The Abominable Snowman

source: The Abominable Snowman

Trailer—The Abominable Snowman

The Abominable Snowman

Val Guest directed this atmospheric thriller set in the Himalayas at a remote monastery, where Dr. John Rollason(played by Peter Cushing) is a botanist with his wife(played by Maureen Connell) and associate Peter(played by Richard Wattis). He is awaiting the arrival of American Tom Friend(played by Forrest Tucker) so that they can undertake a scientific expedition to find the legendary and elusive Yeti. John is dismayed to learn that Friend is really a showman who plans on killing the creature for display, but also uses a corpse to attract a live one as well, which is exactly what happens, though not in the way they expected... intelligent story, fine direction and performances, and an eerie feel all combine to make this a memorable thriller, which discreetly keeps the Yeti mysterious.

The Abominable Snowman has adventurer Forrest Tucker and botanist Peter Cushing in the Himalayas looking for the elusive and shy creature the Sherpa natives call the Yeti. The Sherpas have a healthy respect for these creatures as they seem to possess some powers and abilities that apes or man don't have. Just where on the evolutionary ladder are they? It turns out that Tucker is something of a bunco artist and not what his billing says he is. Cushing is the only one on the trek who has concerns for the yetis themselves. An interesting a good film from British Hammer Studios.

I just stumbled across a copy of this film recently on DVD, and consider it a very good find. Since a kid, I've had a (somewhat) continuing fascination with Bigfoot, Sasquatch, the Abominable Snowman, etc. However, this is the first time I've come across a film that treats the subject intelligently, and with more thought than just providing a simple scare. This film was well acted, written (intelligently so) and directed, and created a genuine sense of suspense, and maintained an eerie mood throughout. You don't see the creatures full-on, but that's to the film's benefit and better over-all effect to those watching, especially in the almost film noir use of black and white photography. This is no cheap monster quickie, or faux documentary (though I like some of those too), and though fairly low budget, it's still good. So basically, I'd have to say this is the best film about the Abominable Snowman (or Bigfoot-like creature) I've seen. Like the Yeti...seek it out!

Despite the title this is really not a monster on the rampage horror movie that you might expect from Hammer. Writer Nigel Kneale goes for quirky science and director Val Guest adds atmospheric direction on a low budget in this spooky thriller. Peter Cushing is principled botanist John Rollason searching for evidence of the Yeti in the Himalayas with an expedition team that includes dodgy Forrest Tucker who is more like a sinister Barnum type showman looking for monetary gain by capturing a Yeti. The creature is very much kept off screen for a lot of the time as Kneale explores humanity's darker side as represented by the likes of Tucker. It is suggested that the Yeti are gentle, intelligent beings from a superior civilisation that one day will take over from humans and Rollason does not view them as monsters. The film has a moral message aimed at perils of human greed and its penchant for destruction.

I can remember barely being able to keep my eyes open watching this on a late night horror movie show, because it's not a movie for kids. Didn't realize that then, and so I always remembered it as being a pretty weak film. However, a viewing of the widescreen laserdisc version left me with a strong impression of a very fine adult feature that is more a thriller than a horror film. It lives up to the reputation of Hammer during this period, and of course that of Peter Cushing as the premier actor of the studio. Even Forrest Tucker's typical heavy-handed hamminess cannot take away from this absorbing tale of scientific endeavor clashing with crass commercialism, with a creature of an intellect that bests the men chasing it. I must say that the whole mental telepathy plot point was completely missed upon first viewing, but then I was only 10 at the time, however it now makes all the sense in the world.