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Icons of Suspense - Hammer Films
The Snorkel (1958) Never Take Candy from a Stranger (1960)
NOTE: The Snorkel is on Blu-ray Reviewed HERE
NOTE: Never Take Candy From a Stranger is on
Blu-ray Reviewed
HERE
Stop Me Before I Kill! (1960) Cash on
Demand (1961)
NOTE: Stop me Before I Kill! (The Full Treatment) is on Blu-ray Reviewed HERE
NOTE: Cash on Demand is on
Blu-ray Reviewed
HERE
These Are The Damned (1963) Maniac
(1963)
NOTE: These are the Damned is on Blu-ray Reviewed HERE
NOTE: Maniac is on Blu-ray Reviewed HERE
Hammer Films made their name with monsters and vampires, but this
third complication from Columbia Pictures – all new to DVD – proves
they could frighten you without them. Topping the set is the uncut
version of the futuristic classic THESE ARE THE DAMNED, directed by
the legendary Joseph Losey. Peter Cushing and Andre Morell match
wits in CASH ON DEMAND. Oscar-winning cinematographer Guy Green
(1947, Great Expectations) directed THE SNORKEL, about a young girl
who can’t convince anyone her stepfather’s a murderer. The renowned
Val Guest co-wrote and directed the startling psychodrama STOP ME
BEFORE I KILL! Kerwin Matthews finds himself in the middle of a
strange mother/daughter threesome in the Jimmy Sangster-written
MANIAC. Plus, this ultimate rarity: Cyril Frankel’s astounding
NEVER
TAKE CANDY FROM A STRANGER, a serious, and still horrifyingly
timely, chiller about a small town terrorized by an elderly child
molester. You won’t do better than this impeccable collection from
the darkest corners of the Hammer imagination.
*** Sony Pictures opens the doors to the Hammer vault with the release of six films making their DVD debuts in The Icons of Suspense Collection Presents Hammer Films. Hammer Films made their name with monsters and vampires, but this third compilation from SPHE proves they could frighten the public without them. Topping the set is the uncut version of the futuristic classic These Are The Damned (aka The Damned, 1963), directed by the legendary Joseph Loseygr. Peter Cushing and Andre Morell match wits in Cash on Demand (1961). Oscar-winning cinematographer Guy Green directed The Snorkel (1958), about a young girl who can’t convince anyone her stepfather is a murderer. The renowned Val Guest directed the startling psychodrama Stop Me Before I Kill! (aka The Full Treatment, 1960). Kerwin Matthews finds himself in the middle of a strange mother/daughter threesome in the Jimmy Sangster-written Maniac (1963). Plus, this ultimate rarity: Cyril Frankel’s astounding Never Take Candy from a Stranger (aka Never Take Sweets from a Stranger, 1960), a serious, and still horrifyingly timely, chiller about a small town terrorized by an elderly child molester. You won’t do better than this impeccable collection from the darkest corners of the Hammer imagination... |
Titles
Though England's Hammer Films is perhaps best known for its horror titles like Curse of Frankenstein, the studio released numerous pictures in other genres, among these features science fiction, comedies, historical epics, and more than a few thrillers, six of which make their Region 1 DVD debut in this intriguing set. Interestingly, the best-known, and, arguably, best film in the collection is Joseph Losey's These Are the Damned (1963), which hews closer to science fiction in its story of American tourist MacDonald Carey's encounter with a group of children at the center of a secret and chilling government experiment. Though suspenseful and well cast (a young Oliver Reed gets a fine showcase as a vicious Teddy boy unwittingly caught in the experiment), the film surpasses the limits of the genre in its character-driven depiction of lonely individuals at the mercy of unfeeling authority figures. Manhandled by distributors during its initial release, the version featured here is the original 96-minute edit.
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Posters
Theatrical Releases: 1958 - 1963
DVD Review: Sony (3-disc) - Region 1 - NTSC
DVD Box Cover |
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CLICK to order from:
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Distribution | Sony - Region 1 - NTSC | |
Time: | Respectively - 1:47:28, 1:19:57 + 1:30:09 + 1:26:15 + 1:21:00 + 1:35:09 | |
Bitrate: Disc with Stop Me Before I Kill + Cash on Demand |
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Bitrate: Disc with Snorkel + Maniac |
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Bitrate: Disc with Never Take Candy From a Stranger + These Are the Damned | ||
Audio | English (original mono) | |
Subtitles | English, None | |
Features |
Release Information:
Edition Details:
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Comments: |
Much in the vein of Sony's Icons of Horror - Hammer Films or Icons of Adventure collections, the six feature films of this boxset are shared, two each on three dual-layered, progressive DVDs with all 6 widescreen features being anamorphically enhanced. Aspect ratio are correct at 2:35:1 for Never Take Candy from a Stranger (1960), Stop Me Before I Kill! (1960), These Are The Damned (1963) + Maniac (1963) - while The Snorkel + Cash on Demand, are in original 1.66. Each disc is coded for Region 1 in the NTSC standard. They have original mono audio (or 2.0 channel stereo) and the dialogue is supported by optional English subtitles. The 3 DVDs are unfortunately housed in one keep cases, stacked one on top of the other (boo!) - and they are not sold separately at this time. I believe, all except These are the Damned (a UK edition exists) of these particular NTSC editions, can only be obtained in Sony's Icons of Suspense - Hammer Films collection at present. I don't own the Sony UK edition of The Damned to compare but captures I have seen lead me to believe the quality is very similar.
Image quality: All 6 features are black and white, and essentially single-layered, and quality varies between them. The Snorkel and Cash on Demand look the best - the former even showing a bit of grain. These Are The Damned is a notch behind, Never Take Candy from a Stranger + Stop Me Before I Kill! are hazier and contrast can be a bit muddy. Maniac has some green infiltration with the worst contrast. I have no adamantly strong complaints with the way these pragmatic transfers look as my expectations were not very high. There is some minor digital noise throughout but nothing distracting. There are no overt damage marks - just some minor light speckles here and there. I think the captures below give a fair representation of how the DVD package looks. They are certainly very watchable. Audio was acceptable if unremarkable. It was consistent and clear enough and the dialogue is supported with optional English subtitles.
Unfortunately there are no extras save some trailers which are cute and can get you into the Hammer 'mood'!
This is a solid set and I had a ball indulging in late night viewings. Hammer always had a slight edge in quality over a lot of similar, cheesy, and marketable, films. Fans have an idea what they are in for - and this package shouldn't disappoint despite the lack of supplements and crappy 'stacked' housing of the individual discs. It amounts to $3-and-change per film and that is surely worth the investment for your digital library. Enjoy! |
DVD Menus
The Snorkel (1958)
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Never Take Candy from a Stranger (1960)
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Stop Me Before I Kill! (1960)
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Cash on Demand (1961)
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These Are The Damned (1963)
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Maniac (1963)
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DVD Box Cover |
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CLICK to order from:
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Distribution | Sony - Region 1 - NTSC |
The Snorkel (1958) Never Take Candy from a Stranger (1960)
NOTE: Never Take Candy From a Stranger is on
Blu-ray Reviewed
HERE
Stop Me Before I Kill! (1960) Cash on
Demand (1961)
NOTE: Stop me Before I Kill! (The Full Treatment) is on Blu-ray Reviewed HERE
NOTE: Cash on Demand is on
Blu-ray Reviewed
HERE
These Are The Damned (1963) Maniac
(1963)
NOTE: Maniac is on Blu-ray Reviewed HERE