News
On World Dracula Day (or as some people call it, May 26th) Hammer announced hugely exciting news: ‘This October, Peter Cushing and Christopher Lee are together again as Hammer’s original Dracula returns to cinemas and makes its worldwide home entertainment debut in stunning 4K.’
We needed to find out more so sat down with Hammer’s Steve Rogers to get the inside story on this very welcome return.
Who doesn’t like a good femme fatale? And who doesn’t love a bad one? They may be murderous and totally out for themselves, but the best of them have such charisma it’s hard not to be drawn to these divas who put the slay into slay queen. We’re saluting these independent, intoxicating women with a look at their presence across a broad variety of Hammer productions, from the gothic horrors to post-war noirs and murder mysteries. So, with an immediate warning of spoilers ahead, settle back for a celebration of cinematic villainy as we present our top five Hammer femmes fatales, starting with a trio of stone-cold killers…
If you enjoy thrillers full of action, twists, cold war intrigue and just a dash of dangerous romance, this one’s for you… We’re excited to confirm that the next title to be restored and released as part of Hammer’s Limited Collector’s Edition range will be Break in the Circle (1955), a big budget, colour feature shot on location in Hamburg, London and Cornwall, and directed by the masterful Val Guest.
Hammer's Dracula (1958) isn't simply one of the greatest horror movies ever made, it's amongst the most influential British films of the twentieth century's post-war period. Many other UK productions cost more. A fair few made more. But in terms of legacy – to genre, cinematic storytelling and what was deemed possible on the silver screen – it represents the gold standard of gamechangers.
In this feature we're focussing on two key elements of that legacy, examining how Dracula hit 'reset' for filmmakers' depiction of both heroes and villains. So, dab a splash of holy water behind your ears and grab a garland of garlic as we investigate how Christpher Lee wound up at the Bates Motel and ask, did Peter Cushing really just invent Indiana Jones?