Hammer Horror - The Movie Fans Have Their Say #1

For me, the Hammer films were some of the first ever horror films that I ever got to watch - coupled with the Universal 'monster movies' on BBC2, usually on Saturday late-night double bills. They were much more than just films, they were the beginning of a life long adoration of all things Hammer - the movies, the music, the clothing, the collectables - all were things of great joy for me, from being a child right up until now. We found a newsagent who was willing to sell the 'goriest' magazine on his shelves to myself and my friend - two children at the local Primary School. My parents were surprisingly ok about it, especially my mother who was a massive horror movie fan and so she saw it as the norm, which was lucky for me. So the magazines were folded out - after I read them from cover to cover - and the posters were displayed on my bedroom walls
I can recall having Christopher Lee as 'Dracula' and 'Vampire Circus' up on my walls at the time, in the mid '70s.So, with the start of the Horror Double Bills on BBC2, I got to lap up two films every week on a Saturday night, from the Universal Classic Monster Movies to timeless horror gems to my favourites of all, the Hammer Horror Films. I watched each double bill - with my parents - every time they were on, usually with a cup of hot chocolate made by my father
the season would go on for a few months and then sadly come to an end, returning again later in the year.Due to no video recorders way back then, we watched the films and that was it, until I had the idea of recording the full films soundtrack on my cassette player - which usually fitted perfectly on a C90 cassette - and then listening to them again and again, trying to remember the visuals that went with them. The one that I recollect listening to the most was the tape that I did of 'Vampire Circus', which is probably why it has remained my favourite Hammer film to this day - having recently purchased it on Blu-Ray from France.Years later, with the introduction of VHS Video Recorders, our family joined the 'space age' and I was able to record and watch the Hammer films whenever I wanted to, usually later in the evening when most of the programmes that my family wanted to watch had finished. Then with the beginning of the DVD age, I started to replace all of the films that I had purchased or recorded on VHS cassettes, with shiny new DVD's - I was over the moon. I then purchased a DVD recorder and recorded the films direct from the TV - the ones that I couldn't find to purchase on original DVD's. Finally we came to where we are now with the start of the Blu-Ray generation and I began to replace the DVD Hammer Films with the newer and much shinier Blu-Ray format. The Blu-Ray's all tended to come with many extras - documentaries, trailers, interviews, commentaries and stills galleries - it was now unbelievable, but greatly received!!!My fascination with Hammer continues, buying films, t-shirts, bags, books and autographs. I have also met several of the stars at film and collectors fairs including - Caroline Munro, Dave Prowse and the late Francis Matthews.So, we finally come to this book, which you are reading right now. It's been a true labour of love and I have really enjoyed getting acquainted with other like minded fans, who have all been very positive about the book and are looking forward to it's release - there have though been only a couple that have been negative about it and if you're reading this you know who you are, but if you are actually reading this, thanks to you too!This is only Book #1 in a new series of 'Movie Review Books', with other favourites of mine to follow over the coming years, hope you like them as much as I do and find them very educational if you are new to the joys of all things Hammer!!!Thanks and keep watching Hammer films!!!