My Favorite Hammer Movie Acting Performances--Male

 

Another Hammer-related list?? I'm afraid so. This time I'm setting down my favorite acting performances in a Hammer film--one list for actors and one for actresses. 

I decided to set a limit on how many times (once) a particular actor can be included, simply because if I didn't, Peter Cushing & Christopher Lee would take up all the spots. I also felt that this would enable me to shine a light on a few roles that tend to get overlooked. 

Once again, this is all intended to be fun--don't take it as personally as so many Hammer internet fanboys seem to do about any mention or reference the company gets on social media.  And if you have your own personal favorites that are not on this list, by all means reveal them in the comments section. 

This list (which includes ten entries)  is not written in any sort of order or preference, but anyone who knows me can easily predict who I'm going to lead off with. 

Peter Cushing as Van Helsing in THE BRIDES OF DRACULA

My favorite all-time Cushing performance in my favorite all-time Hammer movie (I'm sure I've mentioned that on my blog dozens of times). Did Cushing ever give even a below-average performance in any of his Hammer appearances?? I certainly can't think of one. Another great Cushing Hammer performance that doesn't get enough attention is his portrayal of the title role in CAPTAIN CLEGG. 

Christopher Lee as Kharis in THE MUMMY

I know what you're thinking...."But, but--what about Dracula??" Yeah, what about him?? It's way too easy to go down that route. Suffice to say that Lee is the greatest film mummy of all time--his ability to convey everything about his character simply by his body language, even while totally encased in a hindering makeup, is astounding. If you're looking for another great Lee Hammer performance that's off the beaten path, check out THE TWO FACES OF DR. JEKYLL, where Lee's shifty man-about-town Paul Allen winds up being more sympathetic (and more interesting) than the title character(s). 

Richard Wordsworth as Victor Caroon in THE QUATERMASS XPERIMENT 

Hammer Films' first true monster, Wordsworth is incredibly creepy as an astronaut who has returned to Earth infected with an alien presence. Wordsworth would go on to play a number of small roles for Hammer, and he always managed to get the viewer's attention, even with very little screen time. 

Michael Ripper as Tom Bailey in THE REPTILE

Of course Michael Ripper has to be on this list somehow. There's plenty of choices when it comes to Ripper's Hammer outings, but I picked this one mainly due to the fact that Tom Bailey (a warm and dependable fellow who fittingly runs the local pub in the story) is actually the real hero of the film. 

Marne Maitland in THE REPTILE

The horror and science-fiction films Hammer made during their golden period were filled with unique, striking character actors that could take a small role and make it leave an impression upon the audience. The Calcutta-born Maitland was one of those performers, and his sinister, mysterious presence adds a lot to THE REPTILE, even though the man he's playing isn't even given a proper name! (In the credits he's listed as "Malay".) 

Christopher Neame as Johnny Alucard in DRACULA A.D. 1972 

This choice will get some folks riled up. Neame's go-for-broke performance as Dracula's disciple has garnered plenty of discussion among Hammer fans over the years, but I feel his wild antics perfectly match A.D. 1972's overall loony entertaining tone. 

Andre Morell as Sir James Forbes in THE PLAGUE OF THE ZOMBIES

Morell was another fine veteran actor who worked for Hammer several times, and this time he gets his best showcase from the company, and the leading heroic role to boot. Morell's understated, realistic manner, sprinkled with plenty of dry humor, is the perfect complement to all the undead goings-on. 

Brian Donlevy as Quatermass in THE QUATERMASS XPERIMENT 

This is another choice that will tick off some people, especially British Hammer fans. I'm well aware of the fact that Quatermass creator Nigel Kneale couldn't stand him, but Donlevy's domineering and bull-headed scientist in this film and its sequel adds greatly to those movies' pace, rhythm, and no-nonsense style. 

Freddie Jones as Richter/Brandt in FRANKENSTEIN MUST BE DESTROYED 

Jones actually plays two roles in this film. At first he's Prof. Richter, an eminent doctor who is murdered by Baron Frankenstein so that Richter's body can be used as the new "home" for the brain of another scientist named Brandt. Jones then plays the revived body, still looking like Richter but with Brandt's personality. Jones' portrayal of this figure--a "new" man who has had a ghastly experiment done to him without his consent--is moving and memorable, especially in his interactions with Brandt's wife, who obviously does not recognize him in his new state, and with his methodical revenge against Frankenstein. 

George Pastell as Mehemet in THE MUMMY 

Pastell was another excellent member of the Hammer repertory company, and here he plays the Egyptian power behind the revival of Kharis the Mummy. Pastell could have played this role as an out-and-out bad guy, but his Mehemet is cultivated, cunning, and absolutely believable and understandable in his determination to seek revenge against those who have violated the tombs of his ancestors.