THE WORK OF ACTOR AUTHOR SHANE BRIANT CELEBRATED ON HIS BIRTHDAY TODAY

TODAY, we remember and celebrate, the birthday of actor and writer, Shane Briant. Of the many we 'remembrances and anniversaries', with of course Peter Cushing connections, Shane's is probably one of the very few who for a number of years, my wife and I knew personally. My wife, I would say more so, through a professional connection with the publishing of his books... 

 

SHANE left us back in May of this year, so this still feels, not so much a memory, but as a gut wobble to a very sad and emotional day. Shane had many friends within the fan world and he made time, for everyone. Always up for self deprecating remarks, quite honest in sharing his feelings and emotions, very true and generous. We miss him, his calls, his unexpected notes and his friendship. 

 

NOTE: Since May 2021, following Shane's passing, and a quote in a unconnected to us, statement about Shane's health, we will not be answering any questions on how Shane died, his health or his family. Thank you -Marcus

 

SHANE BRIANT was born London, England in 1946 . He was an English actor and novelist. He studied Law at Trinity College Dublin, but became a professional actor after playing the lead in 'Hamlet' at the Eblana Theatre, Dublin.

 

BRIANT was probably best known for his roles in four quite different Hammer Films productions; 'Demons of the Mind', 'Straight on Till Morning', 'Captain Kronos - Vampire Hunter', and 'Frankenstein and the Monster from Hell', in which he starred as Simon, along side Peter Cushing's Baron Frankenstein, Madeline Smith and the late, Dave Prowse. 

 

SHANE BRIANT STARRING with #Paul Newman as Cox in the 1973 thriller, 'THE MACKINTOSH MAN'.

 

SINCE the early 1980's Shane lived and worked as resident in Sydney, Australia with his wife Wendy. During a 25 year span Shane became a regular face on successful and popular Australian television drama and light entertainment including the medic-air rescue show 'All Saints' (1998-2009). In 2012 and 13 Shane appeared in all seven episodes of the HBO serial 'Serangoon Road' as Major Lawrence  Miller, the series was shot in both Australia and Singapore. 2015 Shane appeared in his last tv series, the Australian historical drama 'Gallipoli'. Of all the work Shane did while settled in Australia, he said he was most proud of the children's television series, 'Mission Top Secret' between 1992 and 1995, where he played the main baddie, Neville Savage and hardly a day passed without him being recognised on the streets by fans of the show, in particular surprised children, who told him he was the worst villain, and asked for selfies! 

 

Remembering Shane Briant August 17th 1946 - May 27th 2021

 

IF YOU LIKE what you see here at our website, you'll  love our daily themed posts at our PCAS FACEBOOK FAN PAGE.  Just click that blue LINK and click LIKE when you get there, and help us and  . . Keep The Memory Alive!. The Peter Cushing Appreciation Society website, facebook fan page, Instagram,

Blog and youtube channel are managed, edited and written by Marcus Brooks. #PCASUK coordinator since 1979. PCAS is based in the UK and USA.    

THE LOVE OF FIGURES STATUES MODELS AND PHOTOBUSTAS!

AS WELL AS collecting figures of military for his 'Little Wars' games, books, postcards, stamps, magazines, periodicals, boardgames, cards and mode aircraft, #PeterCushing, from a young age collected semaphore flags and figures. Here is a quote from his 1988 autobiography, 'Peter Cushing: Past Forgetting' from 1988 . . .

 

ABOVE: HERE IS A LITTLE puzzle I posted on the Facebook PCASUK Fan Page a few days ago. Can you identify the FILM THIS screen capture was taken from. The answer was provide yesterday, and is now at the page, if you want it! 

 

Have Times Changed? A message at the facebook PCASUK fan Page, this morning from . . a follower of the #pcasuk page and #PeterCushing's work... Scott Goodman, who sent me a lovely photograph of the Italian film poster for 'Dalek's Invasion Earth 2150 AD', like this one, which he owns. 

 

A beautiful poster! He too noted the absence of an image of the usual billed star, Peter Cushing . . maybe because marketing, thought 'Italians appreciate and love ladies'! I think he has a point, actress Jill Curzon is a fine actress and the camera loves her.

 

But if times have changed today, would an actress attract your attention more than say, a Dalek or indeed Peter Cushing? Just wondering . . .

 

ABOVE: The image of the Jill's character Barbara being gagged by a Dalek Roboman, was based on the photograph edited on to an Italian 'photo-busta' lobby card, which artists at the Italian press and publicity department made and edited quite creatively and very interesting themselves. Photo-Busta's are now very sort after and ask for quite high prices...

 

IF YOU LIKE what you see here at our website, you'll  love our daily themed posts at our PCAS FACEBOOK FAN PAGE.  Just click that blue LINK and click LIKE when you get there, and help us and  . . Keep The Memory Alive!. The Peter Cushing Appreciation Society website, facebook fan page, Blog, Instagram and youtube channel are managed, edited and written by Marcus Brooks. #PCASUK coordinator since 1979. PCAS is based in the UK and USA.    

IN MEMORIAM : PETER CUSHING OBE

IN MEMORY of Peter Wilton Cushing 26th May 1913 - 11th August 1994:

 

TODAY WE MARK the 27th Anniversary of the day the Peter Cushing left us. As a society, here at our Peter Cushing Facebook fan page and at our website we mark the many birthdays and the sad news others passing, and also remembering those who worked with or knew Peter Cushing. It's a sad day, but as always, we ask that the mood be one of celebration...the celebration of a life well lived, of his career, his professional achievements and of him being the most of gentle, of gentle men.

 

WHILE WE MAY still feel a tinge of sadness at the thought of it being this long, since Peter passed, take heart: he has never really left us . . and never will, so long as the many, many fans and admirers continue to revisit the much loved work and films in which he appeared . . and maybe today , mark in your own way and help celebrate his life and career. - Marcus Brooks

 

OVER AT the Facebook PCASUK Fan Page  there is a LIVE post, full of many, many comments and messages from everyone who wanted to contribute to our annual noting of this day. Please feel free to also add your contribution . . . 

 

IF YOU LIKE what you see here at our website, you'll  love our daily themed posts at our PCAS FACEBOOK FAN PAGE.  Just click that blue LINK and click LIKE when you get there, and help us and  . . Keep The Memory Alive!. The #PeterCushing Appreciation Society website, facebook fan page, Instagram, Blog and youtube channel are managed, edited and written by Marcus Brooks. #PCASUK coordinator since 1979. PCAS is based in the UK and USA.     

CAN YOU ANSWER THIS? PLUS REMEMBERING ACTRESS KATE O'MARA ON HER BIRTHDAY

TWO QUESTIONS have been set with the rare still over at the FACEBOOK PCASUK FAN PAGE , with a THIRD question, causing some head scratching, for sure. Feel free to pop over and have a go! Answer later . .

 

TODAY MARKS the late Kate O'Mara's birthday.... Her earliest television appearances, includes guest roles in '#DangerMan', 'Adam Adamant Lives!', 'The Saint', 'Z-Cars' and '#TheAvengers'. Look carefully and you'll spot her in the crowd of ale swiggers in Cushing's / Hammer films CAPTAIN CLEGG. She also worked with Cushing in the film, #CORRUPTION and in 1970, she appeared in two Hammer films films THE VAMPIRE LOVERS and 'The Horror of Frankenstein'.

 

IN THE FORMER, she had an erotically charged scene with #IngridPitt, in which O'Mara was meant to be seduced; the two women were left laughing on set, however, as Pitt's fangs kept falling into O'Mara's cleavage. O'Mara's work in 'The Vampire Lovers' impressed Hammer enough for them to offer her a contract, which she turned down, fearful of being typecast! 

IN BETWEEN APPEARANCES in the BBC 'Doctor Who', she played Caress Morell in the American primetime soap opera 'Dynasty'. After returning to the UK, she was cast as another scheming villain, Laura Wilde, in the BBC soap 'Howards' Way' (1989–90). Kate O'Mara passed on 30th March 2014 aged 74. 

 

IF YOU LIKE what you see here at our website, you'll  love our daily themed posts at our PCAS FACEBOOK FAN PAGE.  Just click that blue LINK and click LIKE when you get there, and help us and  . . Keep The Memory Alive!. The Peter Cushing Appreciation Society website, facebook fan page, Blog and youtube channel are managed, edited and written by Marcus Brooks. #PCASUK coordinator since 1979. PCAS is based in the UK and USA.    

RARE SNAP : WHO IS PULLING THE TROLLEY! JENNI LINDEN ROBERTA TOVEY : PLUS REMEMBERED BIRTHDAY OF A WELL KNOWN FACE TODAY

A FABULOUSLY colour tinted and shared behind the scenes publicity photograph, by Clayton Hickman of #PeterCushing and cast, during the making of ‘Dr Who And The Daleks’ Spring 1965

 

HERE'S A FACE... if you are a #PeterCushing, #ChristopherLee, Hammer film or indeed James Bond fan... you will certainly recognise... but his name?? Dudley Frederick Peter Butler-Madden, was born in Malaysia back in 1904. Became an actor and chopped the name to Peter Madden and went on to appear in many, many films and tv shows produced in the UK. '#Frankenstein Created Woman' in 1967, 'Frankenstein and the Monster from Hell' in 1973 both with Peter Cushing for Hammer films. 

 

 

PETER MADDEN'S Amicus film with Peter also in the cast was 'Dr Terror's House of Horrors in 1965. He held a bigger role for Hammer in 'Kiss of the Vampire' as the innkeeper Bruno in 1963. Madden also appeared in the UK cult television series 'The Prisoner' (1967) uncredited, he plays the sinister undertaker in the opening sequence! On television he was seen in 'Danger Man', 'Z-Cars', 'The Avengers', 'The Saint' and 'The Champions', 'Out of the Unknown', 'Steptoe and Son' in the episode 'Live Now P.A.Y.E. Later' and also played Inspector Lestrade opposite Douglas Wilmer’s 'Sherlock Holmes' in the 1965 BBC series. 

 

MADDEN even stepped into a role in 'From Russia With Love' the James Bond entry of 63 as Mac Adams. There is hardly a UK tv series of the 60's or 70's he did not appear in. A very busy and popular actor.. we always spot him.. even of we don;t recall his name. You are remembered on your birthday Peter! Happy Birthday to you! 

 

IF YOU LIKE what you see here at our website, you'll  love our daily themed posts at our PCAS FACEBOOK FAN PAGE.  Just click that blue LINK and click LIKE when you get there, and help us and  . . Keep The Memory Alive!. The Peter Cushing Appreciation Society website, facebook fan page, Blog and youtube channel are managed, edited and written by Marcus Brooks. #PCASUK coordinator since 1979. PCAS is based in the UK and USA.