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.
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."
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
[edit]1975 Midnight Movie Fantastic
[edit]1976 Masters of Terror
[edit]1977 Dracula, Frankenstein and Friends
[edit]
| Date |
Time |
Title |
Detail
|
| Saturday, 2 July 1977 |
23.05 - 00.25 |
Dracula |
Universal 1931
|
|
00.25 - 01.35 |
Frankenstein |
Universal 1931
|
| Saturday, 9 July 1977 |
22.50 - 00.00 |
Bride of Frankenstein |
Universal 1935
|
|
00.00 - 01.25 |
Brides of Dracula |
Hammer 1960
|
| Saturday, 16 July 1977 |
22.45 - 11.55 |
The Mummy |
Universal 1932
|
|
00.15 - 01.05 |
The Wolf Man |
Universal 1940
|
| Saturday, 23 July 1977 |
22.10 - 23.45 |
Son of Frankenstein |
Universal 1938
|
|
23.45 - 01.10 |
Kiss of the Vampire |
Hammer 1964
|
| Saturday, 30 July 1977 |
22.35 - 00.05 |
Dracula's Daughter |
Universal 1936
|
|
00.05 - 01.30 |
Plague of the Zombies |
Hammer 1966
|
| Saturday, 6 August 1977 |
22.50 - 23.55 |
The Ghost of Frankenstein |
Universal 1942
|
|
22.55 - 01.10 |
The Premature Burial |
AlP 1961
|
| Saturday, 13 August 1977 |
23.05 - 00.05 |
The Raven |
Universal 1935
|
|
00.05 - 01.10 |
The Black Cat |
Universal 1934
|
| Saturday, 20 August 1977 |
22.00 - 23.15 |
Frankenstein Meets The Wolfman |
Universal 1943
|
|
00.05 - 01.35 |
The Raven |
AlP 1963
|
| Saturday, 27 August 1977 |
22.20 - 23.10 |
House of Frankenstein |
Universal 1944
|
|
00.05 - 01.35 |
The Reptile |
Hammer 1966
|
| Saturday, 3 September 1977 |
21.55 - 23-10 |
Son of Dracula |
Universal 1943
|
|
23.45 - 01.10 |
Evil of Frankenstein |
Hammer 1964
|
| Saturday, 10 September 1977 |
22.05 - 23.15 |
House of Dracula |
Universal 1945
|
|
23.20 - 00.35 |
Fall of the House of Usher |
AlP 1960
|
1978 Monster Double Bill
[edit]1979 Masters of Terror
[edit]1980 Horror Double Bill
[edit]
| Date |
Time |
Title |
Detail
|
| Saturday, 28 June 1980 |
22.30.00.00 |
Night of the Demon |
Sabre 1957
|
|
00.02-01.35 |
The Ghoul |
Tyburn 1975
|
| Saturday, 5 July 1980 |
10.10-11.35 |
The Beast With Five Fingers |
Warner 1947
|
|
23.50-01.30 |
Chamber of Horrors |
Warner 1966
|
| Saturday, 12 July 1980 |
22.40-23.45 |
The Mad Ghoul |
Universal 1943
|
|
23.50-01.30 |
Dr. Terror's House of Horrors |
Amicus 1964
|
| Saturday, 19 July 1980 |
22.35-23.50 |
The Devil Doll |
MGM 1936
|
|
23.55-01.25 |
Daughters of Satan |
UA 1972
|
| Saturday, 26 July 1980 |
22.10-23.40 |
Curse of the Werewolf |
Hammer 1960
|
|
23.55-01.35 |
From Beyond The Grave |
Amicus 1974
|
| Saturday, 2 August 1980 |
22.35-23.50 |
Paranoiac |
Hammer 1963
|
|
12.00-01.35 |
Captain Kronos - Vampire Hunter |
Hammer 1973
|
| Saturday, 9 August 1980 |
22.35-23.55 |
The Beast From 20,000 Fathoms |
Warner 1953
|
|
00.00-01.20 |
Night of the Lepus |
MGM/A.C. Lyles 1972
|
| Saturday, 16 August 1980 |
22.20-23.40 |
The Bat |
UA 1959
|
|
23.45-01.20 |
Legend of the Werewolf |
Tyburn 1974
|
| Saturday, 23 August 1980 |
22.40.00.00 |
Tower of London |
Universal 1939
|
|
00.00-01.20 |
The Skull |
Amicus 1965
|
| Saturday, 30 August 1980 |
00.00-01.35 |
The Beast Must Die |
Amicus 1974
|
1981 Horror Double Bill
[edit]1983 Horror Double Bill
[edit]1992 BBC2 All-Night Halloween Marathon
[edit]The Vault of Horror
[edit]A festival of terror, hosted by Dr Walpurgis, for Hallowe'en.
Producers Mark Deitch, Nick Freand Jones
| Time |
Title |
Detail
|
| 11.00 - 11.20 |
Introduction by Dr. Walpurgis / What's behind the Door, Mummy? |
Leading figures in horror discuss what it is that scares people.
|
|
| 11.20 - 11.25 |
Tales from EC |
A look at the 1950s horror comic
|
| 11.25 - 01.25 |
Creepshow |
Laurel Entertainment 1982
|
| 01.25 - 01.30 |
The Art of Illusion |
With special effects and make up artist Tom Savini
|
| 01.30 - 01.40 |
The Unholy Trinity |
A discussion on horror's leading men – Freddie, Jason & Pinhead
|
| 01.40 - 03.10 |
The Curse of the Werewolf |
Hammer 1961
|
| 03.10 - 03.15 |
Prime Evil |
Sam Raimi & Bruce Campbell talk about The Evil Dead
|
| 03.15 - 03.20 |
Terror on the Page |
Stephen King and other authors open their books.
|
| 03.20 - 04.30 |
The Bride of Frankenstein |
Universal 1935
|
| 04.30 - 04.35 |
The Horror of Sex |
Women's role in horror
|
| 04.35 - 04.45 |
Dario's Friends |
Dario Argento at work on his new film Trauma
|
| 04.45 - 06.10 |
Death Line |
Harbor Ventures/K-L Productions 1972
|
| 06.10 - 07.25 |
Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein |
Universal 1948
|
| 07.25 - 07.30 |
Close by Dr. Walpurgis |
|
Dr. Terror Seasons 1993 - 1995
[edit]1993 Dr. Terror's Vault of Horror
[edit]
| Date |
Time |
Title |
Detail
|
| Friday, 10 September 1993 |
11.15-12.50 |
Vamp |
Balcor Film Investors, Planet Productions 1986
|
|
12.50-02.20 |
The Mask of Satan |
Alta Vista, Galatea Film, Jolly Film 1960
|
| Friday, 17 September 1993 |
11.25-12.55 |
The Guardian |
Universal/Nanny Productions 1990
|
|
12.55-02.10 |
From Hell It Came |
Allied Artists 1957
|
| Friday, 24 September 1993 |
11.30-12.55 |
The Curse of Frankenstein |
Hammer 1956
|
|
12.55-02.05 |
Blood of Dracula |
AIP/Carmel 1957
|
| Friday, 1 October 1993 |
11.05-12.30 |
Horror Express |
Benmar/Granada 1972
|
|
12.30-01.50 |
The Comedy of Terrors |
AIP 1963
|
| Friday, 8 October 1993 |
11.00-12.25 |
Crucible of Terror |
Glendale 1971
|
|
12.25-02.05 |
The Beast With Five Fingers |
Warner 1946
|
| Friday, 15 October 1993 |
11.15-12.40 |
Twins of Evil |
Hammer 1971
|
|
12.40-01.55 |
Terror from the Year 5000 |
La Jolla Productions 1958
|
| Friday, 22 October 1993 |
11.50-01.20 |
Blood of the Vampire |
Artistes Alliance Ltd 1958
|
|
01.20-02.50 |
I Don't Want to Be Born |
Rank 1975
|
| Friday, 29 October 1993 |
11.30-12.45 |
The Gate |
New Century Entertainment/Vista/Alliance 1987
|
|
12.45-02.00 |
I Was a Teenage Frankenstein |
Santa Rosa 1957
|
| Friday, 5 November 1993 |
11.10-12.40 |
The Haunted House of Horror |
Tigon 1969
|
|
12.40-01.55 |
House on Haunted Hill |
William Castle Productions 1959
|
| Friday, 12 November 1993 |
11.15-12.45 |
The Lost Boys |
|
|
12.45-02.05 |
I Was a Teenage Werewolf |
|
| Friday, 19 November 1993 |
11.40-01.05 |
April Fool's Day |
Paramount/Hometown Films 1986
|
|
01.05-02.35 |
Cat's Eye |
Dino De Laurentiis/Famous Films 1985
|
| Friday, 3 December 1993 |
11.05-12.35 |
Countess Dracula |
Hammer 1971
|
|
12.35-01.55 |
Voodoo Woman |
AIP 1957
|
Dr. Terror Season 1994
[edit]
| Date |
Title |
Detail
|
| Friday, 9 September |
The Fog |
AVCO Embassy 1980
|
| Friday, 16 September |
The Ghoul |
Tyburn 1974
|
| Friday, 23 September |
The Unnameable Returns |
Unnamable Productions/Yankee Classic 1992
|
| Friday, 30 September |
Taste the Blood of Dracula |
Hammer 1970
|
| Friday, 7 October |
A Study in Terror |
Compton Films 1965
|
| Friday, 14 October |
Legend of the Werewolf |
Tyburn 1975
|
| Friday, 28 October |
Body Parts |
Vista Street Entertainment 1991
|
| Friday, 4 November |
Curse of the Crimson Altar |
Tigon 1968
|
| Friday, 11 November |
The Mummy |
Hammer 1959
|
| Friday, 18 November |
The Legacy |
David Foster Prods/Pethurst Ltd/Turman-Foster 1978
|
| Friday, 2 December |
Dr Terror's House of Horrors |
Amicus 1964
|
| Friday, 9 December |
Alligator |
Alligator Inc 1980
|
| Friday, 16 December |
The Serpent and the Rainbow |
Universal 1988
|
Dr. Terror Season 1996
[edit]
| Date |
Title |
Details
|
| Friday, 27 September |
The House of Seven Corpses |
Television Corporation of America 1974
|
| Friday, 4 October |
The Asphyx |
Glendale 1973
|
| Friday, 11 October |
Devils of Darkness |
Planet 1965
|
| Friday, 18 October |
The Beast in the Cellar |
Tigon 1968
|
| Friday, 25 October |
A Child For Satan |
1991
|
| Friday, 1 November |
Ghost Story |
Universal 1981
|
| Friday, 8 November |
Dr. Giggles |
Dark Horse/ JVC/ Largo 1992
|
| Friday, 15 November |
Phantasm |
New Breed Productions 1978
|
| Friday, 29 November |
Nothing But The Night |
Charlemagne 1972
|
| Friday, 14 December |
The People Under the Stairs |
Alive Films/Universal 1991
|
