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Enjoy the site, have a look
at the posters and a few
photographs of some of
the Hammer people we
have been lucky enough to
meet.
Dave at Hammer House in
London.
at the posters and a few
photographs of some of
the Hammer people we
have been lucky enough to
meet.
Dave at Hammer House in
London.
POSTERS AND HAMMER
Posters were always very important to Hammer and Sir James Carreras, in fact a lot of the time
the poster or some kind of pre-production artwork came first. With this artwork, usually done by
artists like Tom Chantrell, Sir James would try to interest potential backers. Large numbers of
these pre-production posters were painted but that was usually as far as they got as a lot of them
never made it into production.
If a film did go into production then several initial poster designs would be prepared to show how
the poster would look. During production some stills would be provided and a final design would
be completed combining these reference stills and the initial poster design for a final release
poster to be prepared. A good example of this is “Taste the Blood of Dracula” below.
Posters were always very important to Hammer and Sir James Carreras, in fact a lot of the time
the poster or some kind of pre-production artwork came first. With this artwork, usually done by
artists like Tom Chantrell, Sir James would try to interest potential backers. Large numbers of
these pre-production posters were painted but that was usually as far as they got as a lot of them
never made it into production.
If a film did go into production then several initial poster designs would be prepared to show how
the poster would look. During production some stills would be provided and a final design would
be completed combining these reference stills and the initial poster design for a final release
poster to be prepared. A good example of this is “Taste the Blood of Dracula” below.
Pre-production artwork by Tom Chantrell used in
trade ads. No face of Dracula on this as Dracula
wasn’t even meant to be in the story. This was
later changed but by this stage it was proving
difficult to get Christopher Lee to sign up.
trade ads. No face of Dracula on this as Dracula
wasn’t even meant to be in the story. This was
later changed but by this stage it was proving
difficult to get Christopher Lee to sign up.
Tom Chantrells initial poster design
before being provided with
reference stills from the film.
before being provided with
reference stills from the film.
Reference stills are provided
and one is chosen to be
used on the final design for
the release poster by Tom
Chantrell.
and one is chosen to be
used on the final design for
the release poster by Tom
Chantrell.
The release poster stays very close to Chantrell’s initial rough design only covering the girl up a little for the public.
| All advertising material (c) Hammer Film Productions. |
This site is for collectors of British Hammer Horror
posters and the Hammer work of Tom Chantrell,
poster artist.
There is a special page on Tom Chantrell plus a
few photos.
We have provided as much information on the
posters as we can, so enjoy the site, made up from
our own personal collections.
Dave and Sam HAMMERHORRORPOSTERS.COM
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Two of the best
posters but not
the rarest, WHY ?
posters but not
the rarest, WHY ?
A guide to collecting British
Hammer Horror posters
Hammer Horror posters
UNFILMED HAMMER POSTERS
It is thought that there were around 80 or more unfilmed Hammer projects but the number is probably a
lot higher and we will certainly never know the full number. With the help of Simon Greetham a long
time fan of Tom Chantrell's work we can now see a small number of the preproduction artworks
prepared by Tom Chantrell for Hammer. Even though Tom Chantrell sold off much of his original work
in later years he still retained full copyright on his artwork. All artwork (c) TOM CHANTRELL.
lot higher and we will certainly never know the full number. With the help of Simon Greetham a long
time fan of Tom Chantrell's work we can now see a small number of the preproduction artworks
prepared by Tom Chantrell for Hammer. Even though Tom Chantrell sold off much of his original work
in later years he still retained full copyright on his artwork. All artwork (c) TOM CHANTRELL.
Trade ad art by Tom Chantrell for Jim
Danforths aborted Hammer project in 1971.
Danforths aborted Hammer project in 1971.
Tom Chantrell's two different designs for "When the Earth Cracked Open" (also known as "The Day the Earth Cracked Open")
this was to have starred Caroline Munro. Special effects were being developed and storyboards produced by Ray Harryhausen
when the project was dropped in 1971. Artwork on the left courtesy of the Stephen Jones collection.
this was to have starred Caroline Munro. Special effects were being developed and storyboards produced by Ray Harryhausen
when the project was dropped in 1971. Artwork on the left courtesy of the Stephen Jones collection.
Tom Chantrells original artwork for "A Scent of New-Mown Hay"
a post apocalyptic story of survival.
Simon Greetham collection.
a post apocalyptic story of survival.
Simon Greetham collection.
All original artwork
(C)Tom Chantrell
(C)Tom Chantrell
Tom Chantrells original artwork for "Mistress of the Seas" a story first put forward in 1960's. This art was produced for a
brochure in the early 70's and shows the center spread featuring Raquel Welch.
brochure in the early 70's and shows the center spread featuring Raquel Welch.
Tom Chantrell with the original artwork for "The Claw" 1968.
This artwork or title were never used but the story was eventually
filmed in 1972 as "Fear in the Night".
Photo (C) Simon Greetham.
This artwork or title were never used but the story was eventually
filmed in 1972 as "Fear in the Night".
Photo (C) Simon Greetham.
Tom Chantrell with his original artwork for "Chaka Zulu" Photo (C) Simon Greetham.
Go to the Tom Chantrell page to see more of Simon Greetham's photos
of Tom at home and more rare original artwork.
Go to the Tom Chantrell page to see more of Simon Greetham's photos
of Tom at home and more rare original artwork.
Tom Chantrell has used a reference photo of
Christopher Lee from "Dracula" on this unflmed
Dennis Wheatley story "The Haunting of Toby Jugg".
Simon Greetham collection.
Christopher Lee from "Dracula" on this unflmed
Dennis Wheatley story "The Haunting of Toby Jugg".
Simon Greetham collection.
Tom Chantrells design for "Kali, Devil Bride of Dracula" with Peter Cushing in the lead.
Simon Greetham collection.
Simon Greetham collection.
Bray 3 video 4th Aug 2007
Click on the photo above or go to the Bray 3
page for the lower res. Youtube version.
Click on the photo above or go to the Bray 3
page for the lower res. Youtube version.
Tom Chantrells original artwork for
"The Bride of Newgate Gaol".
Simon Greetham collection.
"The Bride of Newgate Gaol".
Simon Greetham collection.
Two great books
by Wayne Kinsey
and should be in
every Hammer
fans collection.
by Wayne Kinsey
and should be in
every Hammer
fans collection.
Tom Chantrells initial design for the cover of the brochure
for "Mistress of the Seas"
for "Mistress of the Seas"
Tom Chantrells final artwork for the cover of the brochure
for "Mistress of the Seas"
for "Mistress of the Seas"
Tom Chantrells original artwork for "Savage Jackboot" from the early 70's.
Courtesy of the Simon Greetham collection.
Courtesy of the Simon Greetham collection.
This is the original artwork by Tom Chantrell for the "The
Amazon Queen" which Tom did for Hammer in the early 70s.
Not much is known about this project but Tom has used a
reference photo of Robin Hawdon from "When Dinosaurs
Ruled the Earth".
It looks to be a cross between "She", "The Viking Queen" and
"Slave Girls" and was certainly one of the many projects
abandoned when Michael Carreras took over Hammer in the
early 70's.
Amazon Queen" which Tom did for Hammer in the early 70s.
Not much is known about this project but Tom has used a
reference photo of Robin Hawdon from "When Dinosaurs
Ruled the Earth".
It looks to be a cross between "She", "The Viking Queen" and
"Slave Girls" and was certainly one of the many projects
abandoned when Michael Carreras took over Hammer in the
early 70's.
Sir James Carreras in
Hammer House sitting
under some of Tom
Chantrell's preprodution
artwork.
Hammer House sitting
under some of Tom
Chantrell's preprodution
artwork.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Soon the posters made their way onto the
open market and were a common site at the
fledgling movie fairs. A story I was told by a
London poster dealer illustrates this were he
remembers around 130 unfolded "Dracula
Has Risen From The Grave" quads on a
dealers table most of which were bought by
a dealer from Germany.
They are 2 lovely posters and ideal for
starting a Hammer collection as they are
affordable and easily available but they are
not and never will be worth a lot of money as
there are just to many about. I hope this
hasn't depressed to many people, anyway
please take a look at the many pages of
other Hammer posters on this site.
Dave.
open market and were a common site at the
fledgling movie fairs. A story I was told by a
London poster dealer illustrates this were he
remembers around 130 unfolded "Dracula
Has Risen From The Grave" quads on a
dealers table most of which were bought by
a dealer from Germany.
They are 2 lovely posters and ideal for
starting a Hammer collection as they are
affordable and easily available but they are
not and never will be worth a lot of money as
there are just to many about. I hope this
hasn't depressed to many people, anyway
please take a look at the many pages of
other Hammer posters on this site.
Dave.
Have you ever wondered why there are so many posters around for "Dracula Has Risen From The
Grave" and the 1969 reissue for "One Million Years BC / She" well here is the story. Hammer were one
of the first film companies to give away posters to fans who wrote to the company and the fans received
these two posters and 3 “action stills”, actually 8x11 prints not photos, of Christopher Lee, Raquel Welch
and Ursula Andress. I don’t know how many people wrote to Hammer but they were still using the
posters a couple of years later when promoting “Blood From the Mummys Tomb”
Grave" and the 1969 reissue for "One Million Years BC / She" well here is the story. Hammer were one
of the first film companies to give away posters to fans who wrote to the company and the fans received
these two posters and 3 “action stills”, actually 8x11 prints not photos, of Christopher Lee, Raquel Welch
and Ursula Andress. I don’t know how many people wrote to Hammer but they were still using the
posters a couple of years later when promoting “Blood From the Mummys Tomb”
I must acknowledge the following publications I have used for
reference on this site.
"The Hammer Story"by Marcus Hearn and Alan Barnes,-Titan Books
Great book on Hammer from beginning to end.
“British Film Posters” by Sim Branaghan. Published by the BFI.
Loads of info on artists, printers and distributors in the British film industry
“ Little Shoppe of Horrors “ by Dick Klemensen Loads of issues done over the years
crammed with info and photos. Quiet simply the best magazine ever done on Hammer.
reference on this site.
"The Hammer Story"by Marcus Hearn and Alan Barnes,-Titan Books
Great book on Hammer from beginning to end.
“British Film Posters” by Sim Branaghan. Published by the BFI.
Loads of info on artists, printers and distributors in the British film industry
“ Little Shoppe of Horrors “ by Dick Klemensen Loads of issues done over the years
crammed with info and photos. Quiet simply the best magazine ever done on Hammer.
Valerie Leon posing in front of some Hammer posters while promoting
"Blood From the Mummy's Tomb".
"Blood From the Mummy's Tomb".
Tom Chantrell and his artwork for "The Reluctant Virgin" AKA "The Bride of
Newgate Gaol" from a story by Jimmy Sangster. Photo (C) Simon Greetham.
Newgate Gaol" from a story by Jimmy Sangster. Photo (C) Simon Greetham.
Don Fearney is presenting a celebration of the
actor John Carson. Click on the poster above
for more details.
actor John Carson. Click on the poster above
for more details.