User reviews

While Britains's Hammer film company made their reputation with remakes of the hoary old horror staple potboilers such as their Draculas and their Frankensteins, their true strength was in the creation of relatively small budget genre films that shone with matchless originality and talent. "Captain Clegg" is Hammer Films at their very best.

The story concerns Captain Collier of the English Customs Service arriving in a small seaside town in search of smugglers and of his old arch nemesis, the pirate, Captain Clegg. he soon discovers that things in the village are not as simple as they seem. For a start, there are the "marsh phantoms" which are more than capable of frightening people to death, and then there is evidence of large quantities of illegal rum. The plot thickens as Collier seizes the trail and as the villagers fight back in ways quite unexpected for people familiar with this kind of story. Captain Clegg is a rare blend of horror, suspense and swashbuckling comedy that would not be emulated until 2003's "Pirates of the Caribbean: Legend of the Black Pearl." The plot is full of twists and evil jokes and never lets anything get in the way of what is after all, simply a rollicking good yarn.

The acting is frequently nothing short of breathtaking. Peter Cushing as the Reverend Doctor Blyss is at the top of his very considerable form and delivers an masterful performance. "Doctor Blyss" is a fully rounded and complex antihero character of undeniable magnetism and amazing power. A young and almost unbelievably handsome Oliver Reed delivers an arch and catlike performance that with have viewers rolling in the aisles on one hand and swooning on the other. Michael Ripper delivers what may have been the performance of his career, his character, "Jeremiah Mipps" is worthy of the great Leonard Rossiter at his best.

"Captain Clegg" AKA "Night Creatures" is not a perfect film, but it is one which has found an abiding place in my heart. A true classic, I cannot remember it without smiling.

One of Hammer's finest films yet unseen for years. It has not been broadcast on British television since 1981 when it was under its American title, Night Creatures. But it's a wonderful little movie. Peter Cushing is on fine form as is the ever-reliable Patrick Allen and Oliver Reed gives a nice performance as an innocent young man (as if!) The irreplaceable Michael Ripper gets a bigger role here than in most of his films and shines too with a nice line in sarcasm. The story is fun and the location filming is very pleasant (actually Denham in Bucks and not Dymchurch at all!) but the thing that lifts this movie to classic status is the electrifying scenes of the Marsh Phantoms, a brilliant realisation of real fear. Remarkably considering that the viewer is aware from the start that they are villagers dressed up, their appearance is incredibly convincing! The opening sequence of scrolling scene setting and narration with a faint glimpse of a skeletal figure on horseback weaving through the background is only a hint of the awesome scenes that follow. After that the film settles down to good historical adventure, lively and funny and only occasionally marred by slapstick, as in the fight in the church. A neglected gem from a more simplistic age.

Well, here's one Hammer movie that was rather difficult to come across! Especially in comparison to the British studio's classic horror, Sci-Fi and psychological thriller efforts, this mixture between historical drama and swashbuckler adventure (don't let the cover image or US title "Night Creatures" mislead you; it's not a horror film) is obscure and little seen. To my recollection it has never even been aired on the BBC, and that's where I personally watched a lot of Hammer horror movies from the sixties and seventies. I wonder why, because "Captain Clegg" is a solid and engaging film with a good script, fine performances and a handful of truly ingenious highlights. The story takes place around the end of the 18th Century in a small English coastal village named Dymchurch, and I must say it's a downright fantastic little place! Not only does the entire village participate in a giant smuggling network, they also have imaginative ways for transporting bootlegged liquor around town and all the villagers collectively help to mess around with an official delegation of soldiers sent by the British Crown to investigate! They even have an utmost brilliant signaling process with scarecrows in place and call upon sinister skeleton horsemen to scare off potential perpetrators! The charismatic leader of Dymchurch is Reverend Blyss, but serving God obviously isn't his primary mission in life. "Captain Clegg" is a fun watch, neatly written by Anthony Hinds and well-directed by the fairly unknown Peter Graham Scott. The cast is top-notch, with glorious roles for Peter Cushing (reliable as always), Oliver Reed (back when he still appeared on film sets in a sober state), Martin Benson (as the town's weakest link) and Michael Ripper (phenomenal as the local undertaker). There aren't many women in the cast, but the beautiful and curvy Yvonne Romain is astonishing enough to represent a whole army of women. Recommended!

Captain Clegg marks one of Hammer Studios few departures from horror in the '60s, telling the tale of a group of 18th century smugglers who operate from a small village on the outskirts of Romney Marshes, using the local legend of the marsh phantoms as a way of keeping the curious at bay (ala Scooby Doo).

With the always reliable Peter Cushing in the lead, plus able support from Hammer regular Michael Ripper, a young Oliver Reed, and buxom beauty Yvonne Romain, and a plot that includes some spooky elements, the film will undoubtedly be of interest to avid Hammer horror fans, but it does suffer somewhat from a script that features no easily identifiable good guys or villains: Captain Clegg and his gang are clearly ruthless, bloodthirsty criminals, as evidenced from the opening scene in which they punish a man by slitting his ears, cutting out his tongue, and leaving him to die on a desert island (and, as pirates, I'm sure that's just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to their nefarious behaviour); meanwhile, the king's men—who are technically the good guys upholding the law—are obviously intended to be seen by the viewer as the film's baddies.

In the end, it's all a bit of a mess—albeit a rather fun mess with skeletal horses and riders, Oliver Reed as a scarecrow, and Peter Cushing sporting very silly hair.

In 1776, a mulatto sailor (Milton Reid) attacks the wife of the pirate Captain Clegg and has his ears and tongue cut out and is left alone in an island to die.

In 1792, in the village of Dymchurch, there is a legend of Marsh Phantoms that ride along the night around the village. The Royal Navy Captain Collier (Patrick Allen) and his sailors arrive in the village to investigate smuggling and bootlegging in the area and are received by the leader Rev. Dr. Blyss (Peter Cushing), who is also the leader of the smugglers. They bring the mulatto that attacks Dr. Blyss apparently with no reason. Captain Collier also decides to investigate the Marsh Phantoms.

"Night Creatures', a.k.a. "Captain Clegg", is an entertaining melodramatic adventure by Hammer directed by Peter Graham Scott. The plot is funny, with the smugglers playing prank in the Royal Navy crew, and Peter Cushing has an interesting role. The romantic side with Oliver Reed and Yvonne Romain also works very well. My vote is six.

Title (Brazil): "Patrulha Fantasma" ("Phantom Patrol")

"Captain Clegg" is definitely not the best Hammer movie ever (that is in my opinion "Dracula"(1958) which is one of the best horror movies ever by the way) but it still generates some fine acting and a pleasing 80 minutes of non pretentious fun.

This is not a genuine horror movie,it is more a costume drama with some horror elements but it never becomes scary of gruesome.The best part of the movie is the acting by Hammer legend Peter Cushing.He carries the movie with his usual skills,it is a shame that he was never recognized as a first class actor which he is in my view.Only George Lucas gave him a big time role in the original "Star Wars"(1977).The other actors also do their best.There is a wonderful performance from Patrick Allen and even Oliver Reed is not annoying.

Overall,I can't say that is a classic but it is enjoyable in ways that is difficult to explain.It probably is the strength of Peter Cushing that helps a lot. 6/10

Hammer Films, the British studio famous for their horror films of the 50s and 60s, produced "Captain Clegg" based on Russell Thorndike's novel, "Doctor Syn: A Tale of the Romney Marsh". An atypical choice for Hammer, this swashbuckling melodrama had the bad luck of being produced the same year as Disney's version of another Dr. Syn novel ("The Scarecrow of Romney Marsh"), which forced Hammer to change the names of the characters to avoid legal issues. Disney's competition and the fact that it was not exactly a horror movie (despite being called "Night Creatures" in the U.S.) contributed to send the film to oblivion for several years. After being lost in limbo, "Captain Clegg" is finally available again, and now it's possible to see this wonderful lost treasure in all its glory.

Set back in the 18th-century, the Royal Crown suspects that smuggling is being done near Dymchurch, so Captain Collier (Patrick Allen) and his crew to investigate. After they arrive, they learn of the legends of the ghosts of Romney Marsh and the curse of the pirate Captain Clegg, but Collier believes that it's all superstitions, and continues his investigations. Collier suspects that the kind village priest, the Reverend Dr. Blyss (Peter Cushing) knows more about the smuggling that what it seems and he'll do whatever is necessary to discover the truth. Even if that means to face the curse of Captain Clegg.

"Captain Clegg" is a wonderful and sadly forgotten film that mixes everything that made Hammer famous in the horror genre with the classic swashbuckling adventures of old. The amazing and beautiful sets and costumes, the cleverly written plots, and the brilliant performances of the cast combine to create a terrific and very enjoyable film. The fact that its director, Peter Graham Scott had a lot of experience with drama and ensemble casts definitely was a defining factor in the result, and while certainly different than most of other Hammer films, the movie retains that certain magic the Studio gave to everything it did.

The film is a better adaptation to Russell Thorndike's novel than Disney's mainly in the fact that the screenplay (by John Temple-Smith) retains the character's anti-hero status, and plays with his dubious morality. Forecasting the renewal of cinema of the 60s, the film has not a definite good and evil, it's all gray scales and the very well constructed characters move from one side to the other in a very realistic manner. The film also makes an interesting point of how our past actions can affect us in the future. Like they did with the horror genre, Hammer modernizes the swashbuckling melodrama with great power and superb care.

The acting is the film's strongest feature and basically every member of the cast is remarkably good. Hammer regular Peter Cushing gives one of his best performances ever and he seems to enjoy the whole movie. It's a joy to watch him in a more complex character than his usual heroic Van Helsing or his wickedly evil Victor Frankenstein. Oliver Reed is also present and his performance as young Harry Cobtree is quite effective. Along with Yvonne Romain they form the romance side of the film and both of them have great chemistry. Patrick Allen and Michael Ripper complete the cast with equally good performances as the script gives everyone a chance to shine.

The film is near perfect and very enjoyable, as it delivers its mix of action, well-handled suspense and old school melodrama blends together smoothly delivering high doses of entertainment. However, some of its scenes at first sight seem definitely outdated (as always happen), later they become part of the film's charm and add to the fun of the story. It was near tragic that the film nearly got lost due to its legal problems and probably bad marketing, as while its American title and its Hammer pedigree suggest Horror, it's far from being in the genre which may turn off viewers expecting a scare-fest.

"Captain Clegg" is a very enjoyable film that modernizes swashbuckling films and gives the chance to watch a different side of Hammer and a wonderful performance by Peter Cushing. It's definitely a must-see and fans of period films filled with suspense and adventure will feel right at home here. A wonderful lost treasure that finally sees light again. 9/10

I was duped..Got a Hammer Horror collection and this was one of the films. Not only is it dull but it is NOT horror...at all. Costume drama with some action. Oh well. Yvonne Romain saved it with her looks and of course Peter Cushing is always good. Oh, and Oliver Reed in a bad wig. I started putting two and two together and sure enough, it shares a pedigree with 'The Scarecrow of Romney Marsh' series from Disney. That was much better than this.

This is one spooky film, yet there are no horror or supernatural elements per se, even though it feels like there are. Probably my favorite film from my childhood along with Disney's "The Scarecrow of Romney Marsh". It was years later before I discovered that they had the same source material and they were released the same year. Disney sued Hammer over rights to the character of Dr. Syn, so Hammer changed the main characters name to Dr. Blyss, and the Scarecrow became a supporting character instead of the lead.

I have to disagree with the reviewer who called this a confusing mess, as the storyline is pretty basic and quite clear cut. The movie is filled with such atmosphere that you can practically get a cough from the constant fog. The highlight of the film is the Marsh Phantoms, a group of smugglers who dress up as skeleton and ride skeleton horses. It is a very eerie sight to see.

Special mention should be made of the incredibly beautiful Yvonne Romaine. She only made a handful of films yet she may possibly be the most beautiful woman who ever appeared on screen.

I have heard that the reason this film is not available is that Universal (I think) has the rights to it and refuses to do anything with it. Sad for all of us.

What if Heaven was a place where you've got a stack of old movies starring, or made by, all your favorites - that you've never seen? Like maybe another couple Scott-Boetticher Westerns, a second George Lazenby Bond movie - or a Peter Cushing Hammer picture you somehow missed while here on Earth. Well, that last little slice of Heaven materialized here in Raleigh, North Carolina, over the weekend. I finally got around to checking out Night Creatures (1962, UK title Captain Clegg).

There's an interesting bit of history to this one. Hammer Films planned to remake Dr. Syn (1937), which starred George Arliss as the mysterious smuggler Reverend Doctor Christopher Syn - based on the novels by Russell Thorndike.

But it turned out that Disney also had their eye on Dr. Syn, for their Wonderful World Of Disney TV show, and had acquired the rights to the novels themselves - versus Hammer's remake rights to the old movie. Disney's eventual three-part TV program starred Patrick McGoohan and William Sylvester. (In the mid-70s, it was re-cut and played US theaters as Dr. Syn, Alias The Scarecrow. I thought it was one of the coolest things I'd ever seen.)

Anyway, back to Hammer. To avoid any legal hassle from the Disney people, Hammer changed the character's name to Captain Clegg and made a few other modifications. There's still a scarecrow, there's still plenty of brandy to be smuggled and taxes to be avoided. But we now get the creepy Marsh Phantoms. Stills of the Phantoms that turned up in my monster movie books and magazines had me wanting to see this movie to a ridiculous degree.

Somehow, it took me more than 40 years to catch up with Night Creatures. But it was worth the wait.

Turns out, it's not really a horror movie at all. Instead, it's a dark, moody pirate/adventure story. Hammer was pretty good at pirate movies. Their The Pirates Of Blood River, from the same year as Night Creatures and with some of the same cast, is a hoot - and they'd follow it with The Devil-Ship Pirates in 1964. Both star Christopher Lee.

I'm not gonna spoil things by giving you a synopsis. It's too good a movie for me to screw it up for you.

Night Creatures is Peter Cushing's movie all the way, in spite of some strong work from Oliver Reed, Michael Ripper (who's got a bigger part than usual) and the lovely Yvonne Romain. Cushing gets to do plenty of action stuff, which he's always very good at. It's shame he's known these days primarily for standing around and being mean in Star Wars (1977). Cushing is so versatile, and he really gets to show his range in this one, going back and forth from ruthless pirate to compassionate preacher numerous times over the course of the picture's 82 minutes. Over the last year or so, I've developed a real love of Cushing. He's a joy to watch.

Patrick Allen is appropriately hateful as the government man sent to track down the band of smugglers and clashing with the Marsh Phantoms along the way. The Phantoms' scenes deliver the goods I'd been waiting decades for - though I'd love to have seen what Jack Asher, Hammer's other DP, would've done with those scenes on the moors. His stylized color effects always knock me out.

There isn't a single thing in this movie that isn't cool.

Peter Graham Scott directs Yvonne Romain.

I finally came across Night Creatures in the Hammer Horror 8-Film Collection Blu-Ray set from Universal. It looks great, as do all the other pictures. I saw Hammer's Phantom Of The Opera (1962) on film repeatedly as a kid, and the spot-on transfer looks exactly as I remember it. Night Creatures gets my highest recommendation. It's become a new favorite around my house.

This movie is confusing and the story is a mess.

What is so confusing about it you might wonder. Well, my major problem with the movie is that I can't figure out who are the bad guys and who are the good guys. In my eyes they were all villains and I didn't cared much for which side would win or who would die or survive. And who was supposed to be the hero? I'm very confused.

The story is a mess and full with some serious plot holes and needless plot-lines. there are too many things going on in a too short amount of time which makes the story even more confusing and messy. The movie is made with style but the end result is at times laughable, such as the very abrupt ending. There are too many things left unanswered and the movie leaves an empty feeling.

The acting on the other hand is superb! Peter Cushing as always is wonderful and I also enjoyed the at the time still very young Oliver Reed. Also good were the sets and costumes and the nice music was surprising good.

Only watchable for the Hammer and Cushing fans (like myself, even though this review might suggest otherwise).

5/10

http://bobafett1138.blogspot.com/

This Movie is one of the more rarest films in the Hammer film cycle, steering away from there normal Horror films this movie is one of the remakes of[Dr syn or the Walt Disney movie Dr syn alias the scarecrow] and I must say an a la cart for Peter Cushing fans and Hammer Fans alike, I love these old films because of the Heartfelt actors of that time really put effort into these films that were made on limited budgets, however this film looks great with plenty of Hammer atmosphere and the cast is Excellent with a very young Oliver Reed who's acting in this film is pretty good, and of course Hammer actor Michael Ripper who plays a major role for a change,[a hammer film isn't the same without michael Ripper who starred in so many of them that you become accustomed to his appearance]This film is a must for the Hammer fans and can be found now on dvd at ebay, directed by Peter David scott a change from Hammer director terence fisher. I give this movie as a rating out of five stars, I'll give it 4 **** Very Good.

Peter Graham Scott directed this period costume adventure that stars Patrick Allen as Captain Collier from English Customs Service, who arrives in a coastal English town to investigate reports of "Marsh Phantoms", which have been seen riding the land, but he believes them to be an elaborate cover for illegal smuggling activities involving the local Reverend named Dr. Blyss(played by Peter Cushing) who seems to be hiding something, despite his accommodating nature toward the investigation. Indeed there is much subterfuge, as Dr. Blyss is well-known to Collier, who doesn't realize it yet... Entertaining film with an unusual but effective role for Peter Cushing, who is both sympathetic and cunning. Exciting and colorful, with fine atmosphere.

Night Creatures AKA Captain Clegg

I found this to be a pretty neat melodrama... a good period piece. Lots great Gothic imagery.

Peter Cushing he's great as always this time as Rev. Dr. Blyss, same can be said for Oliver Reed who plays Harry Cobtree. The rest of the cast is good as well.

It's an interesting story - there is a mystery as well as to who or what the Marsh Phantoms are so it's not just a straight horror film.

The film is worth watching if you like any of the other Hammer Horror films.

7.5/10

Captain Clegg (AKA: Night Creatures) is a Hammer-Major production in Eastman Color, it's directed by Peter Graham Scott with a screenplay written by John Elder. It stars Peter Cushing, Yvonne Romain, Patrick Allen, Oliver Reed, Michael Ripper and David Lodge. Music is by Don Banks and cinematography by Arthur Grant.

"The Romney Marshes-Flat And Desolate-Was The Land Of A Proud And-Independent People. Their Shores Faced The Shores Of France-And Many Was The Shipload Of Wine And Brandy Smuggled Across The Sea In Defiance Of The King's Revenue Men. Many Legends Have Come From This Corner Of England-But None So Widely Believed Or Widely Feared-As The Legend Of The Marsh Phantoms-Who Rode The Land On Dark Misty Nights And Struck Fear Into The Hearts Of All Who Crossed Their Paths."

Hammer's film is actually a remake of a little known 1937 film called Doctor Syn that starred George Arliss as the title character and featured Margaret Lockwood in support. For their take on the Captain Clegg/Marsh Phantoms story, Hammer craft a colourful Gothic like mystery/thriller that contains horror elements. It's certainly not overtly horror, something that has undoubtedly threw some horror seekers venturing into the film for the first time. This may explain why to a large extent it remains a largely unknown Hammer picture, which doesn't as yet have a DVD release in the country of its birth! The story is a very good one with smugglers, murders, romantic passions, ghostly apparitions and duplicitous characters. All given an excellent period production design by Bernard Robinson for the interiors, while the exteriors are nicely filmed out of the village of Denham in South Buckinghamshire.

Pigeon Pie, Creepy Scarecrow and the Romney Marsh Phantoms.

Of course none of the period flavourings and narrative intrigue would mean much if the acting wasn't up to scratch. Which on reflection is another reason why this is something of a criminally under seen Hammer picture. For not only does it have Cushing turning in one of his best performances (blending dandy fop with a crafty undercurrent), it also has a cast around him that are fully committed and effective in their roles. Which nicely includes Hammer stalwart Michael Ripper (as Mipps the undertaker) getting a more meatier role than usual. Patrick Allen (Dial M for Murder) is imposing as the officious Captain Collier, Martin Benson (The King and I) is suitably shifty as Rash and David Lodge (The Cockleshell Heroes) adds the muscle presence as Bosun. Standing out is Olly Reed as Harry, wonderfully dominating his scenes, he does a neat line in brooding, while Romain (The Curse of the Werewolf) is the classic Hammer wench type, pretty with a heaving bosom, she induces lusty lustations in Harry and Rash.

There's some plot holes that the alert will not miss, and the big reveal is pretty much sign posted to us at the mid-point. But this is a little cracker that Hammer fans, Cushing fans and fans of period mysteries should definitely seek out. 8/10

i first saw this movie at a special screening at a hammer convention several years ago in London. until that morning i'd never even heard of it.

after watching it, in all it's Technicolor glory (they just don't make films like that anymore)i can't understand why it hasn't been screened in so long. funny, dramatic and a damn good story, classic cinema in it's finest. the wonderfully gifted and ever so slightly chilling peter cushing joins forces with a young and rather dashing oliver Reid to protect a girl, a treasure, a secret past and a pretty lucrative smuggling gig.

This is a curiosity in the productions of Hammer Films. Not only is it not really a horror story (more like a swashbuckler adventure drama), but it has been quite forgotten, even though it has all the classic values expected form the company. It's solid fun with excellent acting (Cushing, of course, but even a surprisingly sober Oliver Reed), settings and rhythm, even when I don't find the story as engaging as other Hammer productions.

Hammer Studios is responsible for giving us Peter Cushing, and he gives a masterful performance in this film that is a blend of horror, suspense, and comedy.

Cushing is the ,Reverend Dr. Blyss (Dr. Syn in the novel), who came to a poor village and transformed it. As the leader of the town, he tries to protect them from the King's men.

Character actor Michael Ripper, a veteran of more than 25 Hammer films, was excellent as the coffin maker.

The story itself was fascinating, even if it was easy to guess the big secret once the King's men came to town.

Well worth the time invested.

Unusual offerings from Hammer, it isn't an exactly horror movie, just a wise attempt to make something different, the Marsh Phantoms as they describe as Night Creatures is just a phony flashy to increase the audience imagination, this a real story actually is the Captain Clegg hanged many years ago, the men's King were sent to this small town to find out a smugglers who supposedly are working there, Cushing plays a pleasant Reverend at God's service called Dr. Bliss, a man above suspicion, Patrick Allen a harsh Captain Collier in charge the whole operation and finally Oliver Reed son of the Town's Squire, a bit sly on humor oriented, all happenings are well elaborate, has a character who was the main key to settle the enigmatic case, totally restored on full color as previously conceived, a hidden treasure from the remarkable Hammer!!

Resume:

First watch: 2019 / How many: 1 / Source: DVD / Rating: 7.75