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The BBC2 Horror Double Bills were seasons of classic horror movies broadcast annually in the UK on BBC2 television between 1975 and 1983, with a revival in 1993. They provided rare opportunities (in a pre-VHS or DVD era) to see some of these films.

Format and content

Each Saturday night during the summer (usually July and August), two horror, science-fiction or fantasy movies would be shown, the majority of which were from Universal and Hammer studios, though lesser known movies were also featured. The first season was broadcast in 1975, under the title "Midnight Movie Fantastic",[1] though the season title would vary throughout the years ("Horror Double Bill," "Monster Double Bill," "Dracula, Frankenstein & Friends"). The third season in 1977 ("Dracula, Frankenstein & Friends"), featured the best known Universal monster titles (paired with each other or a Hammer/AIP title), whilst the final original season in 1981 consisted of titles from Val Lewton's horror cycle made for RKO paired with more obscure modern titles.

After seven years, there was no season in 1982. A final series of Double Bills was broadcast during the summer of 1983, although this season was entirely made up of the classic Universal horrors from the 1930s and 1940s, all of which had been shown before, predominantly in the 1977 season "Dracula, Frankenstein & Friends."

The 1990s

After 1983, the BBC rested the format. However the Double Bills returned in 1993 following the success of an all-night Halloween horror marathon on BBC2 a year earlier. The marathon was introduced and linked by Dr. Walpurgis, played by Guy Henry and created by Kim Newman. The other event of that evening was the broadcast of Ghostwatch on BBC1 starring Michael Parkinson, Mike Smith & Sarah Greene. During this evening, it was intended that Dr. Walpurgis would have the privilege of introducing for the first time on British TV the uncut version of Curse of the Werewolf (Hammer 1960), which the doctor described as having "extra stalk and slash scenes." However, problems led to the showing of the usual cut version of the film. The uncut version aired a few months later.

Dr. Terror's Vault of Horror was broadcast on Fridays on BBC1 between September and December 1993 and featured Guy Henry's character, though he was renamed Dr. Terror. The Double Bills only ran one year, although Dr. Terror would return to introduce individual horrors in 1994 and 1996.

List of films broadcast in the Double Bill

1975 Midnight Movie Fantastic

DateTimeTitleDetail
Saturday, 2 August 197522.55 - 00.05The Cabinet of Dr. CaligariDecla Productions (1919)
00.05 - 01.20Quatermass 2Hammer (1957)
Saturday, 9 August 197522.45 - 00.00The Tell Tale HeartDanziger (1960)
00.00 - 01.20The Premature BurialAIP (1961)
Saturday, 16 August 197523.15 – 00.20Noah's Ark(1928)
00.20 – 01.20Man and His Mate(1940)
Saturday, 23 August 197522.40 - 00.05This Island EarthUniversal (1955)
00.05 - 01.25BarbarellaDino de Laurentis/Marianne Productions (1968)
Saturday, 30 August 197522.55 - 00.05The Cat and The CanaryParamount (1939)
00.05 - 01.25The Comedy of TerrorsAlP (1963)
Saturday, 6 September 197522.35 - 00.00The Beast With Five FingersWarner Brothers (1947)
00.00 - 01.20The MazeAllied Artists (1954)

1976 Masters of Terror

DateTimeTitleDetail
Saturday, 14 August 197622.55 - 00.10The Phantom of the OperaUniversal 1925
00.10 - 01.40Dr. Jekyll and Mr. HydeParamount 1932
Saturday, 21 August 197622.00 - 23.20Devil DollMGM 1932
23.20 - 00.50Frankenstein Created WomanHammer 1967
Saturday, 28 August 197611.00 - 00.05The Hounds of ZaroffRKO 1932
00.05 - 01.25Hound of the BaskervillesTwentieth Century Fox 1939
Saturday, 5 September 197622.55 - 00.10The Mad GeniusWarner 1931
00.10 - 01.30The Pit and The PendulumAlP 1961
Saturday, 14 September 197622.50 - 23.55The Walking DeadWarner 1936
23.55 - 01.20Dracula Prince of DarknessHammer 1966

1977 Dracula, Frankenstein and Friends

DateTimeTitleDetail
Saturday, 2 July 197723.05 - 00.25DraculaUniversal 1931
00.25 - 01.35FrankensteinUniversal 1931
Saturday, 9 July 197722.50 - 00.00Bride of FrankensteinUniversal 1935
00.00 - 01.25Brides of DraculaHammer 1960
Saturday, 16 July 197722.45 - 11.55The MummyUniversal 1932
00.15 - 01.05The Wolf ManUniversal 1940
Saturday, 23 July 197722.10 - 23.45Son of FrankensteinUniversal 1938
23.45 - 01.10Kiss of the VampireHammer 1964
Saturday, 30 July 197722.35 - 00.05Dracula's DaughterUniversal 1936
00.05 - 01.30Plague of the ZombiesHammer 1966
Saturday, 6 August 197722.50 - 23.55The Ghost of FrankensteinUniversal 1942
22.55 - 01.10The Premature BurialAlP 1961
Saturday, 13 August 197723.05 - 00.05The RavenUniversal 1935
00.05 - 01.10The Black CatUniversal 1934
Saturday, 20 August 197722.00 - 23.15Frankenstein Meets The WolfmanUniversal 1943
00.05 - 01.35The RavenAlP 1963
Saturday, 27 August 197722.20 - 23.10House of FrankensteinUniversal 1944
00.05 - 01.35The ReptileHammer 1966
Saturday, 3 September 197721.55 - 23-10Son of DraculaUniversal 1943
23.45 - 01.10Evil of FrankensteinHammer 1964
Saturday, 10 September 197722.05 - 23.15House of DraculaUniversal 1945
23.20 - 00.35Fall of the House of UsherAlP 1960

1978 Monster Double Bill

DateTimeTitleDetail
Saturday, 8 July 197822.55 - 23.55Murders in the Rue MorgueUniversal 1933
23.55 - 01.25The Man Who Could Cheat DeathHammer 1959
Saturday, 15 July 197822.40 - 23.55The Fantastic Disappearing ManGramercy Pictures 1958
00.00 - 01.15X: The Man with the X-ray EyesAlP 1963
Saturday, 22 July 197822.00 - 23.20The Quatermass XperimentHammer 1955
23.50 - 01.35The CraziesCambist 1973
Saturday, 29 July 197823.15 - 00.15Man Made MonsterUniversal 1940
00.15 - 01.15The Mummy's CurseUniversal 1945
Saturday, 5 August 197822.40 - 23.55White ZombieHalperin 1932
00.00 - 01.25House of WaxWarner 1953
Saturday, 12 August 197821.40 - 23.10Them!Universal 1954
23.45 - 01.05The Incredible Shrinking ManUniversal 1957
Saturday, 19 August 197822.00 - 23.15Voodoo IslandBel Air 1957
23.20 - 00.45Phantom of the Rue MorgueWarner 1953
Saturday, 26 August 197822.00 - 23.35King KongRKO 1933
23.40 - 01.10SuperbeastA & S Productions 1972

1979 Masters of Terror

DateTimeTitleDetail
Saturday, 14 July 197922.35-23.50Doctor XWarner 1932
23.55-01.20The Curse of FrankensteinHammer 1956
Saturday, 21 July 197922.30-23.30Sherlock Holmes and the Spider Woman20th Century Fox 1944
00.00-01.30The Hound of the BaskervillesHammer 1959
Saturday, 28 July 197922.15-23.25Night MonsterUniversal 1942
23.30.01.10The Devil Rides OutHammer 1968
Saturday, 4 August 197923.00.00.05Black FridayUniversal 1940
00.05.01.35The MummyHammer 1959
Saturday, 11 August 197922.05.23.25The Strange DoorUniversal 1951
23.25-01.00Blood from the Mummy's TombHammer 1971
Saturday, 18 August 197922.35-23.40The Mummy's HandUniversal 1944
00.10-01.35The Satanic Rites of DraculaHammer 1973
Saturday, 25 August 197922.00-23.20It Came From Outer SpaceUniversal 1951
23.25-01.05Quatermass and the Pit (film)Hammer 1967

1980 Horror Double Bill

DateTimeTitleDetail
Saturday, 28 June 198022.30.00.00Night of the DemonSabre 1957
00.02-01.35The GhoulTyburn 1975
Saturday, 5 July 198010.10-11.35The Beast With Five FingersWarner 1947
23.50-01.30Chamber of HorrorsWarner 1966
Saturday, 12 July 198022.40-23.45The Mad GhoulUniversal 1943
23.50-01.30Dr. Terror's House of HorrorsAmicus 1964
Saturday, 19 July 198022.35-23.50The Devil DollMGM 1936
23.55-01.25Daughters of SatanUA 1972
Saturday, 26 July 198022.10-23.40Curse of the WerewolfHammer 1960
23.55-01.35From Beyond The GraveAmicus 1974
Saturday, 2 August 198022.35-23.50ParanoiacHammer 1963
12.00-01.35Captain Kronos - Vampire HunterHammer 1973
Saturday, 9 August 198022.35-23.55The Beast From 20,000 FathomsWarner 1953
00.00-01.20Night of the LepusMGM/A.C. Lyles 1972
Saturday, 16 August 198022.20-23.40The BatUA 1959
23.45-01.20Legend of the WerewolfTyburn 1974
Saturday, 23 August 198022.40.00.00Tower of LondonUniversal 1939
00.00-01.20The SkullAmicus 1965
Saturday, 30 August 198000.00-01.35The Beast Must DieAmicus 1974

1981 Horror Double Bill

DateTimeTitleDetail
Saturday, 4 July 198122.35-23.10I Walked with a ZombieRKO 1943
00.10.01.10Zoltan, Hound of DraculaCrown International 1978
Saturday, 11 July 198123.05-00.15Cat PeopleRKO 1942
00.15-01.35Mystery of the Wax MuseumWarner 1933
Saturday, 18 July 198122.55-00.05The Seventh VictimRKO 1943
00.05-01.35Race With The DevilSaber 1970
Saturday, 25 July 198121.20-22.30Isle of the DeadRKO 1940
23.40-01.25The CraziesCambist 1973
Saturday, 1 August 198122.30-23.45BedlamRKO 1946
23.45-01.30BugParamount 1975
Saturday, 8 August 198122.50-23.55The Leopard ManRKO 1943
23.55-01.35The Shuttered RoomWarner 1966
Saturday, 15 August 198122.35-23.40The Curse of the Cat PeopleRKO 1943
23.40-01.10Eye of the CatUniversal 1969
Saturday, 22 August 198122.30-23.40The Body SnatcherRKO 1945
23.40-01.25Theatre of BloodHarbor Productions/Cineman[2] 1973

1983 Horror Double Bill

DateTimeTitleDetail
Saturday, 9 July 198310.00-11.10DraculaUniversal 1931
11.15-12.30FrankensteinUniversal 1931
Saturday, 16 July 198311.45- 01.05The Bride of FrankensteinUniversal 1935
Saturday, 23 July 198310.05-11.15Dracula's DaughterUniversal 1936
11.20-01.35Son Of FrankensteinUniversal 1939
Saturday, 30 July 198310.35-11.45The MummyUniversal 1932
11.45-01.00Ghost of FrankensteinUniversal 1942
Saturday, 6 August 198310.40-11.50The WolfmanUniversal 1941
11.55-01.10Frankenstein Meets the WolfmanUniversal 1943
Saturday, 13 August 198310.15-11.35Son of DraculaUniversal 1943
11.40-12.55House of FrankensteinUniversal 1944
Saturday, 20 August 198310.05-11.10The Mummy's HandUniversal 1940
11.15-12.25House of DraculaUniversal 1945
Saturday, 3 September 1983 (titled Horror Triple Bill)9.45-10.50The Black CatUniversal 1934
11.30-12.30Murders In The Rue MorgueUniversal 1932
12.30-01.35The RavenUniversal 1935

1992 BBC2 All-Night Halloween Marathon

The Vault of Horror

A festival of terror, hosted by Dr Walpurgis, for Hallowe'en. Producers Mark Deitch, Nick Freand Jones

TimeTitleDetail
11.00 - 11.20Introduction by Dr. Walpurgis / What's behind the Door, Mummy?

Leading figures in horror discuss what it is that scares people.

11.20 - 11.25Tales from ECA look at the 1950s horror comic
11.25 - 01.25CreepshowLaurel Entertainment 1982
01.25 - 01.30The Art of IllusionWith special effects and make up artist Tom Savini
01.30 - 01.40The Unholy TrinityA discussion on horror's leading men – Freddie, Jason & Pinhead
01.40 - 03.10The Curse of the WerewolfHammer 1961
03.10 - 03.15Prime EvilSam Raimi & Bruce Campbell talk about The Evil Dead
03.15 - 03.20Terror on the PageStephen King and other authors open their books.
03.20 - 04.30The Bride of FrankensteinUniversal 1935
04.30 - 04.35The Horror of SexWomen's role in horror
04.35 - 04.45Dario's FriendsDario Argento at work on his new film Trauma
04.45 - 06.10Death LineHarbor Ventures/K-L Productions 1972
06.10 - 07.25Abbott and Costello Meet FrankensteinUniversal 1948
07.25 - 07.30Close by Dr. Walpurgis

Dr. Terror Seasons 1993 - 1995

1993 Dr. Terror's Vault of Horror

DateTimeTitleDetail
Friday, 10 September 199311.15-12.50VampBalcor Film Investors, Planet Productions 1986
12.50-02.20The Mask of SatanAlta Vista, Galatea Film, Jolly Film 1960
Friday, 17 September 199311.25-12.55The GuardianUniversal/Nanny Productions 1990
12.55-02.10From Hell It CameAllied Artists 1957
Friday, 24 September 199311.30-12.55The Curse of FrankensteinHammer 1956
12.55-02.05Blood of DraculaAIP/Carmel 1957
Friday, 1 October 199311.05-12.30Horror ExpressBenmar/Granada 1972
12.30-01.50The Comedy of TerrorsAIP 1963
Friday, 8 October 199311.00-12.25Crucible of TerrorGlendale 1971
12.25-02.05The Beast With Five FingersWarner 1946
Friday, 15 October 199311.15-12.40Twins of EvilHammer 1971
12.40-01.55Terror from the Year 5000La Jolla Productions 1958
Friday, 22 October 199311.50-01.20Blood of the VampireArtistes Alliance Ltd 1958
01.20-02.50I Don't Want to Be BornRank 1975
Friday, 29 October 199311.30-12.45The GateNew Century Entertainment/Vista/Alliance 1987
12.45-02.00I Was a Teenage FrankensteinSanta Rosa 1957
Friday, 5 November 199311.10-12.40The Haunted House of HorrorTigon 1969
12.40-01.55House on Haunted HillWilliam Castle Productions 1959
Friday, 12 November 199311.15-12.45The Lost Boys
12.45-02.05I Was a Teenage Werewolf
Friday, 19 November 199311.40-01.05April Fool's DayParamount/Hometown Films 1986
01.05-02.35Cat's EyeDino De Laurentiis/Famous Films 1985
Friday, 3 December 199311.05-12.35Countess DraculaHammer 1971
12.35-01.55Voodoo WomanAIP 1957

Dr. Terror Season 1994

DateTitleDetail
Friday, 9 SeptemberThe FogAVCO Embassy 1980
Friday, 16 SeptemberThe GhoulTyburn 1974
Friday, 23 SeptemberThe Unnameable ReturnsUnnamable Productions/Yankee Classic 1992
Friday, 30 SeptemberTaste the Blood of DraculaHammer 1970
Friday, 7 OctoberA Study in TerrorCompton Films 1965
Friday, 14 OctoberLegend of the WerewolfTyburn 1975
Friday, 28 OctoberBody PartsVista Street Entertainment 1991
Friday, 4 NovemberCurse of the Crimson AltarTigon 1968
Friday, 11 NovemberThe MummyHammer 1959
Friday, 18 NovemberThe LegacyDavid Foster Prods/Pethurst Ltd/Turman-Foster 1978
Friday, 2 DecemberDr Terror's House of HorrorsAmicus 1964
Friday, 9 DecemberAlligatorAlligator Inc 1980
Friday, 16 DecemberThe Serpent and the RainbowUniversal 1988

Dr. Terror Season 1996

DateTitleDetails
Friday, 27 SeptemberThe House of Seven CorpsesTelevision Corporation of America 1974
Friday, 4 OctoberThe AsphyxGlendale 1973
Friday, 11 OctoberDevils of DarknessPlanet 1965
Friday, 18 OctoberThe Beast in the CellarTigon 1968
Friday, 25 OctoberA Child For Satan1991
Friday, 1 NovemberGhost StoryUniversal 1981
Friday, 8 NovemberDr. GigglesDark Horse/ JVC/ Largo 1992
Friday, 15 NovemberPhantasmNew Breed Productions 1978
Friday, 29 NovemberNothing But The NightCharlemagne 1972
Friday, 14 DecemberThe People Under the StairsAlive Films/Universal 1991

References

  1. BBC Genome
  2. "Theatre of Blood". BFI. Archived from the original on 29 July 2016. Retrieved 18 October 2020.
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