MANY THANKS to Studio Canal for sponsoring one of our PCASuk Competitions today! Here is YOUR chance to WIN a copy of this 4K out of this world, SPECIAL COLLECTOR EDITION restoration BLU RAY release #DrWhoandtheDaleks' (1965),
starring Peter Cushing as Dr Who with a supporting cast of Jennie Linden, Roberta Tovey and Roy Castle. This was the first big screen film adaptation of British TV’s
most iconic sci-fi hero, and the first time the #Daleks were ever seen in
colour!
THE PLOT: Having invented the TARDIS, a strange machine capable of travelling into
other dimensions, the Dr. and his three young accomplices set forth on a
quest through time and space. Their journey takes them into the dark,
undiscovered depths of the universe and to the planet of Skaro, a
primitive world devastated by nuclear war and populated by two warring
species, a peaceful tribe known as Thals and a life form heavily mutated
by radiation, encased in protective machines, merciless force of
destruction known as The Daleks!
THE PRIZE:
We have ONE copy 'DR WHO AND THE DALEKS' Special Collectors Edition 4K Blu Ray up for grabs. Dr Who and the Daleks has enjoyed several home releases over the years, Studio Canal has worked it's magic in not only presenting the film restored and remastered, but now for the
first time in ultra high-definition 4K. ‘Dr Who
and the Daleks’, looks brighter, more colourful and sharper than ever
before!
THE STUNNING 1960s vintage-style cover artwork by Johnny Dombrowski
packages ‘Dr Who and the Daleks’ very attractively for fans. A
collector’s edition also includes a booklet. There are several exciting
extra features on the disc. ‘The Dalek Legacy: Destination Skaro’ is
sixteen minutes in length and sees modern-day voice of the Daleks
Nicholas Briggs and other ‘Doctor Who’ luminaries putting the legacy of
the 1960s films into context within the wider world of ‘Doctor Who’.
‘Restoring Dr Who in 4K’ is an eleven-minute instalment about how the
original film elements have been digitally enhanced for this
restoration.
THE DISC ALSO boasts the documentary ‘Dalekmania, filmed in the
mid-1990s, which covers both films and features some of the
then-surviving cast and crew from both films and explores the possible
reasons for the overwhelming popularity of the Daleks. Of particular
interest are the stories of Jill Curzon and Roberta Tovey, guest actors
Barrie Ingham and Yvonne Antrobus; as well as Eddie Powell, a stuntman
whose involvement in the second film left him with a broken ankle.
Pinewood Studios expert and Roger Moore’s former right-hand man Gareth
Owen is also available to impart his knowledge of the film’s origins. An
audio commentary featuring film critic Kim Newman in conversation with
‘Doctor Who’ writers Robert Shearman and Mark Gatiss takes you all the
way through the film with affectionate insights. A separate audio track
reunites companions Jennie Linden (Barbara) and Roberta Tovey (Susan).
ALL YOU HAVE TO DO!
As with all PCASuk Competitions, this competition is OPEN TO EVERYONE! Whoever you are, Wherever you are! All YOU have to do is ANSWER our simple competition QUESTION and send us your answer, ONLY USING the facebook BLUE MESSAGE BUTTON at the TOP of the FAN PAGE, UNDER our PCASuk banner! HERE! Any answers or clues posted in the comments thread, will be deleted, the entry made void... and we'll send some Daleks around to your home!
THE COMPETITION QUESTION:
NOT including PETER CUSHING, only ONE CAST MEMBER appeared in BOTH 'Dr Who and the Daleks' and it's SEQUEL 'Daleks Invasion Earth 2150 AD'. NAME that cast member!
This PCASuk Competition CLOSES on SATURDAY JULY 2nd 2022 at midnight GMT. No entries will be taken after this time and date.
Many thanks to Studio Canal and GOOD LUCK EVERYONE! - Marcus
NEWS: IF you don't own these TWO #Hammerfilms#PeterCushing classics OR are looking for an UPGRADE, now IS the time! #SecondSight are releasing #TheMummy starring Peter Cushing and #ChristopherLeel
be and 'Frankenstein and the Monster from Hell' in limited Edition
packages, with quite fab rigid slipcase new artwork by Graham Humphreys.
OTHER NICIES INCLUDE, soft cover book with new essays by Kat Ellinger, Lindsay
Hallam and Kevin Lyons plus production stills with 5 collectors' art
cards! A very nice deal indeed. Keep your eyes peeled for our PCASuk
Competition, where as ever we'll be offering you our friends and
followers, the chance to bag some competition goodies! All details on BOTH releases below - Marcus
There are few films with characters or actors that can command such power, force, pathos and emotion the way #ChristopherLee successfully does in #Hammerfilms
1959 'The Mummy' .... and he does it with a full face mask and head to
toe bandage! Hands and eyes? You bet! When he ploughs through those
french windows, like a full steam head loco train, making his b-line for
Peter Cushing's lame and unprepared John Banning, on first watch, you
are convinced... Cushing aint going to make it!!! We all know how much
Peter loved a GOOD tussle, a sword fight, a strangle, throttle and swipe
and we also know just how real and convincing these scenes looked in
past 'set-to's'.... the 1958 #Dracula,
The Curse of Frankenstein, I Monster in 1971 and Dracula AD 1972.. what
a prologue indeed! Lee's character Kharis, is on a mission, under a
spell, like pounding wave one moment then tender with grace, the next.
It's a sad climax, a touching love story all in one. Director Terence
Fisher, knew his craft and this is another of his golden Hammer films.
Perfect cast, that chemistry, believable sets and beautiful score, makes
The Mummy one of Hammer's most popular features... a blu ray remaster,
looking like a feature made with several million and a must for any
collection - Marcus
THE MUMMY SPECIAL FEATURES:
* Main feature presented in original UK theatrical aspect ratio 1.66:1 and alternative full frame1.37:1
*New audio commentary by film academic Kelly RobinsonArchive audio commentary by Marcus Hearn and Jonathan Rigby *An Appreciation of The Mummy by David Huckvale 'The Music of The Mummy' *Unwrapping The Mummy *The House of Horror: Memories of Bray *The Hammer Rep Company *Original Promo Reel Still Gallery
LIMITED EDITION CONTENTS: Rigid slipcase with new artwork by Graham HumphreysSoft cover book with new essays by Kat Ellinger, Lindsay Hallam and Kevin Lyons plus production stills 5 collectors' art cards
REGION B
I know many see this as a almost not quite worthy ending to Hammer and Cushing's #Frankenstein
saga... but I DO so love this film and everything about it. The pace,
the pace is almost played like the knowing sadness, of saying goodbye,
to a close family member or old friend. The cast is probably one of the
best that James Liggat put together. Liggat cast quite a few Hammer
features and went on to pull together casts for Kunbrick's 1962 Lolita,
James Bond 'Dr No', Kubrick's '2001: A Space Odyssey' and The shinning
in 1980. What a ensemble of experienced and amazing character actors,
Mischa De La Motte as Twitch, Sydney (Captain Clegg) Bromley as Muller,
Victor Woolf as Letch, Charles Lloyd Pack .. all the way from way back
as Dr Seward in #Cushing and #ChristopherLee's #Dracula.
John Stratton as the Asylum Director and Bernard Lee as the heart
breakingly sensitve, Tarmut. So many lovely players and scenes. Maddy
Smith and Shane Briant play so well, while Peter guides through a role
he knew so well, still with some surprises of crazy dedication. It's
cramped, it's dank and oppressive and quite grim. But so fitting. As
Terence Fisher's last film, it's a tribute and testament to the many
believable fairytale environments and settings he created with those
amazingly talented crews.. just a few still around long enough to cast
this last spell. It's well worth watching as the curtain finally drops,
as the treasured, precious and cherished, take their final bow in the
Hammer land of 'Frankenstein'. .. - Marcus
FRANKENSTEIN AND THE MONSTER FROM HELL
SPECIAL FEATURES *Main feature presented in original UK Theatrical aspect ratio 1.66:1 and alternative full frame1.37:1
*New audio commentary by film academic Kat Ellinger
*Archive audio commentary by Shane Briant, Madeline Smith and Marcus Hearn *An Appreciation of Frankenstein and the Monster From Hell by David Huckvale : The Music of Frankenstein and the Monster From Hell *Taking Over the Asylum
*Charming Evil: Terence Fisher at Hammer
*Stills Gallery
LIMITED EDITION CONTENTS: Rigid slipcase with new artwork by Graham Humphreys. Soft cover book with new essays by Kevin Lyons, Kelly Robinson and Emma Westwood plus production stills. 5 collectors' art cards
YOU ARE MOST WELCOME TO JOIN USand over 34,000 others Peter Cushing followers at the FACEBOOK PCASUK FAN PAGE! With posts every day, rare images and photographs, features and prize competitions.. all celebrating the LIFE and CAREER of Peter Cushing OBE
THE BRITISH TV series ‘Doctor Who’ first hit the BBC screens in November 1963. The concept was originally seen as an entertainment and educational programme, based around Doctor Who, played by veteran Brit film actor William Hartnell, who was planned to travelled through space and time, in a police telephone box, named TARDIS, dropping in on various 'historical happenings and characters'. The first FOUR episodes, of 'An Unearthly Child' was a good foundation and intro. But little did the series creator and head of drama Sydney Newman, realise what he had on his hands, after first he launched the first episode, their proposed intention 'fill the Saturday evening time-slot and appeal to both the younger and older audiences of the neighbouring programmes . . .. but the was an unexpected game changer! Within the next seven episodes, they would be managing one of the BBC's biggest direct hits and a name that would be on everyone's lips. . .Daleks!
The GIFS feature here are not 4K footage from the
#StudioCanal release
THE REST AS THEY SAY, is history, television history, life changing eventually for many millions of viewers, children and fans! Midway through the huge success of the Dr Who first series, it was decided that the Daleks , were the main attraction, a new evil metal villains, that potentially not only proved to hold and attract huge audiences, but also beyond their weekly episodic treat in front of their black and white tv sets, and into the paying seats of cinemas through-out the country. Daleks in FULL COLOUR, a WIDESCREEN full 90 MINUTE adventure! The idea not only had casters, it had legs to run and work! And so, the concept of the very first Dr Who feature film was lauched.
EVENTUALLY, two feature films, unique in the annals of
Doctor Who, were made for the big screen as an attempt to cash in on the
“Dalekmania” of the mid-1960s. 'Dr Who and the Daleks' and 'Dalek Invasion Earth 2150 AD' weren’t produced by the BBC, but
were nevertheless loosely based on First Doctor William Hartnell’s
opening Dalek stories, some pretty sizeable differences were made in
order to circumvent copyright laws. Thus, the look of the TARDIS
interior and the redesigned Daleks are not quite what viewers may
expect.
SINCE THEIR RELEASE on VHS, then DVD and even Blu-ray some years ago, the film
prints have been restored and remastered, and are now presented for the
first time in ultra high-definition 4K. The first outing, and the 1965 ‘Dr Who
and the Daleks’, certainly looks brighter, more colourful and sharper than ever
before.
‘DRWHOANDTHEDALEKS’ sees the TARDIS land on the planet Skaro.
Exploring their surroundings, the planet appears to be dead; the soil
nothing but sand and the forest now nothing but the petrified remains of
trees. The travellers suffer radiation sickness from the high levels of
radioactivity – the result of a nuclear war between the Daleks and the
Thals. With the Daleks planning to wipe out all surviving Thals, Dr. Who
and his companions must find a way to convince the inherently
pacifistic Thals to fight back in order to save themselves.
IN ORDER TO REACH a wider and more international audience, an
established big screen English star was found to play the lead role. The
charming Peter Cushing, extremely charming and lovable as “Dr Who” (now depicted
as an eccentric Englishman who invents a time machine in his back
garden, rather than an alien traveller in space and time). His portrayal
is the complete opposite of small screen counterpart Hartnell’s alien
and occasionally sinister Doctor – instead providing a warmer hero for
young children to more easily trust. The Daleks, who fired death rays on
the television, expel fire-extinguisher carbon dioxide gas to
successfully render them less terrifying. They are also
brightly-coloured and some even have multi-coloured sensors, which gives
them a friendly rather than sinister appearance. And rather than
travelling with a difficult, moody teenage granddaughter as William
Hartnell’s Doctor did, Peter Cushing’s Susan is a young child who is
much easier to handle (brilliantly played, it must be said, by young
Roberta Tovey). The comic element is played up by the Doctor’s young
male sidekick. Beloved entertainer Roy Castle offers exquisite comic
timing and pratfalls and manages a bit of heroism along the way too.
‘DR WHO AND THE DALEKS’ is beautifully directed by Gordon Flemyng, and
he succeeds in rendering an epic feel to the adventure. He has a great
eye for detail, making each frame interesting to look at, using
different levels and taking full advantage of extensive studio space.
The rocks sliding apart to reveal brilliant lights beneath the Dalek
city is an especially effective cinematic moment. Undoubtedly, this is a
slicker, faster-paced and altogether bigger budget version of ‘Doctor
Who’. Barry Gray’s distinctive and dramatic cool jazz musical score is
another major plus point, and immediately attention-grabbing when played
over the opening credits. The charm of the film is its nostalgic 1960s
period (now apologised for in the inevitable yawn-inducing trigger
warning at the start of the disc). It succeeds because it stands the
test of time as an exciting adventure.
THE OVERALL EFFECT of the restoration, which brings clarity and
definition to the film, is a double-edged sword. Certainly ‘Dr Who and
the Daleks’ has never looked better. Cushing's white wig and bushy eyebrows complete the transformation of his interpretation of the good Dr, but you will also spot the brush strokes of Cushing's make up, the strings on the Dalek craft, but hey... it's sci-fi, make believe and for the kids!
THE INTERESTING 1960s vintage-style cover artwork by Johnny Dombrowski
packages ‘Dr Who and the Daleks’ in a very different comic strip-like concept. A
collector’s edition also includes a booklet. There are several exciting
extra features on the disc. ‘The Dalek Legacy: Destination Skaro’ is
sixteen minutes in length and sees modern-day voice of the Daleks
Nicholas Briggs and other ‘Doctor Who’ luminaries putting the legacy of
the 1960s films into context within the wider world of ‘Doctor Who’.
‘Restoring Dr Who in 4K’ is an eleven-minute instalment about how the
original film elements have been digitally enhanced for this
restoration.
THIS DISC ALSO boasts the documentary ‘Dalekmania, filmed in the
mid-1990s, which covers both films and features some of the
then-surviving cast and crew from both films and explores the possible
reasons for the overwhelming popularity of the Daleks. Of particular
interest are the stories of Jill Curzon and Roberta Tovey, guest actors
Barrie Ingham and Yvonne Antrobus; as well as Eddie Powell, a stuntman
whose involvement in the second film left him with a broken ankle.
Pinewood Studios expert and Roger Moore’s former right-hand man Gareth
Owen is also available to impart his knowledge of the film’s origins. An
audio commentary featuring film critic Kim Newman in conversation with
‘Doctor Who’ writers Robert Shearman and Mark Gatiss takes you all the
way through the film with affectionate insights. A separate audio track
reunites companions Jennie Linden (Barbara) and Roberta Tovey (Susan).
IF DON'T OWN #StudioCanal's fine 'DR WHO AND THE DALEKS' 4K Blu Ray or are looking for an upgrade, NOW is your chance to own, witness and experexperience the film as it has never been seen before before. Out of this WORLD!
Cast:Peter Cushing, Roy Castle, Jennie Linden, Roberta Tovey, Barrie Ingham, Yvonne Antrobus Director: Gordon Flemying Certificate: U Duration: 83 mins Released by: Studiocanal Release date: 20th June 2022! YOU CAN PURCHASE AND Buy ‘Dr Who and the Daleks’ HERE!
MORE ON Peter Cushing and DR WHO AND THE DALEKS with RARE STILLS GALLERY can be found in another PCSuk FEATURE: HERE!
MORE ON PETER CUSHING and DR WHO AND THE DALEKSwith FULL RARE STILLS GALLERY HERE!
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 . . Keep The Memory Alive!. The
Peter Cushing Appreciation Society website, facebook fan page and
youtube channel are managed, edited and written by Marcus Brooks, PCAS
co-ordinator since 1979. PCASuk is based in the UK and USA. Elements of this review and text can also be found Here
#RalphBates as Lord Courtney, lies dead on the floor of the site of the unholy ceremony in #Hammerfilms
'Taste The Blood of Dracula' (1970) ... but there's is something in
this rare colour publicity photography... that wasn't used in promotion
in the US and Europe...that doesn't fit this scene in the released
movie.... spot it? Answer / theory you'll find below -Marcus
DURING THE 1980'S PCASuk were very fortunate to meet and interview actor RALPH BATES several times. It was Ralph back in 1979, that first broke my innocence and laughed bringing attention to what he called #Hammerfilms 'Continental Version' of 'Taste the Blood of Dracula'. An alternative edit of the film for Japan and other regions, contained more violence and nudity. Ralph told us about shooting a scene at the brothel, near the end of the day. A few shots and cut aways, reaction shots, he was told. Come the fifth set up, Ralph though he was done for the day, he left his postition in his chair, gathered his things, until the floor manager called out for 'Alternatives, now please!'. Ralph was sat back down, as girls repositioned themselves, while blouses flew off in haste, ready to reshoot several set ups's minus some costumes but plus ample breasts and thighs. 'Taste' was his first film for Hammer films, and he felt he was in the process of being groomed as the latest 'face' in their lead roll roster, which for many, had proved a potential springboard for future ggod things.
THE FILM was originally not going to feature Dracula at all, much like The Brides of Dracula (1960), due to Christopher Lee
becoming increasingly reluctant to reprise the role and the producers
not expecting to be able to convince him to do so. Lee's increasing
salary demands were also a factor. Ralph Bates would have played the
lead. Sadly, the script was re-written to include Dracula after the producers were
finally able to coax Lee back to the role after "Warner-Seven Arts"
refused to back this movie without the actor's participation.
SO, now within the re-written script, lay the solution of the despatching of his what was once key player, out of the plot! The framework of Lord Courtney's gory ceremony which transformed him in Count Dracula remained, but rather than Ralph changing costume, Lordship to Count ... and dentures, to what would no doubt would have been an interesting and no doubt regal 'Prince of Darkness', Bates was instead beaten into a broken and bloody mess! It was decieded three distinguished Victorian English gentlemen taking part in the ritual would take offence to his goading, rude manners and bad form .. and beat him to death with their walking canes! Even watching this strange twist in the plot seems a weird U-turn, leading also to being Count Dracula's main plot drive to seek revenge for his dead servant, as contrived and clumsy in an otherwise quite entertaining film. Lee though sadly looks to be on casters, as he stands on the side-lines, being wheeled out of the shadows, in gardens, balconies' and from around pillars. The body count in this film six, Lee vocally tots-up four of the death total, as the wrap to each of his murder appearances! It's just weird, but kinda works, but was a terribe waste of Christopher Lee's screentime and talent.
AND SO, come the end of the ceremony, an exit of drama and horror was needed. Understand, this is just my theory although there is photographic evidence to support it. Being presented their very own goblet of Dracula's very own blood, re-hydrated almsot like a 'Pot-Noodle' using Lord Courtney's own blood, the gents who after all were there to be entertained by 'something different, exciting and jaw-dropping' refuse to drink, sample and 'taste the blood of dracula'. They in the great tradition of thugs, sadists and kinky-old men, disguised as dignified pillars of society, chicken-out. Courtney then fearlessly, knocks back his goblet contents, soon falling to the ground wrought with pain and screaming in agony. The gents angry and panicking jointly decide to do the right thing, and set about beating him to death, with their canes, to put him out of agony.
NOW AS A SCENE of frenzied violence, in Hammer's full repertoire, pardon the pun, it takes some beating! As this if this wasn't enough, and maybe this final act was also included in the script, Geoffrey Keen's character Harwood, the most frustrated, unpredictable and violent of the bunch, as seen in several on set photograps, taken at the time of shooting this scene, raises the blade of his sword stick, positions it above Courtney's heart and with force, plunges it in! Now, it could be that during the beating the other gents, Paxton played by Peter Salis and Secker played by John Carson, also contributed to the stabling and poking. There is no photographic stills or contact sheet right now, to prove that, but being just a little on the right side of meeker-man type, who through out this 'little planned titilation', has been pushed and coaxed by Harwood, to join in. All said, it woud have given a full, violent and unexpected climax, to the scene. But come May 7th 1970 on the release of 'Taste the Blood of Dracula', that scene and all, is not we see.....
THE FATAL AND VIOLENT sword stick stabbing pieces are missing! 'Taste' was one of the few Hammer Dracula films that was R-rated, Hammer were not only able to push the envelope with its depiction of
nudity, and violence, and also its dark themes. . . but only the inclusion of three elderly gents kicking, thrashing made it in the final edit of Lord Courtney's demise... stabbing with a sword, for our censors, was OUT!
-Marcus Brooks
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 . . Keep The Memory Alive!. The
Peter Cushing Appreciation Society website, facebook fan page and
youtube channel are managed, edited and written by Marcus Brooks, PCAS
co-ordinator since 1979. PCASuk is based in the UK and USA
