The Hellfire Club (1961)

So much average

Powerful

Let's be realistic.

Instead, you get a movie that's enjoyable enough, but leaves you feeling like it could have been much, much more.

This cheap 'n' cheesy British swashbuckler is very much like the costume adventure films that Hammer were making during the same period, albeit on a much lower budget. There's a wobbly, fake look to the whole production; the costumes are anything but authentic, and nothing looks very believable when it comes down to it. It has the same authenticity as an episode of DOCTOR WHO around the time of Jon Pertwee, but that's not to say it isn't fun.The plot is completely predictable, involving a guy who comes home to claim his inheritance, only to discover that a bad guy (his cousin) has taken his place. It's rather amusing to see Keith Michell (THE SIX WIVES OF HENRY VIII) as the straight-laced lead, but the prevalence of familiar faces in the supporting cast helps to even things out a bit. Watch out for a small, fussy turn from Peter Cushing, Peter Arne and Francis Matthews as the suave villains, Adrienne Corri (VAMPIRE CIRCUS) as a potential love interest, Miles Malleson as a judge and Bill Owen (LAST OF THE SUMMER WINE's Compo!) as a circus performer (!).The production is quite poorly staged and the fight choreography is all over the place, with punches thrown so badly that you can clearly see they never connect. There's a half-rousing sword fight at the climax but it still pales in comparison to other fare from the era. There's lots of titillation though, thrown in as if to make up for the other deficiencies. Nevertheless I love period films from this era, so I still enjoyed THE HELLFIRE CLUB despite the obvious shortcomings.

Everyone has covered this but it is a good swashbuckler and it does look like the Hammer Films costume dramas from the same period, so rather than it just been that Cushing and Sangster were involved, it also resembles a Hammer Film in everything except name. Also of interest is that this is the film that Kolliatis was watching in bed before he dies in the 'The Man Who Got A New Face' episode of the series 'Department S' Which Robert S. Baker produced between 1969 and 1970. An interesting film for everyone who likes a period piece or a costume drama and unlike Kolliatis you will not die after watching this. Great! Search the TV Guide or get it on DVD it's a good timewaster.

Having been aware of this film from its poster found in an old scrapbook of my father's as well as Leslie Halliwell's positive write-up in his film guide and given my own partiality to swashbucklers, I made it a point to catch this one during its sole TV screening in my neck of the woods which occurred in the mid-1990s. Somehow, I didn't tape it back then but, thankfully, I subsequently acquired it via Dark Sky's double-feature DVD where it was coupled with another vintage British genre film (albeit of the horror variety) BLOOD OF THE VAMPIRE (1958; which I caught up with recently during this year's Halloween Challenge) produced by the same film-making duo behind THE HELLFIRE CLUB i.e. Robert S. Baker and Monty Berman. Swashbucklers had been Hollywood's most popular genres during the 1950s so it was almost inevitable that it should also flourish in Europe (Britain, France and Italy) as well. Other British examples were a handful of rather atypical Walt Disney productions and Hammer Films but also rare one-offs like THE MOONRAKER (1958) - another film whose poster graces that aforementioned scrapbook of my father's where he used to paste sundry posters and articles of movies released locally during the 1950s and early 1960s.The plot line of a deposed aristocrat fighting to regain his rightful place is an age-old premise - think of Tyrone Power's South Seas adventure SON OF FURY (1942) for example - and this film follows in that fashion as well as Keith Michell is ousted by his villainous cousin (Peter Arne) who claims both his title and lands following the former's departure as a boy (played by the 1960 VILLAGE OF THE DAMNED's Martin Stephens) from under the clutches of his would-be Satanic father and his 'depraved' peers – hence the title which, incidentally, was an underground society that truly existed but, unsurprisingly, this is no historical account. Ironically enough, the flight of the child and his long-suffering (and ill-fated) saintly mother was precipitated by the boy's cousin goading him to witness the debaucheries of their elders being held in the basement! Needless to say, such wickedness is only mildly (in fact, too mildly if you ask me) depicted by the film-makers and these quaint orgies (relagated to the start and end of the film) are more prone to raise a smile than an eyebrow but, even so, there are three instances of censor-baiting where fetching females (including red-headed Adrienne Corri and Kai Fischer) are shown bare-backed! The hero had been taken by his loyal guardian (David Lodge) to stay with a travelling circus troupe where he grew up a strong,agile man with a penchant for theatricality, qualities which he will be forced to rely on in his future run-ins with Arne and his men. Swordfights, floggings, prison escapes and impersonations (by Michell of a foppish French ally of Arne's) are the order of the day making for a pacy, full-blooded entertainment punctuated by Clifton Parker's rousing music score (not to mention an amiably goofy cameo from Peter Cushing as Michell's attorney) that, while perhaps falling short of more renowned entries in the genre, is reasonably representative of its British variant made during its time.

Rousing swashbuckling tale of an heir Jason(Keith Michell, in fine form as an Errol Flynn type hero), whose despicable father finally leaves this mortal coil for Hell after his death in a hunting accident, must contend with his equally devious, aristocratic scumbag cousin Thomas(Peter Arne)who lays claim to the estate and has the paper entitling Jason to the kingdom. Unfortunately, Jason will have to secure that paper from Thomas somehow by sneaking into his service as a servant. Jason, who was raised by Timothy(David Lodge), once a servant of his fathers'..and only one his late mother could trust..has been part of a traveling circus for some time and has keen acrobatic abilities, not to mention sword-fighting knowledge. This knowledge, and acrobatic skill, comes in handy when Jason's identity is found out, perhaps through Isobel(Adrienne Corri)who is to marry Thomas but falls in love with his cousin. Isobel is from poverty and so desperately wants a title of wealth that Thomas can provide..but despite her feelings towards Jason he stands in the way of her goals. Thomas' power with the English government(..but his underhanded secret dealings with the French offer possibilities of his possible downfall)puts Jason in prison when the evil aristocrat murders Timothy framing him. Jason had retrieved the paper stating his legitimacy to the kingdom and hid it in his lawyer's study. But lawyer Merryweather(Peter Cushing, amusing even if on screen for mere minutes)will not allow his knowledge of the paper known to the judge or jury at the trial for Jason's being tucked away in prison might just benefit England and bring down the corrupt Thomas and his Hellfire Club cohorts. But, Jason's circus-pals will not stand at bay as their friend lays in prison for the gallows and rescue him. Through a cunning kidnapping of the traveling French Marquis, Jason will go within the lair of Thomas' Hellfire club cavern to rescue his lady-love Yvonne(Kai Fischer), held prisoner so that a thorn can be removed from the evil cousin's side. Can Jason rescue Yvonne, thwart Thomas' plans, and, above all, remain alive?Lots of sword-dueling, acrobatic stunts, colorful sets & engaging performances rise this above merely the mundane. It has an appealing hero, loathsome villain worth rooting against, beautiful women, and an exciting prison escape. The circus troupe provide lots of joy as they cunningly trick the guards in the prison escape. Good production values and some suspense as poor Jason faces one trial after another so that he can get his revenge and claim his birthright. The Hellfire Club is an interesting backdrop to the action proclaiming what kind of sickening brutes Jason, and England, are up against.