Hammer Horror Originals: The Curse of Frankenstein / Dracula / The Mummy [DVD] [1959]

There is a review on this site which actually refers to the USA version of this box set. The UK version is slightly different, with no essays, and I couldn't see anything wrong with the print for 'Horror of Dracula' (In fact it's almost too good - you can see undead vampire Christopher Lee's breath, along with John van Eyssen's, in the scene in Harker's bedroom). I did wonder why we didn't get the British title card, or indeed the British trailer, but these are minor quibbles. There's little you can say about the titles on offer here that hasn't been said before. Suffice to say these are three of the most well-made, best-loved horror films of all time - a testament to the skills of Fisher, Hinds, Carreras, Sangster, Bernard, Cushing, Lee, Robinson, Needs, Asher, & all the rest at Bray Studios, and a slap in the face for the auteur theory. All three look the best they have in ages, even better than I can remember them through the rose-tinted memories of my childhood. Extras are pretty minimal, with a trailer for each film and a never-ending variety of subtitle options. Galleries of poster art would have been nice. Even so, if you're a fan of Hammer, you've probably got these already. If not, throw away your old VHS copies and treat yourself.

I would just like to add to the previous review that I didn't notice any artifacts, scratches or dirt in any of the films in this box set.

The films are a nice afternoon entertainment. The camera isn't bad. It usually gains effect with a few well tested cliches like zooming in on a couple of people having a convwersation when one of them says something important or scary etc.
I may be wrong but I think I saw the same background (a mountain) in Curse of Frankenstein (the professors funeral) and in Dracula (the mountain behind the castle).
The story of all three films is told like someone is telling you a story in short. "He suspected that what they were doing was wrong and when he came the next day and saw the creature he was certain of it and didn't want to be associated with it anymore". Well the movies tell their stories in a similary simple way. But that's - along with a bit wooden english acting style - what we love those films for.

The movies in this package are a nice contribution to any film lovers collection. I just wish there were more extras on the disks. A video essay on Hammer or the gothic cinema or something like that. I know that one can buy a book on that but it's still nice to have some overview on the subject that you can watch on the same disk.

They can make all the vampire movies they need to, but Dracula (aka Horror of Dracula 1958) will take some beating for this version from an early Hammer Horror Studios effort.
Here we have the novel almost stripped bare until all that is left are the character names. Peter Cushing as Van Helsing is outstanding in his performance as our professor who appears to know more than anyone about vampirism.and its cult of the Un-Dead. Christopher Lee as the count is striking and oozes nobility especially his first meeting with Jonathan Harker, but then his character changes to the snarling, blood soaked Dracula, when things don't go his way. Dressed completely in black (as described by Stoker) Even though Christopher Lee has very few lines he really puts his stamp on the role as the ultimate Dracula ( forget the sequels)

With Terence Fisher at the helm as director, James Bernard composing the music, a fine supporting cast How could it fail. The movie made on a low budget and in glorious technicolor and for the first time on european screens, a Dracula with fangs. no crumbling castle here, but rather a well furnished and well kept haven. Harker travelling icognito as a librarian (!) and friend of Van Helsing arrives at the castle to destroy Dracula but things don't go according to plan and it is left to Van Helsing to destroy our devilish count, as he finds victim after victim, the Count is taking revenge for the loss of his vampire bride at the castle. (slain by Harker)

Full of action, creepy and a race against time Van Helsing tries to persuade his new ally , Arthur Holmwood (Michael Gough) of the dangers of vampirism, and that it really does exist in human form and is known as the Un-Dead. Holmwood eventually concedes, due to what he has seen with his own eyes, the ugly transformation of his sister Lucy into vampirism.

Coming in at a racy 88 minutes approx. The supporting cast consisting of Mellissa Stribbling, George Woodbridge, John Van Eyssen, Valerie Gaunt, Miles Malleson, Olga Dickie and Carol Marsh as Lucy, for me she portrayed one of the best female vampires ever to hit the screen. This movie knocked Universal Studios for six, because up to then Universal were the kingpins of the horror genre. Not anymore, Hammer was here to stay.....Grab this classic as soon as you can.

The definitive Hammer Movie!