THE CURSE OF THE WEREWOLF (1961) d. Terence Fisher (UK)
SCREAM OF FEAR (aka Taste of Fear) (1961) d. Seth Holt (UK)
THE TERROR OF THE TONGS (1961) d. Anthony Bushell (UK)
THE SHADOW OF THE CAT (1961) d. John Gilling (UK)
While Hammer Films is most often remembered for its Gothic reimaginings of Dracula, Frankenstein, and other classic monsters, the year 1961 showcased an adventurousness and willingness to experiment with different styles of horror and suspense. Our four films up for discussion demonstrate Hammer's evolving state in the early 1960s to impressive effect.
The Curse of the Werewolf proved to be the studio's only lycanthropic effort. With Hammer all-star Terence Fisher in the director's chair, and starring a young Oliver Reed in his first leading role, producer Anthony Hinds' screenplay (his first using his pseudonym of John Elder) follows a young man cursed by the circumstances of his birth, who transforms into a murderous man-beast.
Scream of Fear is a stylish psychological thriller about a wheelchair-bound woman (played by Susan Strasberg) who returns to her family estate and repeatedly encounters what appears to be her father's corpse. Directed by Seth Holt with a sharp script by Jimmy Sangster, the film's success helped launch a cycle of black and white psychological thrillers that included Maniac, Paranoiac, and Nightmare.
The Terror of the Tongs sees Hammer blending exploitation and horror elements into a pulpy screen adventure set in 1910 Hong Kong. Anthony Bushell directs another Sangster screenplay that follows a British sea captain seeking revenge against a secret society responsible for the murder of his daughter.
The Shadow of the Cat, directed by John Gilling and written by George Baxt, offers one of Hammer's most unusual premises: After witnessing its owner's murder, a cat appears to haunt and terrorize the guilty family members responsible.
While Hammer's Gothic classics remain iconic, these four features highlight a company exploring psychological suspense, tragic monster tales, historical adventure, and even feline revenge during its creative peak. If you're willing to look beyond Dracula's cape and Frankenstein's laboratory, join hands with AC and our fabulous panel of guests (David del Valle, Max Deering, Troy Howarth, Lin Morris, Nathaniel Thompson) as we step back 65 years into the deep, dark, daring, and delightful world of Hammer!
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DAVID DEL VALLE is a renowned film historian, journalist, and commentator specializing in horror, science fiction, and cult cinema. He has contributed to publications like Fangoria and Cinefantastique, and produced Vincent Price's only interview focused on his horror career. Del Valle's books include Lost Horizons Beneath the Hollywood Sign and Six Reels Under.
MAX DEERING is a student of genre cinema that wears many hats. From a Producer and Editor of several podcasts including Action For Everyone and The Box Office Podcast, to being a freelance writer for Fangoria, Neon Splatter, and more. You can find his work via Muckrack (https://muckrack.com/maxwell-deering).
TROY HOWARTH is a Rondo Award-nominated writer who specializes in European Cult cinema. His books include The Haunted World of Mario Bava, Splintered Visions: Lucio Fulci and His Films, So Deadly, So Perverse: 50 Years of Italian Giallo Films, among others. He has also contributed audio commentaries, audio essays, and liner notes to over one hundred DVD and Blu-ray releases from the U.S., the U.K., and Germany. He resides in Pennsylvania.
LIN MORRIS is a writer who makes his living doing something else entirely. His novels Spot the Not and The Marriage Wars are both available on Amazon. The first movie he recalls seeing is Two on a Guillotine at the Super 99 Drive-In at much too young an age, and he's been a horror fan ever since. Despite the strenuous efforts of his parents, he remains stubbornly left handed.
NATHANIEL THOMPSON has recorded 300 audio commentaries and written five books, most recently The FrightFest Guide to Vampire Movies. You can see him in shows like Eli Roth's History of Horror and Horror's Greatest, and read him yammering about all kinds of movies at mondo-digital.com.
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