TODAY we mark the birthday of a director who during his pretty strange, and always on budget or even under budget films, made two of the weirdest entries in Peter Cushing British film career, '#Corruption' 1968 and 'Incense for the Damned' in 1971. Robert Hartford-Davis, born William Henry Davis, 23 July 1923 in Ramsgate, Kent.
ABOVE:Director,
producer, writer and at one time.. agent for Roy Rogers, Robert
Hartford-Davis. According to Davis, he only ever lost money on one film,
'Incense for the Damned' starring Peter Cushing and Patrick MacNee..
According to Davis along with his partner Peter Newbrook, had an
unparalleled track record of successes, producing one of the highest
grossing 'low-budget films ever produced in the UK' the 1963 'The Yellow
Teddy Bears' .... I wonder what Hammer films CEO Sir James Carerras,
thought of that at the time???
ABOVE: RELEASED in it's AKA title, 'Blood Suckers' Robert Hartford-Davis, 'Incense For The Damned'
HE CHANGED HIS NAME on becoming a television director in 1955, a very full
television career encompassing drama, comedy and entertainment shows.
Davis made his way into film by becoming an electrician, it was here he
went on to develop his skills as a cameraman, editor and even sound
technician. Davis like many of the best in the industry, learned
everything he could, before donning the role of head producer and
director... the only difference being, unlike the majority of his peers,
he didn't share their talents. Getting to value the weight of a penny
while working as an agent, where at one time he even managed American
'singer-actor-television host-cowboy- #RoyRogers!
IN BETWEEN MAKING Cushing's eyebrow raising 'Corruption' - which because
due to the strong graphic content of the film, different markets around
the world received different versions of key scenes.. and 'Incense for
the Damned' which Davis always stated was actually two different films
that were 'spiced together' because we ran out of money, removed his
name from the film- Davis made a film with both #PeterCushing co stars, #IngridPitt and #JudyHuxtable. Called 'Nobody Ordered Love' is now thought of as a lost '1972 British drama film'
ONE THING you can say for Davis, he made TWO films with Peter Cushing, that despite their reception at the time of there release, have since gone on to cultivate a lot of interest, with 'Corruption' having a huge following of fans. Sadly, for some, Davis output stopped in 1977, with a tv series called 'Dog and Cat' in the US. He passed in his Los Angeles home on 12th June 1977. Remembering #RobertHartfordDavis today!
AND FINALLY, There's putting on a jacket and.. 'putting ON a jacket'! #PeterCushing as #VanHelsing in #Hammerfilms '#Dracula 1958
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