Martine Beswick

Another interview from my day at th 50th Hammer Horror celebrations at Bray last year. This one is with the beautiful Martine Beswick who starrted in one of my favourite Hammer productions, Dr Jekyll and Sister Hyde.

Enjoy.

Johnny: Thank you for agreeing to be interviewed, I know you’re very busy meeting all of your fans so a few quick questions, how are you enjoying the 50th Hammer Horror bash so far?

Martine: It’s very nice, lovely, lovely being with the friends, the fans, all the lovely people here. It’s such a beautiful day.

Johnny: What would be your most defining memories with working for Hammer and starring in my all time favourite Hammer film ‘Dr Jekyll and Sister Hyde’?

Martine: Well, working with Hammer was really special because it was like family. If you were a Hammer girl you were part of a family and that’s what I like. I’m a big person for my friends and my family, and I’m very happy to go from my life family to my film ‘family’.

Johnny: Have you watched Dr Jekyll and Sister Hyde recently?

Martine: Yes I have. (smiles)

Johnny: I think it stands up to this day as one of the most inventive of the Hammer films by way of story and it does have some fantastic sequences. The first time when Dr Jekyll turns into Miss Hyde, is one of the most seamless piece of filmmaking I think I’ve seen.

Martine: It’s very clever. Roy Ward Baker (director) was very clever.

Johnny: Do you know how he did it?

Martine: I can’t tell you, all I know is he literally set up one camera; Ralph (Ralph Bates) was sitting in front of the mirror, I was sitting also in front of the mirror; I don’t remember how he did it, but both of us looked in the mirror, you only see the back of him when you see me, and we’re both there and it’s totally brilliant. It was great, it was a really great shot and every time I look at it I go wow! I don’t know he did it. (giggles)

Johnny: A question that I have asked everybody here, Hammer has been bought and there’s rumours that they might go back into production. Do you think that Hammer should come up with new and exciting ideas and modern stories or do you think they should stay with the period and the Victoriana horror?

Martine: Well I think that they could come back with the Victoriana and they could come up with the new and exciting ideas; but they would have to be exceptionally good because all of the new stuff recently has just killed horror dead. It’s horrible, dreadful.

Johnny: Thank you very much for talking to me.

Martine: You’re very welcome!

And with that, she signs my Hammer Horror book and then floats back indoors to sign more autographs for the waiting fans and I wander off into the blistering sun with a goofy smile on my face.