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Awesome Movie

The film may be flawed, but its message is not.

THE GORGON is one of the second-tier Hammer Horror offerings made during the 1960s. It's not one of their classic films but fans of the studio will probably be pleased regardless by the heady Gothic atmosphere which pervades the whole production. It's also the last time that the studio's most famous stars Christopher Lee and Peter Cushing teamed up with arguably the studio's best director, Terence Fisher, who of course was responsible for their 1950s classics like THE CURSE OF FRANKENSTEIN. This one's again set in an unspecified European country, where mysterious deaths have been plaguing the local countryside leaving the victims literally petrified.There's not much mystery served up in the story here, because what's going on is pretty obvious at the outset. In addition, the pacing is quite slow so there's some twiddling of the thumbs involved. However, watching a good cast going through the motions is always a pleasure, so you can overlook these shortcomings and the dodginess of the heavily dated special effects to boot. Cushing relishes his subdued, almost sad, part, Lee is always great fun as the hero for a change (possibly a warm up for THE DEVIL RIDES OUT), and others like Michael Goodliffe, Richard Pasco, and Patrick Troughton shine.

Terence Fisher directed this horror thriller that is set in an early 20th century middle European village where a bizarre series of deaths have occurred where the victims were all turned to stone. The villagers believe it is connected to the local legend that the last surviving Medusa is living in a nearby castle, and that some woman is being possessed by the curse. Dr. Namaroff(played by Peter Cushing) and Professor Meister(played by Christopher Lee) are called in from a nearby university to investigate. Barbara Shelley costars as a mysterious woman, and future "Doctor Who" actor Patrick Troughton appears as a police inspector. Misfired thriller has a fine cast but dour story with an unsatisfying finish, further hurt by inadequate Gorgon makeup F/X.

When both his brother and his father die mysteriously in the remote village of Vandorf, Paul Heitz is determined to find out what fate befell them. But there is a conspiracy of silence and his only friend is the beautiful Carla, who may also be keeping secrets ...This is quite a nice idea; Megaera, a Gorgon, pops up in 1910 in Germany and gets up to the old turning-people-to-stone shenanigans. Combine that with an amnesia patient case and the reliable we-don't-like-strangers-in-our-village rustic schtick and you have a neat little horror mystery. As often in Hammer films the best aspects are the trappings (great sets by Bernard Robinson, which the camera drifts languidly around) and of course the cast. Shelley is an unusual Hammer femme fatale with her auburn hair and tall figure, but she's excellent in the pivotal role (check her out also in Village Of The Damned and Quatermass And The Pit). Troughton steals his scenes in the Pickelhaube-wearing prefect of police part, Cushing is wonderful as always, and this must be the only Hammer flick where Lee is the only one left alive at the end ! For mythology purists, Medusa did have two sisters (called Euryale and Stheno), but unlike her they were immortal and their gaze did not petrify people. Megaera is one of the Erinyes/Furies (the other two being Alecto and Tisiphone), deities who represent revenge and punishment of sin.

The Hammer studios of the 1960's produce some of the most colorful Classic movies which went on to endear a plethora of audiences to their work. Among the most notable pair of actors which made themselves household names were the duo of the late great, Peter Cushing and still working Christopher Lee. Among their finest work which have stood the test of time, is this early offering. The film is called " The Gorgon ", written by J. Llewellyn Devine and directed by Terence Fisher. It revives a horrific and ancient myth concerning the last of three tragic sisters who had been cursed. Originally, they were beautiful, but were transformed into hideous monsters. Anyone who dared to looked upon their faces, were instantly turned into solid stone. In this modern version, Dr. Namaroff (Peter Cushing) has discovered the ancient spirit has returned to the town and has begun murdering victims. With the death of his son Paul, Professor Jules Heitz (Michael Goodlife) arrived in the town only to discover the townsfolk terrorized and little cooperation from Inspector Kanof (Patrick Troughton) or the authorities. Christopher Lee, plays Prof. Karl Meister a courageous man of action who learns of the re-incarnation of the Gorgon (Barbara Shelley) as Carla Hoffman and decides to seek her out. Veteran actor, Jack Watson, plays Ratoff, Cushing able assistant. Together, the fine cast, creates enough drama, excitement and mayhem to establish this Hammer film as a definite Classic. ****