Hammer Films Ultimate Collection Blu-ray Review

[@xgoldenxchildx]

Been looking forward to this review! Wish this was longer, I can sit and watch you talk about hammer for hours haha. Looks awesome, I am getting mine on Monday, cannot wait!

[@CerealAtMidnight]

It's high praise that I left you wanting more! There have been four videos talking about Hammer in the last month here, and I've got at least ONE MORE coming soon. *coughHammerHouseofHorrorOnBluRaycough*

[@Batfan1964]

Xgoldenchildx, I enjoy the long reviews of Hammer horror films on The Choice Voice youtube channel. Michael really loves Hammer and his reviews are extensive.

[@nosonovmine]

My all-time favorite Hammer film is The Devil Rides Out. Also Heath I've been meaning to ask: I assume you've done them in the past, but do you have plans of doing an updated movie collection room and comic room collection videos? I would love to see you do a tour of your spaces

[@CerealAtMidnight]

Hey, Benjamin! Bree and I do not have collection tours here on KZbin. We made a deliberate choice a while back to steer away from "look at all my stuff" videos, and instead are trying to focus on reviews, sales coverage, and spotlighting different labels and releases. With so many KZbin channels focused on buying things that they never watch or talk about again, we thought it was important to do the opposite. However, I should also say, though, that for those that really want it, we have over 9 hours of item-by-item collection tours on Patreon that cover all of our comics, and most of our records and movies. With over 10,000 items in those collections, it's really the only way to do it. Patreon is also the home of Collecting At Midnight, which is a monthly (sometimes bi-weekly) collecting series (usually an hour per episode) where we talk about pretty much everything we buy across all platforms. We moved this content to Patreon for the purpose of keeping the main KZbin channel focused on content and substance, not accumulation. Hope that makes sense, and thanks for asking!

[@nosonovmine]

@@CerealAtMidnight I respect that decision very much. It does get tiresome seeing all the "look at all my stuff" in other youtubers content. Thanks for the info. I appreciate you taking your time to respond. Keep up the great work!

[@markmitchell8539]

Got it preordered at Amazon along with Inner Sanctum Mysteries and Rita Hayworth set. Thanks for all you do!

[@CerealAtMidnight]

Thank YOU Mark, not just for the kind words, but for all your Patreon support, as well! You're gonna have a great holiday season with all those classics in your watch stack.

[@blu-rayswithnathanjones]

Great video and showcase of each film in this set! Really enjoyed this one Heath, extremely proud of you going through each film before recording. It shows and it's good to have that commitment, cheers my friend! *Queue Bananarama exit music

[@EvrydayErik]

Just starting my hammer horror collection. Your video was great! Cheers!

[@ChristianLehrer]

Oliver Reed is a great actor. Made his screen debut at Hammer. Nephew of Carol Reed. Also, as much as I love Peter Cushing and Christopher Lee, the star of The Gorgon is the beautiful Barbara Shelley!

[@wes788411]

I bought this when it was released but never started washing it until a few days ago. I’m watching them in order and just finished Maniac! and am blown away with how much I am enjoying this box set. I’ve only seen a few of the movies in this set before and wasn’t expecting much ( I figured that they would be mostly bottom of the barrel). I think Revenge of Frankenstein is my favorite Hammer Frankenstein film after Curse of Frankenstein. I wasn’t expecting much with Gorgon based on the title, but really liked it. I haven’t seen a movie yet that I haven’t throughly enjoyed.

[@glitchedoom]

Huh, I thought it was weird that a collection like this wouldn't come with booklet. Thanks for the heads up.

[@brads2362]

I never blind buy. I've only seen Revenge of Frankenstein and The Gorgon, but I'm blind buying the hell out of this!

[@cookiesontoast9981]

I blind bought the classic 30's-50's Universal monsters blu ray set and I absolutely loved almost all of them.

[@CerealAtMidnight]

Glad to see you guys going for it! Hammer (and Universal too!) is one of the most beloved studios in genre film fandom. It's a safe bet, and a good investment. Truly one of the best releases of 2020.

[@genesanford9412]

NICE SET ! love Hammer films.I grew up with 3 channels ,and the CBS channel had great British movies(Friday late nite movie).

[@CinemaDaveMedia]

Hi Heath. Great review of this set. My copy arrived this week and I love it!! I recently saw Sword of Sherwood Forest on TCM and was so pleased that it was part of this set. I love all the details and thoughts on each film. Hope you and your family are doing well.

[@CerealAtMidnight]

Thank you, Dave! We are all well, and I hope you and yours are too!

[@themovievault]

Great video! Hammer is a big blank in my collection, had no idea they done movies outside of horror! 👍🏻💿

[@lyndoncmp5751]

Try On The Buses 😂

[@danielsweet858]

One part of me would love to own all Hammer's output BUT the idea of having to rewatch The Vengeance of She is daunting. Cash in Demand is a cinematic treasure & one of my favorite Christmas gems.🎃

[@atticusfitz1190]

I didn't realize I was missing the booklet. Thanks!

[@5050guitarman]

Die Die my darling scared the heck out of me when I first seen this movie. I was about 9 or 10 . I never watched this movie again. To me that's 1 of best scary movies ever !!! Can't wait to buy that box set, I like all those movies and seen all of them .

[@joshua2814]

Definitely plan to get this one, but yet again I need to knock some credit card debt off before making more orders. If I saw it in store where I could pay cash, I'd probably get it now.

[@grypeseye]

Thanks for telling me about the booklet. I submitted my form via the link. Meanwhile, I have a LOT of movies to watch.

[@ajzeg01]

I wish I could buy this, but it’s not even listed on Canadian Amazon! I contacted Mill Creek and it is a problem on Amazon’s end, so I’ll just have to wait until that all gets sorted out.

[@CerealAtMidnight]

As an alternative, I suggest DeepDiscount! Ships to Canada, and they have the lowest price of anybody.

[@nelsyn52]

I highly recommend to any true Hammer Films fan who owns an all region blu ray player (and if you don't have one yet...what the heck?) to track down Indicator's Hammer collections - they are all beautiful transfers (Revenge Of Frankenstein,The Gorgon,etc are gorgeous!) If not then this new set will do nicely (I have all the films already,save for Dark House and Creatures,in lovely releases with great extras already so passed on it myself)

[@CerealAtMidnight]

All the transfers Sony licensed to Powerhouse appear to be the same as the ones in this set with the exception of Revenge of Frankenstein, which Powerhouse may retain some exclusivity rights too. Even These Are The Damned is the 2K remaster here. There are also some films in this Mill Creek set that aren’t on any of the five Indicator sets. Indicator puts out wonderful releases, but it’s not necessarily an either/or matter, and labeling someone a “true fan” can be problematic. They’re both stellar, and both have strengths. However, the Indicator sets will cost Americans about $250, versus the $55 this is currently selling for on Deep Discount.

[@jamesnagel6264]

I didnt get the booklet nor the disc for Scream Of Fear/ Never Take Candy. Mill Creek replied to my email very promptly about the missing disc and said they would be sending the disc soon.

[@Partyboy22]

I found out you can just download a PDF file of the booklet if you don't want to wait for it in the mail.

[@forrestsellers661]

Thank you for posting the information on how to get the booklet. Unfortunately, I was one of those who didn’t receive one. Was running up against a wall in getting it resolved. Looks like the link you provided will work.

[@Njbear7453]

Cannot wait to watch these !!! Just got mine in the mail today!!!

[@TheHandsomeman]

Peter Cushing, and Christopher lee, characters working together in the Gorgon? What version are you watching. Peter is the mad doctor in this!

[@SnakeNel]

Great overview of the Hammer set, which is winging its way to me from Deep Discount. Thanks for the booklet info; it is appreciated!

[@charlesburkart4249]

One day, this set will be mine. Oh yes, it will be mine. One day, but alas, not today. Thanks for reviewing the entire set.

[@CerealAtMidnight]

I hope that day comes soon for you, my friend!

[@richconroy5559]

The same booklet boondoggle happened with the Ultraman Ginga Box set as well

[@lesoubliesducinemadhorreur]

La hammer my favorite productions :)

[@ajzeg01]

You forgot to talk about The Pirates of Blood River!

[@RyanMHardiman]

My collection was delivered yesterday and I dove right into These are the Damned. Great movie, and the transfer was tasty! I didn’t get my booklet. Thanks for the review and resources. I sent request for booklet. I had preordered from deepdiscount.

[@CerealAtMidnight]

Missing booklet seems to have been left out during the packaging of the entire first pressing, but I’m glad Mill Creek was able to adapt on the fly and get a program in place to send the booklets out. Glad you got your request in, and YES, These Are the Damned looks incredible. Appears to be the new 2K restoration. What a phenomenal film.

[@ChristianLehrer]

Great video, Thanks!

[@AG-bp3ll]

They forgot the booklet? After the issues with the Inner Sanctum set, I guess it could be much worse. Hopefully all 20 movies have quality transfers.

[@CerealAtMidnight]

All 20 movies look fine. The transfers probably range at least a decade in age, but they're all watchable.

[@Batfan1964]

Hi Heath. I enjoyed your Ultimate Hammer blu ray review. Its ironic that you mention Richard Green possibly being the only actor to reprise a television role for the big screen. Because also released this week on blu ray from Kino Lorber is the 1954 DRAGNET film starring Jack Webb, who first played that role on TV in 1951. Its a fun, gritty DRAGNET that has a rougher edge than the 1960's TV reboot series. About THE OLD DARK HOUSE, I find it interesting that Mill Creek chose to release the B/W version of that film. It was filmed in color, but distributed to the US in B/W. In the UK it was released in color. The British Powerhouse Indicator Region B blu ray release is in color in the William Castle box set. If you have any Indicator blu ray releases I'd like to see you cover those in a video. Indicator is one of my favorite blu ray companies! Right up there with Arrow in quality. Thanks for you fun videos!

[@CerealAtMidnight]

The Old Dark House on the Mill Creek set is not in black and white, it's in color. Probably the exact same transfer that Sony also licensed to Powerhouse. Yes, you're certainly right about Jack Webb. This is what I get for trying to go from memory, haha. Richard Greene is the only TV Robin Hood actor to ever play the character in a movie, as well. I had to go check my review at CerealAtMidnight.com to fact check myself after the video. For anyone interested, here's my full review of Sword of Sherwood Forrest, copied from our website: Sword of Sherwood Forest (1960) is special for a few reasons. First, and most importantly, it's a Hammer film directed by Terence Fisher, the man who brought so many of that studio's hits to fruition. Second, it's the only time I'm aware of that an actor from a Robin Hood television series would reprise his role in a motion picture. Richard Greene, the star of the television hit The Adventures of Robin Hood, which ran from 1955-1960, is the exact same character in this movie as on the small screen. In fact, Hammer went out of their way to tie this movie directly into the TV show, though they replaced every other actor from the TV production. In many ways, it's a tie-in by lip service only, but it's impossible to deny that this movie, which debuted just months after the conclusion of the series, is intended to be connected. Another reason to love this movie is that is co-stars Peter Cushing, the legendary horror and genre film actor, as the Sheriff of Nottingham. Cushing plays the role with cold relish, bringing the same magnetism here that he does to the Dracula and Frankenstein films he made under the Hammer banner. Being an English production, Sword of Sherwood also benefits from the location photography of real forests and landscapes located within Great Britain. Whereas the four Columbia-produced studio pictures included in this set all filmed at Ray "Crash" Corrigan's ranch in California, this movie instantly has credibility by using actual English countrysides and real castles for location photography. There are also uncredited roles of note, including Desmond Llewelyn (the original "Q" from the James Bond film franchise) and Oliver Reed, who almost outshines Peter Cushing by chewing the scenery and playing his role so over-the-top that he becomes the focal point of every scene he's in. This movie also features one of the few platinum blonde Maid Marians that I can remember. Just like all the other movies in this set, Sword of Sherwood Forest is a short affair, coming in at only 80 minutes, but it uses its running time well to tell a story that somehow still feels epic on scope.

[@Batfan1964]

@@CerealAtMidnight good to know OLD DARK HOUSE is in color. The Mill Creek packaging lists it as B/W.

[@CerealAtMidnight]

Just checked, and the packaging sure does mention it as black and white! That's the third error in the text on the packaging. Really unfortunate. Luckily what's inside is golden.

[@Batfan1964]

@@CerealAtMidnight I know about the error listing the missing booklet. What's the other error?

[@evilbrad3]

Have one on order can't wait

[@claudiobarros5807]

Fantastic Movies, and it works in Zone B (europe) . But i didn't received the booklet. Can anyone share the PDF booklet please ? Thanks.

[@CerealAtMidnight]

Great news about region B! Thanks for the update. PDF booklet was at Mill Creek's website under the listing for this item, but I can't seem to find it now. Does anyone have it downloaded?

[@CerealAtMidnight]

Excellent! Thanks, Claudio, appreciate the kind words.

[@DeathlessDevil]

Unfortunately both the boxset and Inner Sanctum sets had scratched discs. None were loose, not sure how new discs come pre-scratched. Any of yours get scratched Heath?

[@CerealAtMidnight]

Wha??? No, none of my discs are scratched. Never had any scratched discs from Mill Creek. I suggest contacting Mill Creek using the e-mail address linked in the description of this video.

[@DeathlessDevil]

Lucky duck! I just sent an email and hopefully get those discs replaced (3 of them on Hammer, 1 on Sanctum). Thanks for the response!

[@CerealAtMidnight]

This is rare. Also, rare for Blu-rays to be scratched at all, as they're so sturdy and resistant to damage! If you don't mind, please keep me posted.

[@DeathlessDevil]

Ok will do! Yeah it’s pretty rare. It seems to happen in boxsets far more than individual movies. I have a feeling it may be because of the pressing plants getting overwhelmed and some mishaps.

[@DeathlessDevil]

They wrote back and say they will replace IF i send my discs for testing and there’s playback issues. Pretty disappointing that I’ll have to keep scratched new discs even if they play fine. I offered to send the scratched discs... they can keep them. Weak response and QC on their part. They need to look to Vinegar Syndrome to see how to treat their loyal customers. Maybe down the line I’ll rebuy both sets and hope and pray they arrive unscratched. Then frankenstein monster the sets to get it in good shape. Oh well, appreciate the help Heath!

[@kevingunter5650]

I received mine yesterday. No booklet. This is the second order I’ve received from them in the last few months that was missing a booklet. It happened on a recent Ultraman release.

[@CerealAtMidnight]

For all the bounties 2020 has brought to physical media, it's also brought a lot of factory errors from pretty much ALL the distributors. I can't think of another year with more errors or oversights. Missing audio on the Flintstones from Warner Brothers, THREE replacement discs required for Scream's Friday the 13th box set, and yes, the case of the missing booklets. I think the heart of the matter comes from the fact that 1) Covid has everyone working either from home or outside of their routine, 2) factories and pressing plants are running on reduced staff, and 3) the sheer volume of physical media production is higher than ever, but the infrastructure to actually manufacture them is declining. At least all of the above cases have been recognized by their respective companies and corrected. I hope you get your booklet soon!

[@kevingunter5650]

@@CerealAtMidnight I was thinking the same thing as I sent the comment. I just got a notification yesterday about the Friday the 13th replacement discs. The booklets are just minor inconveniences. But I like them because Mill Creek does a great job on them. I’m ready to dive into my collection now, and you’ve given me some ideas where to start. Is Don’t Take Candy from Strangers as disturbing as Hard Candy?

[@kevingunter5650]

I meant Never Take Candy from a Stranger.

[@CerealAtMidnight]

Hard Candy, the movie with Ellen Page? I forgot all about that one. No, Hard Candy is a whole other beast.

[@darrenblizzard3851]

Well I have a bunch of these from some of the UK based Powerhouse Films Indicator box sets (such as their William Castle ones which I am assuming these are simply using those transfers?)... But there are still 6 or 7 here I have not got in my collection. Hmmm.... 🤔... Yes... Of course I'll still buy it though for the missing ones and the fact that it's a nice looking set and to just have them all in one box. I'm a sucker, what can I say 😏

[@CerealAtMidnight]

You're not a sucker, you just want to make sure you've got these movies in your collection! It's a great set, and having the films that Indicator didn't release is really wonderful.

[@darrenblizzard3851]

@@CerealAtMidnight you're right, you've convinced me. I can now buy them without feeling guilty 😁. If it's Cereal At Midnight endorsed then it's gotta be good....

[@eiadtarabulsi]

Thanks again Heath!

[@chamilton4577]

The booklet link isn't working for me.

[@CerealAtMidnight]

It's over a year old, so they probably ended that program when new pressings started to make their way to stores that did include the booklet.

[@jeffreykaufmann2867]

This set is missing most of the best Christopher Lee Films

[@thalastkg]

Dont u Listen? This boxset only contains the "Hammer/Columbia Pictures Collaboration Movies. The Movies u are Talking about are also on Blu ray but not in this Incredible Set.

[@jeffreykaufmann2867]

@@thalastkg how many of the 20 are duds?

[@rugby1971]

such a shame that as a uk viewer its not released here and i dont own a region free blu ray player

[@lyndoncmp5751]

Yeah, we always get handed the muddy end of the stick.

[@TokuAndAnimationNewsNetwork]

I've only watched The Gorgon and Curse of the Mummy's Tomb so far. I really enjoyed The Gorgon a lot, but I've gotta say that the Mummy one is probably my least favorite Mummy movie to date. It took too long for the Mummy to show up and the person playing him had no presence like Christopher Lee had in the previous Hammer version nor the ones Universal did. Not to mention the woman cheats on her boyfriend and then expects him to save her. WTF?

[@CerealAtMidnight]

Lotta scumbags in that Mummy movie! Not the best Mummy entry, but alas, the one made for Columbia.

[@hypatiastanhope8273]

💃

[@bryanscarboddi1210]

No devil rides out 🤨🤬I'll pass 🤑

[@CerealAtMidnight]

Devil Rides Out is owned by a company that Mill Creek doesn't have a deal with. Scream Factory released it on its own in 2019. I recommend you buy that AND this 20 pack of EVERY SINGLE HAMMER MOVIE that Mill Creek could give us in a single box. Current price is $45 for 20 movies. Unbeatable!

[@thepagemaster2963]

STOP!.....hammer time

[@CerealAtMidnight]

"Everywhere I go, from London to L.A., it's Hammer, yo Hammer, kill me hammer, and the rest can go and play. Can't touch dis."

[@whatthef911]

Can’t touch this.

[@kennethmatthew9638]

Bought it for 56 bucks and, my god, it's boring. I'm just waiting for something to happen even the mummy movie was boring in comparison to universal. I watched stop me before I kill and wished I was watching Alfred Hitchcock instead. WTF maybe it's just me born in the 80s

[@TheHandsomeman]

Shite Boxset.