http://filmjournal.net/mike/2008/02/05/hammer-time-dracula-prince-of-darkness-1966/ Fri, 29 Aug 2008 06:15:48 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=wordpress-mu-1.0 http://filmjournal.net/mike/2008/02/05/hammer-time-dracula-prince-of-darkness-1966/#comment-15038 Fri, 08 Feb 2008 18:37:29 +0000 http://filmjournal.net/mike/2008/02/05/hammer-time-dracula-prince-of-darkness-1966/#comment-15038 Saying that though, there's still personal taste to take into consideration - Lee thought the dialogue was terrible so refused to speak it, he didn't like the movie and didn't have great things to say about many of them, yet many of us out here love them (or at least have a pretty good time watching them), so I wouldn't consider an actor's opinion on a film gospel simply because they happened to be participating in it. The documentary you mention I also enjoyed by the way, though one of the best Lee pieces was included on the US VCI City of the Dead disc (not sure about the UK one) which featured about 45 minutes of pure uninterrupted talk - completely riveting too. Saying that though, there’s still personal taste to take into consideration - Lee thought the dialogue was terrible so refused to speak it, he didn’t like the movie and didn’t have great things to say about many of them, yet many of us out here love them (or at least have a pretty good time watching them), so I wouldn’t consider an actor’s opinion on a film gospel simply because they happened to be participating in it.
The documentary you mention I also enjoyed by the way, though one of the best Lee pieces was included on the US VCI City of the Dead disc (not sure about the UK one) which featured about 45 minutes of pure uninterrupted talk - completely riveting too.

]]> http://filmjournal.net/mike/2008/02/05/hammer-time-dracula-prince-of-darkness-1966/#comment-15028 Fri, 08 Feb 2008 06:11:40 +0000 http://filmjournal.net/mike/2008/02/05/hammer-time-dracula-prince-of-darkness-1966/#comment-15028 Thanks for the comments, and it looks from what you both say that perhaps Lee <em>is</em> the weakest link in this instance. Not too much of a surprise - in his interview on the Ultimate Hammer DPoD disc (which I really enjoyed; I thought at first he seemed a bit pompous as he was telling us how to pronounce 'Bela Lugosi' correctly, but I certainly warmed to him) he appears to have little good to say about the movie, and notable are his comments about the dialogue he simply refused to say. I can't help but suppose that the character is underdeveloped, as though all the effort went into getting Lee's Count on the screen, not on what to do with him when he was finally there. Thanks for the comments, and it looks from what you both say that perhaps Lee is the weakest link in this instance. Not too much of a surprise - in his interview on the Ultimate Hammer DPoD disc (which I really enjoyed; I thought at first he seemed a bit pompous as he was telling us how to pronounce ‘Bela Lugosi’ correctly, but I certainly warmed to him) he appears to have little good to say about the movie, and notable are his comments about the dialogue he simply refused to say. I can’t help but suppose that the character is underdeveloped, as though all the effort went into getting Lee’s Count on the screen, not on what to do with him when he was finally there.

]]> http://filmjournal.net/mike/2008/02/05/hammer-time-dracula-prince-of-darkness-1966/#comment-15012 Thu, 07 Feb 2008 18:58:25 +0000 http://filmjournal.net/mike/2008/02/05/hammer-time-dracula-prince-of-darkness-1966/#comment-15012 I agree with Livius here (reviewed it myself at Grim Cellar last year), though for me it's primarily the first half I love - amazingly atmospheric build-up of spooky tension. Nice poster you've found there by the way. I agree with Livius here (reviewed it myself at Grim Cellar last year), though for me it’s primarily the first half I love - amazingly atmospheric build-up of spooky tension. Nice poster you’ve found there by the way.

]]> http://filmjournal.net/mike/2008/02/05/hammer-time-dracula-prince-of-darkness-1966/#comment-14958 Tue, 05 Feb 2008 22:00:31 +0000 http://filmjournal.net/mike/2008/02/05/hammer-time-dracula-prince-of-darkness-1966/#comment-14958 I actually enjoy this movie quite a lot. As you say, Klove is a suitably sinister character and I also like Thorley Walters' Renfield-type idiot. While Peter Cushing is sadly missed, I think that Andrew Keir does some good work as the worldly monk. I actually enjoy this movie quite a lot. As you say, Klove is a suitably sinister character and I also like Thorley Walters’ Renfield-type idiot. While Peter Cushing is sadly missed, I think that Andrew Keir does some good work as the worldly monk.

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