AS PART OF THIS YEAR'S OLD SCHOOL APRIL, I AM FOLDING IN THIS SUBSIDIARY BUT RELATED CHALLENGE.
As we all know, OSA is a nostalgic readathon/watchathon/activityathon and I'm participating for my third year in a row {GO SCOOBIES!!!!}. As part of that, I thought nothing could be more fitting than to do a complete rewatch of every Hammer Frankenstein & Dracula film. These movies have been cherished since I was a kid and first read about them in Alan Frank's wonderful book MONSTERS AND VAMPIRES. I've told this story before but, in a bat's coffin, here's a Cliff's Notes version.
In 1978, my grandparents moved about a couple blocks away and I would spend weekends with them (as I did when they lived in Pennsauken). Across Route 73, there was a TWO GUYS department store and my grandfather & I would walk across the highway (back in the days when that was actually possible without immediate squashing death under the wheels of a car). Well, I found a hardcover (I'm sure remaindered) of Alan Frank's stupendous MONSTERS AND VAMPIRES book and my Pop Pop bought it for me. All that weekend, I read and re-read that book from cover to cover. At this point, though I was already a long-time established monster kid, I had never ever seen a Hammer Horror film. I know, right?!?!?! But this book gave a running synopsis of every Hammer Frankenstein and Dracula film. I was in monster heaven! And I was desperate to see these films. Several years later, in the early 80's I would finally catch them on TV or at the burgeoning VHS rental store (EROL'S, dontchaknow). So these Hammer Horrors were a cherished part of my early teens before I ever saw them thanks to Alan Frank's incredible book. And OH those photographs; many in full colour!!!
Therefore, I couldn't think of a more appropriate rewatch project for Old School April and, come hell or high blood, I plan to rewatch every one of them in order. Yes, that includes the Hammer/Shaw Brothers co-production LEGEND OF THE 7 GOLDEN VAMPIRES. And I just might throw in the documentary IN SEARCH OF DRACULA starring Christopher Lee as a bonus. This also is a strong nostalgic memory from my teens which I've told before. Basically, I was sick at home in the early 80's and (I think) USA Network played first HOUSE OF DARK SHADOWS followed by IN SEARCH OF DRACULA. I grabbed my Kino Video tape of the 1922 NOSFERATU (which for some reason has TONS of tape left after the movie was over) and I was able (on the slow speed) to record both movies on it. My father was asleep (because he worked night work) and my mother was at work, so I was in the house alone and what a spectacular double feature this was!!! I had never seen either film before, so this was a treat (with no tricks). I still have that store-bought NOSFERATU Kino VHS because it has tremendous sentimental value to me. Come to think of it . . . another good rewatch for OSA would be exactly that: HOUSE OF DARK SHADOWS and IN SEARCH OF DRACULA double feature. After all, they're both 1970's movies! HEY CHEEKS!!!! WHADDAYA THINK?!?!?!
So there you have it. I'll be rewatching all the Hammer Frankies and Drackies:
- THE CURSE OF FRANKENSTEIN
- THE REVENGE OF FRANKENSTEIN
- THE EVIL OF FRANKENSTEIN
- FRANKENSTEIN CREATED WOMAN
- FRANKENSTEIN MUST BE DESTROYED
- HORROR OF FRANKENSTEIN
- FRANKENSTEIN AND THE MONSTER FROM HELL
- HORROR OF DRACULA
- THE BRIDES OF DRACULA
- DRACULA PRINCE OF DARKNESS
- DRACULA HAS RISEN FROM THE GRAVE
- TASTE THE BLOOD OF DRACULA
- SCARS OF DRACULA
- DRACULA A.D. 1972
- THE SATANIC RITES OF DRACULA
- THE LEGEND OF THE 7 GOLDEN VAMPIRES
