Night Creatures (1962)
"Captain Clegg" (original title)

In this engaging costume melodrama of skulduggery on the low seas set back in the 18th-century, the Royal Crown suspects a bit of smuggling is going on in this locale, and they send Captain... See full summary »

Director:

Peter Graham Scott

Writers:

Anthony Hinds (screenplay), Barbara S. Harper (additional dialogue),

Stars:

Peter Cushing, Yvonne Romain, Patrick Allen

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Peter Cushing	...	Rev. Dr. Blyss
Yvonne Romain	...	Imogene - serving wench
Patrick Allen	...	Captain Collier
Oliver Reed	...	Harry Cobtree
Michael Ripper	...	Jeremiah Mipps (coffinmaker)
Martin Benson	...	Mr. Rash (innkeeper)
David Lodge	...	Navy Bosun
Derek Francis	...	Squire Anthony Cobtree
Daphne Anderson	...	Mrs. Rash
Milton Reid	...	Mulatto
Jack MacGowran	...	Frightened Man
Peter Halliday	...	1st Sailor Jack Pott
Terry Scully	...	2nd Sailor Dick Tate
Sydney Bromley	...	Old Tom Ketch
Rupert Osborne	...	Gerry (as Rupert Osborn)

Storyline

In this engaging costume melodrama of skulduggery on the low seas set back in the 18th-century, the Royal Crown suspects a bit of smuggling is going on in this locale, and they send Captain Collier and his crew to check it out. As the Captain gets into his investigation, mysterious swamp phantoms cloud up the real issue which seems plain enough to see. Captain Collier suspects that the odd village vicar might be hiding something, and what better way to do that than by fortuitous ghosts to scare away the curious, or by posing as someone he is not?

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Plot Keywords:

captain | smuggling | marsh | 18th century | ghost | 

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Taglines:

What is the blood freezing secret of the night creatures?

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Genres:

Drama | Adventure | Horror

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Certificate:

Unrated

Details

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

13 June 1962 (USA)

Also Known As:

Night Creatures

Filming Locations:

Bray Studios, Down Place, Oakley Green, Berkshire, England, UK

Company Credits

Production Co:

Hammer Film Productions, Major Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

80 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA Sound Recording)

Color:

Color (Eastmancolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Hammer was originally due to film "I Am Legend" (the Richard Matheson novel) under the title "Night Creatures", but this was abandoned when the BBFC informed them that they would not pass the film. As Hammer had promised the U.S distributors a film called "Night Creatures" the title was passed on to the already completed Night Creatures instead.

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Connections

Remake of Doctor Syn (1937)

User Reviews

The Hammer That Time Forgot...

One of Hammer's finest films yet unseen for years. It has not been broadcast on British television since 1981 when it was under its American title, Night Creatures. But it's a wonderful little movie. Peter Cushing is on fine form as is the ever-reliable Patrick Allen and Oliver Reed gives a nice performance as an innocent young man (as if!) The irreplaceable Michael Ripper gets a bigger role here than in most of his films and shines too with a nice line in sarcasm. The story is fun and the location filming is very pleasant (actually Denham in Bucks and not Dymchurch at all!) but the thing that lifts this movie to classic status is the electrifying scenes of the Marsh Phantoms, a brilliant realisation of real fear. Remarkably considering that the viewer is aware from the start that they are villagers dressed up, their appearance is incredibly convincing! The opening sequence of scrolling scene setting and narration with a faint glimpse of a skeletal figure on horseback weaving through the background is only a hint of the awesome scenes that follow. After that the film settles down to good historical adventure, lively and funny and only occasionally marred by slapstick, as in the fight in the church. A neglected gem from a more simplistic age.