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Forgotten Hammer flick with Peter Cushing and Oliver Reed

posted a year ago by Wuchak (8194)
3 replies | jump to latest

This is an obscure Hammer production from 1962 originally called "Captain Clegg" based on the first book in Russell Thorndike's Doctor Syn series - "A Tale of Romney Marsh," which was published in 1915. The title "Night Creatures" is a misnomer while "Captain Clegg" doesn't work for reason I can't explain. The working title "The Curse of Captain Clegg" would've been more fitting.

In any case, this is an 18th century costume melodrama with skullduggery and quite a bit of action, plus some spooky bits. The presence of Oliver Reed and Yvonne Romain naturally bring to mind "The Curse of the Werewolf" (1961) and this is cut from the same cloth, just minus the lycanthrope trappings. "Witchfinder General" (1968), aka "The Conqueror Worm," is very comparable. "Black Death" (2010) was no doubt inspired by it, especially the mysterious marsh sequences.

Reed was in his prime and the stunning Yvonne Romain has a more significant role than "Curse of the Werewolf." Meanwhile Cushing was at the top of his game as the interesting protagonist.

[–] [deleted] a year ago

Stunning is right. Yvonne Romain is dynamite. One of the top hammer babes.

I enjoyed this film when I first saw it last year. You can't go wrong with Oliver Reed, Peter Cushing and Yvonne Romain under the Hammer banner.

[–] Wuchak (8194) a year ago

Blonde Virginia Wetherell is another one, but few people mention her because she didn't star in many Hammer flicks. "Demons of the Mind" (1972) is the only one I can think of, although she appears in Hammer minor-rival Tigon's "The Crimson Cult" (1968). The latter's the better film, but Virginia's part in the former is good.

[–] Gd5150 (11117) a year ago

Cushing and Guiness made Star Wars. They bring the gravitas. This flick looks pretty dope.