Hammer Horror Distinctive Dummies 8" action figures - Raymond Castile's Basement of Horror, s8 ep14

From 2013 through 2020, the Bangkok-based boutique custom toy company Distinctive Dummies produced a definitive line of Mego-style, 8-inch action figures based on Hammer Studios horror characters. Though unlicensed, the line represented the first (and long overdue) serious attempt to produce an authoritative Hammer toy series. Product Enterprise had made a stand-alone Hammer Dracula 12" figure, and XoneX had made some knockoff Curse of the Werewolf items, but nothing as ambitious as the Distinctive Dummies 8" series. Among its very first offerings, Distinctive Dummies had made 12" figures of the main Hammer characters like Dracula, Frankenstein, etc. But in its subsequent Mego-style line, Distinctive Dummies systematically set out to produce an exhaustive lineup representing nearly every monster and villain in the history of Hammer horror films. Mego would later produce a licensed, factory-produced Hammer action figures series sold in mainstream stores, followed by 1/6th scale offerings from Trick or Treat Studios and Kaustik Plastik. Other custom toymakers, such as BrentzDolz, have made more recent Hammer figures. But the Distinctive Dummies series still stands as a landmark. For decades, collectors had clamored for Hammer action figures. But whether it was due to licensing complications or manufacturer disinterest, Hammer toys seemed an unattainable dream. Distinctive Dummies sliced through that Gordian Knot and gave collectors the Hammer figures they had long wanted. TWO NOTES: 1) I incorrectly identified the Quatermass and the Pit action figure as depicting actor André Morell, who portrayed Quatermass in the BBC television serial, but not the Hammer film adaption. The figure depicts Andrew Keir, who played Quatermass in the Hammer film. I originally said Andrew Keir when I shot that segment, but felt I had made a mistake. I did a quick (too quick) online search and saw André Morell identified as having played the part, so I reshot the segment. 2) At the end of the video, I wonder whether I am misremembering the existence of a Gina vampire figure from Brides of Dracula. I thought one had been made, but could not find her in my collection as I prepared for this episode. I later confirmed that DD had in fact made a Gina figure and that I did buy her. I found emails from March 2020 verifying the purchase. I have no idea where that figure is now, though it is probably somewhere in my basement. March 2020 was a very chaotic and sad time. I might not have even opened the shipping box when it arrived. If you have not subscribed to this channel, please subscribe! Click the bell icon to be notified when a new episode goes live. Continue the monster talk by joining the "Raymond Castile's Basement of Horror" Facebook group:   / 644618149275833   Just be sure to answer the two security questions or you will be denied membership! Very few people bother to answer the security questions, so very few people get into the group. We run a tight ship in the Basement of Horror.