie names are printed on each disc, as is (Zone) A icon.Each movie’s info is inside of the case label (and on back of slipcover box): stars, producers, yr, movie co’s, etc. A 12 pg booklet includes a color picture of ea movie poster, 2 mini action photos, and a brief plot description.I do recommend “The Old Dark House”, a fun English who-dun-it.Blu-ray “The Ultimate Collection, Hammer Films 20 Film Set”, Mill Creek @2020, UPC 683904 89461 8.

Bargain. 20 Hammer Films of varying themes and budgets. Even the "worst" ones never fail to be interesting. Commenatries on selected discs. It was a blind buy for me but I was amply rewarded.