The wonderful, evocative, atmosphere that Hammer could conjure up when they were on form is second to none (put your hand down, Rollin, you didn't get frequent late night airings on telly and become synonymous with UK horror. I may consider a special on you, though). You know the sort of thing here - creeping mists, always autumn, buttoned up or unbuttoned, lightning inserts, and *always* ending in flames.
Often a key part of this is the dreaded castle in the distance, casting a pall or spell over the local environment, the areas inhabitants, and acting as either a source of temptation or superstition to the films characters.
Herein lies an attempt to catalogue and cast comment on these. This will be updated as I think of more, but some ground rules:
1. Castles only. No stately homes, no prisons, no universities, no churches*
2. No interiors. Exteriors and establishing shots only.
3. Original run only.
NOTE. Despite working in architecture for 20 years (not as an architect though) .........I am no expert on castle architecture (sorry, boss!), so can't go into detail on that side of things.
I know the basics, but my musings here are from my on views on things alone.
*there is a borderline case, which I will address in the text.
Dracula (1958)
Castle Dracula itself, looking reasonably unthreatening as Harker arrives to catalogue the library.
Quite like the hexagonal tower at the fore, but my main point of critique is the rather enthusiastically flowing river which acts as entrance. Hammer mythology has vampires with a fear of flowing water.
Dracula will be offed by this self same water at least once in his career, so I can only assume the stream remains in place from before he was turned into the undead and he never bothered to dam it (couldn't give a damn? Sorry).
Brides of Dracula (1960)
Frustratingly, the credits don't leave the screen long enough to capture a decent shot of the castle at the beginning, but the nice clear central shot does it justice, and Castle Meinster looks very welcoming indeed! All those lit windows giving the place a very homely sort of feel.
Even though its a model shot, it doesn't look as obviously a model as some of the later films.
Kiss of the Vampire (1963)
Doctor Ravna's place. Now, this one I like, I like very much indeed. No larger circular towers, but very architecturally pleasing, raised up there on the heights. Its also nice and close to the road, judging by Ravna's telescope from early in the film, so accessible to the local village when popping out after dark.
Interestingly, not as shunned as some of the others, but this may be down to the influence of Ravna over the locals.
Evil of Frankenstein (1964)
This is the borderline. Is it a castle or a stately home? Its never referred to as "Castle Frankenstein" at any point and in none of the films where The Baron is at home does he refer to it as a castle, but its pretty imposing and certainly looks the part, so I'm putting it in.
Its also the first one we see go up in flames at the end and be destroyed. Hurrah!
The Gorgon (1964)
Castle Borski from The Gorgon, what is the most fairy tale like of Hammers films, in my view, and one that has grown in stature over the years and many repeated viewings. I used to find it impossibly dull, but perhaps I'm getting older, but the lush feel of this film, adequately shown by the castle above and languid atmosphere means I really enjoy it now.
Look at those knotted angry trees. Barren. Threatening. This is not a happy place.
Abandoned, except for the cursed characters who head there to meet their fate. We won't question why a Greek mythological creature is prowling around a castle in Germany somewhere around the turn of the century. She just is, right?
Dracula Prince of Darkness (1966)
Castle Dracula, once again, and what looks like reusing the model from Kiss of the Vampire. Fair enough, its not as if Hammer were ever considering people examining this kind of thing in the future and gave a huge amount of thought to their continuity (have you ever tried mapping the timeline of any of their series? Its a fools errand, trust me!)
Different entrance to 58 Castle Dracula, but as Harker arrived on foot to that one and the Kents all arrive by carriage, its not unreasonable to assume they came via different routes and entrances.
Marvellous stuff though. I wonder where these models are now? Kind of thing that should be on proud display in the V&A!
Dracula Has Risen From The Grave (1968)
YES, oh yes. Look at that beauty up there on the heights, commanding the area. A fine place indeed. Vertiginous walls when they reach the doors and utterly imposing.
I know that last pic isn't clear, but in the top right, shows the castle at night, once the Count has been offed once again.
However, its a very different place to Prince of Darkness, but he hasn't moved location since being trapped in ice in that one, so who knows? All I know is that this is a winner.
Scars of Dracula (1970)
Scars. Oh god, Scars. The very definition of "if you must". Dreadful film really and one I usually skipped on my series rewatches, but Hammer in this period has worked out how to disguise the paucity and cheapness of their sets - mist, lots and lots of mist. Low lit, glorious creeping mist, which does wonders.
So, the castle. Much more grand than the previous Castle Draculas, way way higher up in the mountains too, but a fine model indeed and a good solid place for any Vampire to spend his nights sitting about doing nothing but waiting for someone to turn up.
Horror of Frankenstein (1970)
Again, like Evil, a borderline case of Mansion or Castle? I'll put it in for completion sake, but by fuck this film is hard work. Unless I randomly find it showing on telly somewhere and By Law have to sit and watch the rest of it, regardless of whatever I was doing before then or have planned later. Thats the rules, right?
Nice building though. A lot more grounded than some of the others we've seen, and all the better for it.
The Vampire Lovers (1970)
LOOK AT IT. LOOK AT THAT RICH ATMOSPHERE!
Vampire Lovers...........what can I say? For my money, the opening ten minute pre credit sequence, where Baron Hartog gives us the background of the Carsteins, is the best damned gothic horror sequence made in film, bar none. I mean it!
Amazing ruined castle. Full of ghosts, sorrow and doom. We get to head here a few times throughout the film too AND get a finale within its confines.
Always my favourite and always will be. Risen jumped up the list a lot recently to almost contend it, but Lovers wins.
Again, I wonder what happened to this model? I would seriously consider bidding were this to come up in auction.
Lust for a Vampire (1971)
From the heights of Vampire Lovers to the disappointment of Lust. Even the castle is just some stock footage inserts (no idea of where though), which as nice as they are, just doesn't hit the same way. Much like the film itself, which falls between two Hammer high points.
Twins of Evil (1972)
Twins, again just some stock footage. which is a real shame as they really excelled in all other parts of the film (well, except maybe that boar, you know?). Not much in the way of exteriors when the siege begins, either, which I was most disappointed about, but we do get a superb mist strewn secret escape and nothing less than Witch Hunters carrying a battering ram!
Vampire Circus (1972)
Lastly, to Circus and Castle Mitterhaus. Again, slightly disappointingly, its just a doorway. Leads directly into the woods though, which makes a nice change from being right up on the hillside.
Later falls into ruins after being torched by a mob, but we don't see much of the exterior, with most of the film taking place in the village or circus itself, with the castle being confined to mining operations, mostly.
And with that, things changed. Dracula found himself stalking the Kings Road from 72 onwards (a monet of glory in itself, really) Kronos never went near a castle in his single film and Baron Frankenstein finds himself institutionalised.
