The Sci-fi of Hammer Films - A Retrospective
HTML-код
- Опубликовано: 8 июл 2024
- In this mini-documentary, Mr. Sterling takes a look at some of the sci-fi films released by the great Hammer Studios.
Want to look like an even bigger weirdo? Check out the Atomic Snack Bar Shirt Shop - www.teepublic.com/user/atomic...
Follow the Snack Bar on Twitter & Instagram -
/ thersterling
/ thersterling
#sciencefiction #hammerfilms 
Кино
Checklist for making postwar British sci-fi film or television:
1. Quarry
2. Oil refinery
3. Country pub
4. Embarrassing motorcycle helmets
5. At least one actor from an Ealing comedy or Carry On movie
6. Val Guest, Terence Fisher or Roy Ward Baker directing.
Well, I'll be. Who knew it only took 6 simple ingredients for success. Though number 6 alone is enough to sell me on any film.
Thanks for stopping by the Snack Bar.
Yep, that about sums it up. I love em' just the same!
They're also always seems to be this eerie silence silenc during the film
Heh. Spot on! 😹
ha! Doctor Who, The Avengers (Emma Peel, John Steed), Blake's Seven!!!
"Quatermass and the Pit" is one of the greatest Sci-Fi films ever made. It is just so good.
I look forward to covering it in depth in the next part of this video series. I think that will be a nice way to end the episode. Works out too release date wise.
Thanks for stopping by the Snack Bar.
Q and the Pit remains one of my favourite Shelley. good acting and the beauty of
Barbara Shelley.
X the Unknown, and all the Quatermass films have always been among my very favorite movies.
That makes you a gentleman of fine taste in my book, Rick.
Including a NON-musical Anthony Newley. "What Kind of Doomed to be Killed by X am I?"
X-The Unknown was a childhood favorite and I still love watching it on DVD. A lot of those British '50s films are so memorable and fun to watch. The Gamma People was another favorite. Thanks for the video.
I agree fully. The British just don't get the credit they deserve for their high quality sci-fi output from the 50s and 60s. I haven't seen the Gamma People, I'll have to look into it, but The Earth Dies Screaming is another really good one.
Thanks for stopping by, Martin.
I wish they would put out a BD of Gamma People. All I have is a bootleg DVD.
@@creech54 It's surprising, the great classic films that don't have a decent modern releases. I just picked up the fancy Robot Monster bluray. Hard to believe it took this long to get one, as infamous as the film is.
@@AtomicSnackBar As far as '50s sci-fi goes, there aren't too many left that haven't had, at least, a good DVD release. A few others I wish there were non-bootleg releases of are Space Master X-7, Riders to the Stars, The Lost Missile, Red Planet Mars and those 6 AIP movies that Suzy Hart has a strangle hold on.
@@creech54 I actually covered Space Master X-7 here on the channel. That's a great one. I'd like a good version of Killers from Space. I hear there's a decent release, it's just a matter of getting the right one. Seems the listings are combined on Amazon. Though I haven't checked in a few months.
The Spacesuits from Moon Zero Two can be seen in the TV shows 'Here Come The Double Deckers' (1970) episode 'Invaders From Space', Space: 1999 (1975) episode 'The Mission of the Darians'., and Dr Who (1970) story 'The Ambassadors of Death' used just the helmets. UFO (1970) prominently reused the 'bob' metallic wigs for the female Moon base personnel.
Ok, very good. Nice to hear some actual confirmation on the prop usage. I looked about when doing the research for the episode but couldn't find anything that detailed.
Funnily enough, I have both the boxsets for Space 1999 and UFO, just haven't gotten to watching them yet.
Thanks for watching and for the info. I appreciate it.
I love to learn little details like this. Thanks for sharing!
@@Robutube1 I'm a sucker for prop trivia myself. Really dig it.
Clementine, the female lead, was played by Catherine Schell, who went on to play Maya in Space:1999
The X-The uknown radiation deaths remain totally disturbing and I first saw it when I was just a kid.
That's another great element and just adds to the creepiness and realism to the film. I can't even imagine having seen it as a lad.
Thanks for stopping by the Snack Bar.
That was awesome. I love, love Hammer. Especially "Quatermass and the Pit".
Subscribed
Thank you much, John. I appreciate that. And there is a very very good chance I will be covering Quatermass and the Pit as well. So stay tuned.
Wow! I saw the Lost Continent when it first came out, and I had forgotten about it completely. A truly original movie. Moon Zero 2 was just about the first real sci-fi movie I ever saw -- as opposed to the typical "monster movie" of the times. Thanks for bringing it all back.
That's really neat. I would have loved The Lost Continent as a lad. Those sea monsters were just too cool and I've always been a sucker for sea based monsters. But unfortunately, I didn't discover Hammer until college. My local TV stations and video stores just didn't seem to feature any.
Thanks for stopping by the Snack Bar.
Moon zero 2 😊
@@hollyibbotson5290 Oh, too bad it never got a sequel. That would have been the perfect title.
"Spaceways" (1953)
"Four Sided Triangle" (1953)
"X The Unknown" (1956)
"Quatermass II" (1957)
"The Lost Continent" (1968)
"Moon Zero Two" (1969)
If RUclips awarded Academy Awards, this video would be a top contender. The delivery, research, and content are off-the-charts good. Congratulations on a winner, Mr. Sterling.
And much like the Academy Awards, I would be thrown out for donut related hijinx. But I thank you, nonetheless.
You're most welcome. @@AtomicSnackBar
Quatermass II is the best film ever made. Paced so well, the suspense builds and builds as the threat unfolds at a steady and exponential rate. And the scene at Winnerden Flats where the meteorites are screaming down through the night sky is sublime.
And dare I say, one of those unique cases where a sequel manages to top the original. The creature effects alone are a sight to behold and really hold up well. I'm a big film noir fan. And something that makes those first two Quatermass films feel so special for me is Donlevy. His characterization of Quatermass makes it feel almost like a sci-fi noir.
Thanks for watching, HQ.
@hqironing2285 - Quartermass II is EASILY the Best of the series, including the original TV versions. I have them all, including the later British series from the 70s. No contest. This one is perfect. And Brian Donlevy is "da'Man!"
@@AtomicSnackBar "His characterization of Quatermass makes it feel almost like a sci-fi noir."
Professor Quatermass: 2-fisted Science Hero!
@@euansmith3699 Heck yeah. There's the tagline right there. Good one, Euan.
Back in the first half (or so) of the 20th century 'aliens' were more bizarre. There was more imagination. As sci-fi became more mainstream the imagination drained away. Quatermass II is just superb. I wish we had similar today.
Ah, The Lost Continent. That one always seemed like a fever dream, especially when I was a kid. It definitely tips the wacky meter with the rubber arachnids with unintentionally hilarious expressions, and the shoulder balloons which work to break up the human silhouette from a distance but look ridiculous close up. Thanks for this!
Most certainly. And wacky is a little something I know a bit about. The channel even used to be called "The Wacky World Lounge."
Thanks for watching, Stuart.
I am currently working my way thru the entire Hammer catalog. Started in the middle of the list and am working both ways. Some pretty good entertainment!!
That's certainly a worthy and impressive undertaking right there. Which film did you start with? And are you doing a full series of films together, like the Draculas?
I've been doing a little something kinda/sorta similar called The Great DVD Re-watch. I'm attempting to watch every DVD/Bluray I own in order of which they appear on my movie shelves. Mostly.
I saw _X the Unknown_ in a theater in the 1950's when I was 11. Scared the begeebers out of me.
I can imagine. And it just goes to show that the whole stereotype of 50s sci-fi being campy or silly is absolutely not the case.
Thanks for stopping by, Doc.
Another begeeberist when I said it at work people liked at me and asked what's a beegeeber? I told them if they didn't know don't mess with it.😱
Another fine entry from Mr. Sterling. A couple of these I have never seen, but I never realized any of them were Hammer films. I would never pass any sort of film history class, LOL!
Hammer's sci-fi really does fly under the radar, pun mostly intended, even the stuff that people like. I think Quatermass and the Pit is the only one that folks really associate with Hammer.
Thanks for watching, good sir. And for the black hole lesson last night.
Hammer did some very Erotic "Horror" Monochromes in the early....somethings, then switched to colour, and probably into XXX But early and mid vintage was a hoot... especially the Parodied versions. may be worth a look. Just finished a late night Binge on UFO...sadly ONLY one season, but it had it all, as far as I am concerned, apart from the math.. But, who gives a Flying F if the story and imagery is fun and you can get invested! Long Live TASB....Yaaaaaaaaaaaaaay!@@AtomicSnackBar
Hammer also produced fantasy/adventure movies like One Million Years B.C. (1966) and She (1965). She (with Peter Cushing and Ursula Andress) is a personal favorite.
I've heard good things about She. I've only seen the 1984 version, which is a favorite of mine. I have a good feeling though the two are nothing alike.
@eimvanderstrataeten6521 - If you've never seen the first sound version of the story 'She'(1935), it's a must-see. Ray Harryhausen did a colorization of it and it's beautiful. It was produced by Merrion C. Cooper who was responsible for the classic 1933 King Kong. Worth finding. Walt Disney even stole the design for the evil Queen in Snow White from that version. "SHE who must be obeyed!"
The version of SHE Staring Sandahl Bergman is Pretty Wacky.
@@queenglamazona8789 I covered that one here on the channel I like it so much. But it's really in my sweet spot. I'm a big kitchen sink movie fan.
I worked at Rank Organisation film labs, near Pinewood Studios, in the 1960’s. I worked in the “optical effects” department, and everyone loved it when there was a Hammer Film in production. Apart from sometimes being able to sneak into the “rushes” screenings early in the morning, some of the cast and crew used to come over to our cafeteria to eat if weather was bad or some other delay in film shooting. The “OpticalEffects” dept used to do “travelling matte” work, superimposing one moving scene over another moving scene, which at the time was very advanced technology.
Now that is really cool. I bet you have some great stories to tell. And I always have been a fan of matte work. Especially in black and white films. And I still think it looks great more often than not.
Did you ever get to chat with any of the Hammer folks? To have met Peter Cushing. What a thrill that would have been.
Thanks for watching, Howard.
Wow! Yours is a bio I'd love to read❤ thanks for the teaser. As you know, history not shared is lost ☄️
@@cantonhag I second that.
this reminded me of my youth watching Hammer films. Some years ago I got to stay at the hotel, which is the former Hammer studios
That's really cool. I wasn't aware they had turned it into a hotel. Did they keep any of the Hammer aspects to it?
Catherine Schell, who Starred in Moon Zero Two, Also joined the Cast of Space 1999 as the Shape-Changing Alien Maya.
I have that DVD boxet. Just haven't gotten around to watching it yet. I really need to move it up in the queue.
@@AtomicSnackBarWell, when you get to the final episode, 'The Dorcons', you're going to hear Maya utter a phrase that later became very well known - but she said it first. You'll know it when you hear it.
@@alanconway94 Most excellent then. I'm looking forward to it. I'm thinking about moving it on up to the front of the queue. It's also something I'd like to cover on the channel.
Thanks, Alan.
@@AtomicSnackBar You're welcome. It's a series with a lot of good things about it. Enjoy them. :-)
I saw The Lost Continent as an 8-year-old, it scared the bejeezus out of me.
I can totally see that. The sea monsters are quite creepy and effective. And something about monsters from the sea just adds an extra layer of scary.
Thanks for watching, Sean.
Fantastic look at Hammers Sci-Fi films, especially the Quatermass films. I really like X Unknown as well, it's such a spooky movie
I'm really partial blob-like creatures with no real form or a shifting form. There is just something so alien and spooky about it.
@TheAtomicSnackBar Yeah, there's something about a oozing formless creature that is so crerpy@
Although uncredited, the space effects in _Moon Zero Two_ are very clearly the work of Brian Johnson, who went on to do both _UFO_ and _Space:1999_
That makes a lot of sense. Especially with the prop re-usage. I own the boxset for Space 1999, but just haven't gotten to it yet. But the commenters on this video have really got me eager to watch it.
Thanks for stopping by, J.
When I was about 8 and off school there was an odd sci-fi film on TV, set on the moon. Astronauts were looking for a prospector and, there he is in the distance. They go up to him, turn him round and, wham, it's a skeleton in a space suit! That image stuck with me for decades until, a few years ago, it occurred to me that i could now look it up easily.
Moon Zero Two. Downloaded it and my recollection of that scene was frame perfect!
Ah, it's great when that happens. I've had so many cases just like that. Stuff I never thought I'd see again or simply couldn't remember the name of. Then comes the net and there it is. Wizards of the Lost Kingdom and Sorceress both come to mind.
Thanks for stopping by the Snack Bar.
Good piece, thank you. Dean Jagger won an Oscar for Twelve O'Clock High and was also a star in Irving Berlin's White Christmas. Interesting to see him working here. Fun films all.
Funnily enough, I haven't seen either of those. I mostly know him from X the Unknown and the Twilight Zone.
Thanks for watching, John.
This was a fantastic journey through the history of Sci-Fi Hammer. You cover a lot of the stuff that I have put in my Hammer backlog. The films that I’m trying to work in between the Hammer horror stuff.
Speaking of trying to work things in. After taking some much needed time off from movie collecting I have finally found a happy spot with my movie collecting. All of this to say videos like this one are very useful for helping remind me of the Hammer stuff I still need to add to my collection.
Oh, man. Do tell. I know it was something that was bugging you for a long while. What did you decide to do about it all? Details, good sir. We require them.
Very cool retrospective. I'm digging the new name. Atomic Snack Bar, looking forward to the future.
Thank you kindly, Murky. I'm pretty pleased with it. Same vibe, same nonsense, but most sci-filicious.
@The AtomicSnackbar - "sci-filicious"? Hm. Sounds dirty. Not that I'm accusing you of anything inappropriate. But I'm reporting you.
@@tonysantiago255 That's probably for the best. I'll report me too....just to be safe.
Thank you for the retrospective. It brought back many happy memories!
I got a big kick out of Sidney James' attempt at an American accent in Enemy from Space. I had seen him in the Carry On series. It was a must watch for my cousin and me in the early 60s. Most memorable line: "The food...iIt burns!"
Hammer horror and SF took a much grittier take than its Hollywood cousins. Much like Spaghetti Westerns did on the typical John Wayne film.
That's a really interesting, and apt, comparison. Hammer really was to horror and sci-fi what the Spaghetti Westerns were to classic westerns. I like that quite a bit.
Speaking of, it's too bad Hammer never did a Western. Or even better, a monster Western. I think they would have done a great job. The Legend of the 7 Golden Vampires is a ton of fun.
Thanks for stopping by the Snack Bar.
For me Dean Jagger is remembered for two productions. As the retired Army General in the Bing Crosby and Danny Kaye film, White Christmas. And as the commander in the television version of, Twelve O'Clock High.
Eric Porter is best known to me for being the lead in the television series, Rawhide, co-starring a new and upcoming actor, Clint Eastwood.
I haven't seen either of those, but I've heard good things about his performance in White Christmas. And someone was saying the other day that he played a real tough guy in Twelve O'Clock High.
Thanks for stopping by, Alan.
I love Hammer Films one of my favourites is Quatermass 2, that i have watched many times along with the Devil Rides Out and so many more. Can't beat a Hammer Film.
You really can't. I'm a big fan of the Universal monster movies. But Christopher Lee is both my favorite Dracula and Frankenstein's Monster. And there is no better Dr. Frankenstein than Peter Cushing.
I grew up watching all these movies
That's great. I unfortunately didn't discover Hammer until college. My local TV stations and video stores just didn't feature any of it. But one night I saw Horror of Dracula on cable and was just blown away.
that was awesome, thank you.
saw moon zero two when i was a tot and i can still sing the intro song.
Sometimes songs like that just really stick in the brain. The Freak Phone jingle from the early 90s was like that for me. I could sing that thing decades after hearing it.
Thanks for stopping by the Snack Bar.
Just found your channel today and it is awesome 👍 the movies I grew up with and loved, no preamble just right down to business with well researched and presented content. Thank you 👍👍
Very kind of you to say. I do appreciate it. Welcome to the Snack Bar. We're happy to have you.
Scrolling blankly through my RUclips homepage wondering why the algorithm hates me... then... "The Sci-fi of Hammer Films"! You love me really Algorithm, you love me really!
I feel that very same way so very often. But the algorithm certainly liked the channel this weekend. Welcome to the Snack Bar, George. Very nice to hear from you.
@delthorpe223 - okay Sally, calm down. 😉
I watched this... and immediately searched for and watched Moom Zero Two. Just now finished it. What a blast from the past. The purple wig style from Space 1999 (and the brown one) caught my eye. Thanks for a blast from the past for me. So "campy"!
Now to look for others, but first things first.
Thanks again!
That is great to hear. Turning people on to movies that they haven't seen is the most rewarding thing about doing the channel. Heck, it's why I do it. Really glad to hear you dug it. Do let me know what you think of the others when you get a chance.
Thanks, Scott.
Incredible video. It was exceptionally enjoyable and informative, and very well presented. It also reflects a copious amount of detailed research. Great job, Sir. Your channel is a winner.
I thought I should probably come out with a good one for the grand opening of the Snack Bar. Glad I was able to get it finished in time and without copyright issues.
Killer seaweed??? Luv it. Hammer had always been my favorite production company until Spielberg but Hammer is great!!!
Killer seaweed is definitely one of the more unique hurdles for a group of people to have to contend with. And Hammer is a favorite of mine as well. I'm not even a big horror person, but I just really dig their output.
Thanks for watching, Rian.
I watched Moon Zero Two only yesterday! It was on the MST3K stream on Twitch. I had no idea that was a Hammer production...
My own fondest memory of Hammer was their Hammer House of Horror series. I watched all of them as a kid, and a couple years ago I came across this collection on DVD in the bargain bin (I grabbed it)
I'm a big fan of classic anthology shows. And Hammer House of Horror was a great one. The opening is so simple, yet so effective and creepy. Much like Tales from the Darkside, it sets the mood perfectly. A darn fine purchase there.
Thanks for stopping by the Snack Bar.
_Quatermass and the Pit_ is and always will be my favourite Hammer sci-fi flick!
I watched the original serial not terribly long ago. Not as good as the film, but still worth a watch if you haven't seen it. Very close to the film.
@@AtomicSnackBar The BBC version stars Canadian actor Cec Linder as Dr. Roney. He also was in _Goldfinger_ playing a CIA agent. I must admit that it was a bit jarring hearing the North American accent coming out of Roney's mouth!
@@Driven2Beers Now that you mention it, it was a tad odd.
@@AtomicSnackBar As a Canadian from the Limestone City (Kingston, ON) I love to hear accents here in the summer months. Usually it's accents from various neighbour provinces and upstate New Yorkers. I've heard the accents from North Carolinians as well as French speaking Quebecois visitors. I've even heard people with strong Indian and Jamaican accents!
@@Driven2Beers I lived in L.A. for about 15 years. So I heard my fair share as well. And oddly, multiple people there who had never actually heard a real southern accent thought I was Australian.
Very cool. Hammer is not the first studio that comes to mind when you think of Sci-Fi.
It really isn't. And it's really too bad we didn't get more sci-fi output from them. Especially in the 60s.
Thanks for watching, August.
Another excellent retrospective, well done
I appreciate that. And a sequel episode is in the works for the very near ... sometime or other.
One of your funniest yet, it was a pleasure meeting you at Oshkosh
I thank you kindly. Not totally sure what Oshkosh is though.
Excellent video, thank you - entertaining and informative.
My absolute pleasure. Thanks so much for watching, Rocky.
This is great! I never connected the dots on this before. No idea these were Hammer.
You are not alone, good sir. With the exception of Quatermass and the Pitt, I rarely hear any of these associated with Hammer. Heck, I didn't even know about Spaceways until I started doing research for this episode many months ago.
Thanks for stopping by the Snack Bar, Greg.
Always liked the Hammer films,they have a good cast in them and always have a genuine "period atmospheric" tone to them💎
I agree fully. Even their films that took place in modern day just had that uniquely Hammer vibe to them.
4:29 Wow! The Leo McKern, looking as happy as ever.
He certainly had a...less than thrilled....resting face, that's for sure.
Thanks for stopping by the Snack Bar.
@ The AtomicSnackbar - He's brilliant in The Day the Earth Caught Fire and made a very enjoyable Friar Tuck. But this isn't a Robin Hood-centric channel so... nevermind.
Thanks for the retrospective Hammer's excellent non-gothics are so easily (and unfairly) overlooked in the fan space, I wish more people knew about them (including horror heads). A particular favorite of mine is The Abominable Snowman Of The Himalayas, an unusually thoughtful and high-quality treatment of the subject courtesy of Val Guest (dir), Peter Cushing and the oft criticized Brian Donlevy (who aquits himself quite well imo). I would suppose a cryptid discovery film would qualify as science fiction. I've always had a soft spot in my heart for The Lost Continent as well, very fun stuff.
I agree fully. When doing the research for this episode I was surprised just how under the radar several of these were. And from the response I've been getting on this video, even many of those that enjoyed these, didn't know they were Hammer. I feel like Quatermass and the Pit is the only one that really gets it due.
When I started work on this episode, I went in knowing I would probably do a sequel in the near to sort of near future. And I am happy to report that The Abominable Snowman will definitely be featured in that one.
Thanks for watching, Al.
I remember how "The Lost Continent" creeped me out as a little kid. I'd love to see it again, even though I doubt it would affect me as it did then. And "Moon Zero Two" looks like a right hoot!
I can certainly see that. Sea creatures can be really strange and creepy to begin with. But you go and make them giant and put them in dark, creepy atmospheres...it's a whole other level.
And Moon Zero Two is a really unique and great looking film. I'm a real sucker for that almost glamourous 60s style sci-fi.
Thanks for watching, Rich.
@@AtomicSnackBar Add in the strange quasi-religious operations of the “court” too!
I remember watching X the Unknown as a kid in the 80's,seen it a few times it was one of those something-other-than-Godziila films that I liked.
Growing up in the 80s, I really just had late night TV and the local video store. Neither of which had Hammer films. So I unfortunately didn't discover the greatness of Hammer until college. But, better late than never.
Thanks for stopping by, Marc.
Really great roundup of Hammer's sci-fi output. For anyone interested in hammer films there's a great podcast series called House of Hammer which is going through every film from the studio is order, starting in the 1930's!
Thank you much, Andy. And that sounds great. I'll check it out. Thanks for the suggestion.
@@AtomicSnackBar No problem, I hope you didn't mind me recommending another content provider on your channel! i'm looking forward to catching up on your other videos, great work!
@@andymoody8363 The Snack Bar is all about turning folks on to new stuff. Now, had it been another classic sci-fi/sword & sorcery/B-movie channel hosted by a drunken scoundrel, that may have been a problem.
Howard Duff also starred in "Felony Squad". Leslie Norman hated science fiction films and caused headaches for the Hammer studios. They never asked him to direct another film. "Quatermass and the Pit." Loved it, especially Barbara Shelly.
I didn't know that about Norman. But it makes sense and might explain why he was kinda kicked off of The Lost Continent. I was wondering about that.
Thanks for watching, Clarence.
I didn't twig until I saw Leslie Norman's name written down in your comment; he was the father of Barry Norman, the film critic and presenter of Film [fill in year] from 1972 to 1998 on the BBC. "And why not?"
@@euansmith3699 I didn't know that one either. Granted, that's not something I would have had access to probably, but neat nonetheless.
Hey wassup Rob, showing some love to Hammer - this was beyond awesome man. Well researched and jam packed with all the cool trivia we've come to expect. And of course you know I love those TZ references but the fact that you also included a nod to Alligator....perfect👌Also, wow! Great to see your work absolutely exploding! 💥Good stuff bro. 🤜🤛
It's funny, whenever I make a TZ reference in an episode, I always think of you and your channel now. Which I would say is easily the premier Twilight Zone channel on RUclips.
And I've been meaning to thank you for the tip of keeping clips under 10 seconds. Since I've started doing that, I haven't had nearly the trouble with claims. I thought for sure this episode would be filled with them.
Thanks, pal.
Loved Dean Jagger in White Christmas!😊
I've never seen that one. Is it a musical? And if so, does Jagger sing in it? That I'd like to see.
Thanks for stopping by, Cheryl.
Always have loved Hammer films. Thanks.
It was my pleasure. Thanks for watching.
Quatermas and the Pit gave me nightmares for about 20 years
It certainly leaves a lasting impression. On a similarish note, I feel that way about the old lady from House on Haunted Hill. Still to this day I'm creeped out by her entrance scene.
Brilliant stuff. Funnily enough the film that made Hammer the most money was, 'On the Buses' - film version of a TV comedy. Amicus saw Hammer making money from these films = especially the child friendly ones during the summer holidays and followed suit - making Dr Who and then the Doug McLure films. Hammers first success was with film versions of Dick Barton adapted from a radio show = Dick Barton Special Agent - most famous nowadays for its theme tune. Michael Carreras's son James was an alcoholic who sadly ended his own life = he was thrown off a few films and writer Jimmy Sangster stepped up to start directing. Some really nice facts on your vid - really interesting - you are a true professional and always bring a smile - lovely stuff.
We bring only the best trivia and random info here at the Snack Bar. Not only that, it also comes with lots of butter. Free of charge. The hot dog water though, will cost you extra.
But it looks like you came packing some trivia yourself. I wasn't familiar with the Dick Barton films. Looks like they did three in total with a fourth one that was in the works but was scraped after the untimely loss of the main star.
On a better note, thanks, good sir, for your continued patronage of the Snack Bar. All overpriced hot dog water aside.
When I think of Hammer films, I think of Hammer Horror films with Peter Cushing and Christopher Lee. It's interesting to see these Hammer sci-fi films. I'm familiar with Quatermass films, but some of these others are new to me.
Some were new to me as well until I started doing episode research. Spaceways I don't think I had ever heard of. Nor The Lost Continent. Which, if you check my community tab, there is an interesting tidbit that might strike your fancy.
As kids we watched these Friday nights on tv late 60's to early 70's. Annoyed my Dad as we were at my grandparents watching and Dad had work next day. Never got home til half past midnight.
@@flybobbie1449 Some of my fondest memories are of staying up and watching late night television. That's when all the good stuff was on it seemed.
@@AtomicSnackBar My earliest memory watching tv at grandparents, Friday evening was watching Elliot Ness and the untouchables, with Robert Stack.
Also On the Buses.
If you have the chance, the BBC version of Quatermass & The Pit is one of the creepiest, atmospheric tv shows EVER. It blows the movie away.
I picked it up on a blind buy from a second hand (thrift) shop last year and was hooked. It's very much a period piece, but by God it's good.
That's quite interesting. Thinking about it, I'm not sure I've heard anyone mention the series version of Quatermass and the Pit. Most folks think so highly of the film version, the series seems to get overshadowed. I will have to keep an eye or three out for it.
Thanks for the tip, Bob. And thanks for watching too.
@@AtomicSnackBarThe un-remastered version is knocking around on Daily motion or you can pick up the Blu-Ray (Region B) for a decent price.
@@monkeymanbob I was just looking into it and Amazon has the DVD version for only 7.99. So that's going on the shopping list. Thanks again, Bob.
@@AtomicSnackBar Make sure it's the tv series, they've an awful habit of marketing the movies (I see you Amazon Prime Video) as such.
@monkeymanbob -And here I thought that I was the only one who enjoyed the serial version of Quartermass and the Pit more than the movie. Although my favorite of the series of films and BBC originals is the Brian Donlevy/Val Guest Quartermass II. It is much more tight and suspenseful than the TV version. Plus BD don't take no guff from anybody. He's the Boss.
super nice vid. thanks
My pleasure, good Mr. Anthony. Thanks for stopping by the grand opening of the Snack Bar.
Just love old school sci fi .
As do I. And even with a whole channel dedicated to it, it bears repeating.
Thanks for stopping by, Toshio.
Moon Zero Two is quite good, with far more verisimilitude than a lot of space scifi around that time. The gear and vehicles looked functional and they even addressed the Earth-like gravity on the Moon. The space scenes are also well done, featuring many full-scale live effects with a star-less backdrop just like we see with brightly lit foreground objects. That's something they get wrong to this day most of the time.
I don;t think the opening and end credit sequences did it any favors.
I have always thought that about the opening credits as well. It definitely sets a different mood than the film itself, making it feel like it's going to be a comedy or something a bit more absurd, rather than the stylish and unique sci-fi film it actually is. Such great aesthetics to the film. But I'm a sucker for the non-gritty portrayals of sci-fi.
Thanks for watching, B.L.
Great list. I grew up watching a lot of Hammer films in the 50s/60s/70s. I still remember 4 Sided Triangle. X The Unknown was a good attempt at being a Quatermass film. Too bad they did not make a sequel. And later have Quatermass and Royston team up in a film.
A Royston/Quatermass team-up would have been great. Though if it was the Donlevy Quatermass, poor Royston would have been pushed aside even more.
10 Wow's out of 10 Rob. The Atomic Snack bar is !****ALIVE**** and delivering.
I appreciate that, Tater. I thought it would probably be a good idea to come out swinging with the first episode after the rebrand. It's all downhill from here on out though. I kid. Mostly.
You is---- The Channel. I am one in a billion + riding this planet, and you have my attention. Downhill, really? Everything downhill with "Sci-Fi" is "Uphill" fact. So that's where we need to be eh! Live long and prosper Nanu Nanu ...@@AtomicSnackBar
@@TheCommonGardenTater1 Right back atcha, my tatery friend.
We is Old Tarts having fun.... That's great. Live Long and Prosper my friend.@@AtomicSnackBar
Catherine Schell (credited on MOON ZERO TWO as Catherine Von Schell) later went on to appear on Space 1999 as Maya, and in the Doctor Who episode "City of Death" which starred Julian Glover (Quatermass and The Pit).
She also had a Role in the James Bond film On Her Majesty's Secret Service.
That's a neat little connection there. 6 Degrees of Quatermass. Now that's a game to be played.
Thanks for stopping by, Andrew.
She was Stunningly Beautiful. I remember she was also in The Return of the Pink Panther.
The Quatermass Xperiment is one of my favorite sci-fi movies of the 50’s and among one of the best of all time!
Right there with you and fully agreed.
Thanks for stopping by the Snack Bar.
As a Brit I sadly must admit that Moon Zero Two suffered from being much too British. A moon base inhabited mostly by British C-grade actors in 2021. Nahhh. They made the lead a yank but not enough to save it.
I guess it's just a matter of perspective. Being an outsider, I find that very much adds to the charm of it.
@@AtomicSnackBarI agree. I live in the UK and MZ2 is a favourite of mine if maybe something of a guilty pleasure. I feel the old British actors like Sam Kydd and Michael Ripper give the film a charm a more gritty treatment simply wouldn't have had.
@@MarkMcCluney I agree with your agreeing. By and large, I prefer shiny and colorful sci-fi over gritty and dark. There's exceptions of course. But give me Barbarella over Alien any day of the week.
Thanks for stopping by, Mark.
I actually like Moon Zero Two, it had a dry distinct feel to it.
Moon Zero Two has a pretty great premise and a good script, but cheap looking sets and extreme British groovy-ness (a trend that may have already peaked with The Italian Job). If it had been released just 5 years earlier, with commensurate aesthetic changes, it might have done much better. (Or, just imagine if Douglas Trumbull had made Moon Zero Two instead of Silent Running…)
As much as I enjoy the Gothic horrors of Hammer for which it is so renowned and used to watch a lot on TV as a kid, I always greatly preferred their sci-fi and fantasy films, namely the Quatermass Trilogy, X - The Unknown, The Abominable Snowman, These Are The Damned, She, and When Dinosaurs Ruled the Earth (my personal childhood favorite and top pick of the Cave Girl films that started with One Million Years B.C.).
All fine choices and darn good films. I have a sequel episode to this in the works and several of those are earmarked for the list. As much as I love Hammer Horror, which is saying a lot because I'm not a horror person, they don't get nearly enough credit for sci-fi and fantasy.
Thanks for watching, Jeffrey. Always nice to meet another who prefers sci-fi to horror.
I loved the Lost Continent, a sea adventure, sci fi, creepy another world fun romp, it had it all, stumbled on it on late late TV one night still will watch it at the drop of a hat
It's one of those films I wish I had seen as a lad. I would have just loved the creatures. Heck, I still do. But back then, ohhhh man.
@@AtomicSnackBar and to think the guy being thrown down the hold and eaten by the monster with the flappy teeth, reminds you of the Star Wars Jabba the Hut sand monster and the Dune worm yum yum, I need to find a copy of that monumental movie
@@thomasdearment3214 Scream Factory put it out on bluray. So it should be pretty good quality.
Another fantastic video. I didn't realize some of these were Hammers and well... Quatermass 2 going into the top of the watch list now. Haven't seen that one yet.
I generally try not to show the creature when talking about films like Quatermass 2. Like to keep it a surprise. But that one was just too cool not show a glimpse of.
QM2, one of my favourite movies ! Hemel Hempstead has a starring role ! Could this be the first movie sequel to have the-same-name-as-the-first-one but with the number '2' in the title ?🤔@@AtomicSnackBar
@@user-xs1yx9tc9m That is an excellent question. I really don't know. Actually, I'm going run right now and look. Give me a moment.
Sure enough, according to TV tropes, that was indeed the very first use of a numeral in a film sequel.
Dean Jagger won an Oscar for TWELVE O'CLOCK HIGH. And is probably best known for his role in WHITE CHRISTMAS.
He was also in the Bruce Lee Movie Game of Death.
When doing these lists I try to keep the related movie mentions within genre pictures. Sci-fi, fantasy, or film noir if possible. But those are some great factoids. Twelve O-Clock High was a war film, right?
Thanks for stopping by the Snack Bar. Nice to hear from you.
@@darkwolf-22 Oh man, I haven't seen Game of Death since I was an early teen. But I've seen the Kareem many times thanks for the great early 90s clip show/documentary The Deadliest Art.
Great Content !!
Many thanks, Mr. Clingman.
Great video! Love those old Hammer movies, especially the horror ones. Can definitely see how props from Moon Zero Two were used in UFO and Space 1999... Dying to watch Quatermass and The Pit, which I haven't seen for over 30 years, but having a hard time finding it. The previous two Quatermass films I saw on RUclips, but they aren't nearly as good as The Pit. Anyway, good job!
You know, I own both the boxsets for UFO and Space 1999, but have yet to get around to watching them. So many DVDs, so little time. But another viewer pointed out that the wigs for Moon Zero Two were re-used in UFO. Which makes a lot of sense. From what I've seen of UFO, they did like their wigs.
I did see that Quatermass and the Pit got a bluray release that is fairly affordable. There is also a really budget looking DVD. But as far as I know, that's the only way to watch it presently.
Thanks for watching and for the kind words, Luiz. Really nice to hear from you.
It was also released under the title "Five Million Years to Earth". That might help with your search.
@@carlkermode899 That's true. They did love renaming the Quatermass films. Though it did kind of work. All three are neat titles.
@@AtomicSnackBar I know just what you mean about not watching the boxed DVDs...got a bunch of them myself. And now that the medium is going the way of the Dodo(or the VHS, the CDs, etc) and my player's picking up dust, who knows If I'll ever get to do that. Thanks for the tips about The Pit; guess that's the only way to see It now. Yeah, they loved their wigs in UFO. The 70's, you know...weird and (sort of) wonderful times.
@@carlkermode899 North American Title! And one of my all time favourite movies!
Sorry, I'm not allowed to use hammers after the last incident. Also I never got my gofer guts!
That's probably for the best. On both accounts.
That's right and don't forget we're watching you!😜😜
Moon Zero 2 sort of shares DNA with UFO.
I can definitely see that. Great aesthetics on both of them as well. And from what I hear, some shared wigs too.
Thanks for stopping by the Snack Bar.
Nice selection of movies, but I'm surprised you didn't mention "The Abomnable Snowman", "These are the Damned" or especially "Village of the Damned."
I'll tell you, it was tough to narrow them down. There Are the Damned was certainly one that nearly made the list. So I went in with a Part 2 in mind and just kinda picked a cross section.
Thanks for stopping by the Snack Bar.
Thanks for this nice 'time travel'.
My pleasure. Thanks for coming along.
Abominable Snowman of the Himalayas is one of my favorites.
I plan to cover that one in the near to near distant future on a sequel episode.
Thanks for watching, Anastasia.
Moon zero two is one of my all time favorites. I love the retro Austin powers for real design style. 😂
"Austin powers for real design style" is a fantastic way to put it. Kudos.
when reality was even more ridiculous than anything that Austin Powers tried to make fun of. And let´s not even mention the intro for the UFO series around the same time. :)@@AtomicSnackBar
Love me some UK sci-fi and the Hammer ones are some of the best! There are some non-Hammer films of that era worth checking out, like The Day the Earth Caught Fire, The Day of the Triffids, The Earth Dies Screaming, Devil Girl from Mars, The Unearthly and many others.
All fantastic choices there. I've even covered Day of the Triffids, The Earth Dies Screaming, and Devil Girl from Mars here on the channel. And funnily enough, I have The Day the Earth Caught Fire and The Unearthly both earmarked for potential review.
Thanks for stopping by the Snack Bar.
@@AtomicSnackBar Your channel just popped up on my feed, so I checked out this post and subscribed. I'm a big fan of '50s and '60s sci-fi, US and UK.
@The AtomicSnackbar - Both The Day the Earth Caught Fire and the Unearthly are excellent examples of British Sci-fi at it's most proficiently produced. Boffo! The Unearthly is harder to find and has a similar tone to Village of the Damned, another great 60s sci-fi/horror gem.
@@creech54 Most excellent. I've covered 50s and 60s stuff for awhile now, but I actually just started focusing almost exclusively on classic sci-fi, sword & sorcery, and 60s & 70s westerns. So expect a whole bunch more 50s and 60s sci-fi in the very near future.
@@tonysantiago255 Funnily enough, both of those are on the list due to recommendations from a certain Mr. Santiago of parts unknown.
Thanks for the rundown of these movies. I've seen most of them, including "Moon Zero Two" when it first came out. Other movies, like "Outland" have use the space western plot.
Oddly enough, I heard about Outland for the first time just the other day. Which is odd, because I am pretty well versed in 80s sci-fi. And I even did a full episode on Weird West films. But sometimes a film can just slip by you. I'm going to have to track it down.
Thanks for watching, Robert.
@@AtomicSnackBar it died at the box office.
@@rsacchi100 That could very well be it. Growing up, my hometown only had three movie theaters. All of which were ma and pop places. So we got the most random movies. Stuff they could afford I suppose.
Not sure how it slipped past me on cable though.
Oddly enough one of my favorite British Sci-Fi horror films is 'Island of Terror' which while not a Hammer Film starred Peter Cushing and was directed by Terrence Fisher. I have a lot of Hammer Films in my dvd collection; Lost Continent really is an odd little film.
Oh, I haven't seen Island of Terror, but you had me sold just with Peter Cushing and Terence fisher. I will have to keep an eye out for that one. Thanks for the tip.
And The Lost Continent is indeed odd. But I am a sucker for what I call "kitchen sink" films. So it really falls into my sweet spot.
I can remember being completely freaked out by The Lost Continent.
You are definitely not alone. I've been getting quite a few comments from folks that felt the very same way. And I get it. The sea monsters are quite unsettling even still.
Thanks for stopping by, Richard.
Regarding your comment about The Lost Continent receiving an X rating . . . that was the British rating, and was standard for any film released in the UK that wasn't intended for children.
In point of fact, most Hammer horror films received that rating which is visible on any of the British posters or news ads. It has nothing to do with the American MPAA X rating which didn't even exist at the time The Lost Continent was released, as that ratings system didn't come into being until November of 1968.
The Lost Continent was released several months earlier in June of that year and, thus, had no rating at all in the US . . .
I was indeed aware that the X Certificate was different than the U.S. X rating. Restricting those under the age of 16 rather than those under 18. It was kind of a follow up to when I spoke about The Quatermass Xperiment receiving one in its standalone video. I was just a bit surprised The Lost Continent would receive one as well. But if it was just slapped on anything not meant for kids, that makes a whole lot more sense.
Your vid just happened to come up on my feed - and I like it, thanks. To my mind, the Quatermass series are some of the best sci-fi Britain has ever produced, and it's nice to find somebody else who appreciates them, and has clearly taken the time to study Hammer's output. OK, my favourite Hammer film is Dracula AD 1972, but that probably just dates me. Cheers from the UK.
Being that I consider anything after the year 2000 to be modern, and most often too modern, I think you are in good company here at the Snack Bar.
And I liked Dracula AD as well. Caroline Munro? Yes. Yes indeed. Christopher Lee also happens to be my favorite Dracula.
Thanks for stopping by the Snack Bar. Nice to hear from you.
@@AtomicSnackBar I'll certainly be checking out your other offerings after this.
NB - speaking of snacks and the great Christopher Lee puts me in mind of an anecdote he told once. Filming in Spain, he stopped by a small café for lunch, and before his order they served him a small entrée consisting of a clove of garlic, a cup of blood, and a small crucifix. Ever the chap, he ate the garlic, drank the blood, and kept the crucifix as a souvenir.
@@unclenogbad1509 Oh, what a trooper. I don't care for garlic.
And if I may be so bold, I would like to recommend my Top Sci-fi Gorillas episode and Top Sci-fi Plant Creatures episode. Both are fun.
@@AtomicSnackBar Plant creatures? I'm there.
@@unclenogbad1509 Then here is your formal invitation.
ruclips.net/video/Sxi-wmxjUPA/видео.htmlsi=2VRnf6C-KeG_igyx
Im surprised how many of these movies ended up on Mystery Science Theater 3000. Didn't realize they were by Hammer.
I like MST3K, but I do often disagree with their definition of "cheesy". But I guess it's helped keep many of the films around.
Thanks for watching, Jim.
Some of these movies with the British Army is used as the template for the 3rd Doctor Who series UNIT organization😎
I'm not very well versed in Dr. Who, other than the two Peter Cushing films. But I'm starting to see a bit of crossover. Another viewer pointed out that Quatermass even got mentioned on an episode of Dr. Who. Pretty spiffy.
Thanks for stopping by the Snack Bar.
What a video! I love Hammer but these sci-fi releases don’t get a lot of coverage. Quatermass II is a great sequel. I really need to check out The Lost Continent.
I don't know. The Lost Continent may be a bit too high on the wacky scale for young master HorrorHands. Some darn fine sea monsters though. Monster crustations are always a good thing. Except when you're really hungry.
I like this type of film, but 'The Lost Continent' is 'found' only twenty minutes from the end !@@AtomicSnackBar
My parents were great, they were huge fans of Hammer and horror in general so I grew up enjoying all that glorious schlocky goodness. I’ll admit though, I haven’t seen most of their Sci-Fi movies so I’m playing catchup. Great video my friend, really enjoyable
Their sci-fi stuff really is underappreciated. People just don't seem to talk about it, so it's quite easy to miss it entirely. I didn't know Spaceways before doing research for this video some months ago.
Thanks as always for watching, goooood sir.
@@AtomicSnackBar I’m gonna binge a few movies tonight I think mate, can’t believe I’ve skipped them all these years. Excellent video as always my good man
@@haitch2676 Thank you kindly. Of the lot, I would go with Quatermass II first. That is, if you've seen the first one.
@@AtomicSnackBar think I saw ….and the pit, that’s the one with giant alien bugs isn’t it?
@@haitch2676 I actually haven't seen .....and the Pit. I have a copy, but I'm waiting a bit. Don't want to spend the film comparing the lead to Donlevy...like I did with X the Unknown.
I'll have to look these up to see if I'm able to watch them.
A few of them(Moon Zero Two, Quatermass II, and Spaceways) are right here on RUclips.
Thanks for watching, William.
Good job!
Thank you much. I appreciate that.
Very fond memories of X The Unknown, scared the willies out of me when I was a nipper.
I can see that for sure. There is something just extra scary and unnerving about blob-like monsters and things without an actual form.
Thanks for watching, Dave. Always a pleasure.
Thank you for this list. I never thought of Hammer as sci-fi at all although their horror is my favorite.
You aren't alone. I didn't know about their sci-fi output for years.
Thanks for stopping by the Snack Bar.
Of course Quatermass 2 is the first film sequel to have a two in the title
I just learned that tonight actually. That would have been a great tidbit of trivia for the video. And darn if my time machine isn't on the fritz again.
Thanks for stopping by, David.
You sneaky little booger, you.7PM upload? Okay, next week I'll be behind the 8 ball. Good choice to kick off the New rebranding Hammer is a wealth quality films. Just FYI, I have the 4 Sided Triangle. Soft on the Sci-fi except for the Matter Duplicating invention. A romantic triangle story. Good drama, but sad in tone. Did you mention that the X in Xperiment was a dig at the British Board of Censors because back then they would stamp movies that they thought contained material which crossed their moral code, with an X certificate. Ha! I just watched the Richard Donner cut of Superman 2 the other night. Now I know where they rented the Apollo vehicles from. Those films were shot at Pinewood. Great stuff Sterling. Now lets see if this comment sticks.
I am indeed quite the sneaky, though I do think I've been putting up the videos at 7 for the last few. Can't say for sure though. I'm so sneaky I trick myself. Just ask my donut addiction.
As to putting the X in Xperiment, I think I mentioned that in the standalone Quatermass review from a few months back. But, again, can't say for sure. Some stuff I just read in my crystal ball.
And so far so good. Seems you got the comment to stick the first time. I told you that Delambre brand flypaper would help.
@The AtomicSnackbar - Yeah, that Dollar Tree fly-paper doesn't really do the job. And it's made in America. I just watched White Christmas which featured none other than... Dean Jagger! I have mixed feelings about how the success of Hammer's horrors sidetracked their Sci-fi output. I don't have quite the same affection for Quartermass and the Pit because it's disconnected from the first two. It probably made Nigel Kneale happy though, to see Quartermass portrayed as a tight butt cheeked elderly British professor. Not that I have any bias. God bless America and God bless Brian Donlevy. So...next week at 7PM. Got it. In the words of Roger Daughltrey: "I won't get fooled again!"
@@tonysantiago255 After seeing Jagger in the Twilight Zone episode, he played a good curmudgeon as well. It's too bad he didn't bring a little of that to X the Unknown. I would have liked to see him talk back a bit more.
And I have to to watch "....And the Pit". I think I need to give it a little time or, much like with X the Unknown, I'll be thinking about how Donlevy would have handled it.
@TheAtomicSnackbar - As I've stated more than once: "Brian Donlevy was da' Man!" Non sequitur: you need to see him in his Academy Award winning performance in 1937's Beau Geste. He was beyond tough. He was an absolute bastiche. Brilliant.
@@tonysantiago255 I shall keep an eye or three out for that one. My first exposure, I'm sure I mentioned, was The Glass Key. Where he is also a bad guy.
Quatermass and the Pit is the best film Hammer ever produced
Wow. That is a tough one. But there is definitely that case to be made.
Worth mentioning for this list would be:
The Damned - hints of state issued experiments on children
couple of episodes from "House of Horror" TV series - most notable the episode about mind conditioning, can't remember the name
Absolutely. I have a sequel episode in the works, and The Damned/These Are the Damned is earmarked for that one. Not sure when I'll get to it, but the notes have begun.
I had not, though, considered the TV show for consideration. That's good thinking. Thanks, Cornelius.
@@AtomicSnackBar To share is why we are here. I grab my bluray and check for episode names this week.
Moon Zero Two is a Personal Favorite of Mine, A Sort of Proto-Space 1999.
I absolutely love the aesthetics of it. Bright, shiny, over the top sci-fi is always my favorite. The 60s stuff in particular, though I do really like films like Starcrash and Battle Beyond the Stars too. The whole gritty Alien look just isn't really my cup.
His partner was played by Dennis Cole. It played for a couple of seasons back in the mid- sixties
I wasn't familiar with Cole. But looking him up, wow, he did a ton of TV in the 70s.
And boom! Subscribed.
I was lucky enough to pick up.a hardback compendium of Hammer Films comic strip adaptions that used to appear in Quality Comic's Hammer House of Horror magazine here in the UK. They're beautifully illustrated. And Moon Zero Two is among them.
Most excellent. I appreciate that. Welcome to the Snack Bar.
And that is very neat about the Moon Zero Two comic stip. I'm a big comic person as well. Classic comics is something I would love to dig into here on the channel. Any idea who did the art for the strip?
I think it was Paul Neary, but Dez Skinn (the editor/creator and something of a British Stan Lee) also employed a lot of excellent Italian artists, who did some spectacularly detailed work on Hammer strips.@@AtomicSnackBar
@@boblowes Paul Neary had a great style. I was looking at some of his black and white work and was impressed. I'm really partial to black and white comics even still.
And some great genre artists out of Italy. I'm a big fan of Emanuele Taglietti. If you aren't familiar, he is great, but very not work safe.
Nice! Thanks.
Thanks, Warren. I appreciate that. I certainly tried.
Not sure if you already did an overview on Quatermass and the Pit because I'm wondering why you passed over that one - it's probably one of the best Hammer Science Fiction films ever produced....
I would also say that Quatermass and the Pit is easily the most famous of their sci-fi films as well. And it certainly would have had a well deserved spot on the list. But the reason I didn't include it this time was because I covered the first film in full already in a standalone review. So I just wanted to go in order. But I went into this episode with a Part 2 already in mind. So if that happens, it will most definitely be on the list.
Thanks for stopping by the Snack Bar.
Agreed
@@jimpearson1143 I can confirm that I have officially begun my notes for the next episode. No idea when it will come out, but I have the films picked out to discuss.