Terence Fisher (23 February 1904 – 18 June 1980) was a British film director best known for his work for Hammer Films. He was the first to bring

gothic horror Gothic fiction, sometimes called Gothic horror in the 20th century, is a loose literary aesthetic of fear and haunting. The name is a reference to Gothic architecture of the European Middle Ages, which was characteristic of the settings of ea ...

alive in full colour, and the sexual overtones and explicit horror in his films, while mild by modern standards, were unprecedented in his day. His first major gothic horror film was ''

The Curse of Frankenstein ''The Curse of Frankenstein'' is a 1957 British horror film by Hammer Film Productions, loosely based on the 1818 novel '' Frankenstein; or, The Modern Prometheus '' by Mary Shelley. It was Hammer's first colour horror film, and the first of t ...

'' (1957), which launched Hammer's association with the genre and made British actors

Peter Cushing Peter Wilton Cushing (26 May 1913 – 11 August 1994) was an English actor. His acting career spanned over six decades and included appearances in more than 100 films, as well as many television, stage, and radio roles. He achieved recognition ...

and Christopher Lee leading horror stars of the era. He went on to film several adaptations of classic horror subjects, including '' Dracula'' (1958), ''

The Mummy A mummy is an unusually well preserved corpse. Mummy or The Mummy may also refer to: Places *Mummy Range, a mountain range in the Rocky Mountains of northern Colorado in the United States *Mummy Cave, a rock shelter and archeological site in Par ...

'' (1959), and ''

The Curse of the Werewolf ''The Curse of the Werewolf'' is a 1961 British horror film based on the novel '' The Werewolf of Paris'' by Guy Endore. The film was made by the British company Hammer Film Productions and was shot at Bray Studios on sets that were constru ...

'' (1961). Given their subject matter and lurid approach, Fisher's films, though commercially successful, were largely dismissed by critics during his career. It is only in recent years that Fisher has become recognised as an ''

auteur An auteur (; , 'author') is an artist with a distinctive approach, usually a film director whose filmmaking control is so unbounded but personal that the director is likened to the "author" of the film, which thus manifests the director's unique ...

'' in his own right. His most famous films are characterised by a blend of fairytale myth and the supernatural alongside themes of sexuality, morality, and "the charm of evil". Drawing heavily on a conservative

Christian Christians () are people who follow or adhere to Christianity, a monotheistic Abrahamic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus Christ. The words ''Christ'' and ''Christian'' derive from the Koine Greek title ''Christós'' (Χρι ...

outlook, there is often a hero who defeats the powers of darkness by a combination of

faith Faith, derived from Latin ''fides'' and Old French ''feid'', is confidence or trust in a person, thing, or In the context of religion, one can define faith as "belief in God or in the doctrines or teachings of religion". Religious people often ...

in God and

reason Reason is the capacity of consciously applying logic by drawing conclusions from new or existing information, with the aim of seeking the truth. It is closely associated with such characteristically human activities as philosophy, science, ...

, in contrast to other characters, who are either blindly superstitious or bound by cold, godless

rationalism In philosophy, rationalism is the epistemological view that "regards reason as the chief source and test of knowledge" or "any view appealing to reason as a source of knowledge or justification".Lacey, A.R. (1996), ''A Dictionary of Philosophy' ...

Biography

Early life

Fisher was born in

Maida Vale Maida Vale ( ) is an affluent residential district consisting of the northern part of Paddington in West London, west of St John's Wood and south of Kilburn. It is also the name of its main road, on the continuous Edgware Road. Maida Vale is ...

, a district of London. He left school aged 16 and served in the Merchant Navy for five years. He first broke into the film industry as a clapper boy at Lime Grove Studios in Shepherd's Bush in 1933.

Editor

Fisher did his first work as an assistant editor in 1934. At

Gainsborough Pictures Gainsborough Pictures was a British film studio based on the south bank of the Regent's Canal, in Poole Street, Hoxton in the former Metropolitan Borough of Shoreditch, north London. Gainsborough Studios was active between 1924 and 1951. The com ...

he received his first editor credit on ''

Tudor Rose The Tudor rose (sometimes called the Union rose) is the traditional floral heraldic badge, heraldic emblem of England and takes its name and origins from the House of Tudor, which united the House of Lancaster and the House of York. The Tudor ...

'' (1936). Following this came ''

Jack of All Trades Jack of all trades may refer to: *Jack of all trades, master of none, an aphorism *"Jack of All Trades", a term to reference one with the ability to be proficient in many areas of life Film and television *Jack of All Trades (TV series), ''Jack of ...

'' (1936) for

Robert Stevenson Robert Stevenson may refer to: * Robert Stevenson (actor and politician) (1915–1975), American actor and politician * Robert Stevenson (civil engineer) (1772–1850), Scottish lighthouse engineer * Robert Stevenson (director) (1905–1986), Engl ...

, and '' Where There's a Will'' (1936) and ''

Windbag the Sailor ''Windbag the Sailor'' is a 1936 British comedy film directed by William Beaudine and starring Will Hay. The film marked the first appearance of Hay with Graham Moffatt and Moore Marriott acting as his straight men, however both Moffatt and Ma ...

'' (1936) for

William Beaudine William Washington Beaudine (January 15, 1892 – March 18, 1970) was an American film actor and director. He was one of Hollywood's most prolific directors, turning out films in remarkable numbers and in a wide variety of genres. Life and car ...

. At Warner Bros he edited '' Mr. Satan'' (1938), '' On the Night of the Fire'' (1939), ''

Atlantic Ferry ''Atlantic Ferry'' (alternate U.S. title: ''Sons of the Sea'') is a 1941 British film directed by Walter Forde and starring Michael Redgrave and Valerie Hobson. It was made at Teddington Studios. Plot In 1837 Liverpool, brothers Charles and ...

'' (1940), ''

The Peterville Diamond ''The Peterville Diamond'' is a 1942 British comedy film directed by Walter Forde and starring Anne Crawford, Donald Stewart and Renee Houston. It is also known by the alternative title ''Jewel Robbery''. - from the 1931 play of the same title; ...

'' (1941), and ''

Flying Fortress The Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress is a four-engined heavy bomber developed in the 1930s for the United States Army Air Corps (USAAC). Relatively fast and high-flying for a bomber of its era, the B-17 was used primarily in the European Theater ...

'' (1942). Fisher did '' Tomorrow We Live'' (1943) and '' Candlelight in Algeria'' (1944) for British Aviation Films, ''

They Met in the Dark ''They Met in the Dark'' is a 1943 British comedy thriller film directed by Karel Lamač and starring James Mason, Joyce Howard and Edward Rigby. The screenplay concerns a cashiered Royal Naval officer and a young woman who join forces to solve ...

'' (1943) for Marcel Hellman, '' The Dark Tower'' (1943) for Warners, and '' One Exciting Night'' (1944). Among his final films as editor were ''

The Wicked Lady ''The Wicked Lady'' is a 1945 British costume drama film directed by Leslie Arliss and starring Margaret Lockwood in the title role as a nobleman's wife who becomes a highwayman for the excitement. The film had one of the top audiences for a f ...

'' (1945), one of the most popular British films of the time, and '' Master of Bankdam'' (1947).

Early films as director

Fisher's first film as director was ''

A Song for Tomorrow ''A Song for Tomorrow'' is a 1948 second feature drama film directed by Terence Fisher in his directorial debut. It stars Evelyn Maccabe and Ralph Michael. The screenplay concerns a World War II fighter pilot who suffers amnesia. It was made at ...

'' (1948), a second feature for Highbury Productions. For the same company he did ''

Colonel Bogey The "Colonel Bogey March" is a British march that was composed in 1914 by Lieutenant F. J. Ricketts (1881–1945) (pen name Kenneth J. Alford), a British Army bandmaster who later became the director of music for the Royal Marines at Plymouth. ...

'' (1948) and ''

To the Public Danger ''To the Public Danger'' is a 1948 British drama short film directed by Terence Fisher and produced by John Croydon. It stars Dermot Walsh, Susan Shaw, Barry Letts, and Frederick Piper. The film was made at Highbury Studios as a second featu ...

'' (1948). These were low budget films, though Fisher moved over to Gainsborough for more prestigious movies: ''

Portrait from Life ''Portrait from Life'' (also known as ''Lost Daughter'', and in the U.S. as ''The Girl in the Painting'') is a 1948 British drama film directed by Terence Fisher and starring Mai Zetterling, Robert Beatty and Guy Rolfe. Plot A British Army offi ...

'' (1948) with

Mai Zetterling Mai Elisabeth Zetterling (; 24 May 1925 – 17 March 1994) was a Swedish film director, novelist and actor. Early life Zetterling was born in Västerås, Sweden to a working class family. She started her career as an actor at the age of 17 at D ...

; '' Marry Me!'' (1949) with

Derek Bond Derek William Douglas Bond MC (26 January 1920 – 15 October 2006) was a British actor. He was President of the trade union Equity from 1984 to 1986. Life and career Bond was born on 26 January 1920 in Glasgow, Scotland. He attended Haberd ...

; '' The Astonished Heart'' (1950) with

Noël Coward Sir Noël Peirce Coward (16 December 189926 March 1973) was an English playwright, composer, director, actor, and singer, known for his wit, flamboyance, and what ''Time'' magazine called "a sense of personal style, a combination of cheek and ...

(replacing

Michael Redgrave Sir Michael Scudamore Redgrave CBE (20 March 1908 – 21 March 1985) was an English stage and film actor, director, manager and author. He received a nomination for the Academy Award for Best Actor for his performance in ''Mourning Becomes Elec ...

during filming); ''

So Long at the Fair ''So Long at the Fair'' (US re-release title ''The Black Curse'') is a 1950 British thriller film directed by Terence Fisher and Antony Darnborough, and starring Jean Simmons and Dirk Bogarde. It was adapted from the 1947 novel of the same nam ...

'' (1950) with

Dirk Bogarde Sir Dirk Bogarde (born Derek Jules Gaspard Ulric Niven van den Bogaerde; 28 March 1921 – 8 May 1999) was an English actor, novelist and screenwriter. Initially a matinée idol in films such as ''Doctor in the House'' (1954) for the Rank Organ ...

and Jean Simmons. Fisher returned to supporting features with ''

Home to Danger ''Home to Danger'' is a 1951 British film noir crime film directed by Terence Fisher starring Guy Rolfe, Rona Anderson and Stanley Baker. It was made at the Riverside Studios in Hammersmith as a supporting feature. The film's sets were design ...

'' (1951) for

Eros Films Eros Films was a British film distribution and, later, production company, in operation from May 1947 to June 1961. It was founded by three brothers: Philip, Sydney, and Michael Hyams. Hyams Bros The Hyams' father was a Russian immigrant baker, ...

. Fisher's first feature for Hammer Films was ''

The Last Page ''The Last Page'', released in the United States as ''Man Bait'', is a 1952 British film noir produced by Hammer Film Productions starring George Brent, Marguerite Chapman and Diana Dors. The film is notable for being the first Hammer film dir ...

'' (1951), one of a number of low budget thrillers that studio were then making, usually with an imported American star to appeal to the US market; ''The Last Page'' featured

George Brent George Brent (born George Brendan Nolan; 15 March 1904 – 26 May 1979) was an Irish-American stage, film, and television actor. He is best remembered for the eleven films he made with Bette Davis, which included '' Jezebel'' and '' Dark Victo ...

and

Diana Dors Diana Dors (born Diana Mary Fluck; 23 October 19314 May 1984) was an English actress and singer. Dors came to public notice as a blonde bombshell, much in the style of Americans Marilyn Monroe, Jayne Mansfield and Mamie Van Doren. Dors was p ...

. Hammer liked Fisher's work and kept him on for '' Wings of Danger'' (1952) with

Zachary Scott Zachary Scott (February 21, 1914 – October 3, 1965)Obituary '' Variety'', October 6, 1965. was an American actor who was known for his roles as villains and "mystery men". Early life Scott was born in Austin, Texas, the son of Sallie L ...

, and '' Stolen Face'' (1952) with

Paul Henreid Paul Henreid (November 10, 1908 – March 29, 1992) was an Austrian-British- American actor, director, producer, and writer. He is best remembered for two film roles; Victor Laszlo in '' Casablanca'' and Jerry Durrance in ''Now, Voyager'', ...

and

Lizabeth Scott Lizabeth Virginia Scott (born Emma Matzo; September 29, 1921 – January 31, 2015) was an American actress, singer and model for the Walter Thornton Model Agency, known for her "smoky voice" and being "the most beautiful face of film noir durin ...

. After making ''

Distant Trumpet ''Distant Trumpet'' is a 1952 British drama film directed by Terence Fisher and starring Derek Bond and Jean Patterson. A Harley Street doctor answers the call to perform medical missionary work in Africa, taking over from his indisposed brothe ...

'' (1952) for Meridian Films, Fisher returned to Hammer for '' Mantrap'' (1953) with Henreid; '' Four Sided Triangle'' (1953) with

Barbara Payton Barbara Lee Payton (born Barbara Lee Redfield; November 16, 1927 – May 8, 1967) was an American film actress best known for her stormy social life and battles with alcoholism and drug addiction. Her life has been the subject of several bo ...

; ''

Spaceways ''Spaceways'' is a 1953 science fiction drama film from Hammer Film Productions Ltd. and Lippert Productions Inc., produced by Michael Carreras, directed by Terence Fisher, that stars Howard Duff and Eva Bartok, and co-stars Alan Wheatley. '' ...

'' (1953), a science fiction story, with

Howard Duff Howard is an English-language given name originating from Old French Huard (or Houard) from a Germanic source similar to Old High German ''*Hugihard'' "heart-brave", or ''*Hoh-ward'', literally "high defender; chief guardian". It is also probabl ...

; ''

Blood Orange The blood orange is a variety of orange ( ''Citrus'' × ''sinensis'') (also referred to as raspberry orange) with crimson, almost blood-colored flesh. The distinctive dark flesh color is due to the presence of anthocyanins, a family of polyp ...

'' (1953), a crime film with

Tom Conway Tom Conway (born Thomas Charles Sanders, 15 September 1904 – 22 April 1967) was a British film, television, and radio actor remembered for playing private detectives (including The Falcon, Sherlock Holmes, Bulldog Drummond, and The Saint) ...

; '' Face the Music'' (1954) with Alex Nicol; ''

Murder by Proxy ''Murder by Proxy'' is a 1954 British film noir crime drama film directed by Terence Fisher and starring Dane Clark, Belinda Lee and Betty Ann Davies. The screenplay concerns a man who is offered money to marry a woman. It was produced by Hamm ...

'' (1954) with

Dane Clark Dane Clark (born Bernard Zanville; February 26, 1912September 11, 1998) was an American character actor who was known for playing, as he labeled himself, "Joe Average." Early life Clark was born in Brooklyn, New York City, the son of Jewish imm ...

; and '' A Stranger Came Home'' (1954) with

Paulette Goddard Paulette Goddard (born Marion Levy; June 3, 1910 – April 23, 1990) was an American actress notable for her film career in the Golden Age of Hollywood. Born in Manhattan and raised in Kansas City, Missouri, Goddard initially began her career ...

. He made ''

Final Appointment ''Final Appointment'' is a 1954 British comedy thriller film directed by Terence Fisher, and starring John Bentley, Eleanor Summerfield and Hubert Gregg. It also features Arthur Lowe, later to become famous for his portrayal of Captain Main ...

'' (1954) outside Hammer with John Bentley then went back to Hammer for ''

Mask of Dust ''Mask of Dust'' (later named 'Race for Life' ) is a 1954 British motor racing drama film directed by Terence Fisher and starring Richard Conte, Mari Aldon and Peter Illing. The film was based on the 1953 novel ''The Last Race'' by Jon Manchip ...

'' (1954) with

Richard Conte Nicholas Peter Conte (March 24, 1910 – April 15, 1975), known professionally as Richard Conte, was an American actor. He appeared in more than 100 films from the 1940s through 1970s, including '' I'll Cry Tomorrow'', ''Ocean's 11'', and ''Th ...

. He made the comedy ''

Children Galore ''Children Galore'' is a 1955 comedy film directed by Terence Fisher. It stars Eddie Byrne and June Thorburn. A village squire offers to give away a cottage to a deserving family with the most grandchildren. Cast * Eddie Byrne as Zacky Jones * ...

'' (1955) and the ''Final Appointment'' sequel ''

Stolen Assignment ''Stolen Assignment'' is a 1955 British comedy film directed by Terence Fisher and starring John Bentley and Hy Hazell. The film was produced by Francis Searle for Act Films Ltd, and was a sequel to Fisher's ''Final Appointment'' of the previ ...

'' (1955). Next came another movie with Bentley, '' The Flaw'' (1955) before he made two crime films, ''

The Gelignite Gang ''The Gelignite Gang'' is a black and white 1956 British crime film directed by Terence Fisher and Francis Searle, starring Wayne Morris and Sandra Dorne. The film was released in the U.S. as ''The Dynamiters''. Plot American insurance invest ...

'' (1956) and ''

The Last Man to Hang? ''The Last Man to Hang?'' is a 1956 crime film directed by Terence Fisher. It stars Tom Conway and Elizabeth Sellars. The film was produced by John Gossage for Act Films Ltd. Plot Music critic Sir Roderick Strood is having an affair with a bea ...

'' (1956). He was hired by Tempean Films to make a final crime thriller with an imported American star, ''

Kill Me Tomorrow ''Kill Me Tomorrow'' is a 1957 British crime film directed by Terence Fisher. It stars Pat O'Brien and Lois Maxwell. It was made by Tempean Films at Southall Studios in West London. The film features a cameo by Tommy Steele.Tom Weaver, ''The H ...

'' (1957) with

Pat O'Brien Pat O'Brien may refer to: Politicians * Pat O'Brien (Canadian politician) (born 1948), member of the Canadian House of Commons *Pat O'Brien (Irish politician) (c. 1847–1917), Irish Nationalist MP in the United Kingdom Parliament Others *Pat O'Br ...

. During the 1950s Fisher also worked frequently in British television, directing episodes of series such as ''

The Adventures of Robin Hood ''The Adventures of Robin Hood'' is a 1938 American Technicolor swashbuckler film from Warner Bros. Pictures. It was produced by Hal B. Wallis and Henry Blanke, directed by Michael Curtiz and William Keighley, and stars Errol Flynn, Olivia de H ...

'' and ''

Sword of Freedom ''Sword of Freedom'' was a 1958 drama adventure series for a family audience. Like several of its predecessors (most notably ''The Adventures of Robin Hood''), it was produced by Sapphire Films for ITC Entertainment and fitted into the same sw ...

''.

Hammer Horror films

Fisher's career changed direction permanently when Hammer asked him to direct ''

'' (1957), their first colour horror film. It was the company's most important project to date, and Fisher was hand-picked by Hammer management to helm the film as he had a reputation for reliability. Working from a script by

Jimmy Sangster James Henry Kinmel Sangster (2 December 1927 – 19 August 2011) was a British screenwriter and director, most famous for his work on the initial horror films made by the British company Hammer Films, including '' The Curse of Frankenstein'' (19 ...

that re-imagined the lengthy original

novel A novel is a relatively long work of narrative fiction, typically written in prose and published as a book. The present English word for a long work of prose fiction derives from the for "new", "news", or "short story of something new", itsel ...

as a gruesome, morally ambiguous chamber piece, the film saw British TV star

cast as Baron Victor Frankenstein whilst the then little-known supporting actor Christopher Lee portrayed the Creature. It was a handsome-looking, quality production and an international box office smash; alarming British critics and raising the standard for what was acceptable in terms of on-screen violence and gore, the film established Hammer as a leading brand name in the British film industry. Hammer had even more financial success with Fisher's second gothic horror film '' Dracula'' (1958), starring Lee in the

title role The title character in a narrative work is one who is named or referred to in the title of the work. In a performed work such as a play or film, the performer who plays the title character is said to have the title role of the piece. The title of ...

and Cushing as his adversary Doctor Van Helsing. Once again reducing the scope of its source

in line with Hammer's budgetary constraints, the screenplay minimised both the geographical settings and the number of characters, and the result was a compact, atmospheric and action-packed chiller in which Lee portrayed the figure of the vampire Count Dracula as having an animalistic sexuality that had never before been presented on screen. It is today regarded as a trailblazer in the horror film genre, the archetypal Hammer film, and the greatest of Fisher's directorial efforts. For the rest of his career, Fisher worked almost exclusively within the horror genre. ''

The Hound of the Baskervilles ''The Hound of the Baskervilles'' is the third of the four crime novels by British writer Arthur Conan Doyle featuring the detective Sherlock Holmes. Originally serialised in ''The Strand Magazine'' from August 1901 to April 1902, it is set i ...

'' (1959), with Cushing, Lee, and

André Morell Cecil André Mesritz (20 August 1909 – 28 November 1978), known professionally as André Morell, was an English actor. He appeared frequently in theatre, film and on television from the 1930s to the 1970s. His best known screen roles were as ...

was an adaptation of the famous

Sherlock Holmes Sherlock Holmes () is a fictional detective created by British author Arthur Conan Doyle. Referring to himself as a " consulting detective" in the stories, Holmes is known for his proficiency with observation, deduction, forensic science and ...

given a horror slant, whilst Cushing and Lee also starred in ''

'' (1959), a pastiche of the Universal Mummy movies of the 1940s. ''

The Revenge of Frankenstein ''The Revenge of Frankenstein'' is a 1958 Technicolor British horror film made by Hammer Film Productions. Directed by Terence Fisher, the film stars Peter Cushing, Francis Matthews, Michael Gwynn and Eunice Gayson. In the United States, it wa ...

'' (1958), with Cushing and Francis Matthews, was a successful sequel to ''The Curse of Frankenstein'', whilst ''

The Man Who Could Cheat Death ''The Man Who Could Cheat Death'' is a 1959 British horror film, directed by Terence Fisher and starring Anton Diffring, Hazel Court, and Christopher Lee. Jimmy Sangster adapted the screenplay from the play '' The Man in Half Moon Street'' b ...

'' (1959) was a remake of ''

The Man in Half Moon Street ''The Man in Half Moon Street'' is a 1945 science fiction romantic melodrama dealing with a man who retains his youth and cannot die, living throughout the ages. The plot is similar to Oscar Wilde's '' Picture of Dorian Gray'', except that t ...

'' (1945), and featured Lee in a more heroic role than usual, opposite Anton Diffring. Fisher directed another hit sequel, ''

The Brides of Dracula ''The Brides of Dracula'' is a 1960 British supernatural horror film produced by Hammer Film Productions. Directed by Terence Fisher, the film stars Peter Cushing, David Peel, Freda Jackson, Yvonne Monlaur, Andrée Melly, and Martita Hunt. ...

'' (1960) starring Cushing,

Freda Jackson Freda Maud Jackson (29 December 1907 – 20 October 1990) was an English stage actress who also worked in film and television. Early life and career Jackson was born in Nottingham in 1907. She made her stage debut on 1 January 1934 at the ...

Martita Hunt Martita Edith Hunt (30 January 190013 June 1969) was an Argentine-born British theatre and film actress. She had a dominant stage presence and played a wide range of powerful characters. She is best remembered for her performance as Miss Havi ...

and David Peel, whilst ''

The Two Faces of Dr. Jekyll ''The Two Faces of Dr. Jekyll'' is a 1960 British horror film produced by Hammer Film Productions. It was directed by Terence Fisher, and stars Paul Massie as Dr. Jekyll, and co-stars Dawn Addams, Christopher Lee and David Kossoff. The scree ...

'' (1960) had

Paul Massie Paul Massie (born Arthur Dickinson Massé; July 7, 1932June 8, 2011) was a Canadian actor and academic. He later became a theater professor at the University of South Florida in the 1970s. He remained on faculty until his retirement as professor ...

in the

with Lee and Dawn Addams in support, but it was one of the first Hammer horrors to perform disappointingly at the box office. However, Hammer didn't only assign him to gothic chillers; ''

The Stranglers of Bombay ''The Stranglers of Bombay'' is a 1959 British adventure horror film directed by Terence Fisher for Hammer Films dealing with the British East India Company's investigation of the cult of Thuggee stranglers in the 1830s. The film stars Guy Rolf ...

'' (1959) was a different kind of horror, a tale of the

thuggee Thuggee (, ) are actions and crimes carried out by Thugs, historically, organised gangs of professional robbers and murderers in India. The English word ''thug'' traces its roots to the Hindi ठग (), which means 'swindler' or 'deceiver'. Rela ...

cult in Imperial India starring

Guy Rolfe Guy Rolfe (born Edwin Arthur Rolfe, 27 December 1911 – 19 October 2003) was a British actor. Career Rolfe was born in Kilburn, London. Before turning to acting at the age of 24 he was a professional boxer and racing driver, making his stage ...

and

Allan Cuthbertson Allan Darling Cuthbertson (7 April 1920 – 8 February 1988) was an Australian-born British actor. He was best known for playing stern-faced military officers in British films of the 1950s and 1960s. Early life Cuthbertson was born in Perth, ...

. Fisher had a change of pace when he directed '' Sword of Sherwood Forest'' (1960) for Hammer, with

Richard Greene Richard Marius Joseph Greene (25 August 1918 – 1 June 1985) was a noted English film and television actor. A matinée idol who appeared in more than 40 films, he was perhaps best known for the lead role in the long-running British TV series '' ...

reprising his small screen role as

Robin Hood Robin Hood is a legendary heroic outlaw originally depicted in English folklore and subsequently featured in literature and film. According to legend, he was a highly skilled archer and swordsman. In some versions of the legend, he is depic ...

from the ITV series on which he had previously worked with Fisher. Also featured in a supporting part was

Oliver Reed Robert Oliver Reed (13 February 1938 – 2 May 1999) was an English actor known for his well-to-do, macho image and "hellraiser" lifestyle. After making his first significant screen appearances in Hammer Horror films in the early 1960s, his ...

shortly before Hammer cast him in the lead role of Fisher's ''

'' (1961). Then came ''

The Phantom of the Opera ''The Phantom of the Opera'' (french: Le Fantôme de l'Opéra) is a novel by French author Gaston Leroux. It was first published as a serial in from 23 September 1909 to 8 January 1910, and was released in volume form in late March 1910 by Pierr ...

'' (1962) starring

Herbert Lom Herbert Charles Angelo Kuchačevič ze Schluderpacheru (11 September 1917 – 27 September 2012), known professionally as Herbert Lom (), was a Czech-British actor who moved to the United Kingdom in 1939. In a career lasting more than 60 ye ...

; it was one of Hammer's most expensive films but proved a relative commercial letdown, and following its release Fisher did not work for Hammer again for over two years.

Director for hire

German company CCC Film hired Fisher to make his first movie outside Hammer since 1957, '' Sherlock Holmes and the Deadly Necklace'' (1962), starring Lee as Holmes, but making the film was an unhappy experience for the director and it remains an obscurity.

Lippert Pictures Lippert Pictures was an American film production and distribution company controlled by Robert L. Lippert. History Robert L. Lippert (1909-1976) was a successful exhibitor, owning a chain of movie theaters in California and Oregon. He was frustrate ...

then employed Fisher for '' The Horror of It All'' (1963), a horror comedy starring

Pat Boone Patrick Charles Eugene Boone (born June 1, 1934) is an American singer and actor. He was a successful pop singer in the United States during the 1950s and early 1960s. He sold more than 45 million records, had 38 Top 40 hits, and appeared in mo ...

, but it received poor reviews and was not a success. He finally worked for Hammer again when they reunited him with both Cushing and Lee for ''

The Gorgon ''The'' () is a grammatical article in English, denoting persons or things already mentioned, under discussion, implied or otherwise presumed familiar to listeners, readers, or speakers. It is the definite article in English. ''The'' is the m ...

'' (1964), a personal favourite of the director, before Lippert used him once more for the black-and-white

science fiction Science fiction (sometimes shortened to Sci-Fi or SF) is a genre of speculative fiction which typically deals with imaginative and futuristic concepts such as advanced science and technology, space exploration, time travel, parallel unive ...

film ''

The Earth Dies Screaming ''The Earth Dies Screaming'' is a 1964 British science-fiction horror film directed by Terence Fisher, written by Harry Spalding, and starring Willard Parker, Virginia Field, and Dennis Price.John Hamilton, ''The British Independent Horror Fi ...

'' (1964), featuring American actor

Willard Parker Willard Parker (born Worster Van Eps; February 5, 1912 – December 4, 1996) was an American film and television actor. He was a leading man under contract to Columbia Pictures in the 1940s and starred in the TV series '' Tales of the Texas Ran ...

alongside

Dennis Price Dennistoun Franklyn John Rose Price (23 June 1915 – 6 October 1973) was an English actor, best remembered for his role as Louis Mazzini in the film '' Kind Hearts and Coronets'' (1949) and for his portrayal of the omnicompetent valet Jeeve ...

and Fisher's close friend

Thorley Walters Thorley Swinstead Walters (12 May 1913 – 6 July 1991) was an English character actor. He is probably best remembered for his comedy film roles such as in '' Two-Way Stretch'' and '' Carlton-Browne of the FO''. Early life Walters was born in T ...

. Fisher directed another science fiction film, ''

Island of Terror ''Island of Terror'' is a 1966 British horror film released by Planet Film Productions. The film was released in the United States by Universal Studios on a double bill with ''The Projected Man'' (1967). The idea for the film came when the prod ...

'' (1966), for Planet Film Productions, which starred Cushing alongside

Edward Judd Edward Judd (4 October 1932 – 24 February 2009) was a British actor. Biography Born in Shanghai, he and his English father and Russian mother fled when the Japanese attacked China five years later. His career was at its peak in the 1960s ...

. Back at Hammer he worked on further entries to their most famous franchises, with Lee,

Barbara Shelley Barbara Shelley (born Barbara Teresa Kowin; 13 February 1932 – 3 January 2021) was an English film and television actress. She appeared in more than a hundred films and television series. She was particularly known for her work in horror film ...

and

Andrew Keir Andrew Keir ( né Buggy, 3 April 19265 October 1997) was a Scottish actor who appeared in a number of films made by Hammer Film Productions in the 1960s. He was also active in television, and especially in the theatre, in a professional career ...

starring in '' Dracula: Prince of Darkness'' (1966), whilst ''

Frankenstein Created Woman ''Frankenstein Created Woman'' is a 1967 British Hammer horror film directed by Terence Fisher. It stars Peter Cushing as Baron Frankenstein and Susan Denberg as his new creation. It is the fourth film in Hammer's ''Frankenstein'' series. Wher ...

'' (1967) once again featured Cushing. Fisher, Cushing and Lee then worked together on Planet's ''

Night of the Big Heat ''Night of the Big Heat'' is a science fiction novel written in 1959 by John Lymington. It tells the story of an unnamed British island that is experiencing a bizarre and stifling heatwave. Plot summary The main characters are a former noveli ...

'' (1967), adapted from a sci-fi story by

John Lymington John Richard Newton Chance (1911 – 3 August 1983), who wrote as John Lymington, was born in London. He was a prolific writer of short stories, children's literature, mystery and science fiction novels. An obituary in Ansiblcredits Lymington w ...

Final films

For Hammer, Fisher and Lee next made '' The Devil Rides Out'' (1968), from the novel by Dennis Wheatley, which is now a very highly regarded genre classic, whilst Cushing starred in ''

Frankenstein Must Be Destroyed ''Frankenstein Must Be Destroyed'' is a 1969 British horror film directed by Terence Fisher for Hammer Films, starring Peter Cushing, Freddie Jones, Veronica Carlson and Simon Ward. The film is the fifth in a series of Hammer films focusing on ...

'' (1969), which was conceived as a climax to the Frankenstein series; it was another favourite of Fisher's and stands up as one of his most suspenseful and exciting movies. After injuries sustained in a pair of road accidents resulted in lengthy periods of convalescence, Fisher returned to Hammer for the final time to make ''

Frankenstein and the Monster from Hell ''Frankenstein and the Monster From Hell'' is a 1974 British horror film, directed by Terence Fisher and produced by Hammer Film Productions. It stars Peter Cushing, Shane Briant and David Prowse. Filmed at Elstree Studios in 1972 but not releas ...

'' (1974), which was to be his last film. A financial failure that was written off as being very much behind-the-times when it was first released, more recently the movie has been reappraised as a worthy and melancholic "last hurrah" for Fisher and Hammer's style of horror in general. After several years in retirement, Terence Fisher died in June 1980 at the age of 76.

Filmography

The following is a list of the theatrical films in which Terence Fisher received screen credit. Television productions are not included.

As editor

# ''

'' (1936) as T.R. Fisher # '' Where There's a Will'' (1936) # ''

'' (1936) as Terry Fisher # ''

'' (1936) # '' Mr. Satan'' (1938) # '' On the Night of the Fire'' (1939) a.k.a. ''The Fugitive'' (US) # ''

That's the Ticket ''That's the Ticket'' is a 1940 British comedy film directed by Redd Davis and starring Sid Field, Hal Walters and Betty Lynne.Murphy p.166 It was shot at Teddington Studios. The sets were designed by the art director Norman G. Arnold. Synopsi ...

'' (1940) # ''

'' (1941) # ''

'' (1942) # ''

'' (1942) # '' Tomorrow We Live'' (1943) a.k.a. ''At Dawn We Die'' (US) # ''

'' (1943) # '' The Dark Tower'' (1943) # '' Candlelight in Algeria'' (1944) # '' One Exciting Night'' (1944) # ''

'' (1945) # '' Master of Bankdam'' (1947)

As director

# ''

'' (1948) # ''

'' (1948) a.k.a. ''Lost Daughter'' (US) # '' Marry Me!'' (1949) # '' The Astonished Heart'' (1950) co-director with Antony Darnborough # ''

'' (1950) co-director with Antony Darnborough # ''

'' (1951) # ''

'' (1952) a.k.a. ''Man Bait'' (US) # '' Wings of Danger'' (1952) a.k.a. ''Dead on Course'' (US) # '' Stolen Face'' (1952) # ''

'' (1952) # '' Mantrap'' (1953) also as co-screenwriter, a.k.a. ''Man in Hiding'' (US) # '' Four Sided Triangle'' (1953) also as co-screenwriter # ''

'' (1953) # ''

'' (1953) a.k.a. ''Three Stops to Murder'' (US) # '' Face the Music'' (1954) a.k.a. ''The Black Glove'' (US) # ''

'' (1954) a.k.a. ''Blackout'' (US) # '' A Stranger Came Home'' (1954) a.k.a. ''The Unholy Four'' (US) # ''

'' (1954) a.k.a. ''The Last Appointment'' (US) # ''

'' (1954) a.k.a. ''Race for Life'' (US) # ''

'' (1954) # ''

'' (1955) # '' The Flaw'' (1955) # ''

'' (1956) a.k.a. ''The Dynamiters'' (US) # ''

'' (1956) # ''

'' (1957) # ''

'' (1957) # '' Dracula'' (1958) a.k.a. ''Horror of Dracula'' (US) # ''

'' (1958) # ''

'' (1959) # ''

'' (1960) a.k.a. ''Jekyll’s Inferno'' / ''House of Fright'' (US) # ''

'' (1960) # '' Sword of Sherwood Forest'' (1960) # ''

'' (1961) # ''

'' (1962) # '' Sherlock Holmes and the Deadly Necklace'' (1962) # '' The Horror of It All'' (1963) # ''

'' (1964) # ''

'' (1964) # '' Dracula: Prince of Darkness'' (1966) # ''

'' (1966) # ''

'' (1967) # ''

'' (1967) a.k.a. ''Island of the Burning Damned'' (US) # '' The Devil Rides Out'' (1968) a.k.a. ''The Devil's Bride'' (US) # ''

'' (1969) # ''

'' (1974)

References

Terence Fisher biography on (re)Search my Trash

External links

* *

at Little Shoppe of Horrors * {{DEFAULTSORT:Fisher, Terence 1904 births 1980 deaths Horror film directors English film directors German-language film directors English-language film directors English film editors People from Maida Vale