By Tom, Chris And Ellis

Existed for 20 years, before its

first big hit.

Founded by William Hammer

in 1934.

In the late 40s, early 50’s the films were either easily forgotten or of poor quality

In the late 40s, early 50’s the films were either easily forgotten or of poor quality

However these films allowed talent to be nurtured, which proved useful in later years.

However these films allowed talent to be nurtured, which proved useful in later years.

‘ Talent such as director Terence Fisher ‘

1968 company received Queens

award for industry.

Censorship• The BBBFC brought

in a new classification, in Jan 1933 encouraged by new wave of American Horror films.

• H- Horrific ( Covered non horror films also e.g. anti war film J’Accuse.)

• U- Universal, which still stands today.

• In 1951 H was changed to X.

Source: The British cinema book 2nd edition by Robert Murphy

Influences• During the early

70’s the main audience for Hammer productions were male. An example of their marketing technique was through their film art work…

• Such as Amazon Queen

• A Scent Of New-Mown Hay

• When The Earth Cracked Open

Key Directors• Michael Carreras,

sometimes as Henry Younger - writer and director of The Curse of the Mummy's Tomb

• Terence Fisher - director of Dracula, The Curse of Frankenstein and later sequels

• Anthony Hinds, as John Elder - writer of The Brides of Dracula, The Curse of the Werewolf and others

• Jimmy Sangster - writer of Dracula, The Curse of Frankenstein and others; director of The Horror of Frankenstein.

Key Actors• Hammer's horror films

featured many of the same actors in recurring roles; these actors are sometimes called the "Hammer repertory company".

• Ralph Bates: Taste the Blood of Dracula, The Horror of Frankenstein (1970), and Dr. Jekyll and Sister Hyde

• Shane Briant: Straight on till Morning, Frankenstein and the Monster from Hell.

• Veronica Carlson: Dracula Has Risen from the Grave (1968) Frankenstein Must Be Destroyed (1969) and The Horror of Frankenstein (1970)

• Peter Cushing: Dracula (1958) and Curse of Frankenstein (1957)

• Christopher Lee: The Curse of Frankenstein (1957) Dracula (1958) and the 8 sequels!

• Oliver Reed: Sword of Sherwood Forest (1960), The Two Faces of Dr. Jekyll (1960)

DRACULA!Prince of Darkness

Yeah Boi!

Ok so here’s a little information about the film!

•It was released in 1966 and was a sequel to the 19558 Hammer films adaptation of Dracula

•It’s stars Sir Christopher Lee as Dracula, who is now a very well known actor and very old!

•It was directed by Terence fisher, who also directed the first Dracula

•Ok so this religious guy who helped put down Dracula goes into an inn and warns these two married couples not to go to the castle at Carlsbad, unfortunately their carriage brakes down nearby and an un-manned carriage picks them up and takes them to the castle!!!

•They end up having a nice banged up meal in the castle provided by this creepy guy called... Klove, who ends up feeding one of the dudes to Dracula who then wakes up

•In the end Dracula is killed by falling through some ice on a river, well, the ice gets shot and then breaks, one of the couples survive and ermmm yeah! Onto the evaluation of the film!!!

The film begins with a voice over and the final fighting scene, where Dracula was killed in the prequel, this gives clear anchorage as to what has happened and creates a good stepping stone for this sequel to continue onThe font of the titles is done in a serif font in a red colour which is a clear signifier to blood and horror bringing in it’s target audienceDrums along with wind instruments are used throughout, this creates tension in the audience and a further denotation to horrorThe main four characters in the film are all stereotypically good looking, the males tall rugged and handsome, the females, slim and well dressed.

Evaluation

the main setting of the film is in a large forest, and gives a feeling of loneliness along with no one to helpTo emphasise the more horrific scenes it is set at night usually with lightningThroughout the film Dracula hardly speaks this gives his character a sense of mystery... Well he is king of the vampires...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vW2nHng0LL8&feature=related