Hammer Films: The Studio that Revolutionised Horror 

This is a brilliant piece of work. I grew up watching and loving these films. Thanks AA for making this retrospective.

‘Hammer Horror, Hammer Horror, Won’t leave it alone, The first time in my life, I keep the lights on, To ease my soul. Hammer Horror, Hammer Horror, Won’t leave it alone….’ Kate Bush - ‘Hammer Horror’ from her second album, ‘Lionheart’, 1978.

Love Hammer Horror movies. Grew up watching them in the 70's as part of late night horror season on BBC2. Lee and Cushing were iconic.

Good timing. I have been introducing my wife to the Hammer films for the first time. I have lovely memories of being a child and watching them on the TV on late winter nights with my mum. I've started with the first Hammer Dracula and their first Frankenstein, but you're not wrong about how difficult they are to source. They are excellent films. Cushing, Price, and Lee are magnetic. The performances are captivating, and I can watch them without getting bored, something that happens to me with lots of more modern movies. Especially horror. We would like to try and find all the movies to watch them together. Wish us luck!

An old mate is grandson of the creator of hammer horror. Tom Hinds, the family are barmy and the creator of hammer horror sold the rights and lived it up in the 50’s from what I heard.

It’s surprising that ‘Queen of Scream Queens’ Barbara Steele never starred in a Hammer horror film - her career was mainly in Italian gothic horror, so she missed out I guess.

Ralph Bates became famous in 1970s tv land, when he portrayed evil George Warleggan in the original BBC adaptation of the ‘Poldark’ novels by Winston Graham.

Excellent piece, A.A. (With the spread sheet you are really spoiling us). Congrats on the well earned 100,000 btw. 😊❤

Watched a lot of these back in the 70s as a kid. Good stuff.

Loved Hammer and also the lesser known Amicus Productions and their anthology short story horror tales. Shout out for Rasputin, The Asphyx and Devil Ship Pirates!

The Devil Rides Out and To The Devil A Daughter - great films. If M R James merits a video, Dennis Wheatley certainly does; the Duc de Richelieu, They Found Atlantis - for decades he was one of if not the most famous, best-selling British authors, and yet rather 'based' as the kids would have it. British folk horror might deserve a broad treatment, too: Blood on Satan's Claw, Witchfinder General, Nigel Neale's Beasts, the Wicker Man...

Quatermass and the Pit is S tier.

Loved those Hammer films, grew up watching them.

Great video, that 2 and a half hours felt like half an hour, thanks for putting this together.

If your watching this video, its too late. You've already been immensely blessed with an abundance of Hammer Horror movie reviews from the trusty Sage!

I'm not sure I have ever seen a Hammer film despite being very aware of the classic imagery from them. Horror has never been my cup of tea, in part perhaps because of the more "modern" style like Exorcist, etc. which have never really grabbed me. Being born in '75 I was vaguely aware of the Hammer House of Horrors show growing up through the '80s, though I'm not sure I ever watched that either, but I had no idea that Hammer were a British company. This is a fantastic summary of the studio and its work, remarkable in the depth achieved in what seemed such a relatively short period of research. It really has served to pique my interest in seeking out these old classics. I note that Anthony Hinds lived to the grand age of 91, passing away as recently as 2013. He wasn't even 50 when he left Hammer with some sources saying he retired at that point with little if any info on what became of him. It would seem such an incredible waste if his obvious talents were never utilised beyond that point.

I really like the Hammer house of horror TV series, there's even an episode where Peter Cushing plays a mad German scientist. Good mix of cheese and genuine frights.

"But anyway, that's enough from me, OG Roland Rat, here's Academic Agent"

Excellent work as always. Have loved this studio ever since my uncle sat me down in front of "Hands of the Ripper" as a sprog😂

41:50 its over

I've watched these with my father every halloween since I was a kid.

Thankyou AA for this fantastic analysis of Hammer films. You found lots of interesting facts about the company and the films themselves. I've been a Hammer nut since I saw my first Hammer horror The Mummy when I was 11 and yet learned so many new things from your video.

Funnily enough, due to Hammer mostly, I associate horror movies with Christmas. I remember around 11pm or 12am when all the days’ excitement had lulled, most of the family had went to bed, and the standard evening light entertainment was over, I’d often find myself being introduced to a seminal classic like the 1958 Dracula. So, to me at least, Hammer is very cozy 😊😊

I can’t believe that Julie Edge was the best of 2000 applicants for the new Raquelle Welsh.

@2:31:10 I've heard that during the 70s many studios switched to a different, cheaper type of film that degraded and quickly lost much of its colour in comparison to the older stuff from the 50s and 60s. Take the Sinbad series of fantasy adventure films for example. Comparing the 7th Voyage of Sinbad from 1958 to Sinbad and the Eye of the Tiger in 1977, the earlier film is much brighter and more colourful compared to the washed-out graininess of the 70s sequel. It's especially noticeable in the early night scenes of the latter film. Excellent video by the way.

Great video, thanks. I totally agree about the consistent high quality of Hammer productions - very impressive for a prolific output spanning three decades. Many of the 'non-horror' films are also great - for example the Robin Hood films are very solid, and Cash on Demand is a brilliant classic thriller.

Fascinating insight AA, a jolly good presentation. Nigel kneale writer of Quatermass, The year of the sex Olympics, and producer of 1954’s BBC tv version of 1984, was dissatisfied with Donlevy portrail of Bernard Quartermass in the hammer films and bitter with the BBC on Hammers purchase , receiving no royalties for his work, just a £3000 settlement in 68. It’s also interesting how the original quartermass was broadcast soon after Queens coronation in 53 and were a lot of new TV owners first memories of tv age.

Well done AA on 100k

This guy must be so glad he no longer has to pretend to be moved by poetry.

AA must feel a chill every time he sees a bearded Peter Ustinov.

Cool. Now do Russ Meyer films.

Somebody in the comments already suggested MR James, but how about also a deep dive into Arthur Machen, a whole deep dive into the literary gothic horror, weird/strange tale and the roots of Folk Horror? Great video, you basically made your own Hammer doc in less than two weeks! You're missing the Ingrid Pitt tribute though, she was the Raquel Welch of Hammer Horror.

It's very difficult to make a frightening, mummy movie. I don't think it's possible. "Blood from the Mummy's Tomb" is one of my favorite Hammer films, though, mainly just because of Valerie Leon. It took a very different angle on the mummy idea which was sophisticated for a B-movie.

An absolutely fantastic video AA. This month, the cheap Slasher movie Terrifier 3, beat the $190 Million budget Joker 2 at the box office in the US. Why do you think Horror has remained the only genre, where making a movie on a low budget, is the norm?

It feels like the Angry Nintendo Nerd got a power-up.

Great work, sir, and cozy Autumn viewing.

Would you consider looking into the works of M. R. James? I remember absolutely loving Christopher Lee's reading of his Ghost Stories around Christmas time.

Thanks AA, looking forward to watching this. I'm sure you'll have seen 'Theatre of Blood'? Loved it as an 80s teen and always vaguely assumed it was a Hammer but of course (I've just learnt) it wasn't. Great film and cast. Hammer pastiche + Shakespeare. Lovely stuff.

AA looking trim and sharper than ever, Good man!

Great, this was my suggestion in the poll

Sterling work chap. Bravo.

"Hi I am the AA from the double double future. from here it gets a little bit complicated"

This is a masterpiece.

Looking good Dr Parvini!

Vampire Circus is quite good and fits well with Captain Kronos, imho.

High quality guide.

Gawd Bless You AA!

Brilliant video. However, am I the only one thrown off by seeing AA in relaxed wear? In my head, you are always in a suit and / or tweed jacket.

If you ever want a laugh, watch the dvd commentary of the wicker man. Christopher lee seems like a right c*nt to work with.

100k, well done

I really enjoyed academic agent review of hammer horror films it would be great if he did a review of the BBC 1964 documentary of the Great war series with Michael Redgrave as the narrator I learnt things from that series such as the German Kaiser visit to Jerusalem and how he claimed to be the protector of the world's 400 million Muslims of that time

AA confirms his nerd/geek status... Again.

You are looking very trim， whatever you are doing， keep it up！

AA, at what age would you let your kids start to watch HH movies? Seeing as the classic Universal monster movies could now be rated as kids movies they are so tame, what age is appropriate to start kids on HH?

One of the many, many commercials in your video was one by the Harris campaign! I hope there will be more as I doubt any of your viewers would give these empty suits any money.

Definitive video nasty guide next year?

Congratulations on 100 000 subscribers Can you sort out the advertising as it’s getting really bad

You have their contracts?!? You don't mess about do you? I was expecting a tier list

whats the nordic paradox?

I dont buy the idea that Carreras films were b list. The cost of movies lije moon zero two and when dinosaurs ruled the earth and lost continent was not b list for hammer. And Cash on Demand a critically acclaimed film.

Now one from Obama (peace be upon Him).

Spooky!

You look healthier.

Another Kamala. No Americans yet.

47 and have no idea what those are ... Not a horor fan.

Poast Moar.

The ads are really getting annoying