THE UGLY DUCKLING (Lance Comfort, 1959, 84 mins)
DON’T PANIC CHAPS (George Pollock, 1959, 85 mins)
A WEEKEND WITH LULU (John Paddy Carstairs, 1961, 85 mins)
WATCH IT, SAILOR! (Wolf Rilla, 1961, 81 mins)
Release date: 18 May 2026
Limited Edition Blu-ray (World and UK premieres)
Hammer Volume Seven: Ships & Giggles takes a look at the lighter side of the legendary film studio’s diverse output, with a quartet of comic classics starring a roll-call of British comedy greats.
The Ugly Duckling sees Carry On legend Bernard Bresslaw develop a split personality in this outrageous take on Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, also starring future Doctor Who Jon Pertwee (Adventures of a Private Eye). Dennis Price (Fortune Is a Woman) and George Cole (A Prize of Gold) play feuding officers in the military farce Don’t Panic Chaps. Bob Monkhouse (Carry On Sergeant), Leslie Phillips (You Must Be Joking!), and Shirley Eaton (The Blood of Fu Manchu) are stranded in France during a disastrous holiday in A Weekend with Lulu. Finally, John Meillon (Crocodile Dundee) plays a seaman who is late for his own wedding in the marital farce Watch It, Sailor!, which also stars Graham Stark (You Must Be Joking!), the legendary Liz Fraser (The Smallest Show on Earth) and Irene Handl (Confessions of a Driving Instructor).
This collection of long-overdue UK and world Blu-ray premieres contains a wealth of new and archival extra features, including appreciations and interviews with members of the cast and crew, and extensive booklets. Strictly limited to 6,000 numbered units.
PLEASE NOTE THAT THE PACKAGING FOR THIS EDITION WILL BE IDENTICAL TO OUR PREVIOUS HAMMER BOX SETS.
INDICATOR LIMITED EDITION 4 x BLU-RAY BOXSET SPECIAL FEATURES
THE UGLY DUCKLING
- 4K restoration from the original camera negative
- Original mono audio
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Dancing the Cha-Cha-Cha (2019, 21 mins): actors Jess Conrad and Geremy Phillips, and choreographer Lionel Blair look back fondly at The Ugly Duckling’s musical sequences
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From Virtue to Vice (2026, 15 mins): film historian Robert Shail on the career of director Lance Comfort
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A Tricky Beast (2026, 12 mins): appreciation by film historian Kevin Lyons
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Infamously Fun (2026, 7 mins): author Stephen Laws introduces the film
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The BEHP Interview with Len Harris (1991, 84 mins): archival audio recording with the camera operator in conversation with Alan Lawson and Manny Yospa
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Up in the Air (1969, 54 mins): feature-length Children’s Film Foundation production starring Jon Pertwee
- Image gallery
- New and improved English subtitles for the deaf and hard of hearing
- Limited edition exclusive 40-page booklet with a new essay by Josephine Botting, notes on the soundtrack by David Huckvale, an archival article on the film’s production, extracts from the original publicity manual, an overview of contemporary critical responses, new writing on Up in the Air, and film credits
- UK premiere on Blu-ray
DON’T PANIC CHAPS
- High Definition master
- Original mono audio
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No Naughtiness (2019, 18 mins): Michael Corston reflects on a career writing comedy plays for radio with collaborator Ronald Holroyd
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Frightfully Funny (2026, 28 mins): film historian and author Jonathan Rigby on Hammer’s Columbia comedies
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Differences Behind Us (2026, 9 mins): author Stephen Laws introduces the film
- Theatrical trailer
- Image galleries: promotional material and publicity manual
- New and improved English subtitles for the deaf and hard of hearing
- Limited edition exclusive 36-page booklet with a new essay by Melanie Williams, notes on the soundtrack by David Huckvale, extracts from the original publicity manual, an overview of contemporary critical responses, and film credits
- World premiere on Blu-ray
WATCH IT, SAILOR
- High Definition master
- Original mono audio
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Happy About It (2016, 35 mins): archival video recording of a career-spanning interview with actor Vera Day
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Getting Spliced (2026, 6 mins): author Stephen Laws introduces the film
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The BEHP Interview with Alfred Cox (1992, 81 mins): archival audio recording with the editor in conversation with Alan Lawson and Syd Wilson
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The BEHP Interview with Tilly Day (1988, 81 mins): archival audio recording with the film’s continuity supervisor in conversation with Sidney Cole and Alan Lawson
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David Benson on Frankie Howerd (2002, 20 mins): archival audio recording of a presentation given by the actor, comedian, and author of To Be Frank, recorded at BFI Southbank, London
- Image galleries: promotional material and publicity manual
- New and improved English subtitles for the deaf and hard of hearing
- Limited edition exclusive 36-page booklet with a new essay by Mark Fryers, notes on the soundtrack by David Huckvale, extracts from the original publicity manual, an overview of contemporary critical responses, and film credits
- World premiere on Blu-ray
A WEEKEND WITH LULU
- 4K restoration
- Original mono audio
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A Few Weeks on Lulu (2019, 31 mins): camera operator Brian West, second assistant director Michael Klaw, assistant sound editor Geoff R Brown, and production secretary Jill Langley recall the production
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A Comedy Vehicle (2026, 6 mins): author Stephen Laws introduces the film
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Leslie Phillips Asks… (1960, 5 mins): charity appeal film for the RNIB
- Image galleries: promotional material and publicity manual
- New and improved English subtitles for the deaf and hard of hearing
- Limited edition exclusive 40-page booklet with a new essay by David Cottis, notes on the soundtrack by David Huckvale, extracts from the original publicity manual, an overview of contemporary critical responses, and film credits
- UK premiere on Blu-ray
Limited edition set of 6,000 individually numbered units for the UK
#PHILE365B
BBFC cert: 12
REGION B
EAN: 5060697923858
