meet simon cherry (1949)

"I never look for trouble."
Cheerful Rev Simon Cherry (Hugh Moxey) ends up at a manor house when his car breaks down in the countryside. Whilst there the reclusive invalid daughter of the lady of the house Lisa ( Zena Marshall) is found dead. Murder is suspected, so the Rev starts asking questions and a tale of love and deceit is revealed...
Likable film that owes much to its radio series origins as it's very talky.

the two faces of dr jeykll (1960)

"You vile disgusting degenerate!"
Dr. Henry Jekyll (Paul Massie) proposes that inside every human is two personalities, a theory dismissed by his colleagues. So he sets out to prove it. Tied up in his work he doesn't seem to notice his wife (Dawn Addams) is having an affair with his louche friend Paul Allen (Christopher Lee). But then Jekyll finds a formula that transforms him into the confident and handsome Edward Hyde who sets out to enjoy the sordid nightlife of London...
A well worn tale told with some panache.

room to let (1950)

"I must carry on with my work!"
Curly Minter (Jimmy Hanley) reminisces about his time as a cub reporter and in particular a story that happened in London in 1904. Following a fire at a mental institute he begins to suspect that Dr. Fell (Valentine Dyall) may in fact be the infamous Jack the Ripper.
Based as it is on a BBC radio play, this is overly talkie but Valentine makes fine use of his menacing tone of voice to add a sense of unease to the proceedings.

women without men (1956)

"Like most women in prison I'm here because of a man!"
Aka Blonde Bait
Statuesque Angie (Beverly Michaels) tells her story, about how she has ended up in prison and how she has promised her boyfriend Nick (Jim Davis) she will meet him at a certain pub at midnight on New Years. As the time approaches is Angie desperate enough to chance a break out?
So-so thriller, enlivened by Thora Hird as a wise old lag. Later he film was re-edited with a much altered storyline to become Blonde Bait.

the quiet ones (2014)

"Why do I get the impression this is about to get unpleasant? "
University professor (Jared Harris) and a group of his students try to expel a malevolent from young woman Jane Harper (Olivia Cooke), but only succeed in uncovering terrifyingly dark forces.
An interesting story, supposedly based on true events, but one that only contains some mild shocks along the way.

the ugly duckling (1959)

"Contain's that powerful new ingredient...gin."
The shy and awkward chemist Henry Jekyll (Bernard Breslaw) finds his great, great, grandfather's formula. A formula that transform's him into the suave Teddy Hyde, and as Teddy he soon gets involved with a gang of jewel thieves.
A comic updating of the Jekyll and Hyde story, that predates the Jerry Lewis comic take on the same story.

the revenge of frankenstein (1958)

aka Blood of Frankenstein.
"I swore I would have my revenge. They will never be rid of me!"
The Baron (Peter Cushing) escapes execution and moves to Germany, to ply his trade, cunningly renamed as Dr Stein, and with the help of Dr Kleve (Francis Matthews) he starts piecing together his new monster.
Fine gothic horror sequal to the Curse of Frankenstein.

the scarlet blade (1964)

aka The Crimson Blade.
"We are to remain here until the last royalist is hanged."
It's the English Civil War, and King Charles I has been captured by the tyrant Colonel Judd (Lionel Jeffries) and his right-hand man Captain Sylvester (Oliver Reed). Edward Beverley (Jack Hedley) plans to rescue the King with some help from Judd's daughter Claire (June Thorburn), who is opposed to her father's political sympathies.
Historical, boys own adventure, that is ultimately forgettable.

The Brigand of Kandahar (1965)

"A savage will aways return to his own kind."
British army in India during the Raj. One of these soldiers is Lt. Case (Ronald Lewis), who has to deal with the suspicions of his fellow officers, who look down on him, as he is half Indian. Then Case is court-martial-ed, on a trumped up charge, and thrown in prison. Inevitably he manages to escape, but then comes face to face with the new power in the rebel ranks, the English educated Eli Khan (Oliver Reed), who wants Case to join his cause.
A lesser Hammer, inflicted with an unsympathetic central character.

phantom ship (1935)

aka The Mystery of the Marie Celeste.
"I love Sarah, she's sailing with me."
The Captain ((Arthur Margetson) of the Marie Celeste, marries Sarah (Shirley Grey), and brings her on his next voyage. Much to the annoyance of Captain Morehead, who also loved Sarah and introduced them. Whilst storms rage trouble is brewing in the crew. Could it be that Morehead has employed someone to exact revenge for his supposed jilting. Or could it be Anton Lorenzen (Bela Lugosi), a man broken by being shanghaied previously, and anxious to be aboard.
A riff on the Marie Celeste mystery, that proposes how the ship was abandoned, has a convoluted whodunnit element.

dr. morelle: the case of the missing heiress (1949)

aka Dr. Morelle.
"I've done my duty by you and I will continue to do so."
Dr. Morelle (Valentine Dyall) narrates the story of Cynthia Mason (Jean Lodge), an heiress who disappears. Could it have been her step-father Samual Kimber (Philip Leaver), who is over-bearing and resents Cynthia, or Cynthia's new boyfriend (Peter Drury)? To find out, Amy Frayle (Julia Lang), a friend of missing girl, decides to become the new housemaid.
Unremarkable thriller, of interest only to those who want to see one of Hammer's early films.

holiday on the buses (1973)

"I'm sorry you broke your foot, it should have been your neck."
Stan (Reg Varney), Jack (Bob Grant) and Blakey (Stephen Lewis) are finally sacked for incompetence and are forced to take summer jobs at a holiday camp, and the usual mayhem ensues, especially when Stan wangles it for his family to join him.
Hammer decided the public were suckers for punishment, and foisted a third installment of the On The Buses series on the by now suspecting audience, and despite it having its moments, this proved to be the end of the franchise.

mutiny on the buses (1972)

"You lecherous moron."
Bus driver Stan Butler (Reg Varney) is under pressure to get married and leave home, but needs to get his brother-in-law Arthur (Michael Robbins) some work first. So he hits on the idea of teaching Arthur to drive a bus and get a job at the depot. His second plan is to take on some of the extra work available driving special tours to Windsor Safari Park.
Like most 70's males, Stan is sex obsessed, clueless and klutzy, a combination that leads to lots of embarrassing, and unfunny situations.

on the buses (1971)

"Oh my god, look what you've done!"
The successful TV series spins off into the highest performing film of 1971. The plot resolves around Stan (Reg Varney) needing some money, and quick, but his overtime has been cut as the bus company have decided to take on some female drivers. So with Jack (Bob Grant), they decide to get the new employees the sack in an attempt to get his overtime back.
Mildly amusing and decidedly unpc, that is more of an historical document, showing the cultural life of Britain at that point in time, and how far we have come since.

the satanic rites of dracula (1973)

aka Count Dracula and His Vampire Bride. Dracula Is Alive and Well and Living in London. Dracula Is Dead... and Well and Living in London. Rites of Dracula.
"evil rules you know"
When a government minister is caught by the security services taking part in satanic rituals, they move to find out what's going on. They consult with the occult expert Prof. Van Helsing (Peter Cushing), and investigate the background of the reclusive businessman behind the cult, the mysterious D D Denham.
The last of the Hammer Dracula's to feature Christopher Lee, brings the series up to date, with a conspiratorial mix of big business and politics.

cloudburst (1951)

"I'd hound them with as little pity as we hounded Zimmerman...my hatred would overwhelm me like a cloudburst."
When his pregnant wife (Elizabeth Sellars) is killed by a couple on the run for murder, Foreign office cypher expert, John Graham (Robert Preston), determines to find these killers, and devises a systematic plan of revenge when he does.
Reputedly the first film Hammer shot at Bray Studios, this is a fine understated thriller. The characters backgrounds in the resistance during the war are hinted at, fleshing out motivations and abilities.

the man who could cheat death (1956)

"What is death that it should be feared so much?"
Dr. Bonner (Anton Diffring) has found a way to live forever, but to do so necessitates regular human gland transplants, and when a woman who has modeled for him goes missing, people start to get suspicious about his ever youthful appearance.
A remake of 'The Man in Half Moon Street' that gathers together a number of Hammer stars, including Christopher Lee, in a rare outing as the hero, and Hazel Court as the damsel in distress. Much talk, and little action renders this a lesser, though still entertaining Hammer.

dick barton at bay (1950)

"There is something up and not a moment to lose."
When an undercover agent is killed Dick Barton (Don Stannard) is forced to fake his own death in an attempt to recover a death ray that has been stolen by the Russians.
A vast improvement on the previous installments, and a better swansong for Stannard, (who died before this was released).

dick barton strikes back (1949)

"If my guess is correct the atomic bomb is childs play compared to this."
Dick Barton (Don Stannard) is back. This time he and his team take on the dastardly Fouracada (Sebastian Cabot), who plans to take over the world with a weapon of mass destruction.
Boys own adventure, that shows the progress Hammer had made, being a more professional, and entertaining film than the previous installment.

river patrol (1948)

"What'cha gonna do with him guv?"
Following the death of his partner, Robby (John Blythe) is put in charge of breaking a smuggling ring. His response is to go undercover with female officer Jean (Lorna Dean) and infiltrate the gang, which leads him to a gambling club called the Shoehorn.
Stiff upper lips and cut glass accents proliferate in this cheap and short second reeler.