Jimmy Sangster has Passed

2011/08/19 17:44:02 +00:00 | Jonathan James

We are saddened to hear of the passing of Jimmy Sangster today, at the age of 83. While Christopher Lee and Peter Cushing may be the first names Hammer Horror fans think of, Sangster was just as influential when it came to the success of Hammer's films in the 50's and 60's.

Having written The MummyHorror of Dracula, and The Curse of Frankenstein, Jimmy Sangster was one of the men responsible for the creating some of Hammer's most beloved films and horror franchises. After the success of those films, Sangster worked consistently with Hammer as a writer on dozens of films in the 60's, including Dracula: Prince of Darkness. In the 70's, Sangster tried his hand at directing and took on The Horror of Frankenstein and Lust For a Vampire.

Jimmy Sangster was married to his longtime wife and actress Mary Peach and they lived together in London. They had one son Mark James Sangster, and two grandchildren, Claire and Ian Sangster.

If you'd like to learn more about the life of Jimmy Sangster, consider picking up his autobiography, titled Do You Want it Good or Tuesday?: "The infamous Jimmy Sangster, responsible for writing Hammer films such as Horror of Dracula, Curse of Frankenstein, X-The Unknown, and The Revenge of Frankenstein, wields a pen mightier than a stake as he takes an often robust and rowdy look at his life and work. From Hammer to writing television in Hollywood, Sangster details his adventures with a brash humor that lets the reader in on the joke that was Hollywood."

Exclusive / Hammer credits [You can find more over at Jimmy Sangster's IMDB page.]
The Man In Black (1949) - first assistant director
Dick Barton Strikes Back (1949) - second assistant director
Celia (1949) - second assistant director
What The Butler Saw (1950) - assistant director
Someone At The Door (1950) - assistant director
Room To Let (1950) - assistant director
Cloudburst (1951) - assistant director
The Black Widow (1951) - assistant director
The Last Page (1952) - assistant director
Whispering Smith Hits London (1952) - assistant director
Wings Of Danger (1952) - assistant director
Stolen Face (1952) - assistant director
The Flanagan Boy (1953) - assistant director
Spaceways (1953) - assistant director
Blood Orange (1953) - assistant director
The Saint’s Return (1953) - assistant director
36 Hours (1953) - assistant director
Face The Music (1954) - assistant director
Murder By Proxy (1954) - assistant director
The House Across The Lake (1954) - assistant director
Five Days (1954) - assistant director
The Stranger Came Home (1954) - production manager
Third Party Risk (1954) - production manager
The Men Of Sherwood Forest (1954) - production manager
Mask Of Dust (1954) - production manager
A Man On The Beach (1955) - writer
Break In The Circle (1955) - production manager
X The Unknown (1956) - writer, production manager
The Curse Of Frankenstein (1957) - writer
Dracula (1958) - writer
The Snorkel (1958) - writer
The Man Who Could Cheat Death (1959) - writer
The Terror Of The Tongs (1959) - writer
Taste Of Fear (1961) - writer, producer
The Pirates Of Blood River (1962) - story
Paranoiac (1963) - writer
Maniac (1963) - writer, producer
Nightmare (1964) - writer, producer
The Devil-Ship Pirates (1964) - writer
Hysteria (1965) - writer, producer
The Nanny (1965) - writer, producer
Dracula: Prince Of Darkness (1965) - writer
The Anniversary (1968) - writer, producer
Crescendo (1970) - writer
The Horror Of Frankenstein (1970) - writer, producer, director
Lust For A Vampire (1970) - director
Fear In the Night (1972) - writer, producer, director
Flesh And Blood: The Hammer Heritage of Horror

Source: Hammer