THE DEVIL-SHIP PIRATES

Pirate Christopher Lee confronts John Cairney

THE DEVIL-SHIP PIRATES (1964). Director: Don Sharp.

"That sort of talk's for priests and women."

In the late 16th century Britain and Spain are engaged in war. Diablo, a licensed "privateer" ship whose men are led by Captain Robeles (Christopher Lee), has officially become part of the Spanish armada. When the ship is badly damaged in a sea battle consisting of stock footage, Robeles pulls into a small English port to make repairs. There Robeles tells the apprehensive villagers that Spain has won the war, and they are all now under his command. However, one of the pirates' female captives tries to break free so she can tell everyone the truth, although suspicions are already forming ... The Devil-Ship Pirates, co-released by Columbia and Hammer studios, has the latter's usual production gloss, but is a bit on the tepid side. Christopher Lee is more exciting as a pirate leader than he was in The Pirates of Blood River, and Andrew Kier and Michael Ripper are also in the cast. John Cairney [Spaceflight IC-1]plays the young hero, Harry. Don Sharp also directed the zestier Rasputin, the Mad Monk, also with Lee.

Verdict: Nothing special in this non-horror Hammer. **.

THE PIRATES OF BLOOD RIVER

THE PIRATES OF BLOOD RIVER (1962). Director: John Gilling.

"I'm not a man of action. Perhaps I think too much to be brave."

Jason Standing (Andrew Kier), a magistrate at a 17th century Huguenot settlement on the isle of Devon, sends his own son Jonathon (Kerwin Mathews) to a penal colony for the alleged crime of adultery. Jason manages to escape and falls in with a group of French pirates run by a Captain LaRoche (Christopher Lee). Being assured that the pirates represent no danger to his people, Jonathon leads them back to Devon, and discovers you can't quite trust the word of a pirate. Other characters caught up in the action include Jonathon's sister Bess (Marla Landi), and her fella, Henry (Glenn Corbett of Homicidal). Michael Ripper and Oliver Reed [Paranoiac] play other pirates. This is a very handsome non-horror Hammer production, with Lee, unfortunately, being more subdued than usual in trying to avoid the stereotype of the fire-breathing pirate chief. There is an unconvincing attack by piranha, but Gary Hughes' score is a plus, as is the photography of Arthur Grant [The Terror of the Tongs]. Andrew Kier offers the most memorable performance.

Verdict: Not bad Hammer historical melodrama with an interesting cast. **1/2.

BLOOD FROM THE MUMMY'S TOMB

BLOOD FROM THE MUMMY'S TOMB (1971). Director: Seth Holt.

An maltreated Egyptian Princess named Tera (Valerie Leon) takes over the mind of a young woman, Margaret Fuchs (also Leon), who was born at the exact moment her tomb was discovered twenty or so years before. Her corpse is remarkably well preserved, and drips blood from the wound where her hand was cut off centuries before. Various people who were on the expedition to her tomb are killed, their throats torn out. The bloodletting doesn't help a bit in making this slow, dull and somewhat inept film more entertaining. The tomb doesn't look as if it's older than the few days it took to put up the set, and the story is confusing. Holt's uninspired direction is absolutely no help at all. Andrew Kier plays Margaret's father, but his part is under-written. Mark Edwards is Margaret's boyfriend, named "Tod Browning." There's a lot of rushing around to little effect. Many people consider this one of the better Hammer horror films, but it's really quite forgettable. Based on Bram Stoker's novel The Jewel of the 7 Stars. Rosalie Crutchley, who plays another victim of the curse, was memorable as creepy old Mrs. Dudley, the caretaker's wife, in The Haunting. George Coulouris from Citizen Kane plays an aged professor, and James Villiers adds some zest as Corbeck. This film was remade as The Awakening in 1980.

Verdict: Nothing to shout about. *1/2.