After emerging as a potent force in the genre with Horror of Dracula, Hammer Films added their handsome Gothic touch to this lesser-known remake of the 1944 suspenser The Man in Half Moon Street (itself adapted from a play by Barre Lyndon). Anton Diffring stars as a century-old artist who maintains a youthful appearance by regularly replacing certain glands -- in transplants that he receives thanks to the unwilling participation of healthy donors. Despite his outward physical vitality, his advanced years lead to an ...
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After emerging as a potent force in the genre with Horror of Dracula, Hammer Films added their handsome Gothic touch to this lesser-known remake of the 1944 suspenser The Man in Half Moon Street (itself adapted from a play by Barre Lyndon). Anton Diffring stars as a century-old artist who maintains a youthful appearance by regularly replacing certain glands -- in transplants that he receives thanks to the unwilling participation of healthy donors. Despite his outward physical vitality, his advanced years lead to an increasing mental instability, evinced by his mad obsession with an old flame (Hazel Court) whose newfound love for a suave doctor (Christopher Lee) compels Diffring to commit acts of diabolical cruelty that ultimately become his grisly undoing. Directed by Hammer regular Terence Fisher, who applies a high polish to this atmospheric period thriller. Cavett Binion, Rovi
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Seller's Description:
Christopher Lee, Hazel Court, Anton Diffring. Very good. 2008 Run time: 82. Providing great media since 1972. All used discs are inspected and guaranteed. Digital copy/codes may be expired or not included. We ship orders daily and Customer Service is our top priority!
Choose your shipping method in Checkout. Costs may vary based on destination.
Seller's Description:
Christopher Lee, Hazel Court, Anton Diffring. Very good. 2008 Run time: 82. Providing great media since 1972. All used discs are inspected and guaranteed. Digital copy/codes may be expired or not included. We ship orders daily and Customer Service is our top priority!
Choose your shipping method in Checkout. Costs may vary based on destination.
Seller's Description:
New. Size: 0x7x5; brand new in original shrinkwrap; because we care that your order arrives in the condition stated, we have additionally sealed the case in bubblewrap for added protection during shipment.
This is a tremendous sample of the Hammer Productions' horror stable of movies. A small cast, only a couple of sets, spend the money on dialogue and the use of cameras lighting and film and you get success.The colors of this are visually striking down to the velvet smoking jacket worn by Diffring late in the tale. And the green lighting used to infer "special" significance to a vial of colored water with frozen CO2 bubbling it is some of the best uses of mood by color in the history of films. There is no mention that the celluloid was remastered for the digital copy and I do not think it was, just pointing to the high quality material used to put the images onto. Wikipedia has some of the story wrong. The bad guy only shows up like a Mr. Hyde when he doesn't get his special operation and he usually, he says, gets his organs from cadavers. But he was desperate that once, and now again...
Anton Diffring is masterful in the lead (The burning here is foreshadowing of his role in "Fahrenheit 451". Christopher Lee is solid as the supporting character. He is solidifying his legend in this role. Hazel Court is performing one of her final leading lady parts to the max. This movie is a good sample of the Saturday Horror feature at its best. Cheat to watch it if you have to.
The DVD copy I watched had no bonus features available. A shame. It would have been nice to get at least the supporting actor, Lee's thoughts on the making of and the behind the scenes intrigue of getting this work to the theaters.
