Twins of Evil (John Hough, 1971) (Merged)

[Dracucarr]

One of my favourite films of all time is Hammer's 1971 vampire classic Twins of Evil. However - I keep seeing images that were not in the film, such as the disrobing of the twins in the jail cell where Maria is seen topless lying down. I have also been informed that there are beheading scenes conducted by the Brotherhood when out searching for poor unfortunates. However, this is something i.'m dubious about since i've neither seen or heard anything that backs this up. Was the first mentioned scene actualy filmed or is it just a publicity still? I am uncertain, but if anyone can provide any details regarding this film which is often unfairly slated (although it does have its failings) I'd be grateful to you.

[Mark Y]

I've been curious about the jail disrobing scene since I first saw stills of it in the old Lorrimer Hammer book. It's possible extra scenes were shot that never made it to the final cut, but equally possible they were publicity stills. Does anyone know?

[irons]

That still was just for publicity purposes, there's no such scene i'm afraid. It's become somewhat of a myth with one person I know swearing they had seen it many years ago. The director (John Hough) confirmed it had never been shot.

[harry2]

With acknowledgement to "Ten Years Of Terror", a Fabpress book.

The final film in "The Karnstein trilogy", the link between Twins Of Evil and it predecessors, The Vampire Lovers and Lust For A Vampire, is actually a tenuous one. The first two films were rooted firmly with the activities of Le Fanu's creation Carmilla, but in Twins Of Evil she makes only a fleeting appearance and then vanishes from the proceedings. Yet the film itself remains one of the most entertaining of Hammer's later-day oeuvre, exploring even further the graphic images of sex and violence with which, by 1971, they had become synonymous.
Peter Cushing plays puritanical Gustav Well, one of his finest ever roles. Unwilling guardian to his nieces, he's a deeply religious man bent on seeking out and burning young girls suspected of witchcraft. In actuality, of course, his interpretation of good is nothing more than an alternative evil to that being woven by the malevolent vampire Count Karnstein (Damien Thomas).
The story centres on the different natures of thr physically identical twins. Frieda is the extrovert who becomes the plaything of the Count and joins the legions of the undead at his side. Maria is the pure one, almost paying for her duplicitous sister's actions with her life, when the inevitable moment of mistaken identity takes place - vampiric Frieda attempting to seduce her Anton (David Warbeck) while Maria is about to be burnt at the stake. The pace of the film never slackens and things move to a fast and furious climax as Weil decapitates Frieda and confronts Count Karnstein for the final showdown.
The task of breathing life into Carmilla/Marcilla this time befell Katya Wyeth. In The Vampire Lovers there was little doubt as to the central character's sexual orientation - it was abundantly clear that she preferred the companionship of a woman in her bed. Then, in a surprising turn of events, Lust For A Vampire saw her lesbian tendencies shelved for some heterosexual couplings with a man. This theme was continued in Twins Of Evil and led to one particular sequence almost destroying the sheer class with which this film is otherwise dripping. Aroused by Karnstein's caresses, in a moment of cheap and tacky sexual imagery, Mircalla reaches out and gently strokes up and down the length of a nearby candle. The fade to the next scene can't come quickly enough !
The twins of the title are played by Maltese-born Madeleine and Mary Collinson (whose alikeness led to more film work together and made them the first Playboy twin playmate centrefolds). Actresses they weren't: however, any failure to fill their roles mor than adequately was neatly counterbalanced by their willingness to shed thir diaphonous night-gowns to order.
The Collinsons aside, the casting of Twins Of Evil is almost uniformly excellen. damien Thomas provides a splendidly wicked foil for Cushing's fanatical witchfinder and, although one feels that Dennis Price is a little underused (one unkind reviewer indiscriminately referred to Price's horror films - the coda to his career - as cheap, worthless and degrading), he offers up the seasoned performance one expects of him. Karnstein's mute manservant is played by Roy Syewart, an impressive giant of a man, his bulk overshadowing everyone elsein frame whenver he appears on screen.
david Warbeck's schoolmaster Anton and Isobel Black as his sister Ingrid provide the anchor point of morality that balances the evil perpetrated by Weil and Karnstein. the scene in which Weil and the members of the Brotherhood heartlessly deposit Ingrid's body in front of Anton and a class of pupils is chilling.
John Hough's direction stirs interesting characters into a cracking tale and Roy Stannard's magnificent sets are outstanding. harry Robinson's rousing title theme march pounds out at timely moments throughout the story, never more effectively than during a dramatic sequence in which the Brotherhood on horsebak chase down a peasant girl and drag her screaming to the stake.
Twins Of Evil is a thrilling movie, and one several diamonds in Hammer's jewel-encrusted crown.

[harry2]

Notes

In one of the most unlikely moments in film merchandising history, a rock version of The Twins Of Evil theme was released on seven inch in Britain, performed by "Essjay", and arranged by Mike Batt of Wombles fame. The comic book adaption appeared in The House Of Hammer issue 7.

[se7en45]

Any links to online sites where these "infamous" pictures can be viewed?

I can honestly say I've never seen any of these publicity photos. The film has many shots that suddenly jerk away in a very haphazard manner. This suggests that the film was badly cut / edited to meet the requirements of the BBFC.

[harry2]

http://www.moviemarket.co.uk/index.html?kid=T103555&

[Rich]

I remember the candle scene that harry2 mentions in his post,absolutely hilarious.It is a classic however and remains my no.1 favourite Hammer horror flick,very closely followed by Frankenstein & The Monster From Hell.

[42ndStreetFreak]

I remember the candle scene that harry2 mentions in his post,absolutely hilarious.It is a classic however and remains my no.1 favourite Hammer horror flick,very closely followed by Frankenstein & The Monster From Hell.

Rich...you namechecked my two favourite Hammer films as well! Massive injustice for too long at the dislike expressed towards Hammer's later (and far superior as far as i am concerned) output.

I love "Twins", one of the finest Brit horor films made, let alone Hammer or Vampire films.

I agree it looks edited at times, but I've never seen any of the footage appear.
And the aforementioned "10 Years of Terror" brings up the fact that almost all of the films were cut to get an 'X'. But whether or not many of these remain cut or not is really hard to say as there is no info on what is cut.
I have heard the DVD crops some nudity though, so I'll stick to me David Warbeck signed pre-cert VHS thanks very much.
Although a definitive DVD release will be a must (and safer as I would hate for anything to happen to the signed pre-cert).

My Wife and myself were at the "Vampyria" convention in London a few years ago and both Damian Thomas and the Collinson Twins were there.
I had hoped to add their sigs to the David Warbeck one on the "Twins" VHS, but they were ONLY signing official photos that you had to pay £10 to buy!! **** that!
Damn, i hate that attitude.

As far as i am concerned I judge 'stars' and their appearences by 3 people:
Lucio Fulci, who (despite frailty) signed anything and everything all day, for no fee, at the Euro Fest in London.
David Warbeck at the same who did the same (as he always did)
Caroline Munro who again at a Westminster Movie Mart spent all day signing any and everything, having photos taken, talking to fans one on one...and for no fee.
Troopers all!

[Rich]

I would have loved to have met Lucio Fulci & David Warbeck,same with the late great Peter Cushing.Sadly,I don't think we will ever see their like again.

[Mark Y]

According to a list of Hammer cuts the BBFC sent me, there were only two cuts made to the film:

Reel 1 - Remove shots of Count Kronstein (sic) registering extreme sexual pleasure and of Gerta entering frame from the left and lying on him

(This is the scene in the shack and would indicate what Gerta was actually doing to the Count. A similar scene (with the roles reversed) was included at PG level a few years ago in The Fifth Element and caused me great embarrassment when the kids asked me what Ruby Rhod was doing to the woman concerned)

Reel 3 - In the episode in which a woman is prepared for human sacrifice, remove shots of hooded man dipping his fingers in blood, lifting the sheet and moving his hand up towards her middle. Reduce the shots of blood trickling on victim's neck

Neither of these cuts has been restored in the DVD. The DVD is slightly cropped at top and bottom from TV and earlier video versions but I've not checked to see if any nudity is lost by this. Guess I'll have to now!

Interesting to see from the imdb that the film was banned in Norway and Finland apparently.

[se7en45]

I have heard the DVD crops some nudity though, so I'll stick to me David Warbeck signed pre-cert VHS thanks very much. Caroline Munro who again at a Westminster Movie Mart spent all day signing any and everything, having photos taken, talking to fans one on one...

The nudity "cropping" is true! The right word is "masking". Black-bars now cover up partial nudity in many of the shots. The 16:9 framing gets on my tits!

And you're right about Caroline Munro. A really sweet person who is not embarrassed about her association with low-budget horror flicks.

She took time out to sign autographs and also posed with my sisters.

[42ndStreetFreak]

If I remember rightly a scene that must be badly affected has to be when the cross is thrown and burns her side as her nightgown opens, as the groin/pubic hair shot was right at the bottom of the screen.

I don't want anymore "Werewolf Woman" type fiascos thank you very much!

[se7en45]

I don't want anymore "Werewolf Woman" type fiascos thank you very much!

Dude, when's the promised re-issued of WEREWOLF WOMAN coming out? I remember Shriek Show were shocked at the reception they received when this horribly formatted title hit the shelfs. There was talk of a re-pressing and a possible free exchange for the poor punters who had been lumbered with the incorrect framing...

[Mojo]

According to Play.com, WEREWOLF WOMAN is getting a UK release on 23/05/2005...

[42ndStreetFreak]

No idea about the re-issue. I assumed it had been done.

This should get passed uncut now in the UK, the rape is actually pretty tame and could have been easily trimmed as oppsed to being hacked out completely like in the 'old 18' VHS.

[Tim Rogerson]

There is a german dvd of Twins of Evil available - does anyone know if that's uncut?

[zanner]

is there a dvd release of hammers (1971) 'the evil twins' ?? i would like to get this...cheers zanner.

[Mykii]

If you mean Twins of Evil then it's avaliable on a triple box set called The Vampire Collection with Vampire Circus and Countess Dracula on UK R2. Good prints and it's pretty cheap too (about £15).

[christats]

If you mean Twins of Evil,with the Collinson twins,then the bare bones Carlton Vampire box set with Vampire Circus and Countess dracula.
If you don't mean that then ignore me but Evil Twins is the alternate title isn't it?
I posted at the same time as the above so you have a twin answer as well.