Back home

Captain Clegg

70 votes

Producing House

A captain and his sailors investigate the rampaging "Marsh Phantoms" terrorizing a coastal town, but their search is hindered by a local reverend and a horrifying curse.

movie

Status: Released

Released Date: 1962-06-13

Runtime: 83 mins

Director: Peter Graham Scott

Spoken language: English

Genres: Adventure, Crime, Thriller, Horror

Original title: Captain Clegg

Production Companies: Hammer Film Productions

Production Countries: United Kingdom

Reviews

G

Geronimo1967
Peter Cushing is super as "Dr. Blyss" in this period mystery as the erudite and charming vicar by day, but the leader of a gang of smugglers by night. "Captain Collier" Patrick Allen is sent to investigate these illegal goings on with a troop of soldiers, and they engage in a enjoyable cat-and-mouse game as Allen tries to discover the leader of the smugglers, and also to lay to rest the myth about "Captain Clegg" - a nefarious pirate reputedly hanged at Tyburn years earlier. It's got a cracking supporting cast - Michael Ripper, Oliver Reed, Martin Benson with Derek Francis ably playing the bumbling local squire and Yvonne Romain as the "serving wench"; with plenty of colour, humour and adventure - well worth a watch.
2024-11-19

W

Wuchak
**_Mysterious adventure at a marsh village on the coast of England in the late 1700s_** A group of naval militants are sent by the Royal Crown to investigate rumors of smuggling at a coastal town in 1792, where whisperings of spooky “marsh phantoms” abound. Patrick Allen plays the humorless commanding officer of the King’s men while Peter Cushing stars as the genial pastor of the village. “Night Creatures” (1962) is an obscure Hammer production originally called “Captain Clegg” based on the first book in Russell Thorndike's Doctor Syn series – “A Tale of Romney Marsh," which was published in 1915. The title “Night Creatures” is a misnomer while “Captain Clegg” doesn’t work for reason I can’t explain. The working title “The Curse of Captain Clegg” would’ve been more fitting. In any case, this is an 18th century costume melodrama with skullduggery and quite a bit of action, plus some spooky bits. The presence of Oliver Reed and Yvonne Romain naturally bring to mind “The Curse of the Werewolf” (1961) and this is cut from the same cloth, just minus the lycanthrope trappings. “Witchfinder General” (1968), aka “The Conqueror Worm,” is very comparable. “Black Death” (2010) was no doubt inspired by it, especially the mysterious marsh sequences. Reed was in his prime and the stunning Yvonne Romain has a more significant role than “Curse of the Werewolf.” Meanwhile Cushing was at the top of his game as the interesting protagonist. The movie runs 1 hour, 22 minutes, and was shot in Berkshire & Buckinghamshire, England, both just west of London. GRADE: B
2022-11-21

J

John Chard
Captain Nathaniel Clegg, Pirate, Hanged at Rye, 1776. 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
2020-04-26

Recommendations

Jonah: A VeggieTales Movie
3.1

Jonah: A VeggieTales Movie

2002-10-04

Get ready as Bob the Tomato, Larry the Cucumber and the rest of the Veggies set sail on a whale of a

The Boy and the Pirates
2.8

The Boy and the Pirates

1960-04-13

Jimmy desires to be a pirate when one day he discovers a magic bottle on the beach. He makes a wish

Mysterious Island
3.3

Mysterious Island

1961-12-19

During the US Civil War, Union POWs escape in a balloon and end up stranded on a South Pacific islan

Hornblower: The Even Chance
3.8

Hornblower: The Even Chance

1998-10-07

Portsmouth, 1794. Under thundery skies and in lashing rain, 17-year-old midshipman Horatio Hornblowe

Million Dollar Eel
0

Million Dollar Eel

1971-05-06

An heiress (Piccolo) fakes her own kidnapping in order to get money from her parents and hides in th

One Piece "3D2Y": Overcome Ace's Death! Luffy's Vow to his Friends
3.5

One Piece "3D2Y": Overcome Ace's Death! Luffy's Vow to his Friends

2014-12-31

The special takes place during the two year before the Straw Hats reunite on Sabody. Luffy is curre

Peter Pan Live!
2.6

Peter Pan Live!

2014-12-04

Following in the footsteps of the phenomenally successful The Sound of Music LIVE! - which drew over

The Belgrade Phantom
2.8

The Belgrade Phantom

2009-03-27

Belgrade, Yugoslavia, 1979; a mysterious "Phantom" occupies the attention and hearts of Belgrade. Ev

Treasure Island
3.3

Treasure Island

1990-01-22

Young Jim Hawkins, while running the Benbow Inn with his mother, meets Captain Billy Bones, who dies

Saigon
2.9

Saigon

1947-12-05

After World War II Larry learns that his flying buddy Mike will only live a short time despite the e

Long John Silver
2.9

Long John Silver

1954-12-16

In this sequel to Treasure Island, Long John hopes to rescue his friend Jim from a rival pirate and

Jamaica Inn
1.3

Jamaica Inn

1983-05-01

The respected squire of a quiet Cornish village is in reality the leader of a gang of murderous pira

Phantom of the Paradise
3.7

Phantom of the Paradise

1974-10-31

Singer-songwriter Winslow Leach seeks revenge on the nefarious music producer Swan, who steals both

Reign of Terror
3.4

Reign of Terror

1949-10-15

The French Revolution, 1794. The Marquis de Lafayette asks Charles D'Aubigny to infiltrate the Jacob

Apartment 1303
2.4

Apartment 1303

2007-06-16

While celebrating with her friends in her new cheaply rented apartment on the thirteenth floor of a

Bedlam
3.3

Bedlam

1946-05-10

London, 1761. St. Mary's of Bethlehem, a sinister madhouse, is visited by wealthy people who enjoy w

One Piece: The Desert Princess and the Pirates: Adventure in Alabasta
3.4

One Piece: The Desert Princess and the Pirates: Adventure in Alabasta

2007-03-03

The Straw Hat Pirates are on a quest to save the desert kingdom of Alabasta. A civil war brews among

The Bribe
3.1

The Bribe

1949-02-03

United States Federal agent Rigby travels to the Central American island Carlotta to investigate a s

The Vampire Wedding
2.3

The Vampire Wedding

1993-09-29

Young English gentleman Richard travels with his uncle Archibald to Prague, Czech kingdom. There he

One Piece: Clockwork Island Adventure
3.4

One Piece: Clockwork Island Adventure

2001-03-03

Relaxing on a cozy beach, the Straw Hat Pirates are taking a rest from their quest. Right until Luff