She

I'm not sure why everyone dislikes this film. It not only looks absolutely fantastic for a Hammer film, but also features some fantastic performances by some some of Hammer's best actors(and some who aren't Hammer actors). Some of the amazing performances come from the always excellent Peter Cushing, the(finally)newly knighted Christopher Lee, the great Bernard Cribbins and in her first(and last) Hammer film, the gorgeous Ursula Andress as SHE herself. This film is also wonderfully directed by another one-off Hammer director, Robert Day. However this film does have some low points as well. Some of the plot threads are a little silly and some of the later scenes are very repetitive. By no means the best Hammer film, but no where near the worst.

This Hammer production is a fantasy-adventure film. After a brief encounter with a beautiful mysterious woman, a group of adventurers set off to find a lost city in remote Palestine in which she claims to rule. It turns out that she is an immortal being, and one of the party is a reincarnation of her long-lost love. The men subsequently find the lost city and encounter at first-hand She Who Must Be Obeyed…

Despite the presence of a number of Hammer regulars, this is essentially an Ursula Andress vehicle. She was just off the back of her iconic sea-emerging moment from Dr No and was clearly hot property at this time. Not the most gifted or charismatic actress, Andress is never-the-less a very beautiful woman, and therefore looks the part in this role. She is kitted out with an array of fabulous flowing gowns and ornamental head-dresses. And seeing as she is very much the main selling point of the film, it's important to note that she is certainly very aesthetically pleasing. The story itself is very much by-the-numbers, and not especially interesting but is merely a means to an end. Namely an excuse to introduce Ursula in regal attire in fantasy surroundings. These sets are limited by the budget of course, but like all Hammer films it still looks pretty good all things considered. Unlike most Hammer films, though, there is also some on-location photography too, with scenes shot in the desert in the Middle East. This indicates quite clearly that the famous old studio invested a bit more into this production than most, and clearly this was not misplaced seeing as She was one of their biggest commercial successes. Despite this, it isn't in the final analysis an example of the best of their output. It's a little lacking in excitement for too much of the time. Having said this, it does have a rather good ending that is both creepy and surprising. And not only that, it does have both Peter Cushing and Christopher Lee at its disposal which can never be a bad thing quite honestly. So with this in mind and also taking into account that we have a gorgeous ice queen in the lead role, She is a film that has some good things going for it.

Lovely Hammer vehicle about a group of Britishers trying to find fame, fortune, and for one, love in the desert. The three men are Peter Cushing as a professor of archaeology, Bernard Cribbins as his valet, and John Richardson as Leo...the man promised all if he makes the perilous trip through the desert for She. She is an atypical Hammer film. There is not a lot of blood and horror, but plenty of adventure. The film boasts a fine Hammer troupe of wonderful actors. Cushing is exceptional as the professor. Cribbins(a very underrated actor) also shines. Andre Morrell and Christopher Lee also are on hand. Lee has little to really do, however. The male lead Richardson is a bit on the monotonous side, but he does an adequate job. She, the queen of a lost city and people, is played by sex goddess Ursala "Undress" Andress(she keeps her clothes on in this one). Andress probably does give her finest acting performance in this film(it's okay but don't get TOO excited!). The settings look very good, very realistic, and the score by veteran Hammer composer James Barnard easily is the best thing about the film. Bernard creates a wonderful variety of music which enhance the action and romance in the film.

H. Rider Haggard's "She" is a book that transcends its original intent. It's a great African adventure yarn, to be sure... but Haggard out-did his usual fare in this case, hitting a particularly resonant chord with his vivid archetypal image of the Eternal Female.

This particular film rendition similarly out-does the usual Hammer horror fare. The story is faithfully adapted from the book, with only the sort of changes that are inevitably needed to squeeze hundreds of pages of text onto less than two hours of celluloid. With no special effects or CGI to distract, Haggard's original plot remains the chief attraction, and what a great Saturday-afternoon adventure it is! Lost cities in Africa... a mysterious queen... the secret of immortality... these elements have been combined many times, but rarely any better than they are here.

Christopher Lee and Peter Cushing are solid actors, and give two otherwise conventional roles a delightful extra spin. But the real surprise is Ursula Andress, who seems to have been perfectly directed: she avoids stretching her limited talents, and concentrates on looking regal and mysterious. The costume design helps; I'm not a big fan of Ms Andress' charms, but I find the image of her in that golden-feathered headdress quite unforgettable.

A word also about the music. The four-note fanfare that announces the arrival in the hidden land is absolutely perfect. No lost-civilization film should be made without it.

I keep hoping that some director equipped with both budget and talent one day delivers the screen version that "She" really deserves. But until then, this one will do very nicely.

Ursula Andress ordering the execution of chained natives whilst wearing what looks like a bird costume; Peter Cushing and Bernard Cribbins cutting the rug with a couple of belly-dancers; Chris Lee wearing a stupid hat: 'She' might not be the greatest Hammer film of all time, but it certainly has its fair share of moments that make it worthwhile!

Based on the H. Rider Haggard adventure of the same name, this 1965 offering from the 'studio that dripped blood' sees a trio of adventurers—Holly (Cushing), Leo (John Richardson) and Job (Cribbins)—seeking the fabled city of Kuma, after they come into possession of a map that reveals its location. After risking their lives travelling through a desert, they arrive at their destination where they meet Ayesha, the immortal queen of the city, who reveals to Leo that he is the reincarnation of her dead lover Callicrates. Now, after 2000 years of waiting, Ayesha will do anything to keep him by her side for the rest of eternity.

Directed by Robert Day (who had previously helmed a couple of Tarzan movies and therefore would seem like an obvious choice for this adventure set in the 'dark continent'), 'She' is a lavish production that, whilst it might never be labelled a classic, has enough spectacle to make it worth a go.

As always, Cushing and Lee give solid performances, and Cribbins is likable as reluctant adventurer Job; Andress and Richardson are rather wooden, but are easy on the eye. Also rather lovely is Rosenda Monteros, as Ustane, a native girl who almost succeeds in luring Leo away from the manipulative Ayesha.

If you're a fan of Hammer films in general, and are partial to a bit of exotic adventure set in far flung lands, then 'She' should fit the bill rather nicely.

6.5 out of 10, rounded up to 7 for IMDb.