A History of Horrors: The Rise and Fall of the House of Hammer (The Scarecrow Filmmakers Series) [Paperback]

Meikle provides fascinating glimpses not only into the Carrerases, James the father and Michael the son, but also the various producers, script writers and, to a lesser extent, the directors... -- Paul Legget Scarlet: The Film Magazine Important for a number of reasons...Enough history here to recommend the book to Hammer fans and fantasy film enthusiasts alike. Scarlet: The Film Magazine --This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

College-level film studies collection will find this documentary a vivid survey of the changing British film industry, with chapters considering both major productions and industry trends. Film studies collections with a special focus on British film will find it a fine addition.--Paul Vogel "Midwest Book Review "

Most critics, historians and filmmakers agree that no single entity has had more influence over the horror genre than Hammer Film Productions, a small independent British film company. This volume traces the life and spirit of the "House of Hammer" from its fledgling days of the late 1940s, through its successes of the 1950s and 1960s, to its decline in the 1970s. Through the eyes of many of the studio's key players, and through the works of film critics and historians, the text paints a picture of the rise and fall of a film empire.

Denis Meikle is the author of several books on film, including Vincent Price: The Art of Fear (2003), Johnny Depp: A Kind of Illusion (2004), The Ring Companion (2005), and Roman Polanski: Odd Man Out (2006). --This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.