The two horror movie studios that were great in the sixties and seventies were Hammer and Amicus. They shared two actors Peter Cushing and Christopher Lee who appeared in many films of both studios. The difference between the two studios was that Amicus was mostly set in modern times and many were anthology films. Hammer was the best known out of the two and they were usually set in a certain time period (this movie was set in the 1920s)…but not always.
Place the speaker on your window and hold your date close for this one. I thoroughly enjoyed this movie. A very eerie film with some creepy characters. It was nice to see Christopher Lee in a hero role. Horror, fantasy, and a nifty bit of time travel.
Back in 1975, we moved to another town for a short while. It was a town named Dickson and we actually lived near the city. That was the only time in my young life that I lived within walking distance of a city unless I was visiting my dad. My sister would take me to a movie theater there (sigh…not a drive-in) in a small shopping mall to see movies. They would sometimes show a double feature…and I remember some of the Hammer films shown as the first feature. I would hide my eyes watching these classic horror movies.
Hammer Horror films from the ’60s and ’70s are great popcorn horror films. It was directed by Terence Fisher and produced by Hammer Film Productions, known for their gothic horror films. This 1968 movie is based on Dennis Wheatley’s 1934 novel of the same name. It’s one of Hammer’s more famous supernatural thrillers and features themes of black magic, satanism, and occult rituals.
This one is thrilling and exciting and they dive straight into the satanic rituals starring the great Christopher Lee. Lee puts his fangs away in this movie and plays the sane figure trying to save his friends from the satanic faction that is fighting to get who they can. These movies have an atmosphere that is almost impossible to duplicate now. The film stock, the acting, and the great sets.
The film is considered one of the most authentic portrayals of occultism in popular cinema in the 1960s. It deals with black magic rituals, demonic summoning, and protective spells. Someone did their homework with this movie. The movie was a success at the time but not a blockbuster. It has gained a huge loyal following as well as the other Hammer films.
Plot
The story is set in the 1920s and follows Duke de Richleau (played by Christopher Lee) as he discovers that his friend’s son, Simon Aron, is involved with a satanic cult. Richleau must battle the cult leader, Mocata (played by Charles Gray), to save Simon and a young woman named Tanith, who is also under the cult’s influence. Using his knowledge of the occult, Richleau protects his friends from Mocata’s supernatural powers and attempts to thwart the cult’s plans, which include summoning the devil himself.
Quotes
- Duc de Richleau: I’d rather see you dead than meddling with Black Magic!
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- Rex Van Ryn: You’ve got nothing to worry about.
- Tanith Carlisle: I’ve got everything to worry about.
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- Duc de Richleau: [rising] I tell you, these people are devil worshippers.
- Rex Van Ryn: That’s ridiculous.
- Duc de Richleau: These are facts, Rex, not superstition. The final proof was in the hamper. They were about to practice the age-old sacrifice to their infernal master: the slaughter of the black cockerel and the white hen.
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My favourite Hammer film along with Quatermass And The Pit. It’s awesome to see Christopher play the hero for a change and the Duc is such a cool character too. Glad you enjoyed it.
The protective circle sequence is very hard to forget. Chilling stuff.
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I am about to see Quatermass And The Pit…. I’m looking forward to that.
Yes it was in this…I remember some of these when I was a kid….I’ll remember a scene or something but not the entire movie.
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Nice work Max! I learned something new today, thanks.
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Thanks Carl!
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The Goat of Mendes needs a shave.
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Yea…that would help!
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I’ll have to unearth- heh heh- this one.
(Away for a day or so Max so blessed silence will reign from this quietish corner of the South Pacific …)
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It’s worth it obbverse!
You have a nice break….sober or not lol. No, obbverse have a good time and I’ll see you in a day or so.
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I’ve seen the first one but not the other
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I love these Hammer films.
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Watched this again a while ago. I settle into these pretty easy. Lots to like. Lee as the good guy was a nice turn for him. He suited it. I have a book called ‘The Directors Vision’. They have a still from this film of the group in the pentacle. It talks about Fishers vision and the atmosphere he created with the shot. Interesting.
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I would like to know more about this movie as far as the making of it. It really never let up from beginning to end and it was serious. They didn’t play it for laughs.
It was also clever about the short time travel.
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Never been a big horror fan, that said there are some movies I like. I certainly know the actors but can’t say the movie rings a bell.
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Yea like music…I like doing some that are new to people but I have some popular ones on the way. Since Halloween is coming…some are scary… especially one about a certain Saint Bernard lol.
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Is that Cujo? I do like some of King’s movies!
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Yes…and I have another King movie as well… of course I love Saint Bernards…I have had 3….Cujo wasn’t evil…he was just rabid…which is a scary thought.
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I recall it was scary. Rabies are very scary indeed. We had a young boy die of rabies from a bat just recently, first human to die of it since 1967 in Ontario. Apparently the parents didn’t see a bite or scratch and did not seek medical attention until it was too late. Very sad.
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Randy…I’ve had 3 Saints…and still have one now. My first one was 175 lbs…I saw it body slam a German Shepard coming at Jennifer. They are beyond strong…they can pull thousands of pounds…I can’t imagine one rabid…and don’t want to! But of course…their nature is so sweet and loving…but they are subborn.
Yea…of all places I saw an episode of House MD where a fictional person had one…if they don’t get those shots quickly…there is no cure…that is so sad about that child.
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Obviously you love your dogs! Deathly allergic myself but I don’t hold that against the dogs and I don’t hold them against me either!
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That’s right! I remember you telling me now…Dave is as well. That is so sad! Martha is sitting beside me now… Our little prairie dog is a bundle of joy as well lol. I wonder if you would be allergic to them?
I’m in the middle of allergy shots right now…I’m allergic to…wait for it….GRASS. The shots have helped me a lot…I’m not getting bad sinuses anymore.
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Whoa hard to avoid grass!!!
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lol yes it is…
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Oh no, Randy. That’s terrible. Poor little kid. Can’t imagine not being observant of your small child after an encounter with a bat. And because bats are already hated and endangered, it’s a double tragedy.
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Truly is tragic. Perhaps awareness has waned by as you say we were hyper aware and always told to get the shots when there’s any encounter.
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Based on having watched the trailer, I’ve haven’t seen this film. I surely get why it scared you. While growing up in Germany, I watched various Dracula movies with Christopher Lee, which I also found pretty scary at the time. It’s been a very long time, so I’m not sure how I would feel about these pictures nowadays.
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It was odd seeing Lee as the good guy in this one! He did it well. The movie is pretty cool and impressive being made in the sixties. The special effects were really good.
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Hammer Horror is the best, and you’re right, difficult, if not impossible, to duplicate. The dark, lush mansion sets set the tone, and the intense sound effects verge on sensory overload. Haven’t seen this one but many Hammer Horror. We used to have the whole set of Hammer Vampire, Werewolf, and Frankenstein ones. These supernatural ones can border between scary and comedy. Always entertaining though.
I just watched an excellent new movie, “Late Night with the Devil.” Check it out if you get a chance.
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Oh you know them! Cool. I love these Hammer Horrors…they are creepy enough to be scary but a cool kind of scary.
I just wrote it down…thanks Lisa!
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They are quality horror. Peter Cushing was always my favorite, but Christopher Lee is a close 2nd. Not sure if Vincent Price ever did Hammer Horror, but he made some really good ones also.
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Peter Cushing is also in those Amicus Anthologies which I love as well. I’ll check on Vincent…I’m not sure.
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p.s. and Mummy ones also.
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Ok Cool!
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Looks like a fun one! Being raised in a very strict religious household, I didn’t get to see any of these types of films growing up, but I remember pictures of Christopher Lee as Dracula and thought he was the coolest guy in movies back in the day!
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I was also…but I had a big sister who made sure I watched the wrong things lol. My mom would have had a cow with this one.
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