Amanda Norman
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RIP Hammer Queen Ingrid Pitt
I’m really saddened about the loss of Hammer Horror actress Ingrid Pitt who has died today at the age of 73.
The Hammer Horror films she starred in, Countess Dracula, The Vampire Lovers are among my all-time favourites and I was lucky enough once to interview Ingrid a few years ago for a vampire site that I used to run. I emailed Ingrid and asked if she would agree to be interviewed via email and I didn’t expect the response I got.
She talked in-depth about Countess Dracula, her trip to Romania and of course Hammer Horror and she had a lovely warm sense of humour.
She even signed the photograph pictured here and I have it together with a signed copy of the script for Countess Dracula.
We should never forget Ingrid! She’s a true star and was a worthy ambassador of Hammer Horror.
Hammer Films Let Me In Review
When I heard that Hammer Films were releasing Let Me In, I was over the moon, because if you didn’t know already, I’m such a huge fan of Hammer Horror, which evidently inspires my Gothic horror photography.
I know about the Swedish movie Let The Right One In released in 2008 and I did try to watch this, but the cinematography was beautiful and I couldn’t concentrate on reading the subtitles. Therefore I lost interest in the film. Some people can watch subtitled films, others can’t. Personally, I find it annoying that people are calling Hammer Film’s version a remake. Hammer Films have done their own version of the story and it is worth watching.
The cinematography in Hammer’s version is lovely and I can tell you that they got the colour of blood spot on unlike the olden days when it was such a high contrasted colour. There’s plenty of blood in this version and a severed head goes swimming by at one point, but I must say, it is very well done. The acting is 100% brilliant and the storyline kept me captivated throughout.
It is the story of a young boy who is being bullied at school. His mother is an alcoholic and is separated from the boys father and he doesn’t have anyone to turn to, until the strange girl moves in next door. Their friendship steadily grows and ultimately he finds out that she’s a vampire.
It’s so refreshing to see such a modern take on the vampire story and trust me, Let Me In is worth seeing.
More from Hammer Films
The Woman in Black (2011)
Hammer Films are currently filming an adaptation of Susan Hill’s ghost story The Woman in Black.
‘The story follows a young lawyer, Arthur Kipps (Radcliffe), who is ordered to travel to a remote village and sort out a recently deceased client’s papers. As he works alone in the client’s isolated house, Kipps begins to uncover tragic secrets, his unease growing when he glimpses a mysterious woman dressed only in black. Receiving only silence from the locals, Kipps is forced to uncover the true identity of the Woman in Black on his own, leading to a desperate race against time when he discovers her true intent.’ More info about this at HammerFilms.com
The Resident (2010)
YES! They have the legend himself, Christopher Lee! How exciting is this?
‘After separating from her husband beautiful young Doctor Juliet begins a new life in Brooklyn. Her stunning, spacious loft apartment seems too good to be true and when mysterious occurrences lead her to believe she’s not alone Juliet discovers the unthinkable…someone is watching.’ More info about this movie from HammerFilms.com
I’ve found an interview with Christopher Lee while filming on the set of The Resident.
Wake Wood (2010)
‘Still grieving the death of their only child Alice at the jaws of a crazed dog, vet Patrick and pharmacist Louise relocate to the remote town of Wake Wood where a local pagan ritual gives them three more precious days with her… but what will they do when it’s time for their new daughter to go back?’ More info from Hammerfilms.com
I’ve not heard anything about this movie, but it sounds very interesting.
The Hammer Story and Quatermass II
The Hammer Story is the authorised history of Hammer Films and it’s a stunning book and simply a MUST HAVE for any serious Hammer Horror film fan.
I received my copy for my Birthday and I’ve only just began reading it, but the print quality, information and the photographs are of excellent quality.
The book has a foreword by the wonderful Christopher Lee and after an introduction on how Hammer evolved, we’re presented with each of the films Hammer produced with nothing spared.
It’s my intention to watch all of the Hammer films and the book starts with The Quatermass Experiment released in 1955, then X The Unknown, which was once considered as a legitimate sequel to The Quatermass Experiment, but the writer Nigel Kneale turned down Jimmy Sangster’s and Anthony Hinds suggestion of using their character Professor Quatermass. The book also reveals how Hammer wanted to capitalise on the X rated certificate following the success of The Quatermass Experiment.
I haven’t seen these first two movies, but I did watch the third movie listed, Quatermass 2 and much to my surprise as I’m not a fan of sci-fi and aliens, I quite enjoyed the film although I was disappointed that Professor Quatermass didn’t 
suffer a violent death. The way he spoke to his secretary was I suppose typical for the 1950’s, but if a pompous arrogant idiot spoke to me like that, he’d be leaving the room like a scared dog with its tail between its legs. Who did he think he was?
As you can see, that has wound me up and I have no sympathy whatsoever for the character of Professor Quatermass. The only person I felt sorry for was Sid James (Carry on films) who played a drunken reporter and his acting skills were the best in this film.
The Hammer Story reveals how Brian Donlevy who played Professor Quatermass was drunk for most of the filming and how they tried to protect his wig from being blown off his head, but they didn’t succeed and at one point it blew off and floated in the wind like a bat. Oh how I would have laughed to have seen that.
The next film listed in the book is The Curse of Frankenstein and as soon as I’ve watched it, I’ll be back with another post to promote this beautiful book. To buy the book click here.
Christopher Lee Desire
‘Amanda, we are granting you permission to take a horror portrait of your most favourite person, but you only have one choice. Who will you choose?’
If someone approached me with the above question, I would have no hesitation in choosing Christopher Lee.
It would be an absolute dream come true to meet him and take his portrait.
Best Dracula
Christopher Lee is without doubt my favourite Dracula actor. His interpretation of Dracula was dark, mysterious and erotic. He sent shivers down my spine every time he seduced the buxom Hammer scream queens with their see through flimsy gowns and he and Hammer Horror are responsible for my love of vampires today.
In most Hammer films, Lee hardly spoke. His stare with those bloodshot eyes, his tall masculine physique in that long black cape was enough to scare most impressionable teenagers like myself, yet, I couldn’t help fantasising about waking up to Dracula being stood at the bottom of my bed and silently overpowering my will.
I wonder how many men fantasised about being Dracula based on Lee’s performance?
It would be my honour to take his portrait and immortalise him in my ‘Dark Portrait’ gallery.