- Actors: Christopher Lee
- Format: Colour, DVD-Video, Widescreen, NTSC
- Language English
- Region: Region 1 (US and Canada DVD formats.)
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9 - 1.66:1
- Number of discs: 1
- Classification: Unrated (US MPAA rating. See details.)
- Studio: Legend Films
- DVD Release Date: 23 Sep 2008
- Run Time: 82 minutes
- Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
- ASIN: B001D1KGZE
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 35,006 in Film & TV (See Top 100 in Film & TV)
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
33 of 33 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD|Amazon Verified Purchase
It's great to have this fondly-remembered early offering from Hammer available on DVD at last. It's a wonderful period piece, with all the usual hallmarks of the family film production unit settled cosily into their studios beside the Thames at Bray: lavishly-dressed sets, gorgeous costumes, a literate script and actors who can act and who take their roles seriously. It's not so much a horror film as a melodrama with horror overtones. Anton Diffring wrestles magnificently with his dilemma of how to keep himself still young after 100+ years, and Hazel Court is even more beautiful than she was in The Curse of Frankenstein. She essays her role of Janine as something more than eye candy and graces the film with her benign and intelligent presence.
The film is a bit slow and wordy by today's standards, probably even by Hammer's later standards, as director Terence Fisher gives the scenes time to be played out fully. This allows the little shock-horror moments, when they come, to have greater impact. Like all great horror thrillers, there is an element of sensitivity to the story - the sight of Diffring as Bonnet trying to scoop up sufficient elixir from the smashed bottle on the floor is a moment of true pathos.
As for the quality of the DVD, Legend Films have done an acceptable job. The transfer could be a bit sharper, but the colours are vibrant. The soundtrack has a bit of 'noise' (a few clicks and pops) but remember, the film is nearly 50 years old and is not the sort to get a Criterion-type restoration. We should be grateful that it is available at all.
Definitely worth watching and an essential addition to the collection of any Hammer enthusiast. Also, check out the book "Hazel Court Horror Queen" Hazel Court - Horror Queen: An Autobiography which has some glorious photos including a rare still from the uncensored Continental version of this movie.
The film is a bit slow and wordy by today's standards, probably even by Hammer's later standards, as director Terence Fisher gives the scenes time to be played out fully. This allows the little shock-horror moments, when they come, to have greater impact. Like all great horror thrillers, there is an element of sensitivity to the story - the sight of Diffring as Bonnet trying to scoop up sufficient elixir from the smashed bottle on the floor is a moment of true pathos.
As for the quality of the DVD, Legend Films have done an acceptable job. The transfer could be a bit sharper, but the colours are vibrant. The soundtrack has a bit of 'noise' (a few clicks and pops) but remember, the film is nearly 50 years old and is not the sort to get a Criterion-type restoration. We should be grateful that it is available at all.
Definitely worth watching and an essential addition to the collection of any Hammer enthusiast. Also, check out the book "Hazel Court Horror Queen" Hazel Court - Horror Queen: An Autobiography which has some glorious photos including a rare still from the uncensored Continental version of this movie.
15 of 16 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
I'd never seen this Hammer film before, and I've seen them all, or most of them anyway. After the first viewing I thought it was a good little chiller. But after the second viewing I thought it was up there with classics like Dracula, Scream Of Fear & The Devil Rides Out. The film has a Jack the Ripper vibe to it and can be very spooky at times...If you like Hammer films give this one a try.
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
one of the great hammer films directed by terrance fisher who brought out the best in his actors and is allway good to watch good story and good all round film entertainment very good
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
hammer man who cheat death
arrived quickly and in good condition been after this film for a while pity not abvailable region 2 . Good price and good film rarely shown on t v nowadays
Published 1 month ago by c b
Underrated Hammer
Versus "Frankenstein", "Dracula", and "The Mummy", "The Man who could cheat death" is usually dismissed for being too slow and talkative. Read more
Published 2 months ago by Autonome
Not a classic, but a worthwhile Hammer entry
This is a lesser known film from the Hammer stable starring Anton Diffring, a talented actor more used to supporting roles as a Nazi or other, similarly despicable character. Read more
Published 8 months ago by zakharenko
Rarely seen Hammer film
Not one of Hammer's most popular films - but for fans, a MUST !! Starring Anton Diffring, I can't understand why Hammer did not use him more - see him also in that classic, CIRCUS... Read more
Published 10 months ago by zap
Not as good as some of the other Hammer Horrors from this period.
This 1959 Hammer movie, set in Paris in 1890 and directed by Terence Fisher, is a remake of the 1945 film "The Man In Half Moon Street" and also shares some similarities with Oscar... Read more
Published on 27 May 2010 by Jeremy W. Newbould
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