The Ultimate Hammer Collection (1965 - 1976)

21 film, 21 disc collection of the best, and worst, of the later Hammer films. Optimum UK R2 boxset.

The Films - links to individual DVD reviews where available.

The Nanny (1965)

Includes exclusive audio commentary from Jimmy Sangster.

She (1965)

Review of the WB DVD. No comparison with Optimum DVDs available yet.

One Million Years B.C. (1966)

Anamorphic print (uncut British print) - Image comparison (vs. WB UK disc).
Includes Raquel Welch and Ray Harryhausen interviews from the WB UK disc.

Rasputin: The Mad Monk (1966)

Review of the ABUS DVD. See end notes for comparison with the Optimum disc.
Includes bonus trailer. Commentary track from the ABUS disc is not included.

Dracula: Prince of Darkness (1966)

Anamorphic print - Image comparison (vs. WB UK disc).
Includes the hour long Many Faces of Christopher Lee documentary.
The commentary track and 8mm footage from the ABUS disc are not included.

Plague of the Zombies (1966)

The Reptile (1966)

No special features.

The Witches (1966)

The Viking Queen (1967)

Frankenstein Created Woman (1967)

Review of the WB DVD. No comparison with Optimum DVDs available yet.

Quatermass and the Pit (1967)

Does not include the Roy Ward Baker/Nigel Kneale commetary from the ABUS disc.

Slave Girls (a.k.a Prehistoric Women) (1967)

Includes trailer and new anamorphic print.

The Devil Rides Out (1968)

Does not include the Christopher Lee commetary from the ABUS disc.

Vengeance of She (1968)

Horror of Frankenstein (1970)

Includes Jimmy Sangster audio commentary and Veronica Carlson interview from the ABUS disc.

Scars of Dracula (1970)

Image comparisons (vs. WB UK disc).
Includes trailer and Roy Ward Baker/Christopher Lee audio commentary from the ABUS disc.

Blood from the Mummy's Tomb (1971)

Expected to include interviews from the ABUS disc.

Demons of the Mind (1972)

Includes audio commentary from the ABUS disc.

Fear in the Night (1972)

Expected to include audio commentary from the ABUS disc.

Straight on Till Morning (1972)

Expected to include audio commentary from the ABUS disc.

To the Devil a Daughter (1976)

Includes To the devil... the death of Hammer documentary and Eddie Powell interview from the ABUS disc.

In Brief:

Anyone famous in it?

Hammer favourites Peter Cushing and Christopher Lee are joined by regulars Andrew Keir, Ralph Bates, Michael Ripper, Dennis Price, and screen beauties Ursula Andress, Raquel Welch, Martine Beswick and many more...

Who is it for?

Fans of the Hammer films will be interested in this set, especially with The Nanny finally available in its original widescreen ratio here. Several of the films include new anamorphic transfers, and bonus features not present on the existing UK discs. The boxset itself will be of interest to anyone wanting more than half of the titles, although the individual releases are very low priced from some retailers.

The DVDs

Visuals	All films are anamophic (some for the first time) and in Original Aspect Ratios. Print quality varies - generally strong. See individual reviews for more.
Audio	English - generally strong.
Subtitles	No subtitles are included in this set.
Extras	The set is a mixed bag for extras. Some of the discs have features (mostly audio commentary tracks) imported from the ABUS discs, while others are missing these. The presence of the interesting 'Many Faces of Christopher Lee' documentary is a plus (being only available on a limited edition disc with ABUS's Scars of Dracula DVD).
Packing/availability	Packaging unconfirmed. All the films are available on individual discs as well.
Region	Region 2 (UK, Europe) - PAL
Other regions?	All of these films have been released by Anchor Bay US (although most are now out of print and hard to find), and generally the AB sets included more bonus features. Many of these films are also available from E-M-S in Germany, and on now OOP WB discs in the UK. See the individual reviews for comparisons.
Cuts?	All films are believed to be fully uncut. Prints are English langauge.

Summary

An interesting selection of films from the very good, to the very bad.

The set is a mixed bag, some of the most interesting commentary tracks from the ABUS discs have not been carried over, but there are new anamorphic transfers for several titles, and the discs are a real improvement on the bare bones WB discs. The boxset itself may be a little expensive for most, but the individual releases may tempt some into upgrades.

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All text in this review written by Timothy Young - October 2006.
Text from this review not to be used without authorization.

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