[.ca] Hammer - the Studio That Dripp

"Hammer & Silva...raises the hair on the back of your neck":
Silva Screen takes us on tour through the castles of Transylvania with a collection of outstanding scores from James Bernard on Disc One ~ "DRACULA" (1958)..."KISS OF THE VAMPIRE" (1964)..."DRACULA PRINCE OF DARKNESS" (1966)..."FRANKENSTEIN CREATED WOMAN" (1967)..."THE DEVIL RIDES OUT" (1968)..."DRACULA HAS RISEN FROM THE GRAVE" (1968)..."THE SCARS OF DRACULA" (1970)..."TASTE THE BLOOD OF DRACULA" (1970)...even though the blood doesn't flow as easily in "KISS OF THE VAMPIRE", the score from Bernard is seductive, sensual to say the least for "creatures of the night", masked ball scene blends atmospheric trance-masquerade themes, intoxicating main title is hauntingly mesmerizing with "VAMPIRE RHAPSODY", just listen to the piano solo from our character in the film Carl Ravna (Barry Warren), son of Dr. Ravna (Noel Willman) along with daughter Sabena Ravna (Jacqueline Wallis), a cult of vampires in early 20th century Bavarian, praying on a young honeymoon couple...Bernard's rhapsody captures the listeners heart and BLOOD! Let's look at Disc Two with the other Hammer themes and their composers ~ "THE ABOMINABLE SNOWMAN" (1957-Humphrey Searle)..."QUATERMASS II" (1957-James Bernard)..."CURSE OF THE WEREWOLF" (1960-Benjamin Frankel)..."CURSE OF THE MUMMY'S TOMB" (1964-Carlo Martelli)..."SHE" (1965-James Bernard)..."ONE MILLION YEARS B.C." (1966-Mario Nascimbene)..."WHEN DINOSAURS RULED THE EARTH" (1969-Mario Nascimbene)..."HANDS OF THE RIPPER" (1971-Christopher Gunning)..."VAMPIRE CIRCUS" (1971-David Whitaker)..."VAMPIRE HUNTER" (2000-James Bernard)...difficult as it may be, there is a stand out ~ "THE CURSE OF THE WEREWOLF", fine direction from Terence Fisher (director) with an outstanding cast Oliver Reed (Leon-the Werewolf), Clifford Evans (Alfredo), Yvonne Romain (Servant Girl) and Catherine Feller (Christina), Hammer's departure from the old stereotype of the beast is refreshing, Reed's performance as the tormented sole, from man to wolf is touching, the score by Ben Frankel is tense building at it's best, to say the least, setting the tone and mood for the transformation with counterpoints is stimulating, inclusive orchestration development for what lies ahead during a full moon. Without a doubt the highlight pick hands down is "SHE", composer James Bernard gives of himself without question, the SUITE takes the orchestra into lilting melodic exercises with percussion chiming in, the harmonies are hypnotic blends of textured fabric, listen as The Westminster Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by Kenneth Alwyn display stirring strings and a solo harp run the scales in "THE ETERNAL FLAME AND THE DESTRUCTION OF SHE", hold-fast arrangement has haunting echoes of Bernard's constant theme, with a final beat from a drum in the percussion section. Must make mention the cast of players that made this possible ~ The Philharmonia Orchestra, The City Of Prague Philharmonic Orchestra, The Westminster Philharmonic Orchestra ~ and their various conductors Kenneth Alwyn, Paul Bateman, Nic Raine and Neil Richardson...supported by the illustrious staff from Silva Screen Records LTD ~ Reynold da Silva (executive producer), David Stoner (associate producer), Gareth Williams (Dolby Surround/HDCD Mastering) and of course James Fitzpatrick (compilation producer), who has the knack of developing quality in every Silva Screen release...similar to "A History Of Horror:From Nosferatu To The Sixth Sense" (SSD-1111/2CD Set), guaranteed to raise the hair on the back of your neck! Total Time: Disc One 68:01 on 14 Tracks & Disc Two 68:46 on 14 Tracks ~ Silva Screen Records SSD-357 ~ (2002)

• Main Theme/Inside Castle Darcula/Lure Of The Vampire Women/Dracula's Rage/The Kiss Of The Living Dead (Dracula)
• Funeral In Carpethia/Finale: Confrontation & Climax/The Fall Of Dracula (Dracula Prince Of Darkness)
• Love Theme (The Scars Of Dracula)
• Finale/Dracula And The Crucifix (Dracula Has Risen From The Grave)
• The Blood Of Dracula (Taste The Blood Of Dracula)
• Romance: The Young Lovers/Shadow Of The Tomb (Taste The Blood Of Dracula)
• Ride To The Ruined Church/Romance At Dusk (Taste The Blood Of Dracula)
• Dracula Triumphant/Pursuit/Death Of Lucy (Taste The Blood Of Dracula)
• The Victory Of Love (Taste The Blood Of Dracula)
• Christina (Frankenstein Created Woman)
• The Power Of Evil (The Devil Rides Out)
• Invocation To The Devil/Dance Frenzy (The Devil Rides Out)
• Awakening And Absolution (The Devil Rides Out)
• Vampire Rhapsody (Kiss Of The Vampire)
• Cosmic Sequence/Tumak Meets Luana/In The Domain Of The Shell People/Eruption Of The Volcano (One Million Years B.C.) - Mario Nascimbene
• Main Theme/Storm Over The Sea (When Dinasours Ruled The Earth) - Mario Nascimbene
• Life Of The Tribe/Finale (Creatures The World Forgot) - Mario Nascimbene
• The Tomb/The Desert (The Curse Of The Mummy's Tomb) - Carlo Martelli
• Ayesha - She Who Must Be Obeyed (She)
• Bedouin Attack & Desert Quest (She)
• In The Kingdom Of She - Processional/The Cruelty Of She (She)
• The Eternal Flame And The Destruction Of She (She)
• Main Title (The Abominable Snowman) - Humphrey Searle
• Defeat Of The Aliens/Finale (Quatermass II)
• Main Titles/Anna's Theme - Christopher Gunning
• Prologue (Vampire Circus) - David Whitaker
• Main Themes (The Vampire Hunter) - Jamed Bernard
• Pastorale/The Werewolf At Bay/Aptheosis (Curse Of The Werewolf) - Benjamin Frankel