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Legend Films Release date: Tuesday 23rd of September 2008 Starring: Francis de Wolff, Ronald Adam, Hazel Court, Anton Diffring, Marie Burke, Director(s): Format: Colour, DVD-Video, Widescreen, NTSC, Region code: 1 Running time: 82 minutes Language: English (Original Language)

Early Hammer classic on DVD at last
Review date: 2008-11-09 Rating: 10 out of 10

It's great to have this fondly-remembered early offering from Hammer available on DVD at last. It's a wonderful period piece, with all the usual hallmarks of the family film production unit settled cosily into their studios beside the Thames at Bray: lavishly-dressed sets, gorgeous costumes, a literate script and actors who can act and who take their roles seriously. It's not so much a horror film as a melodrama with horror overtones. Anton Diffring wrestles magnificently with his dilemma of how to keep himself still young after 100+ years, and Hazel Court is even more beautiful than she was in The Curse of Frankenstein. She essays her role of Janine as something more than eye candy and graces the film with her benign and intelligent presence.

The film is a bit slow and wordy by today's standards, probably even by Hammer's later standards, as director Terence Fisher gives the scenes time to be played out fully. This allows the little shock-horror moments, when they come, to have greater impact. Like all great horror thrillers, there is an element of sensitivity to the story - the sight of Diffring as Bonnet trying to scoop up sufficient elixir from the smashed bottle on the floor is a moment of true pathos.

As for the quality of the DVD, Legend Films have done an acceptable job. The transfer could be a bit sharper, but the colours are vibrant. The soundtrack has a bit of 'noise' (a few clicks and pops) but remember, the film is nearly 50 years old and is not the sort to get a Criterion-type restoration. We should be grateful that it is available at all.

Definitely worth watching and an essential addition to the collection of any Hammer enthusiast. Also, check out the book "Hazel Court Horror Queen" Hazel Court - Horror Queen: An Autobiography which has some glorious photos including a rare still from the uncensored Continental version of this movie.