Welcome back to Dark Corners Lockdown.
We’ve mostly been using this series to look at modern movies but there are classics streaming,
and if you want to be entertained during lockdown then... here’s the way.
When he came to Hammer with his production partner Albert Fennell, Brian Clemens was already a TV legend,
particularly through his work on the Avengers, and it has been observed that Captain Kronos plays like a TV pilot.
Which is by no means a criticism, and undercuts what makes this such a great film.
‘It is commonly supposed a vampire only attacks in only one way, by biting the neck and draining the blood.'
Clemens set out to re-write vampire lore,
‘You see doctor, there are as many species of vampire as there are beasts of prey.'
His vampires drain youth,
flowers wilt as they pass, and…
‘If a vampire should be strode by the grave of a dead toad,
then the vampire life shall give and suddenly the toad shall live’
Hunchbacked vampire expert Professor Grost buries dead toads in boxes which return to life if a vampire goes by.
More than this, in past Hammer films, the vampire is the main character.
Clemens decided to make it about the hero and,
recognising that heroes can be a bit bland set out to create a hero worthy of the task.
‘Captain Kronos, late of the Imperial Guard’
Smoking a Clint Eastwood Cheroot of Chinese herbs,
meditating with his head in a bag and wielding a samurai sword alongside his military sabre,
Capt Kronos was in another world to most Hammer heroes.
‘Didn’t I mention it? We’re vampire Hunters. Professional Vampire hunters’
Actor Horst Janson was a trained swordsman and
fencing expert William Hobbs was cast as Lord Durward so the fight at the end involves no doubling.
But there is also a world-weary melancholy to him, giving the character more depth.
‘So much bitterness’
Rounding out the cast was Caroline Munro, who gets this unglamorous introduction.
'What crime have commited.'
'I danced on a Sunday.'
More than just the eye candy, Munro’s Carla pulls her weight and gave the actress arguably the best role she ever had.
‘You’ll be the bait you know’
‘I know’
The film is still recognisably Hammer,
but Clemens fed diverse and unexpected influences, most notably spaghetti western,
into the familiar Hammer sets, and while the emphasis is on action,
with some tongue in cheek comedy,
the film also has its serious side, and Clemens, in his first and only stint as feature director,
proves adept at delivering the dramatic moments.
The resulting film is an action yarn with its own mythology,
great characters and a strong story begging for, and designed to anticipate, a sequel.
‘Anywhere. Everywhere. Wherever there is evil to be fought’
So where is it?
Well, Hammer head, Michael Carreras didn’t like it. He had Janson’s lines re-dubbed by Julian Holloway
and the film then waited 2 years before getting a muted release,
Caroline Munro recalling that she wasn’t even told it was coming out.
Although contemporary reviews were mixed, it seems impossible to think that this film wouldn’t have found its audience
– the same audience that embraced Clemens’ TV work –
if only it had been marketed.
It has certainly found an audience since,
and sits very comfortably in the current cinema landscape of heroes with a dark side fighting evil over a succession of open-ended films.
This now feels a precursor to Marvel, and is a rare film for which fans would welcome a good reboot.
So Hammer, if you’re watching – I understand the rights are an issue, but it would be worth the effort.
Give Caroline Munro a good cameo, and if you need a writer, I’m available.
In conclusion, the point of this series was to review films to keep spirits up during the lockdown.
You can’t do much better than Captain Kronos: Vampire Hunter.
Thanks for watching. Let’s say we’re doing this, who are you casting in the Captain Kronos reboot? Let us know in the comments below.