Jeanskynebu the audience applauded

Lumsdal Good , But It Is Overrated By Some

Brendon Jones It’s fine. It's literally the definition of a fine movie. You’ve seen it before, you know every beat and outcome before the characters even do. Only question is how much escapism you’re looking for.

Erica Derrick By the time the dramatic fireworks start popping off, each one feels earned.

Scott LeBrun This may not be one of their best offerings, but it's still solid and enjoyable genre storytelling done in the typically colourful, atmospheric Hammer style. Of course, any film of this sort that stars both Sir Christopher Lee and Peter Cushing is automatically worthy of some interest. It's also fun to see any film featuring the Gorgon character from Greek mythology. As directed by Hammer stalwart Terence Fisher, this doesn't really work as a mystery but all of the expected trappings do make this easy enough to watch. Perhaps the greatest asset to the tale is the overwhelming sense of tragedy to all of it.The setting is the European village of Vandorf in the early 20th century. The Gorgon Megaera has supposedly taken up residence in a nearby castle, and people periodically turn up dead, turned to stone as we are told was the fate of any person who looked a Gorgon in the face. Headstrong Paul Heitz (Richard Pasco) learns of the bad ends that befell his brother and father, and determines to solve the mystery; he is eventually joined by his colleague Professor Karl Meister (Lee). They believe that the cagey Dr. Namaroff (Cushing) holds the key to all of it.It's a treat to see the usually heroic Cushing play a much more dubious character than usual, and to see the often villainous Sir Christopher in a good guy part. They don't share any screen time until 71 minutes into the film, but the resulting scene is riveting as they square off. The other performances are all excellent: Pasco as Paul, who falls in love with Carla (Barbara Shelly), the gorgeous assistant to Namaroff, Michael Goodliffe as Pauls' father, Patrick Troughton as the officious Inspector Kanof, and Jack Watson as thuggish orderly Ratoff. Prudence Hyman dons the makeup as the monstrous form of the Gorgon, whose visage may come as a disappointment to some viewers.Technically well made overall, with a great score by frequent Hammer composer James Bernard, "The Gorgon" does have protagonists worth rooting for, and a fairly formidable monster.Seven out of 10.

ags123 I probably missed a bit of dialogue and story development whenever the scene took place in Peter Cushing's home. I could concentrate on nothing but that wallpaper! Hammer sets are always designed to maximize the atmosphere, but this one took the cake! What was that about? Actually, it's one of many interesting things about this film. The basic premise (whether it's a true legend is irrelevant) makes for an unusual plot. I liked the downbeat resolution, which I felt was rather unexpected. The acting, though stilted and overwrought, is fine for this type of Gothic melodrama. Nice to see Peter Cushing as a villain for a change. He proves to be quite a versatile actor. Special effects are awfully primitive and cheesy, but they're easily overlooked - this is Hammer after all. Running time is mercifully brief. While it's no masterpiece of horror, "The Gorgon" is engaging entertainment.

ShootingShark When both his brother and his father die mysteriously in the remote village of Vandorf, Paul Heitz is determined to find out what fate befell them. But there is a conspiracy of silence and his only friend is the beautiful Carla, who may also be keeping secrets ...This is quite a nice idea; Megaera, a Gorgon, pops up in 1910 in Germany and gets up to the old turning-people-to-stone shenanigans. Combine that with an amnesia patient case and the reliable we-don't-like-strangers-in-our-village rustic schtick and you have a neat little horror mystery. As often in Hammer films the best aspects are the trappings (great sets by Bernard Robinson, which the camera drifts languidly around) and of course the cast. Shelley is an unusual Hammer femme fatale with her auburn hair and tall figure, but she's excellent in the pivotal role (check her out also in Village Of The Damned and Quatermass And The Pit). Troughton steals his scenes in the Pickelhaube-wearing prefect of police part, Cushing is wonderful as always, and this must be the only Hammer flick where Lee is the only one left alive at the end ! For mythology purists, Medusa did have two sisters (called Euryale and Stheno), but unlike her they were immortal and their gaze did not petrify people. Megaera is one of the Erinyes/Furies (the other two being Alecto and Tisiphone), deities who represent revenge and punishment of sin.

FlashCallahan When his father Professor Jules Heitz and brother Bruno die under mysterious circumstances, Paul Heitz travels to a small town to determine what is going on.It's the early 1900s and he finds villagers who are wary of strangers and apparently live in fear, particularly when there is a full moon.He hears of the legend of Megaera, a Gorgon so hideous that to look at her will turn you to stone.Of particular interest to him are Dr. Namaroff and his attractive assistant Carla Hoffman.Namaroff is obviously hiding something and is very possessive of Carla, who suffers from blackouts and memory loss....It's one of those typical Hammer movies that comes on TV late at night and you just cannot help but watch the absurdity of it all.All the familiar faces are here, Cushing, Lee, Matte Paintings, but Hammer movies never fail to entertain, even if they do fail to shock.Not unlike Nosferatu, we have one man who is an outcast in a village, which hides a secret. The secret is, it's Medusa's not so famous sibling, who can turn a man to stone with her red eyes and awful hair.The effects are funny in a Hammer way, but Lee and Cushing put a bit of class into the proceedings.Not as good as the Dracula films, but has a little kookiness to it all.