The Gorgon

Christopher Lee - Prof. Karl Meister
Peter Cushing - Dr. Namaroff
Richard Pasco - Paul Heitz
Barbara Shelley - Carla Hoffman
Michael Goodliffe - Professor Jules Heitz
Patrick Troughton - Inspector Kanof
Jack Watson - Ratoff
Joseph O'Conor - Coroner
Redmond Phillips - Hans
Jeremy Longhurst - Bruno Heitz
Toni Gilpin - Sascha Cass
Joyce Hemson - Martha
Prudence Hyman - The Gorgon

Terence Fisher returned to the Hammer fold to direct the John Gilling scripted gothic horror The Gorgon, and re-united himself not only with composer James Bernard and production designer Bernard Robinson, but with Christopher Lee and Peter Cushing, too. This time, however, it is Lee who is the good guy.

As Professor Meister (Lee), he travels to an isolated Transylvanian village to discover what has become of his son. As it transpires, the village is being terrorised by Magera, a Gorgon from Greek fable with hissing serpents in her head of hair, who can turn those who dare look into her eyes to stone, one of her victims being the good Professor's son. As she can also assume the identity of unsuspecting villagers, this makes her harder to track down and destroy. Her 'cover' proves to be Carla Hoffman (Barbara Shelley), an assistant to the local brain surgeon, Namaroff (Peter Cushing), who not only knows and shields her true identity, but is also lusting after her! This leaves university professor, Meister, to lead the forces of good to eventual victory.

Despite its inadequate effects, The Gorgon has its admirers; the film is heavy on atmosphere if not thrills. A rather talkative affair, its best moments come when the action shifts to the crumbling castle where Magera lurks, waiting for her victims.