Hammer Films And Death Of Bray Studios.

[deadrekoning]

I'm a huge fan of Hammer Films. A lot of which i have never seen and cannot get. The older B&W are the hardest to find. Passing tv rips off for silly money
when true film buffs of this genre should be helping each other to distibute and enjoy these little gems of the British industry. Have never seen (The adventures of Pc 49 ) or (Case of pc 49 ) or a lot of the others from that period and waiting still for the film companies to go to DVD. Here's hoping!. As for Bray studios should of been given Lottery funding to save as a protected building for giving us so many memorable English films. Maybe a studio for young Film makers instead of more supermarkets or car parks..

[John Hamilton]

Whatever happened to the proposal to redevelop the site, did that go through in the end? My recollection was it was to convert the main building into flats rather than knock it down, obvious the back lot, such as it was would be dug up but can't help thinking a) its the only opportunity that fans will have to see the old house, the back of which can only be glimpsed from the road (though there is a great view from the river b) the out buildings (sound stages, admin office etc) are no longer in use anyway; and c) its very sad but the world does move on

[smudge]

Yes John, the proposal has gone through with some minor amendments. The old house remains, but to be converted to a family dwelling. Additional houses and a 'Media Centre' are also to be put on the site - though what exactly the latter will be and how long it will remain, I have no idea...

Smudge

[John Hamilton]

Thanks Smudge, this one slipped completely below my radar. Fond memories of visiting the studio with Don Fearney's Hammer events in the 1990's and it was still a working studio- at least in the sense the soundstages were being used for pop videos anyway.

[john walter skinner]

I was sorry to learn of the imminent closure of Bray Studios. While visiting there during a memorable day at one of Donald Fearnley's events about ten years ago I noticed the area where the permanent sets were, Dracula's Castle etc., were no longer there.This land appears to have been sold off years ago for bungalow development when Hammer switched production to Elstree in the late 1960s...By the way these exteriors and interiors were used to great effect in Nathan Juran's SIEGE OF THE SAXONS(1963) which wasn't a HAMMER ....

[Stephen Pickard]

I was sorry to learn of the imminent closure of Bray Studios. While visiting there during a memorable day at one of Donald Fearnley's events about ten years ago I noticed the area where the permanent sets were, Dracula's Castle etc., were no longer there.This land appears to have been sold off years ago for bungalow development when Hammer switched production to Elstree in the late 1960s...By the way these exteriors and interiors were used to great effect in Nathan Juran's SIEGE OF THE SAXONS(1963) which wasn't a HAMMER ....

Below is a link to the Classic Horror Film Board, a thread which demonstrates how the lot was utilized, including screen-grabs from 'Siege of the Saxons", on the various Hammer Films in the late '50's and early '60's (a subject which has been covered before in websites and various magazine publications such as "House that Hammer Built", "Little Shoppe of Horrors").

A tribute to Production Designer Bernard Robinson and his team who made the most out of a tiny studio that was Bray.

http://monsterkidclassichorrorforum....acula-Revamped

[DaveK]

I'm a huge fan of Hammer Films. A lot of which i have never seen and cannot get. The older B&W are the hardest to find. Passing tv rips off for silly money
when true film buffs of this genre should be helping each other to distibute and enjoy these little gems of the British industry. Have never seen (The adventures of Pc 49 ) or (Case of pc 49 ) or a lot of the others from that period and waiting still for the film companies to go to DVD. Here's hoping!. As for Bray studios should of been given Lottery funding to save as a protected building for giving us so many memorable English films. Maybe a studio for young Film makers instead of more supermarkets or car parks..

If deadreckoning is still interested I have a copy of 'The Adventures of PC 49'

[milt subotsky]

It's a sad commentary on the general lack of interest in preserving film heritage, that when I was wrapping up a new book, I had to hold up going to press to await the fate of two iconic studios ... Bray and Twickenham. At the time, it looked like Twickenham was about to be closed and Bray appeared headed for development. The good news is that I was able to report in Amicus Horrors, Tales from the Filmmaker's Crypt, that Twickenham had apparently been saved. The bad news is that I had to report architects had come up with plans for Bray that would leave only the main building still standing. The old soundstages and the area where Bernard Robinson constructed those wonderful outdoor sets would be replaced with "eco-friendly" homes and a "media center."
Please take a look at these artists renderings and make your feelings known. It seems such a shame to lose so much of Britain's fabulous film history. The first shot shows the entire plan, with the main house way in the backround. The second shows the side of the property where Bray's cook used to make "The best food in all of England," according to Hammer's actors and crew. The third shot is of the planned "media center."

bray studio redevelopment plans (2).jpgbray redeveopment artist's rendering A (2).jpgproposed Bray Media Center (2).jpg

As I say, this was the plan as Amicus Horrors, Tales from the Filmmaker's Crypt went to press. I'm in the States now, so I don't know for sure if anything has changed. If anyone knows I'd appreciate any info.

Brian McFadden

[Charlie Croker]

When is the book out Brian ?. Ref Bray think your pretty much up to date. I'm in Windsor tomorrow so may venture to Bray to check out if anything has changed as yet.

[milt subotsky]

Hi Charlie,

The book just came out. It's available through the Hemlock Books site right now and should be on Amazon Uk shortly. It's been on Amazon here in the US for the past 2 weeks.

NEW AMICUS BOOK COVER (2).jpg

When I was a kid I wanted so much to visit those great sets, like Castle Dracula/Baskerville Hall. Peter Cushing talks about them in the book in a long interview I did with him more than 40 years ago. I did get over to Shepperton though, before they tore down the old "Oliver" set where Amicus shot "I, Monster" and Tigon shot "The Creeping Flesh." So if you do get a chance to make a quick run over from Windsor, please let us know what they're up to ... it's so sad, isn't it!

Thanks,

Brian

[john walter skinner]

The biggest culprits here are Pinewood. They surely have excellent fascilities in the old manor house for some type of heritage museum, especially covering the Rank epoch. Would be a great moneyspinner, too, during lean times. Bring back J.Arthur!!

[Charlie Croker]

Hi Brian, Did pop over to Windsor/Bray and doesn't seem to have been any major changes - yet! - even the sign on the main road is still there. Naturally took the opportunity to revisit Oakley Court again which i think is probably the best that we will be left with. John, re Pinewood there are 2 things which would stop a studio tour ala the Hollywood - lack of interest from the studios and objections from localsre increased traffic etc. If you have your ear to the ground it is possible to attained film related events at the studios - Gareth Own's Bond events for example.

[milt subotsky]

Charlie,

On behalf of all of us who worry about the fate of Bray, thanks so much for going out of your way to report that, at least so far, they haven't begun tearing things down! With regard to the Pinewood tour possibilities, you're absolutely right about the opposition from locals. When I was doing my research for the book and Pinewood wanted to roughly double the size of the studio, the possiblity of creating a sort of theme park with tours was among options being considered. A coalition of groups succeeded in getting the project scuttled. Pinewood, of course, is now merged with Shepperton and it's ironic that, many decades ago, the owner of what is now Shepperton wanted to have ... you guessed it, a theme park on his property!

Brian McFadden

[john walter skinner]

Hi Stephen Packard . A belated thank you for the link re Hammer sets. They really were masterpieces of design,the opening scenes of Dracula were the best of gothic cinema for me,please to see there is a new DVD out which included deleted scenes acquired from Japan...it's reviewed in the latest sight and sound mag. The stuff from You Only Arsked was interesting,too... -JWS

[Stephen Pickard]

Many thanks, John.

[john walter skinner]

There's a piece about BRAY STUDIOS imminent demise in MAIL ON SUNDAY last weekend;appears the site is now owned by a showbusiness agent and at present Hammer is based at Ealing Studios; there's a Save Bray Facebook site being set up apparently.
The white Gothic type building which faces the Thames is being converted to apartments with large steps opening to the lawns,though I can't tell if the image from the Mail is computerised...John