Les Archives de la Hammer

Oliver Reed narrated this 13 episode clip show series that showcased the many various movies that Hammer produced. A great primer for those unfamiliar with the amazing, but now sadly defunct company. Even total Hammer converts will still find joy in watching clips from movies that you love. The clip shows were grouped by theme and every single episode was a joy to watch. There's been talks of resurrecting Hammer Studios for decades now, but it never seems to happen sadly. So this was a good way to fondly remember said films before I had been able to find them all. DVD later would change that, i'm grateful for that.

My Grade: B

Actor(and occasional star) Oliver Reed narrates this look at the films of Hammer studios, the legendary British film company that is mostly known for its horror pictures(like the Frankenstein & Dracula series) but produced all kinds of pictures, from science fiction, suspense thrillers, costume dramas, and even war and comedies. Disappointing look at the studio is quite superficial, loaded with clips and terse narration. Not much point really, except self-promotion, though this isn't bad, using many good clips at least. Is only available on various DVDs(mostly double-features) about 11-13 episodes in all from Anchor Bay studios. Worth watching once, but that's all.

With its fog-shrouded graveyards, heaving bosoms, period trappings and ensemble casts, Hammer Films was one of Britain's few international cinematic success stories.

The Studio That Dripped Blood dragged horror, staked and screaming, into the Technicolor age by lacing tired old formulae with blood and a bevy of femmes fatal.

Alongside the vampires and Frankenstein monsters, Hammer's prodigious output also took in sci-fi, prehistoric fantasy, crime thrillers and comedies.

This enjoyable series comprised 13 thematically grouped 30-minute episodes hosted by the sonorous tones of Oliver 'Curse Of The Werewolf' Reed which delve into every area of the studio's activities.

Peter Cushing and Christopher Lee rightly get a special each while others focus on all aspects of Hammer's output (sci-fi, fantasy, crime, psychological thrillers, historical epics, comedy) and its history.

Reed's narration doesn't do much more than link together a welter of scenes but that's just fine because the meaty clips are a treat.

As singularly British as Ealing comedies, this is a great chance to relive a golden age of domestic film-making the like of which we'll never see again.