Hammer Complete: The Films, the Personnel, the Company

by Howard Maxford

Overview

Think you know everything there is to know about Hammer Films, the fabled "Studio that Dripped Blood?" The lowdown on all the imperishable classics of horror, like The Curse of Frankenstein, Horror of Dracula and The Devil Rides Out? What about the company's less blood-curdling back catalog? What about the musicals, comedies and travelogues, the fantasies and historical epics—not to mention the pirate adventures? This lavishly illustrated encyclopedia covers every Hammer film and television production in thorough detail, including budgets, shooting schedules, publicity and more, along with all the actors, supporting players, writers, directors, producers, composers and technicians. Packed with quotes, behind-the-scenes anecdotes, credit lists and production specifics, this all-inclusive reference work is the last word on this cherished cinematic institution.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781476693446
Publisher:	McFarland & Company, Incorporated Publishers
Publication date:	05/04/2023
Pages:	992
Product dimensions:	8.50(w) x 11.00(h) x 1.98(d)
Age Range:	18 Years

About the Author

Howard Maxford is a freelance entertainment journalist who has contributed reviews, interviews, features and retrospectives to a variety of UK magazines, including Film Review, Starburst, Shivers, Replay, Tower Records’ Top, London After Dark, Video Now and HMV Choice. He lives in South London.

Table of Contents

Table of Contents

My Life with Hammer—
A Rather Rambling Introduction
The Encyclopedia
Appendix
Notes
Bibliography
Index

Editorial Reviews

This tome contains everything anyone would want to know about the British company...[Maxford’s] love for his subject is palpable. Numerous black-and-white photographs provide a sense of the period and people involved...a hefty read. The ultimate resource for die-hard fans of Hammer Film Productions.”—Library Journal; “This superb encyclopedia is likely the definitive work on Britain’s most celebrated genre film producer...this book covers the entirety of the studio’s filmography, not neglecting its forays into crime films and comedies. Although Maxford is obviously a big fan, he doesn’t pull any punches about Hammer’s missteps and Hammer Complete functions as a guide to film quality as well as a purely factual work...tons of illustrations, including rare foreign-market posters. A major achievement”—Booklist; “a towering achievement...Maxford provides much info that appears to be original, exclusive and fresh...belongs in every horror aficionado’s library”—Horror News; “highly recommended”—ARBA; “Ultimate A to Z of everything Hammer...excellent Hammer Historical Tome”—Little Shoppe of Horrors; “Hammer Complete is every bit the monster as the vampire adorning it’s cover.... It’s thorough as hell...more thorough than thorough”—Flick Attack; “a true labour of love. The level of detail is quite astounding...an invaluable go-to reservoir of information...it’s unlikely this one will ever be surpassed. Deserves immense praise...there is plenty of new and insightful material here...a huge, well-researched reference book that no Hammer aficionado should be without”—Cinema Retro; “Maxford is a superb writer, his book is well researched, entertaining, and good-humoured. It’s also an invaluable book: if you purchase it, you will never part with it. Kudos to McFarland for producing such a well-bound and presented book. Well done! No disposable download compare to a thing of beauty and joy forever as Hammer Complete”—Hellbound; “It is really hard to be not excited when a book comes out on one of your favorite studios that is just a few pages shy of a 1000! Sure, some of you that ask, do we really need another book on Hammer Films? Well if it is as massive and thorough as this one, then that would be a definite yes! I have been waiting on this book to come out since McFarland announced it well over a a year ago, but had no idea how colossal of a tome this would be. Buy this book. If you are any kind of Hammer fan that craves information about the studio that dripped blood, then you must own this. It will be a never ending source of not only is a few minutes to browse through this before you come across a few titles that is going to make you want to go watch them again. That is a sign of a great book. I know I will be pulling this out each and every time I do any research on Hammer.”—Kitley's Krypt; “It’s thorough as hell...more thorough than thorough”—Bookgasm; “massive volume...a true treasure trove of information about all things Hammer...valuable”—ICv2.

From the Publisher

05/01/2019

This tome contains everything anyone would want to know about the British company Hammer Film Productions, founded in 1934 and legendary for its gory horror films made between the 1950s and 1970s. These movies were among the first to feature old-school creatures such as the Mummy, Frankenstein's monster, and others in color. The best-known Hammer film is Dracula (1958), starring young actors Christopher Lee and Peter Cushing. Freelance entertainment journalist and devoted Hammer film fanatic Maxford states in the introduction that it took him 15 years to put this book together, and his love for his subject is palpable. The entries vary in length; those devoted to movies are up to several pages long, while those focusing on cast or crew are generally limited to a paragraph. Numerous black-and-white photographs provide a sense of the period and people involved. A hefty read, however, this thorough work isn't for casual browsers. Those interested in reading more about Hammer should seek out Marcus Hearn and Alan Barnes's The Hammer Story or Sinclair McKay's A Thing of Unspeakable Horror. VERDICT The ultimate resource for die-hard fans of Hammer Film Productions.—Todd Spires, Bradley Univ. Lib., Peoria, IL

Library Journal