The World Of Hammer (1994) was a thirteen part series of twenty-five minute episodes narrated by Oliver Reed. Each episode in the series looked at a theme in Hammer Films such as Dracula & The Undead, Wicked Women, or focused on a star such as Peter Cushing or Christopher Lee. Every episode moves chronologically charting the evolution of a genre or star with some commentary by Reed. Although the series is categorized as a documentary in reality every episode is little more than a clip show.
But that doesn’t mean that The World Of Hammer is without value. The series was collected on VHS by Anchor Bay before the internet was a household phenomenon. When I was a boy The World Of Hammer was instrumental in guiding me through Hammer’s vast back catalogue of films. Suddenly I would become aware of a lesser known Hammer production that I would add to my list of movies to see.
The World Of Hammer kept the studio accessible to audiences. As a kind of guide The World Of Hammer ensured that there would be sustained interest in the films. The series became so synonymous with the studio brand that when Anchor Bay began releasing Hammer films on DVD episodes from The World Of Hammer would often be collected as a special feature.
The World Of Hammer functioned very much the same way as In Search Of Darkness (2019). These clip shows inducted legions of new fans and steered them to the films that would interest them. Those with an expertise in Hammer will, of course, find The World Of Hammer to be a bore but to the uninitiated the series was once as essential as the films themselves.
