Back in my formative years, one of my local TV stations (out of 3) had a penchant for British horror movies and ran them all the time. In addition to Hammer & Amicus, the two largest companies, there were a number of others who tried their hand at making horror pictures. There was Anglo-Amalgamated (CIRCUS OF HORRORS, HORRORS OF THE BLACK MUSEUM, PEEPING TOM), Baker & Berman (BLOOD OF THE VAMPIRE, FLESH & THE FIENDS, JACK THE RIPPER), and later on Tigon (BLOOD ON SATAN’S CLAW, CURSE OF THE CRIMSON ALTAR, WITCHFINDER GENERAL). There were also a number of smaller companies who made a couple of titles and one of those companies, Caralan, made two films back to back in 1961. One was THE SNAKE WOMAN (an interesting failure), the other was DR BLOOD’S COFFIN which turned into another childhood favorite.
There were a number of reasons for this, the chief reason was that it starred Kieron Moore who I had just seen on the big screen as the heavy in one of my favorite Disney movies, DARBY O’GILL & THE LITTLE PEOPLE and as a lighthouse keeper in THE DAY OF THE TRIFFIDS, a seminal viewing experience which cemented my preference for Brit movies (years later I would see Moore as Vronsky with Vivien Leigh in my favorite version of ANNA KARENINA). Another was that, even as a child, I preferred the straight-faced approach typical of British horror films in a modern setting as opposed to the quick, in-your-face style of American B movies. This understated approach to the highly dubious scenario in DR BLOOD’S COFFIN made it believable and once you buy into it, then the circumstances that occur and the gruesome finale take on really horrific overtones.
In brief, a Cornwall native is thrown out of medical school in Vienna for his radical ideas on heart transplants (remember this is 1961) and he returns to his hometown. The native, Dr Peter Blood (Moore), is a personable young man whose father is the local town doctor. In his employ as a nurse is a pretty young widow (Hazel Court) who takes a liking to Peter. Soon local townspeople start disappearing and strange goings on are happening in the nearby abandoned tin mines. Dr Blood is now ready for his grand scheme, bringing the dead back to life through heart transplants starting with Court’s husband. I know it’s an absurd premise but with that willing suspension of disbelief so necessary for horror movies, it works. This DVD-R, which utilizes a beautiful, proper ratio print, easily bests any other version out there so make sure to look for the MGM Limited Edition.
The Capsule Critic 