Hammer Films

From the release of "The Curse of Frankenstein" in 1957 to its last horror production "To the Devil a Daughter" in 1976, England's Hammer Film Productions were the premiere horror films of the day. Though the studio began production in the 1930s it wasn't until the Hammer Horror period began that the studio really hit its stride. It was with the success of this genre of film on their home turf that they were also able to conquer the American market. The studio invoked controversy for its free-flowing technicolor blood and graphic violence, which later gave way to female nudity and lesbian couplings in a bid to retain an audience who were attracted to the new horror stylings of "Night of the Living Dead" and "The Exorcist". Those that grew up with Hammer never forget them and new generations of fans are discovering the wonderous gothic trappings that are long since missing from today's horrors. They also produced many memorable fantasy and suspense films and in the 1970s turned to feature film productions of popular UK tv series' such as "On the Buses" and "Man About the House". Actors such as Peter Cushing and Christopher Lee, director Terence Fisher and writer Jimmy Sangster were synonymous with Hammer and owe their immense popularity to their dedication to the Hammer ideal. Hammer Films was finally resurrected in 2010 with 'Let Me In', the first new Hammer film to hit cinemas in 31 years, but the new productions could never be the same as these unique films that still hold a special place in many fan's hearts.