Friday, August 19, 2011

RIP Jimmy Sangster

Hammer Horror screenwriter Jimmy Sangster dies.The British director, whose writing credits for the Hammer label included The Curse Of Frankenstein, died August 19, 2011 aged 83.Born December 2, 1927 in North Wales, Sangster scripted two of the company’s most successful and defining films, 1957's The Curse Of Frankenstein and 1958's Dracula (called The Horror Of Dracula in the US), both of which threatened their Universal depictions for iconic status. His other writing credits for the company include The Revenge Of Frankenstein, The Blood Of Dracula, The Mummy, The Brides Of Dracula amongst many others, and in 1970 he added direction to his repotoire with The Horror Of Frankenstein and Lust For A Vampire.Elsewhere in the genre Jimmy Sangster wrote episodes of Kolchak: The Night Stalker, Wonder Woman and The Six Million Dollar Man.

Sangster produced and was a co-screenwriter for 1961's "The Savage Guns" starring Richard Basehart.

5 comments:

  1. I've met him in 1997 at a Film Festival in Italy, together with his Mary. I had to take care of them, Christopher Lee and other members of the Jury. He was the sweetest and kindest man I ever met, I will always treasure his memory in my heart

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  2. Tom Betts said...

    Thanks Daniela. It's always nice to read personal feelings about people we only know and read about in books and magazines. Jimmy was married to actress Mary Peach. Remembering someone will always keep them alive in your heart and mind.

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  3. Biltmore: I got to met Jimmy at one of the FanEX down in Baltimore back in the late 90's.

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  4. Tom Betts said...
    Thanks Biltmore. I wasn't aware of him being in the U.S. before.

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  5. And one of the most interesting facts about his career is that Sangter,beyond being a wonderful horror director and producer,was also one of the pioneers of the spagghetti western...
    RIP
    Stephan,from Brazil

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