Movies - Hammer Film Productions

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	Movies - Hammer Film Productions

Hammer Film Productions is a film production company in the United Kingdom. Founded in 1934, the company is best known for a series of Gothic "Hammer Horror" films produced from the late 1950s until the 1970s. Hammer also produced science fiction, thrillers and comedies — and in later years, television series. Hammer films were cheap to produce but nonetheless appeared lavish, making use of quality British actors and cleverly designed, or second-hand, sets. During its most successful years, Hammer dominated the horror film market, enjoying worldwide distribution and considerable financial success. This success was due, in part, to distribution partnerships with major United States studios, such as Warner Brothers.

During the late 1960s and 1970s the saturation of the horror market by competitors and the loss of American funding forced changes to the previously lucrative Hammer-formula, with varying degress of success. The company eventually ceased production in the mid-1980s and has remained in effective hibernation since. In 2000 the studio announced plans to begin making films again, however this move has so far failed to materialise.

The term "Hammer Horror" is often used, incorrectly, to refer to other films of the period made in a similar style by different companies, such as Amicus Productions and Tigon British Film Productions.

Early history (1935 to 1937) — Hammer Productions

In November 1934, William Hinds, a comedian and businessman registered his own film company — Hammer Productions Ltd. — based in a three-room office suite at Imperial House, Regent Street, London. The company name was taken from Hinds' stage name, Will Hammer.

Work began almost immediately on the first Hammer film, The Public Life of Henry the Ninth at the MGM/ATP studios, with shooting concluding on 2 January, 1935. During this period Hinds met Spanish émigré Enrique Carerras, a former cinema owner, and on 10 May, 1935 they formed a film distribution company Exclusive Films, operating from a single office at 60-66 National House, Wardour Street. Hammer produced a further four films distributed by Exclusive:

The Mystery of the Marie Celeste (US The Phantom Ship) featuring Bela Lugosi
(1936)
The Song of Freedom featuring Paul Robeson
(1936)
Sporting Love (1937)
The Bank Messenger Mystery (1936)

A slump in the British film industry forced Hammer into bankruptcy and the company went into liquidation in 1937. Exclusive, however, survived and on 20 July, 1937 purchased the leasehold on 113-117 Wardour Street, and continued to distribute films made by other companies.
Resurrection (1938 to 1955) — Hammer Film Productions
James Carreras (son of Enrique) joined Exclusive in 1938, closely followed by William Hinds' son, Anthony. At the outbreak of World War II, both James Carreras and Anthony Hinds left to join the armed services and Exclusive continued to operate only in a limited capacity. In 1946, James Carreras rejoined the company after demobilisation. He resurrected Hammer as the film production arm of Exclusive with a view to supplying 'quota-quickies' - cheaply made films designed to fill gaps in cinema schedules and support more expensive features. He convinced Anthony Hinds to rejoin the company, and a revived 'Hammer Film Productions' set to work on Death in High Heels, The Dark Road, Crime Reporter and Dick Barton Special Agent (an adaptation of the successful Dick Barton radio show). All were all shot at Marylebone Studios during 1947
. During production of 1948
's Dick Barton Strikes Back, it became apparent that the company could save a considerable amount of money by shooting in country houses instead of professional studios. For their next production — Dr Morelle - The Case of the Missing Heiress (another radio adaptation) — Hammer rented Dial Close, a 23 bedroom mansion next to the River Thames, at Cookham Dean, Maidenhead.

On 12 February, 1949 Exclusive finally registered "Hammer Film Productions" as a company with Enrique and James Carreras, and William and Tony Hinds as company directors. Hammer moved into the Exclusive offices in 113-117 Wardour Street, a building that would come to be known as "Hammer House", and still bears that name today.
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