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Post by franklinmarsh on Oct 22, 2007 19:48:05 GMT
One book I do have and have decided to read thanks to this site is The Scars Of Dracula by Angus Hall. I used to love novelisations. They were so much more like the film. My uncle told me that, much as he loved the films of The Dirty Dozen and The Godfather, you had to read the original novels as well because there was so much more in them. As time went on I found I much preferred original novels. The book to film process became quite fascinating and some hack churning out a book based on a script just paled into insignificance. So out went all my novelisations. With the exception of the Hammer Horror Film Omnibus, The Second HHFO and The Scars Of Dracula. As mentioned above, Angus Hall had written an original novel (Devilday) which was adapted into a film (Madhouse) so I hung onto SOD as he was a 'real' writer and the book might prove interesting. The film Scars Of Dracula seems to be very unpopular, even with fans of the genre. This attracts me to it. It's unusual in the Hammer series as it's almost stand alone. The first four Hammer Draculas run as a series and the last two share settings and cast members. Christopher Lee apparently demanded that Hammer make Dracula the main character and give him more to do if they wanted him to play the role again and they did, but not spectacularly. The film also suffers from a budget of about £50. The cast are TV regulars (Jenny Hanley, Dennis Waterman,Patrick Troughton,Bob Todd, even Toke Townley) plus Anoushka Hempel with Lee and Michael Ripper being the Hammer faces. It also received criticism for violence and sadism, with Dracula whipping and stabbing victims. Much to recommend it then! I read half the novel on my journey this morning and - it's great! Mr Hall has stuck very closely to the film but his purple prose makes it IMHO a cut above a hack, 'speed-written' novelisation. Mind you, as we've discovered there aren't that many Hammer 'novels' around. If anything, his descriptions (and the readers imagination) can supersede the budgetary restrictions of the film. The only downside - Michael Gwynne (?) plays the priest in the film and I'm sure he was tall and thin. AH describes him - frequently - as 'the little priest' which got on my nerves. FranklinMarsh is an idiot - part 5 - because of the jeering of the violent aspects of the film, I always thought the title referred to either the whipping,branding,stabbing etc or at some point the Count would show off his own ,er, scars but Mr Hall is at pains to point out several times during the opening the titular SOD are in fact those tell tale, blood encrusted holes in the neck. Call me stupid! (Will the ending live up to the film? Hammer got that right!)
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Post by Johnlprobert on Oct 23, 2007 11:20:20 GMT
I thought the Scars of Dracula were the things he got when the lightning struck him at the end!
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Post by franklinmarsh on Jun 29, 2008 13:09:00 GMT
It's Angus Hall Week at the Vault! Further to the Devilday/Madhouse thread I'll bump this oldie - not only could Mr Hall write a novel that was filmed, he wasn't such a snob that he'd turn down a quick novelisation! Originally issued as part of a Hammer mini-series of paperbacks by Sphere circa 1971, it was unaccountably issued in hardback by Severn House in 1987 with an incredibly dross cover*. No-one knows why. * Jacket design and illustration by Trevor NewmanApologies to Trev but I much prefer Christopher Lee in full bloodlust mode on the paperback. |
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Post by dem on Jun 29, 2008 13:35:39 GMT
"incredibly dross" perhaps, but lovable in it's way. I think I actually prefer it! |
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Post by Calenture on Jun 29, 2008 15:39:26 GMT
It's Angus Hall Week at the Vault!... If you say so... Again too long since I read it, but here's a cover and blurb: First published as Qualtrough by Herbert Jenkins, 1968; this Sphere edition, 1969 Dedicated to Patrick Hamilton (1904-1962) From the cover: "Lydia Crosse was brutally dead. "No-one suggested that Adam Crosse, beneath the respectable exterior of a suburban reporter was a psychopathic killer. "Adam had a perfect alibi. At the hour of her death he had an appointment with a man named Qualtrough, and witnesses to prove it. Qualtrough didn't exist because Adam invented him. He enjoyed his newfound freedom and his new mistress. "Until the stranger arrived. The stranger who said his name was Qualtrough." * ...Extremely good. Mr Hall carries us most convincingly into terrifying uncomfortable cerebral territory at compulsive pace. We watch the perfect murder calculatingly conceived, detachedly carried out.Books & Bookmen ExcellentThe Sun Spine ChillingGlasgow Times I wonder if I should have started a new thread? Nah, keep quiet and nobody will notice. |
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Post by Johnlprobert on Jun 29, 2008 15:53:22 GMT
I quite like the novelisation of SOD & I certainly like it more than the rather crappy film. Apparently there were several scripts written to follow on from Dracula Has Risen From the Grave. They went for a drastic rewrite of Kevin Francis' Dracula's Feast of Blood which became Taste the Blood of Dracula. Then, when they needed another super-quick, rather than get 'John Elder' to whip up another one they just used one he'd already written. Which is why the bat dribbles blood onto the count's ashes at the start (they would have been outside his castle from DHRFTG) and why he isn't in London.
Ie it's meant to fit into the mythology as if Taste never happened. In actual fact it's just a reflection of the general couldn't care less attitude that was starting to permeate a lot of Hammer projects
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Post by franklinmarsh on Jun 29, 2008 16:13:53 GMT
Mr Hall also wrote something called Self-Destruct.
I like the 'rather crappy' film. And its companion piece Horror Of Frankenstein. Probably because most people don't. There's something about the underdog....
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Post by Johnlprobert on Jun 29, 2008 17:48:24 GMT
Horror of Frankenstein does so many things wrong you almost feel sorry for it. Almost Mind you it's not as bad as 'Lust for a Vampire'  |
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Post by Johnlprobert on Jun 29, 2008 17:49:23 GMT
The William Hughes novelisation of which is a lot more fun than the rather dull film, despite the presence of Ms Stensgaaaaaaaard.
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Post by franklinmarsh on Jun 30, 2008 7:27:47 GMT
Curse you, Lord P! I had that novelisation but it disappeared before I read it. I watched the film not long ago and it's amazing how dull it is in parts. How could The Vampire Lovers and Twins Of Evil get it right, and Lust get it wrong?
Recent comments on another site intrigued me about film-making being a collaborative process, so you can't just blame one person for messing a film up. It is tempting to point the finger at Jimmy Sangster as HoF and LfaV are so derided.
It's also difficult to believe that Ralph Bates can be so good in Horror, and so duff in Lust (apart from his hysterically extended death scene)
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Post by dem on Jun 30, 2008 8:21:20 GMT
Horror of Frankenstein does so many things wrong you almost feel sorry for it. Almost I can't believe I just read that  . Horror Of Frankenstein is up there with The Plague Of The Zombies, The Devil Rides Out and Dr. Jekyll & Sister Hyde, all the greats. Unquestionably my favourite version of the story outside of the James Whale classics which, admittedly, are slightly better. It's got Ralph in it, for crying out loud! And Veronica Carlson. And a tortoise. Kate O'Mara was only ever this good again in the Piggy Malone/ Charlie Farley vehicle, Death Can Be Fatal. I respectfully suggest a hasty rethink, your lordship. |
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Post by David A. Riley on Jun 30, 2008 8:36:56 GMT
That was a wonderful piece of satire, Dem. For a moment you almost fooled me into thinking you meant it!
I must, though, admit to having a copy of Horror on DVD but that's only because I'm a sad completist.
David
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Post by Johnlprobert on Jun 30, 2008 9:25:24 GMT
I have Horror of Frank on DVD too. Mind you I also have films like Sting of Death, that has a label on the cover that says 'Be warned - this film contains nudity and jellyfish!' It's about a bloke who turns into...oh but that would give it away.
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Post by franklinmarsh on Jun 30, 2008 9:35:48 GMT
Mind you I also have films like Sting of Death, that has a label on the cover that says 'Be warned - this film contains nudity and jellyfish!' Sounds brilliant! Can you do the song Lord P? 'Dennis Wheatley Sings Neil Sedaka.' Reminds me that I must revisit John Halkin's Slime, the classic When Invertebrates Attack potboiler in which Britain is menaced by huge crowds of jellyfish. Enough of this trying to avoid the issue - Horror Of Frankenstein is a neglected Hammer gem, if only for Dennis Price. |
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Post by Johnlprobert on Jun 30, 2008 10:20:09 GMT
Go to the top of the class (or the bottom of the tank) for that Neil Sedaka reference!
Anyway, yes, HoF. Dennis Price is good - in fact the double act between him and Joan Rice is almost worth watching the film for.
Oh God you'll have me watching it again this evening before the day is out!
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. Horror Of Frankenstein is up there with The Plague Of The Zombies, The Devil Rides Out and Dr. Jekyll & Sister Hyde, all the greats. Unquestionably my favourite version of the story outside of the James Whale classics which, admittedly, are slightly better. It's got Ralph in it, for crying out loud! And Veronica Carlson. And a tortoise. Kate O'Mara was only ever this good again in the Piggy Malone/ Charlie Farley vehicle, Death Can Be Fatal. I respectfully suggest a hasty rethink, your lordship.