Chillichap's Review - The Gorgon 1964 A Hammer Horror Movie Starring Peter Cushion, Christopher Lee & Richard Pascoe - A Film I've Just Seen
Hello!
Well, do you know what-I said I don't like horror, but YouTube keep throwing them up there for me to watch. To my surprise, I'm starting to like some of them! I don't like being scared senseless, but add a good story line and it turns out I can do horror (so far). Some of the films I've watched are a bit old and it may help that the special effects aren't always wonderful. Anyway, for those who don't know what a Gorgon is, it's from Greek mythology-three sisters-Stheno, Euryale and Medusa with the power to turn anybody to stone. The first two were immortal, but not Medusa, who was slain by the hero Perseus (You can see this in the Movie Clash of the Titans 1981). Medusa had snakes for hair, so Indiana Jones would've been very very scared of her!
Oh dear, I've just noticed it's a Hammer film-they're pretty scary. As with a lot of these films, we start in a dark castle, where a monster is said to reside. In the nearby village the artist Bruno (played by Jeremy Longhurst) is painting his girlfriend model who reveals she's having his child. It's late, but Bruno embarks on a journey to tell his girlfriend's father that he'll fulfill his obligations. It's a full moon. His girlfriend runs after him, but in the dark encounters something terrifying.
The next day, we visit the Vandorf Medical Institute, where Inspector Kanof (played by Patrick Troughton-AKA Dr Who) has brought the dead girl's body for medical examination by Doctor Namaroff (Peter Cushion). Apparently there have been 7 murders over 5 years and Bruno is missing and is a suspect. Dr Namaroff knows Bruno's father-Professor Jules Heitz. Dr Namaroff's assistant, Carla (Barbara Shelley) accidentally pushes the body of the dead girl against a table and a finger from her grey hand snaps off. It's clear that the girl has literally been petrified (turned to stone).
The police find Bruno hanging from a tree. There's a murder inquiry where Kanof attempts to discredit Bruno and point towards him as the murderer. Janus Cass (Alister Williamson) the father of the murdered girl is called for evidence and paints a poor picture of Bruno (see what I did there?). The coroner's verdict is murder and suicide despite protestations from Professor Heitz, Bruno father. Later, back at the hospital, Carla says that 'she's back'. Professor Heitz arrives and asks for Namaroff's help. He mentions a mystical creature Megaera who can turn mortals to stone. Namaroff tries to debunk this legend, but the Professor says he will stay and clear his son's name. Namaroff tells him to be careful.
A mob arrives at Heitz's abode and they get nasty. The inspector turns up, dispersing the mob and advises Heitz to leave. Heitz sends a letter for his other son Paul (Richard Pasco) who is at Leipzig University to come to his aid. Paul reads the letter front of his mentor Professor Karl Meister (Christopher Lee) who's sporting a very big wig.
Alone at night, professor Heitz hears beautiful singing outside, which he investigates. He enters the castle. Lots of creepy music. He sees a figure and then the face of the Gorgon. He stumbles home and tells his butler he's going to write a letter that only his son Paul can read. He turns to stone as he's writing the letter.
The next day Paul visits Namiroff to ask to see the dead girl's body. Namiroff refuses, so Paul reads part of his dad's letter, revealing that his dad had turned to stone. Namiroff asks Paul to leave. What's unclear is why Namiroff is behaving so cagey. Paul goes back to his father's dwelling and explores. Carla arrives and offers Paul help and warns him that the legend of Megaera is real-there seems to be an attraction between her and Paul. Later that evening, she recounts the tale of the three Gorgon sisters to Namiroff which she read from Heitz's letter before Paul found her. Namiroff is informed that a mental patient has escaped from the hospital. Paul hears a noise outside his father's home and investigates. He sees the reflection of Magaera in a pool and runs away.
Paul wakes up in bed 5 days later at Namiroff's hospital, tended to by Carla. The psychiatric patient is found dead. Paul tells Namiroff about what he saw. Namiroff prescribes rest and Paul is discharged, but not before he has a nightmare about Megaera and confronts Namiroff again. Namiroff refuses to talk about Megaera and reveals he buried Paul's father. He realises Paul and Carla are in love and asks an assistant to follow her. Later Paul digs up his father's grave and finds that he did indeed turn to stone. This is witnessed by Carla, Paul asks Carla to leave with him, but she says she can't as Naimroff is jealous. Paul is heartbroken. He also seems to be aging rapidly. Professor Meister arrives.
Back at the hospital, ~Namiroff examines he dead psychiatric patient and removes her brain. Carla arrives during this.
The next day Professor Meister is on the case and convinces the Inspector to show him the details of all foreign nationals that have arrived in the area during the last 10 years. Carla is included in the list. Meister and Paul request an audience with Namiroff. He refuses and confronts Carla about Paul and tells her not to be alone. Carla tells Paul that Namiroff won't see him and arranges to meet him at the Castle the following evening. Paul arrives at the castle and Carla says she'll leave with Paul, but it has to be now. Paul says he can't leave as Meister is going to help him find Magaera. Carla flees and Paul follows her and is nearly killed by one of Namiroff's assistants (Meister save him). Meister gains entry into the hospital and examines paperwork in a bureau. Meister goes back to Paul and makes a startling revelation.
I'm going to stop there as I don't want to ruin the ending.
On the whole, I enjoyed this atmospheric film, but the special effects leave a lot to be desired. I actually found the music more scary than anything else really. Christopher Lee's character of Professor Meister comes into pay a little too late in my opinion. His character is confident and erudite. You don't actually see a great deal of the Gorgon either.
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