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Amazon.co.uk Review
Hammer Studios was on a roll by 1964, adapting and updating classic movie monsters with a gory gothic slant, but the fantasy-tinged thriller The Gorgon was a rare attempt at producing their own creature. Transporting the Greek Gorgon myth to turn-of-the-century Europe, Terence Fisher invests the rural mittel-European village with a kind of cursed decay. A deserted castle dominates the perpetually mist-bound landscape while a series of unexplained murders leave victims turned to cold, grey stone. The details are carefully hushed up by local doctor and asylum director Peter Cushing, who helps frame an outsider for the latest murder, which brings a parade of outsiders in to clear his name. Christopher Lee, under grey hair and bushy mustache, arrives in the third act to play a shaggy but sharp old professor, a scientist whose reason and determination cuts through the emotionally clouded motivations of both his allies and enemies. Fisher creates a thick atmosphere of suspicion and dread while driving the mystery ahead with a rapid pace, which helps overcome the gaps in logic of the town's murky conspiracy. The special effects are frankly stiff and unconvincing: the snakes sprouting from the Gorgon's head are jittery, lifeless stalks that pale next to the gorgeous creation by Ray Harryhausen in Clash of the Titans, but Fisher manages to give the Gorgon's scenes an eerie beauty. --Sean Axmaker
Product Description
For five years the mid-European village of Vandorf has been plagues by a series of bizarre murders. Victims are discovered after a full moon, each turned to stone.
Dr Namaroff (Peter Cushing) and his nurse Carla Hoffmann (Barbara Shelly) receive the petrified corpses at the local hospital, where Namaroff controversially concludes that they died of natural causes.
Paul Heitz (Richard Pasco) and Professor Meister (Christopher Lee) instead believe that the deaths are the work of Megaera - the mythical Gorgon with a head or writhing snakes. As the next full moon approaches, Meister further suspects that Megaera's spirit has been in their midst all along...
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
14 of 15 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
The Gorgon [DVD]This is one of those 'out-of-the-way' Hammer productions that scored well with audiences the World over. The tale of one of the three Gorgon sisters inhabiting a castle somewhere in Europe is quite thrillingly shot. Two of the most famous names in the Horror Genre, Sir Christopher Lee and the late Peter Cushing give excellent performances amply supported by the rest of the cast which includes the much used Hammer beauty Barbara Shelly and Patrick Troughton. The setting is the village of Vandorf. A young painter falls in love with one of his models, a local girl, and both are found dead under mysterious surroundings. When the chief Inspector, played by Patrick Troughton, asks Doctor Namaroff (Peter Cushing) whether an autopsy would be performed, the cryptic reply is: "On a body that's turned to Stone?" Thus begins on of Hammer's greatest Horror Masterpieces. The village is plagued by a centuries-old mythical demon. Sir Lee, for once, is the 'good guy'. He plays Professor Meister, a friend of the young boy's father, who is called in to investigate the singular occurrences. Fans of Hammer should own a copy of the DVD. You will not regret your decision. Well acted, well set and well directed.
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
"Overshadowing the village of Vandorf stands the Castle Borski. From the turn of the century a monster from an ancient age of history came to live here. No living thing survived and the spectre of death hovered in waiting for her next victim."
Directed by Terence Fisher for Hammer Film Productions, The Gorgon stars Peter Cushing, Christopher Lee, Barbara Shelley and Richard Pasco. Photography is by Michael Reed, the design courtesy of Bernard Robinson and the unique score is by James Bernard {he blended Soprano with a Novachord). Very much a bit off kilter in terms of classical Hammer Horror, The Gorgon sees Hammer turn to Greek Mythology for its latest instalment.
The key issue here is that The Gorgon should be viewed more as a doomed love story featuring a legendary horror character. To call this a horror film is just wrong, and marketing it a such has done the film few favours over the years. Fisher always thought of The Gorgon as one of his best film's, and he was right to do so for it's a hauntingly beautiful piece of work, that is also one of Hammer's most visually accomplished efforts. Yes the effects of the Gorgon herself come the finale are low budgeted naffness, to which if it had been possible to never show close ups of her the film would have been greater. More so because all the prior long distance shots of her have gained maximum chill factor. A floaty green demon accompanied by eerie music, effectively shot in dreamy Technicolor by Michael Reed. But cest la vie, the story is such we have to have these close ups, so lets just embrace this minor itch for existing in a time before CGI and applaud its adherence to the Gothic tradition that the film faithfully captures.
Tho featuring the big Hammer Horror hitters Cushing & Lee, it's Barbara Shelley who really takes the honours. Her Carla Hoffman is the axis of the movie, an emotionally conflicted character, beautiful yet sorrowful, she gets an in-depth makeover from Shelley. Further lifting the film above the average jibes bestowed on it by cruel and unfair critics. Patrick Troughton also lends some good support as Inspector Kanof, wonderfully attired in Rosemary Burrows' Gothic European costumes. There's no bad performances in truth, all the cast are delivering good work to do justice to the material. There is no, if you pardon the pun, ham in this Hammer Horror.
A wonderfully told story is given a smart technical work over within the budget restrictions. Forget any hopes of a blood laden movie, for this is not the one. But if you yearn for Gothic atmosphere or prefer a hauntingly told tale, then this is for you. 7/10
Directed by Terence Fisher for Hammer Film Productions, The Gorgon stars Peter Cushing, Christopher Lee, Barbara Shelley and Richard Pasco. Photography is by Michael Reed, the design courtesy of Bernard Robinson and the unique score is by James Bernard {he blended Soprano with a Novachord). Very much a bit off kilter in terms of classical Hammer Horror, The Gorgon sees Hammer turn to Greek Mythology for its latest instalment.
The key issue here is that The Gorgon should be viewed more as a doomed love story featuring a legendary horror character. To call this a horror film is just wrong, and marketing it a such has done the film few favours over the years. Fisher always thought of The Gorgon as one of his best film's, and he was right to do so for it's a hauntingly beautiful piece of work, that is also one of Hammer's most visually accomplished efforts. Yes the effects of the Gorgon herself come the finale are low budgeted naffness, to which if it had been possible to never show close ups of her the film would have been greater. More so because all the prior long distance shots of her have gained maximum chill factor. A floaty green demon accompanied by eerie music, effectively shot in dreamy Technicolor by Michael Reed. But cest la vie, the story is such we have to have these close ups, so lets just embrace this minor itch for existing in a time before CGI and applaud its adherence to the Gothic tradition that the film faithfully captures.
Tho featuring the big Hammer Horror hitters Cushing & Lee, it's Barbara Shelley who really takes the honours. Her Carla Hoffman is the axis of the movie, an emotionally conflicted character, beautiful yet sorrowful, she gets an in-depth makeover from Shelley. Further lifting the film above the average jibes bestowed on it by cruel and unfair critics. Patrick Troughton also lends some good support as Inspector Kanof, wonderfully attired in Rosemary Burrows' Gothic European costumes. There's no bad performances in truth, all the cast are delivering good work to do justice to the material. There is no, if you pardon the pun, ham in this Hammer Horror.
A wonderfully told story is given a smart technical work over within the budget restrictions. Forget any hopes of a blood laden movie, for this is not the one. But if you yearn for Gothic atmosphere or prefer a hauntingly told tale, then this is for you. 7/10
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD|Amazon Verified Purchase
The colours in the Hammer films are rich and deep, no wishy washy pale colours here, they all have this glorious glow to them. A huge fan, this is one that got away from me, it was on a late night TV and found it captivating, the only one who was missing was Vincent Price, then we would have had the three masters who dominated the screens.
Great story line with a twist, " The Gorgon " is a wonderful piece of film, not forgetting the special FX at that time compared to today were limited, even so, personally I thought it was great, and have watched it more than once.
A must have to all Hammer film buffs
Recommended
Great story line with a twist, " The Gorgon " is a wonderful piece of film, not forgetting the special FX at that time compared to today were limited, even so, personally I thought it was great, and have watched it more than once.
A must have to all Hammer film buffs
Recommended
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Outstanding hammer production
Made in 1964 the gorgon is one of those hammers that are off the beaten track i.e the vampire, frankenstein and mummy series of films. Read more
Published 3 months ago by PD
gorgeous production, but no suspense whatsoever
I haven't seen this scheduled on TV over the years so I was very interested being a Hammer fan and seeing that all the right cast had been gathered for what should be a promising... Read more
Published 4 months ago by Dr Chris
The Gorgon
Having not seen this for many years, if not decades, I throughly enjoyed this mid 60s Hammer horror. Read more
Published 4 months ago by S J Buck
The Gorgon
This is a very good Hammer film. Better than some Hammer films I have seen. It Stars, Peter Cushing, Christopher Lee, Patrick Troughton as well as others. This is set 1910. Read more
Published 4 months ago by The Man
a gem of useless information
the gorgon was shown in british cinemas in 1964 as part of a double bill with the curse of the mummys tomb [also available on dvd]wonder why they dont put out dvds of original... Read more
Published 6 months ago by Wayne Allen
FOR YOUR OWN SAKE - YOU MUST BELIEVE IN 'THE GORGON'!!!!
'The Gorgon' inspired both fear, fascination and fantasy in us as children. I remember vividly watching this film, as my father allowed us up late to see such horror movies... Read more
Published 7 months ago by FAMOUS NAME
Another Hammer Horror classic
Whilst I have always been a fan of the "Dracula" and "Frankenstein" films produced by Hammer, I have also been interested in their other productions, where the writers had more... Read more
Published 14 months ago by Andrew Norris
Hammer Horror Film
This was a well done horror movie with good actors who have been working together in England doing horror films The scenery is excellent with great matching sound
I have... Read more
I have... Read more
Published 15 months ago by Dennis Manning
One Hammer's Better Movies
Directed by the great Terence Fisher: I am always still amazed when I look at an old Hammer Film, I think of its the deep rich colours of reds and purples which always seem to... Read more
Published 16 months ago by JIMBO (Dublin,)
Yes... well...
It's fun... there are some okay performances... the plot is totally ludicrous and the special effects rather similar... just look at the "petrified" bodies... Read more
Published 18 months ago by Adrian Drew
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