Welcome back to Dark Corners Streaming.
We’re looking at feature-length documentary Flesh and Blood – the Hammer Heritage of Horror,
which you can stream on Amazon Prime and which is suitably narrated by Christopher Lee.
‘I tried to play the character like an ill-coordinated childish creature’
and Peter Cushing,
‘Luckily I had a break in my BBC work was able to take the role I had seen Colin Clive play in the original 1931 film.'
whose age tells in his voice, and this would be the veteran actor’s last performance.
‘He became known as props Peter’
Now, obviously I am going to enjoy a documentary about Hammer but with the caveat, as long as it’s well done;
this is two and a half hours – far longer than any Hammer film –
so I’m not just going to rubber-stamp it, because I love the films.
The first thing to be glad about is that this is not just about the gothic horrors,
going right back to Hammer’s origins, and not ignoring their other films which are so often overshadowed.
‘Hell is a city one of the first and the strongest of the police drama, a forerunner of all the things that eventually came out on TV.'
Also, they’ve assembled a wealth of interviewees who were there at the time; producers, directors,
writers and the men who ran the studio,
as well as actors.
'At that point, I was being bitten by Dracula and I believed it.'
When it does wheel out the celebrity fans they always people with something to say.
‘The music of the movies was really astonishing.'
‘I’ll never forget the audience’s reaction and New York Paramount, they loved it.’
‘Dracula was a particularly big moment in my life and in the life of a lot of kids my age.’
Given this is made by Hammer it would be easy to fall into hagiography,
but while it does celebrate the studio's highs,
‘This film of yours will save Universal out of bankruptcy’
it does not shy away from the difficulties
‘One had to do it in the time allotted and it was never enough.’
and mis-steps.
‘It didn’t work, it was a mistake.’
and when was the last time you heard a documentary narrator airing a personal grievance
‘I stopped making them in 1972 because in my opinion the presentation of the character had deteriorated so much it no longer had any meaning.’
though Peter Cushing is there to provide balance.
‘Never the less when the camera rolled we both gave it all we had.’
This emphasis on the personal does sometimes get in the way of the facts.
‘That was before I did Dracula I think I’m right in saying this, I’m sure if I’m wrong I’ll be instantly corrected.’
He is wrong, but is not corrected and it’s not the only time this happens,
which is a documentary is a little irritating.
‘The critics hated us.’
Also awkward if you’re not familiar with the history of the studio is that, rather than proceeding chronologically,
the film deals with the Frankenstein Franchise,
then the Dracula franchise,
then the other films –
even then stopping to deal with other series like the prehistoric films or Carmilla films as if they were shot back to back.
Maybe that’s the only way to do it
but if you’re covering the history as well as the films then it does feels like the studio went downhill, in the same way, three times.
But in a way, that’s quintessentially Hammer,
it’s entertainment first and foremost, delivered with a flourish.
‘Frankenstein created Hammer
Despite its length, this rattles along;
a great primer if you’re new to the studio.
'I Baron Frankenstein was sentenced to death on the guillotine, but I escaped I will avenge the death of my creation.'
and full of trivia for those who have already seen every film and read every book.
‘That monster was in fact a piece of tripe’
Above all the documentary confirms what I have always thought about Hammer.
'It was like being in Rep.'
The flesh and blood of the title has a double meaning
‘Jimmy Carreras somehow managed to create this sense of family in the company and among the actors and crew’
and this theme is returned to time and time again.
‘It was a really small family, permanent unit,’
Making this a documentary with real heart.
‘I'm not giving you bullshit. They were made by people who care.’
So in answer to my first question; yes, they’ve done it right.
Thanks for watching, please check out our other Hammer videos.
If Hammer were to return to any of their classic films today, which would you choose to remade,
rebooted, updated or whatever? Let us know in the comments below