The Gorgon (1964)

67% of critics liked it
(9 reviews)
52% of users liked it
(680 ratings)

A small German town falls prey to an unseen monster that turns its victims into lifeless statues in this mid-'60s outing from Hammer Studios. When the girlfriend of bohemian artist Bruno Heitz (Jeremy Longhurst) becomes the latest townsperson to turn up dead, her corpse transformed to stone, Bruno… More A small German town falls prey to an unseen monster that turns its victims into lifeless statues in this mid-'60s outing from Hammer Studios. When the girlfriend of bohemian artist Bruno Heitz (Jeremy Longhurst) becomes the latest townsperson to turn up dead, her corpse transformed to stone, Bruno hangs himself, leaving the town to assume his guilt. But when his father, Prof. Heitz (Michael Goodliffe), comes to investigate, he too encounters the Gorgon and turns to stone. Just before dying, the professor dashes off instructions to his other son, Paul (Richard Pasco), about how to exonerate Bruno. Suspicion falls on Dr. Namaroff (Peter Cushing), proprietor of the local madhouse, although one of his patients (Joyce Hemson) seems just as likely a culprit. Then along comes Prof. Carl Maister (Christopher Lee), a folklore expert from the University of Leipzig, who claims that the murderer is actually a human possessed by the spirit of Magaera, one of Medusa's snake-haired sisters from Greek mythology. Together, Paul and Dr. Namaroff attempt to root out the incognito Gorgon while Paul courts lovely amnesiac Carla Hoffman (Barbara Shelley). Directed by Hammer veteran Terence Fisher, The Gorgon is one of several films to feature British horror mainstays Lee and Cushing side by side. In the States, the film appeared with The Curse of the Mummy's Tomb on a double bill promoted by the distribution of a unique giveaway item: black stamps. ~ Brian J. Dillard, Rovi

Rating, Runtime: Unrated, 1 hr. 23 min.
Directed By: Terence Fisher
Written By: John Gilling, J. Llewellyn Devine
Genres: Horror, Mystery & Suspense, Science Fiction & Fantasy

In Theaters: Feb 17, 1965 Limited
Studio: Columbia Pictures

Critic Reviews

Ken Hanke, Mountain Xpress (Asheville, NC)
Definitely Hammer at its best.
Jeffrey M. Anderson, Combustible Celluloid
Fares slightly better [than The Two Faces of Dr. Jekyll].
Dennis Schwartz, Ozus' World Movie Reviews
It's too bad the make-up department couldn't get right the look of The Gorgon ... .
Steve Biodrowski, ESplatter
The Gorgon is an interesting addition to the ... pantheon of classic monster movies - a sort of tragic love story told as a Gothic fairy tale.
Jake Euker, F5 (Wichita, KS)
Enjoyable nonsense; the passing decades have rendered it more nonsenical, and thus more enjoyable.

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Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)

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Featured Audience Ratings

AJ V

This movie is typical and dull, even though I was surprised to see Christopher Lee not playing the monster in this. Other than that, this movie is predictable and boring. The actors try, but sometimes they look bored too. Overall an okay movie.
Michael G

The Gorgon is a fun but not phenomenal Hammer movie. Directed by Hammer master Terence Fisher, The Gorgon can boast everything from gothic settings to the pairing of Peter Cushing (sporting some surly facial hair) and an unruly and bad-ass Christopher Lee. The way the actual gorgon is… More
The Gorgon is a fun but not phenomenal Hammer movie. Directed by Hammer master Terence Fisher, The Gorgon can boast everything from gothic settings to the pairing of Peter Cushing (sporting some surly facial hair) and an unruly and bad-ass Christopher Lee. The way the actual gorgon is set up is really nothing more than a female werewolf that turns people to stone with her gaze as opposed to tearing them limb from limb with bestial tendencies. Once the actual creature is shown she's actually damn creepy (probably laughable by today's standards), but paired with Fisher's atmospheric tone for the movie it all makes for a good time.
xGary X

Anyone with an affection for Hammer horror cannot fail to enjoy this; it has the angry torch wielding mob, busty country lasses with bouffants biting the dust left right and centre, gravedigging by moonlight, escaped mental patients, hilarious pseudo-scientific mumbo jumbo and a rural… More
Anyone with an affection for Hammer horror cannot fail to enjoy this; it has the angry torch wielding mob, busty country lasses with bouffants biting the dust left right and centre, gravedigging by moonlight, escaped mental patients, hilarious pseudo-scientific mumbo jumbo and a rural village stalked by a monster from local legend. I personally can take them or leave them, but it's worth watching for Christopher Lee who attacks his role as a Holmes-ian professor with charismatic bluster. And quite possibly the least convincing severed head you're ever likely to see!
Eduardo C

One of the more beautifully photographed Hammer films but not one of the best written. Worth seeing for the atmosphere (Terence Fisher was a god) and some of the set pieces.

Cast

Peter Cushing
as Dr. Namaroff
Christopher Lee
as Prof. Carl Maister
Richard Pasco
as Paul Heitz

Barbara Shelley
as Carla Hoffman
Michael Goodliffe
as Prof. Heitz
Patrick Troughton
as Kanof

See full cast

The Gorgon (1964)

Critic Reviews

Featured Audience Ratings

AJ V

Michael G

xGary X

Eduardo C

Cast