Jimmy Sangster

Linchpin of the powerhouse British movie studio Hammer Film Productions, screenwriter and director Jimmy Sangster is the pioneer of a distinctive brand of Gothic-inspired macabre commonly referred to as "Hammer Horror." Specializing in cheaply made yet lavishly detailed films using a repertory of highly trained British actors, the Hammer formula dominated the horror genre from the late 1950s to early 1970s. Sangster, originally a production manager, moved up Hammer's ranks during this peak creative period, writing screenplays for two of the studio's pivotal projects: 1957's "The Curse of Frankenstein" and 1958's "Horror of Dracula." Both scripts departed from the original novels and earlier film versions, with Sangster adding new characters and plot twists to keep audiences interested. While he dabbled in milder fare in following years, including the BBC TV series "The Trollenberg Terror" and the Bette Davis-starred thriller "The Nanny," he made his triumphant return to gore--this time in the director's chair--with the 1970 film "The Horror of Frankenstein." By the late 70s, Sangster, tiring of directing after just three films, returned to screenwriting, working primarily on American TV dramas.