5 Must-see Hammer House Of Horror Films If You Are A 'Star Wars' Fan
Image Source: A Shroud of Thoughts
Two of Star Wars’ most iconic villains honed their skills in the Hammer House of Horror Series. Peter Cushing and Christopher Lee played opposite each other twenty-four times, and most of those were under the Hammer banner, acting as the other’s co-star. Although we never saw them on screen together in a Star Wars film, check out these iconic Hammer House of Horror films to see a truly phenomenal pairing.
5. Flesh And Blood: The Hammer Heritage of Horror (1994)
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This is a documentary rather than a film. It details the full history of Hammer House of Horror and is a good introduction if you are new to the genre. It was the last time that the two men appeared in the same credit list as it was taped a few months before the death of Peter Cushing. Both men act as narrators but are easily identifiable with their signature sounds.
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4. The Hound Of The Baskervilles (1959)
Image Source: Horror Cult Films
Peter Cushing’s Sherlock became the blueprint for successive performances of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s best-loved character. It’s frequently called the best Sherlock Holmes film ever made. Lee plays an equally unforgettable Sir Henry Baskerville. It’s worth watching just to see everyone struggling in the mud, but the atmosphere is decidedly eerie even if the hellhounds are just dogs in masks.
3. The Mummy (1959)
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If you love The Mummy (1999), then this film should be familiar, as the Brendan Fraser movie is basically a love letter to this Hammer classic. Christopher Lee’s performance is truly spectacular, despite the fact, that his face isn’t visible for most of the movie. He uses his immense physical presence to terrify the viewer. Cushing is John Banning, the only person not to have entered the cursed tomb, and is therefore tasked to track down the Mummy.
2. The Curse Of Frankenstein (1957)
Image Source: The Unofficial Hammer Films Site
Not only was this Hammer House of Horror’s first color offering, but the first time that Cushing and Lee teamed up under their name. There’s plenty of blood, gore, and early special effects to entertain, and Hammer made full use of Technicolor. Peter Cushing starred as Victor Frankenstein and Christopher Lee played the tormented monster. There are definite shades of Tarkin in Cushing’s performance. In the scene where Frankenstein throws the Professor down the stairs, viewers witness the birth of the Tarkin glare.
1. The Horror Of Dracula (1958)
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Christopher Lee reportedly hated his vampire movies but his name became synonymous with them. Star Wars: Attack of The Clones and Star Wars: Revenge of The Sith leaned into it, and there are Dracula references aplenty. But Lee’s performance in this film is stunning. He is menacing and enticing, a worthy heir to Bela Lugosi. Lee wore scary bloodshot contact lenses and fangs that squirt blood to increase the scare factor. Seriously, there’s a lot of the red stuff in this film, so avoid it if you are squeamish. Cushing plays Lee’s arch nemesis Dr. Van Helsing, and by this point, in their careers, the two have developed an incredible rapport. The final standoff is something to behold, even if it’s just to enjoy how a 1950s special effects department manages to dissolve a vampire in sunlight.
So if you’ve ever wondered how Cushing gave Tarkin enough gumption to stand up to the most powerful force user in the galaxy, and enough brutality to blow up a peaceful planet, then look no further than Hammer. Lucasfilm wasn’t exactly subtle that they had hired Dracula either, the scriptwriters even named his character ‘Count’ Dooku and he was dressed like a vampire for both movies. The roots of both these characters come from these films, and sixty years on they are still a great watch!
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