THE DEVIL'S BRIDE

I've seen a lot of Hammer horror films in my 62 years. Also Hammer science fiction, film noir and adventure films. But the little British studio produced a vast number of films during the 1950s, '60s and '70s and I must confess, that although I've seen many of them (some several times over), there are still Hammer films out there that I have yet to see.

Case in point the two films I watched this week. The first, SCREAM OF FEAR is a black-and-white psychological thriller from 1961 that I watched the other day with my buddy Kelly Greene. Yesterday, I had the pleasure of viewing for the first time THE DEVIL RIDES OUT (1968) (released in the U.S. as THE DEVIL'S BRIDE).

This film, my dear readers, ranks as one of the greatest Hammer horror films ever made. It's an insanely ambitious undertaking, on a par with the same year's production of FIVE MILLION YEARS TO EARTH. This is a literate, straight-faced thinking person's horror film that never panders or condescends to the audience. Everything is played straight and seriously and the final product ranks as an undisputed masterpiece.

Part of the success of DEVIL'S is due to the talent behind the camera. Genre veteran and Hammer workhorse Terence Fisher directed many of Hammer's best films and DEVIL'S BRIDE is surely among his very best work. That's in large part due to the first rate screenplay by horror maestro Richard Matheson. The script is based on the book, THE DEVIL RIDES OUT by Dennis Wheatley. I've not read the book so I can't compare Matheson's screenplay to the source material but taken solely as an exercise in cinematic horror, Matheson's screenplay is first rate.

The film is commanded by the regal, magisterial presence of Christopher Lee, who, for a change, plays a good guy. He's Nicholas Duc de Richleau and he's the only thing that stands between a mad cult of Satan worshippers (led by a suavely sinister Charles Gray) and the demonic possession of two innocents, Tanith (Nike Arrighi) and Simon (Patrick Mower). de Richleau is aided by his friend, Rex Van Ryn (Leon Greene), who is skeptical at first but soon comes to believe the powers in play (along with falling in love with Tanith).

There are several remarkable set-pieces in the film that produce genuine shocks and jolts. The climax involves a literal rending of space and time before everything comes to an end.

Both Christopher Lee and Charles Gray would later play James Bond villains. Gray starred as Blofeld in DIAMONDS ARE FOREVER while Lee played Scaramanga in THE MAN WITH THE GOLDEN GUN (1974). An odd thought I had while watching DEVIL'S BRIDE. If someone had wanted to make a film based on Marvel Comics' character, Doctor Strange, the sorcerer supreme, in 1968, Christopher Lee would have been a great choice.

Alas that project must forever remain in the realm of unwrought things. In the meantime I encourage you to relish the brilliance of THE DEVIL'S BRIDE. This one is truly a masterpiece.

Highest Recommendation.