MY DVD COLLECTION 2

Terence Fisher (1904 - 1980)

Describing his own films, Terence Fisher said "I think an audience has to find what it sees in the cinema absolutely convincing for the ninety minutes of the film. I don't really care what they think when they get out of the cinema, but unless they have believed in your film, you have not achieved your purpose. You have to aim for a suspension of disbelief. Visually speaking, I think my films are good and believable, because I have a good visual sense within the frame. I hate what I call "tricky shooting" - which makes a film look like a long TV commercial."

            I don't think anybody except the most ardent fan of Hammer Films would describe Terence Fisher as one of the cinema's great directors. I was lucky enough to meet Fisher in the mid-70's and found him to be a charming man who was prepared to discuss his films realistically. He knew there were a few duds in there. Having said that he did make the very best of the Hammer gothics and I can't believe that there is a horror film enthusiast who grew up in the 50's and 60's who doesn't have a great affection for Fisher's films. Terence Fisher's films in my collection are : THE STOLEN FACE (1951) THE FOUR SIDED TRIANGLE (1952) SPACEWAYS (1952) THE CURSE OF FRANKENSTEIN (1957) DRACULA (1958) REVENGE OF FRANKENSTEIN (1958) HOUND OF THE BASKERVILLES (1959) THE MUMMY (1959) BRIDES OF DRACULA (1960) THE  TWO FACES OF DR.JEKYLL (1960) CURSE OF THE WEREWOLF (1961) PHANTOM OF THE OPERA (1962) THE HORROR OF IT ALL (1963)THE GORGON (1966) ISLAND OF TERROR (1966) NIGHT OF THE BIG HEAT (1966) FRANKENSTEIN CREATED WOMAN (1967) THE DEVIL RIDES OUT (1968) FRANKENSTEIN MUST BE DESTROYED (1969) FRANKENSTEIN AND THE MONSTER FROM HELL (1974)