THE HORROR OF HAMMER (us dvd)
Hammer Films

First released: 2001

The film is presented in full screen ratios
NTSC Colour & B&W
120 mins approx
Dolby Digital Mono
Available on DVD

FULL Contents listed below

All Day Entertainment presents a delirious collection of trailers from England’s famed Hammer Films, purveyors of British blood and bosoms throughout the 1950s, 60s and 70s. Here are all the classic thrillers of Peter Cushing as the cold-hearted Baron Frankenstein-- every one of the eerie thrillers with Christopher Lee as the sensuous Count Dracula-- plus cerebral sci-fi classics like The Creeping Unknown, Enemy from Space, Five Million Years to Earth, and X The Unknown, the controversial Joseph Losey thriller These Are The Damned, and some of Hammer’s wildest exploitation films, like the campy Prehistoric Women, Raquel Welch in 1,000,000 Years BC., and the unique combination of kung fu and vampires, The 7 Brothers & their One Sister Meet Dracula. This exclusive DVD presentation also features an audio commentary about the history of Hammer from some of the most notable genre scholars: Ted Newsom, Gary H. Smith, and Stuart Galbraith IV. A must-have collector’s item for all aficionados of Hammer’s Gothic chills

REVIEW
In amongst all the Hammer films which have been released lately, its nice to finally have a substantial disc devoted to the trailers which preluded the films, and for the foreseeable future it is likely to be the only way we will see a large number of these on the digital platform.

Horror of Hammer is basically 53 trailers (organised by genre rather than chronologically) plus four alternate trailers and 2 rarely seen promotional films. Each is 2 to 3 minutes in duration generally, and for the most are the US versions.
The presentation is much the same as the old vhs collections produced by the likes of Something Weird video a few years ago, complete with occasional cinema food teasers. Its somewhat lost on most UK viewers, but fits in well with the nostalgic aspect of the series.
The selection is fine, and I have no qualms about recommending the title. All Day are a much smaller independant company and the sheer enthusiasm and dedication they give to their titles, many of which stand little chance of being released elsewhere, and their very limited edition runs. All Day are an excellent company, thwarted only by a series of unfortunate hiccups.

transfer
The transfer unfortunately suffers. Whilst it will be the only way that many will actually see these trailers, the quality is somewhat poor. Looking in many places like deteriorated prints, and sourced from video copies of these. I understand a great deal of work and money went into the restoration of these, and it is unfortunate. For the most, this is only really obvious when examples from the Anchor Bay collection are replicated. But even Anchor Bay have produced duds in the past, with poor transfer. The transfer here is good, but let down by poor source material in places.
The sound though is largely rather good. Clear and audible. Though this obviously does vary with the prints, dirt and the age of the film (some of the 50's stuff comes off best though!).

The biggest problem comes with the authoring of the discs. There was a problem with a large number of the discs produced owing to a fault at the authoring studio. As a result there are occasional pauses between titles, sometimes in the closing seconds of the trailers. Where this is really noticable is on the commentary track. Otherwise, an excellent collection, and more affordable than the vhs versions of similar.

Design
The packaging is very distinctive. Bill Chancellor's particular cover art is fantastic, and ensures the disc is noticed. The layout is simple and easy to follow on the dvd itself. The authoring problem aside, this is good fare.

extras
There isn't too much by the way of extras on this disc, but then this is a collection of trailers, so what more do you expect. At least they've bothered.
The alternate trailers are curious variations, and of more interest are the special promotional shorts for Victoria Vetri's When Dinosaurs Ruled the Eart including a very enthusiastic Sir James Carreras; and a promo for Dracula AD 1972 - it shows none of the pouting Christopher Lee that we are led to believe he was doing at the time.

Commentaries ~ The commentary track is a very refreshing change from the usual director/cast pieces, and the usual faces are absent. Instead we have American Hammer experts/fans Ted Newsom, Gary H Smith and Stuart Galbraith IV - names best remembered from the 1994 tv documentary Flesh and Blood.
Theirs is a frank and curious appraisal of Hammer films. They are clearly enthusiastic and knowledgable, contextualising the films in the times in which they were released, the impact of Hammer upon themselves. They draw from knowledge and interviews with original Hammer cast and crew. What other dvd will you find anyone commenting on the frequent fan-derision of Terence Fisher with "That's crap".
These guys talk as fans. Something far more welcome bearing the entire history to be covered.
The sound is a little iffy though in places with extraneous noise. Otherwise, one of the best I've heard in ages.

SUMMARY
Whilst not to everyone's cup of tea, and clearly with a few problematic moments, this is a superlative release. More please Mr Kalat from All Day. The obvious love and nerve to approach the subject in a slightly different way from usual is most welcome. Fingers crossed for more to come.

RJES

PURCHASE AT AMAZON.com

DISC:

Price: $24.99
Release date: 3/7/01
Feature length: 90 mins
Colour and B&W
Audio: Mono
Year of 1st release: 1959
Rating: NR
Mixed ratios
Region code: 1
Catalogue no: ADE0904DVD
Distributor: All Day Entertainment Inc