New in paperback! Most critics, historians, and filmmakers agree that no single entity has had more influence over the genre of horror and fantasy film than Hammer Film Productions, a small independent British film company. This volume traces the life and spirit of the 'House of Hammer' from its fledging days of the late 1940s, through its successes of the 1950s and 60s, to its decline in the 1970s. Paperback edition available 2001.