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The Gorgon (Terence Fisher, 1964)
The Gorgon is classic Hammer horror; in fact, it could probably be considered archetypal. Director Terence Fisher, one of Hammer's stalwarts, and Peter Cushing and Christopher Lee on opposite ends of the stick? That's about as Hammer as it gets, and the quality of the thing goes without saying.
Paul Heitz (The Watcher in the Woods' Richard Pasco) arrives in a small, unnamed town in Europe sometime in the early part of the 20th century to investigate the mysterious deaths of his father and brother, believed to have been caused by the mysterious Dr, Namaroff (Cushing). Heitz isn't entirely sure Namaroff is as guilty as he's believed to be, but it's quite possible he's being influenced by Namaroff's sexy assistant Carla (Blind Corner's Barbara Shelley). He starts to hear tales of the title character, Megaera. Think of her as a sister of Medusa--one look and you'll be turned to stone. When Heitz finds himself too confused to go on, his old professor Meister (Lee), an old adversary of Namaroff's, shows up.
And that's when the film really begins, no matter how good the rest of it has been (and that is good indeed)--when Cushing and Lee play against one another, as they often did. I've wondered idly for years why Cushing and Lee aren't mentioned in the same breath as, say, Laurel and Hardy. It may not be comedy, but it was a classic partnership all the same, and when the two of them showed up in the same movie--especially as adversaries--magic happened. Both are top-quality actors, of course, and here they're backed up by a cast as solid as one could put together in a movie in Britain in the sixties; Shelley was at the top of her game, one of Hammer's biggest draws as well as being a TV star at the same time, while Pasco was known as a Shakespearean actor. This is not your typical low-budget horror flick by any means, and Fisher was arguably Hammer's best director, having done pretty much everything in his career--not only horror, but mystery, comedy, adventure, fantasy, drama, pretty much everything but the kitchen sink. While there have obviously been cases of directors becoming masters through specialization, it's been my experience recently that it's the guys who know how to combine everything through personal experience who do the best job with cross-contamination (think about, for example, comic timing in a horror film, or handling a mystery angle in a comedy). The Gorgon, while obviously a horror film, has both mystery and fantasy elements (as well as the romance), and it's all blended nicely into a cracking good movie. If you're a young horror fan and have somehow not yet discovered the treasure trove that is the Hammer Films collection, The Gorgon is a great place to start. ****
Rating:  -
I've always been more of a Universal Horror fan, but Hammer studios did have style and I enjoy many of their horror films! I saw The Gorgon as a kid in a theater and I have always remembered it fondly.
Horror fans have wanted a DVD release of The Gorgon for years and the wait has paid off. The prints here look crisp and clear! While 'The Gorgon' film is short on action, it does have a lot of atmosphere. It's just a shame the make-up isn't more inspired as I think the idea of a Gorgon is very haunting. The visual here just doesn't measure up.
Probably the best film in the lot is 'Scream Of Fears' which is one I never saw before owning this set. It's a creepy murder mystery ghost story with some good scares.
'The Two Faces Of Dr, Jekyll' is an interesting take on the familiar story with Mr. Hyde being ugly and evil minded more than physically.
The worst film by far is 'The Curse Of The Mummy's Tomb' which is a pretty boring entry in the Mummy series with no Mummy action until two thirds of the film have elapsed! Lee and Cushing are sorely missed here too!
The DVD transfer prints are really nice with hardly any wear what so ever. It would have been nice to have commentaries and featurettes for these films, but at least the trailers are present for all four films.
I will review each film as I watch it; I had to start with the Gorgon which is the third film in this 2 disc set.
1)The Curse Of The Mummy - 2 Stars
2)The Two Faces Of Dr. Jekyll - 4 Stars
3)The Gorgon - 4 Stars
4)Scream Of Fear - 4 1/2 Stars
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If you love,gothic horror without all the gore, you will love Hammer Horror. My favorite was "The Gorgon". Makeup is a little corny,but you get the picture. Love Christopher Lee and Peter Cushing in all their movies. They were the best.
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Anything from Hammer is always entertaining. Classic Horror that must be recognized. Highly recommended for any horror fan.
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Not bad bargain priced set of seldom seen Hammer Horror classics,does not contain the wealth of features available on previous Columbia "Icons" DVD sets,notably there Hammer "Icons of Adventure" set.
Still,this features many favorites and many are glad to see them finally available on DVD,all in letterbox format.
The films are:
Curse of the Mummy's Tomb(1964)-Not bad Mummy thriller,not up to the previous "The Mummy"(1959),but enjoyable enough with a bizarre plot about a Mummy prince who returns with revenge on the mind and a bizarre twist in the plot involving the Mummy's still alive(!)brother who had murdered him many years before.The leading lady is cute and the Mummy sequences are fun,but this is not one of Hammer's best.
Scream of Fear(1962)-Hammer's first and most succesful Psycho rip-off features a twisted tale of a beautiful cripple who returns to see her father after over ten years apart,only to discover him missing and her suspicions of her stepmother.
Black and White and well directed with a particularly surprising ending,this is the biggest surprise of the set.
Christopher Lee plays an effcetive red herring with a french accent!
The Two Faces of Dr.Jekyll(1962)-One of Hammer's few financial disasters of there classic period is a very different version of the classic story.
Hammer's greatest director,Terence Fisher handles admirably the transistion,creating a story revolving around a impotent and old Dr.Jekyll(Paul Massey) who when taking a potion turns into a young,ammoral,Hyde!
Massey is pretty good,but Christopher Lee steals as his friend,a ruthless gambler who is romancing Jekyll's estranged wife.
It was a good idea,but the film just does not rank among the best adaptions of the story,or of Hammer's best Gothics.
Though there is lots of violence and sex,that is pretty showy for the early 60s(Get a load of Hyde's babe of a mistress,an exotic dancer who uses a snake in her act!)
The Gorgon(1964)-A great concept that focuses on the legend of the Gorgon,which was the snake haired woman who turned people to stone in Greek Mythology,is featured here terrorizing a Swiss village.
Peter Cushing,for once,is NOT the good guy and Christopher Lee is a hero!Barbera Shelly is lovely and there are many creepy moments,even if the effects are not always up to par,this is still a must see Hammer.
Overall this is a pleasant set for the Horror fan,particularly the Gothic and British Horror fan who recognizes the great work of this venerable,Horror institution.
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