HAPPY HALLOWEEN : HAVE FUN AND STAY SAFE

Have Yourself A Fabulous Evening. HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

WHEN THE CLOCKS CHIME TWELVE MIDNIGHT THE HORROR BEGINS. WILL YOU BE A WINNER?

WHEN THE CLOCKS CHIME TWELVE MIDNIGHT THE HORROR BEGINS!
 

YOU CAN'T HAVE HALLOWEEN WITHOUT INGRID! BY REQUEST GALLERY TWO

HALLOWEEN! Competitions, galleries, blu ray box set prizes... and of course Peter Cushing and friends. We are all ready How about you?

halloween, ingrid pitt, vampires, witches, dracula, pumpkin, trick or treat, warlock, bats, spiders, cobweb, monsters, ghosts. 

SIR HUGO BASKERVILLE: REMEMBERING DAVID OXLEY :

#tbt Remembering DAVID OXLEY. ( November 7th 1920 - October 30th 1985 ) Was there ever a more terrifying, evil, rip snorting, bag of fury than Oxley's portrayal of Sir Hugo Baskerville in the 1959 Hammer films production of 'The Hound of the Baskervilles' starring Peter Cushing and Christopher Lee? I must be honest, I actually find him more frightening than the hound!

AUNTY BEEB BRINGS ON ANOTHER HAMMER TREAT

HEADS UP FOR BRITS: Lots of you writing in the say how much you enjoyed the screening of 'The Curse of Frankenstein' on BBC4 Monday night...and 'Dracula' the week before. Well, Aunty Beeb is certainly spoiling us by following these two classics with a THIRD. Hammer's 'THE MUMMY' is scheduled to be screened in the same slot NEXT Monday. A rare treat and a rare opportunity for Brit PC and Hammer fans to watch together! Thank you to John Cook, for the reminder. Now pin this banner to your desk top or mobile notes...so you don't forget.

GUIDO HENKEL'S TAKE ON BLUE UNDERGROUND'S 'SHOCK WAVES' BLU RAY

Here's an informative, helpful and honest review from Guido Henkel of the Blue Underground blu ray and dvd release of Peter Cushing's 'SHOCK WAVES', due for release November 25, 2014. Please follow link at bottom of feature.

'Cool, incredibly scary and very imaginative, the film is now presented with a brand new high definition transfer that has been taken from the only surviving elements. Shot on a minuscule budget on 16mm, the transfer does exhibit some grain, of course, as a result of the original source material. The amount of grain depends from shot to shot. While some are almost free of it, others are truly riddled with it, as difficult lighting conditions put their strain on the technically limiting 16mm film stock. I am very glad, however, that Blue Underground resisted the urge to digitally scrub the film and instead opted to present the movie exactly the way it was originally produced, grain and all. Not only does it keep the film’s integrity intact, but it also plays on its artistic sensibilities because the grain gives “Shock Waves” a certain gritty look that perfectly fits the movie, adding to its qualities...'

 http://www.dvdreview.com/2014/10/shock-waves-2/#prettyPhoto

ONE WEEK BEFORE RELEASE OF JAMES LUCENO TARKIN

For all you Peter Cushing / Tarkin / Star Wars followers out there...there is just one week to go before the release of James Luceno's book STAR WARS: TARKIN! ....'Bestselling Star Wars veteran James Luceno gives Grand Moff Tarkin the Star Wars: Darth Plagueis treatment, bringing a legendary character from A New Hope to full, fascinating life.' ....'The novel provides a nuanced, multi faceted anti hero that is captivating, ominous, and calculating, in many ways, this is an original tale of the Empire, as much as it is Tarkin. It may very well be one of my favorite Star Wars novels..' Dan Z. Coffee..

MONSTERMONDAY: GRAND MOFF TARKIN

This weeks #monstermonster Peter Cushing as Grand Moff Wilhuff Tarkin from 'STAR WARS'....putting aside the carpet slippers for a moment... ruthless and cruel Governor of the Imperial Outland Regions and commander of the Death Star.... or just the Emperor's puppet? What do you think?

HAMMER HORROR COLLECTION : PCASUK HALLOWEEN COMPETITION 2014 PRIZES : ARE YOU IN?

PETER CUSHING, CHRISTOPHER LEE, HAMMER FILMS...AND MUCH MORE....ARE YOU IN?? Your PCASUK HALLOWEEN COMPETITION 2014 PRIZES! We have TWO complete box sets of the exclusive 'Hammer Horror : The Blu Ray Collection' worth £98.00 ($159.00)...courtesy of our very generous sponsors SHOCK ENTERTAINMENT up for grabs!

Each box set contains the following Classic Hammer films:
 

Dracula: Prince Of Darkness
Plague Of The Zombies
Quatermass And The Pit
Rasputin: The Mad Monk
The Devil Rides Out
The Mummy’s Shroud
The Reptile
Frankenstein And The Monster From Hell
Frankenstein Created Woman
The Quatermass Xperiment
The Witches 

Special Features:
Audio Commentaries
Behind the scenes footage
Never before seen ‘Hammer Glamour’ Documentary
Original restoration Comparisons
Original Trailers
Bonus Films ‘Quatermass II’ and ‘x The Unknown’

This COLLECTOR’S EDITION is presented in hard back book style packaging and contains ELEVEN Hammer film fully restored BLU RAY releases and 2 bonus ‘World of Hammer’ DVD’s! I think you will find this years Halloween competition a lot of fun. Look out for more teasers and clues as we head up to Halloween on Friday.

 

Find Out More About Shock Entertainment Releases Here and Join Their Facebook page : HERE 

REMEMBERING VINCENT PRICE OCTOBER 25TH 1993

 

VINCENT PRICE MAY 27TH 1911 - OCTOBER 25TH 1993

WHEN LIZA ALMOST DID A NUMBER FOR DRACULA : HAMMER FILMS 1972

Sorting through some Cushing Clippings this morning, I came across this very odd snip from an issue of Films Illustrated dated 1972.... was the 'groovy' Cavern Coffee bar originally going to be 'The Kit Kat Klub??? Van Helsing and The Count dancing on the tables singing the numbers 'Money, Money' and 'Sitting Pretty'??? Or maybe Minelli were going to do  a duet? Either way, it didn't happen..

DIANA DORS: BORN TODAY : THE SWINDON SIREN REMEMBERED

REMEMBERING: Diana Dors born today, October 23rd 1931. '"I’m the kind of girl that things naturally happen to. When they don’t, I give them a push"....Dors much loved and real national treasure for many years with a career as a model, actress, television personality and 'blonde bombshell'...and also a co star in TWO Peter Cushing films. 'From Beyond The Grave' for Amicus films and Nothing But The Night also with Christopher Lee.

MARTIN SCORSESE : HAMMER FAN HINT FOR 2014 HALLOWEEN COMPETITION

Busy lining things up ready for our 2014 Halloween competition next week. Great prizes! What is the competition about this year? Here's a little hint from a big Hammer film fan....

LEGEND OF THE WEREWOLF: 'I AM PARTICULARLY INTERESTED IN YOUR WOLVES!'

 

Peter Cushing as police pathologist and amateur detective, Paul Cataflanque in 'Legend of the Werewolf' (Tyburn 1975)

.....'..Cushing seems to be enjoying himself enormously - almost all his scenes, until the last have a ghoulish humour about them. It is never forced, it is just a witty, clever, concentrated performance. Cataflanque is eating his tea as the newest cadaver is brought in. 'Ooh dear,' Cushing clucks, with his mouth full, peering under the sheet, 'that's very nasty...' He gets rid of his pompous superiors by mischievously presenting them with a gullet and when he does a bit of undercover research in the local brothel he is left bashfully holding a frilly garter!'
( David Miller, The Peter Cushing Companion. 2000)

ANTON DIFFRING BORN TODAY AND REMEMBERED.

REMEMBERING: ANTON DIFFRING. Born today in 1918, Anton Diffring came from a family that boasted generations of actors. Cool and noble with a German accent, he was first in line when the casting call went out for German officers with a nasty streak. He quickly slipped into the role of Baron Frankenstein for the pilot episode of Hammer films and Colombia Pictures, 'Tales of Frankenstein' in 1958 and even quicker filled the role of Dr. Georges Bonnet in Hammer's 'The Man Who Could Cheat Death' in 1959, when the studio found themselves without Peter Cushing for the role.

Diffring is probably best remembered for his roles in 'The Blue Max' in 1966, 'Where Eagles Dare' in 1968 and François Truffaut's Fahrenheit 451 (1966) He was also cast in several film alongside Peter Cushing, 'Shatter' for Hammer in 1974, 'The Beast Must Die' for Amicus also 74 and Tyburn's 'The Masks of Death' with Peter Cushing as an elderly Sherlock Holmes in 1984. Anton Diffring died in 1989 aged 70.

Full review and gallery to be found on our supplement website theblackblackboxclub.com: HERE 

BBC4 SCREENS CLASSIC HAMMER DRACULA 1958 TONIGHT!

Following on from our HEADS UP on Friday...here's a reminder to friends in the UK, that Hammer films 1958 DRACULA gets a screening tonight on BBC4 at 22.00 ... http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00vffvv Christopher Lee and Peter Cushing meet for the first time in this UNCUT classic! AND here's a great feature compete with LOBBY STILLS and VINTAGE trailer frames to whet your appetite at our website: http://petercushingblog.blogspot.co.uk/2012/05/peter-cushing-and-christopher-lee.html
 

https://www.facebook.com/petercushingblog 

DEAD GOOD PRIZES TO COME! PCASUK HALLOWEEN COMPETITION 2014

Dead Good Prizes... your PCASUK Halloween Competition for 2014.

Stay tuned for details!

Our FACEBOOK FAN PAGE. UPDATED DAILY: Just CLICK here to visit and FOLLOW!

SIMON WARD REMEMBERED : THE BARON'S APPRENTICE!

REMEMBERING: Born today, Simon Ward. If you take a look at the raft of obituaries for Simon Ward who sadly passed away in 2012, it's a common fault that they state that his career was kick started when he was 'plucked from obscurity' and appeared in Richard Richard Attenborough’s 'Young Winston' in 1972. Maybe that is how the press and publicity agents remember it....but for Ward, it was not so.

Ward acknowledged Hammer films 'Frankenstein Must Be Destroyed' made in 1969 as the film 'that started it all' and the generous help and assistance from his co star Peter Cushing, that made anything afterwards possible... In a interview with pcasuk in 1979, Ward acknowledges his debt to Cushing, who he said, '..had time and patience with me. I knew nothing of the technique needed for working with a camera or about the studio floor. Peter was extremely kind, taking time to explain the simple but very important rules of pace and nuance, so the editor can get in there. This and try to not fall over the cables. He did so much for me. Quite extraordinary. I mean, no one has the time to do that, everyone is busy. But he did it for me, many times through out the film. And it's something I've always remembered, and not come across since... a very kind, gentle, gracious man. He really did save my skin'.

Simon Ward sadly left us in 2012.

SHOCK WAVES: ON SET SATURDAY : PETER CUSHING WHITE GLOVE AND MAKE UP!

#onsetsaturday 2# : Peter Cushing in the make up chair getting his character's signature 'scar' in 'SHOCK WAVES' aka 'DEATH CORP' aka 'ALMOST HUMAN'.... soon to be released on blu ray and on limited cinema release!

 

THE GORGON 50TH BIRTHDAY AND A TELLING TALE FROM BARBARA SHELLEY

A great feature by KB Zorka on the life and career of Prudence Hyman with gallery. Just click: HERE

50 YEARS OLD TODAY: HAPPY BIRTHDAY 'THE GORGON'

It's a very HAPPY BIRTHDAY to a grand ol lady! It's 50 years today that Hammer films 'THE GORGON' hit the big screen. Starring Peter Cushing, Christopher Lee, Barbara Shelley and Richard Pasco it certainly qualifies as one of Hammer films marquee titles. Made at Bray studios and directed by Terence Fisher. This post is dedicated to our 'number one' resident Gorgon fan, Joshua 'Mageara' Kennedy!

REMEMBERING ROBERT URQUHART : BORN TODAY 1921

REMEMBERING Robert Urquhart. 'Quiet, well-read and a lover of classical music, Robert Urquhart was an actor who grew frustrated with his career as he grew older. It was, he bemoaned, an honorable profession but so much of the material he was offered did not deserve any respect...' Robert Urquhart Obituary. 'The Independent' newspaper, 24th March 1995.

In the early 1950's Urquhart was building himself quite a reputation for his theatre work. A reputation that would eventually bring him to the attention of studio casting agents and land him supporting roles on the big screen. But it was in the medium of film, that Urquhart was not such a happy chap...

That one film was 'The Curse of Frankenstein' with Peter Cushing in 1957 for Hammer film. He detested it. It is said he left the premier screening, refused to make appearances to promote it and only in the last years of his revived career on television, could he find the stomach to even mention it, if it was brought up in interviews.

By 1980, Urquhart had cooled off a little..and appeared in another Hammer production, the Hammer House of Horror' television series, in an episode entitled, - Children of the Full Moon. However, we remember him today for his sterling performance in The Curse of Frankenstein'!