THE VERY SAD NEWS of the passing of actor FREDDIE JONES reached us last night, has been marked with many comments and shared messages of condolences at the PCASUK Facebook Fan Page, yesterday and today. Freddie was 91 and had an impressive film, television and theatre career that stretched over a very busy sixty years. Most #Hammerfilm and #PeterCushing fans will know him for two Hammer classics, first Hammers Frankenstein Must be Destroyed and 'The Satanic Rites Of Dracula'.
MORE ON FREDDIE JONES and 'Frankenstein Must Be Destroyed' HERE!
IN 'DESTROYED' Freddie gave us a Baron's creation that was full of pathos and sadness. Who can forget his duel with Cushing in the final moments, where Professor Richer cranks up the tension by trapping Cushing's Baron in a blazing house!? Jones's portrayal of Frankenstein's indulgence, is probably is most complex of all Hammer films 'Frankenstein Monsters', who manages to spin the title of 'Monster' neatly into the lap of Cushing's Baron. There are few actors who could so convincingly share the interplay between Cushing Hammer characters and themselves. The tension and dread was pushed even a little further in the scenes which Freddie Jones and Cushing shared in #hammerfilms 'The Satanic Rites of Dracula'. Freddie's Professor Julian Keeley wobbles and sways from fear, to dread, lust and disgust in a shared A two-hander scene with Cushing, that is probably the highlight of the film.
MORE ON FREDDIE JONES and 'The Satanic Rites of Dracula' in our PCASUK GALLERY and REVIEW : HERE!
FREDDIE JONES also frequently worked with David Lynch with roles in 'The
Elephant Man' (1980), 'Dune' (1984) and 'Wild at Heart' (1990 ) His role as
Inspector Baynes in Granada television's 'The Return of Sherlock Holmes'
in 1988, with Jeremy Brett as Holmes is a gem. Freddie Jones always
brought much to every role. You never knew quite what was going to be on
the table, but it was always entertaining, convincing and very real.
I was glad to be able to tell him I loved him and how much he and his work meant to me. I remember doing house cleaning and saying his lines from Frankenstein Must Be Destroyed. He was so great in that movie he literally almost stole the ending from Peter Cushing. Peter had to bring it up another notch and matched him. He had Peter on his toes!! These men were true artists. I get chills everytime I see them literally volley lines back and forth with such perfection!!! Just incredible!!!
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