Hammer House of Horror (1980– )

This British anthology series, which was produced by England's leading exporters of horror films, told tales of haunted houses, demons, ghosts and other supernatural wonders.

Stars:

Nicholas Ball, Anna Calder-Marshall, Christopher Cazenove

Cast

Series cast summary:
Nicholas Ball	...	William Peters (1 episode, 1980)
Anna Calder-Marshall	...	Janet (1 episode, 1980)
Christopher Cazenove	...	Tom Martin (1 episode, 1980)
Peter Cushing	...	Martin Blueck (1 episode, 1980)
Denholm Elliott	...	Norman Shenley (1 episode, 1980)
Jon Finch	...	David Winter (1 episode, 1980)
Julia Foster	...	Ruth (1 episode, 1980)
Barbara Kellerman	...	Laurie Morton (1 episode, 1980)
Leigh Lawson	...	Graham Elder (1 episode, 1980)
Ray Lonnen	...	Michael Roberts (1 episode, 1980)
Peter McEnery	...	Edwyn (1 episode, 1980)
Kathryn Leigh Scott	...	Penny (1 episode, 1980)
Anthony Valentine	...	Cliff (1 episode, 1980)
Gary Bond	...	Terence Morton (1 episode, 1980)
Angela Bruce	...	Sarah (1 episode, 1980)
Brian Cox	...	Chuck Spillers (1 episode, 1980)
Suzanne Danielle	...	Natalie (1 episode, 1980)
Rachel Davies	...	Emma (1 episode, 1980)
Celia Gregory	...	Sarah Martin (1 episode, 1980)
Georgina Hale	...	Stella (1 episode, 1980)
Rosalyn Landor	...	Allison Lussan (1 episode, 1980)
James Laurenson	...	Mr. Rayburn (1 episode, 1980)
Simon MacCorkindale	...	Harry (1 episode, 1980)
Patricia Quinn	...	Lucinda Jessop (1 episode, 1980)
Gary Raymond	...	Martin (1 episode, 1980)
Dinah Sheridan	...	Gwen (1 episode, 1980)
Norman Beaton	...	Mr. Ngenko (1 episode, 1980)
John Carson	...	Charles Randolph (1 episode, 1980)
Brian Croucher	...	George Evans (1 episode, 1980)
Elaine Donnelly	...	Annie Spillers (1 episode, 1980)
Diana Dors	...	Mrs. Ardoy (1 episode, 1980)
Prunella Gee	...	Mary Winter (1 episode, 1980)
Marius Goring	...	Heinz Hoffman (1 episode, 1980)
Paul Hawkins	...	David (1 episode, 1980)
Pat Heywood	...	Emily Shenley (1 episode, 1980)
Emrys James	...	Dr. Harris (1 episode, 1980)
Richard Pearson	...	Sir Humphrey Chesterton (1 episode, 1980)
Siân Phillips	...	Mrs. Henska (1 episode, 1980)
Gareth Thomas	...	Gupta (1 episode, 1980)
Norman Bird	...	Basil (1 episode, 1980)
Anthony Brown	...	Priest (1 episode, 1980)
Antony Carrick	...	Det. Sergeant Aldridge (1 episode, 1980)
Frances Cuka	...	Gwen Williams (1 episode, 1980)
Pauline Delaney	...	Sister (1 episode, 1980)
Barbara Ewing	...	Laura Stephens (1 episode, 1980)
Lucy Gutteridge	...	Lolly (1 episode, 1980)
Patricia Maynard	...	Jean Evans (1 episode, 1980)
Ian McCulloch	...	Dr. Charles Henderson (1 episode, 1980)
Mia Nardi	...	Margaret (1 episode, 1980)
Barry Stanton	...	Tony (1 episode, 1980)
Robert Urquhart	...	Harry (1 episode, 1980)
Tariq Yunus	...	Charles Austin (1 episode, 1980)
Matthew Blakstad	...	James (1 episode, 1980)
Robin Browne	...	Police Officer (1 episode, 1980)
Paul Darrow	...	Simon Andrews (1 episode, 1980)
David Healy	...	Peter Picardo (1 episode, 1980)
George Innes	...	Cedric (1 episode, 1980)
Milton Johns	...	Andrew James Powers (1 episode, 1980)
Jonathan Kent	...	Tader (1 episode, 1980)
Philip Latham	...	Hargreaves (1 episode, 1980)
Stanley Lebor	...	Charles (1 episode, 1980)
Lennard Pearce	...	Rector (1 episode, 1980)
Conrad Phillips	...	Dr. Manders (1 episode, 1980)
Eleanor Summerfield	...	Lady Strudwick (1 episode, 1980)
Jacob Witkin	...	Woodcutter (1 episode, 1980)
Margaret Anderson	...	Sister (1 episode, 1980)
Gareth Armstrong	...	Dr. Melbury (1 episode, 1980)
Peter Birrel	...	Markham (1 episode, 1980)
James Cosmo	...	Willis (1 episode, 1980)
Michael Culver	...	Mark (1 episode, 1980)
Terry Kinsella	...	Lionel (1 episode, 1980)
Jenny Laird	...	Mrs. Roberts (1 episode, 1980)
Caroline Langrishe	...	Tina (1 episode, 1980)
Matthew Long	...	Andy (1 episode, 1980)
Adrian Mann	...	Tibor (1 episode, 1980)
Christopher Reilly	...	William Morton (1 episode, 1980)
Emma Ridley	...	Sophia (1 episode, 1980)
Daphne Anderson	...	Matron (1 episode, 1980)
Warren Clarke	...	Ben (1 episode, 1980)
Ellis Dale	...	Police Doctor (1 episode, 1980)
Michael Deeks	...	Phil Peters (1 episode, 1980)
James Duggan	...	Sampson (1 episode, 1980)
William Moore	...	Mr. Roberts (1 episode, 1980)
Patricia Mort	...	Maid (1 episode, 1980)
Sophie Thompson	...	1st Girl (1 episode, 1980)
Joanne White	...	Sophia (Older) (1 episode, 1980)
Victoria Wood	...	Sophy (1 episode, 1980)
Andy Bradford	...	Steve (1 episode, 1980)
Sharon Fussey	...	2nd Girl (1 episode, 1980)
Michael Hughes	...	Mechanic, Thornton (1 episode, 1980)
Gerard Kelly	...	Andrew (1 episode, 1980)
Sophie Kind	...	Eloise (1 episode, 1980)
Jeremy Longhurst	...	Dr. Cummings (1 episode, 1980)
Jeff Rawle	...	Inspector Franks (1 episode, 1980)
George Tovey	...	Old Man, Albert Clements (1 episode, 1980)
Gary Waldhorn	...	Bacharach (1 episode, 1980)
Una Brandon-Jones	...	Old Woman, Mrs. Clements (1 episode, 1980)
Brenda Cowling	...	Nurse Davies (1 episode, 1980)
James Curran	...	Pritchard (1 episode, 1980)
Matthew Dorman	...	Young Boy (1 episode, 1980)
Janet Fielding	...	Secretary, Mandy (1 episode, 1980)
Michael Latimer	...	Dr. Bradley (1 episode, 1980)
Barry McDonald	...	Auctioneer (1 episode, 1980)
Anna Simone Scott	...	Nurse Foster (1 episode, 1980)
Jeffrey Wickham	...	Edgar (1 episode, 1980)
Geoffrey Beevers	...	Gravedigger (1 episode, 1980)
Peter Cartwright	...	Surgeon (1 episode, 1980)
Wilhelmina Green	...	Young Girl (1 episode, 1980)
Barbara Keogh	...	Joan (1 episode, 1980)
Mike Savage	...	P.C. Jenkins (1 episode, 1980)
William Morgan Sheppard	...	Hospital Gardener (1 episode, 1980)
Michael Stock	...	Armourer (1 episode, 1980)
Jo Warne	...	1st Mother (1 episode, 1980)
Anne Dyson	...	Mrs. Rord (1 episode, 1980)
Malcolm Hayes	...	Attendant (1 episode, 1980)
Paula Jacobs	...	Joyce (1 episode, 1980)
Sarah Keller	...	2nd Mother (1 episode, 1980)
Corinna Reardon	...	Small Girl (1 episode, 1980)
Lee Richards	...	Actress (1 episode, 1980)
Barry Stokes	...	1st Victim (1 episode, 1980)
Pierce Brosnan	...	Last Victim (1 episode, 1980)
Crispin Gillbard	...	Policeman (1 episode, 1980)
Max Mason	...	Journalist (1 episode, 1980)
Roger Ostime	...	The Butler (1 episode, 1980)
Andrew Pariss	...	Boy (1 episode, 1980)
Daniel Payne	...	Small Boy (1 episode, 1980)
Peter Dean	...	Charlie (1 episode, 1980)
Natalie Payne	...	Irenya (1 episode, 1980)
Charles Pemberton	...	Policeman (1 episode, 1980)
Anna Perry	...	Journalist (1 episode, 1980)
Richard Wren	...	Chauffeur (1 episode, 1980)
Diane Adderley	...	Police Woman (1 episode, 1980)
Marilyn Finlay	...	Sister (1 episode, 1980)
Daniel Kipling	...	Andreas (1 episode, 1980)
Louis Mansi	...	Rossi (1 episode, 1980)
Kevin Stoney	...	Rothwell (1 episode, 1980)

Storyline

This British anthology series, which was produced by England's leading exporters of horror films, told tales of haunted houses, demons, ghosts and other supernatural wonders.

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Plot Keywords:

anthology | gothic | supernatural power

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Genres:

Drama | Horror | Thriller

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Details

Official Sites:

Hammer Film Productions

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

13 September 1980 (UK)

Also Known As:

Gefrier-Schocker

Filming Locations:

Wykehurst Place, Bolney, West Sussex, England, UK

Box Office

Budget:

$3,900,000 (estimated)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Chips Productions, Cinema Arts International Production, Hammer Film Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

51 min 51 min (13 episodes)

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Terence Fisher was attached to direct a story but died in pre-production.

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Connections

Referenced in The 100 Greatest Scary Moments (2003)

User Reviews

Very unusual TV series that deserves a second look (SPOILERS!)

Hammer House Of Horror, with its Spinal Tap's 'Stonehenge' soundalike theme tune, casts of soon-to-be-famous actors and commendably nasty flair for nihilism and genuine nastiness slithered onto British television (on Saturday nights, too!) in 1980 and carved indelible scars in the collective subconscious of an entire generation. Sure, not all the episodes were up to the same standard, but the ones that worked

• well, they were classics.

THE HOUSE THAT BLED TO DEATH is one of the most memorable episodes, and rightly so. I think this would have made a decent feature-length film. An apparently unsuspecting family moves into a house with a grim recent past and quickly realize that all is not as it should be. A series of horrible incidents (animal lovers should not even consider watching this episode) culminate in the notorious blood-soaked birthday party and the family moves away, but even that isn't the end of their problems. This episode has one of the most shocking and disturbing final scenes of the whole series and would make a nice companion piece to Romano Scavolini's NIGHTMARE (1981), released the following year. SILENT SCREAM is another excellent series entry, with Peter Cushing at his creepy best as a seemingly innocuous pet shop owner who turns out to be a former concentration camp guard with a penchant for unpleasant experiments involving "prisons without walls". The finale is extremely creepy and haunted my dreams for a long time when I was a child. THE TWO FACES OF EVIL goes all out to disturb, with creepy electronic music, claustrophobic camera angles, dopplegangers, nausea-inducing shocks and another troubling ending. It's the closest the series comes to straight horror for its own sake, and should NOT be watched alone!

After the excellent opening salvo of three brilliant episodes, the rest of the series can seem like a disappointment, but CHARLIE BOY, WITCHING HOUR, GROWING PAINS, THE MARK OF Satan and VISITOR FROM THE GRAVE are all fine stories (the latter boasting a completely wacko final scene that will have you muttering "what the hell was THAT?!"), RUDE AWAKENING is as bizarre as anything the late Dennis Potter ever came up with, THE CARPATHIAN EAGLE boasts the gorgeous Suzanne Danielle, THE THIRTEENTH REUNION is well-acted and macabre if a little predictable, and the remaining few episodes don't quite come off. Nonetheless, it's a pleasingly varied series that's consistently entertaining, and a reminder of a time when television treated adults like adults and had yet to dumb down to the levels of dreck like Freddy's Nightmares.