CELEBRATING PETER CUSHING BIRTHDAY TODAY! COMPETITIONS AND MUCH MORE!

TODAY HERE AT THE PCASUK WEBSITE AND AT THE FACEBOOK PCASUK FAN PAGE we mark and celebrate the #BIRTHDAY of one Peter Wilton Cushing OBE born today May 26th 1913 😀😊 Lots of opportunities for posts, a quicky COMPETITION, a MAJOR COMPETITION and a MOVIE this evening! So there will be TWO posts here at the website today! Meanwhile . . .

HERE IS A LITTLE SOMETHING to think on today, BUT only today as this a QUICKY COMPETITION that closes 6AM GMT TOMORROW (Wednesday)! Here is YOUR chance to bag yourself a prize, marking Peter Cushing Birthday today. Back in the 60's, 70's and 80's it was a regular task to post and pass on any gifts that arrived for PC for his birthday. It was a busy time. Sadly, this is something we no longer have to do. But back in the day, many loved to shower Peter with gifts. There were many who never missed his birthday. Aftershave, chocolates, books, cufflinks, ties, teddy bears all with cards, notes or letters! 

BUT TODAY ..It's something in our PCASAEU 😃 (Peter Cushing Appreciation Society Alternative and Expanding Universe!! 😊😂) we can do 😂😉 So here is the deal, think of a IMAGINATIVE and INTERESTING gift you could have sent PC on his birthday, back in 1959!! There are no boundaries, it's a bit of fun! YOU could bag yourself a prize for your suggestion! Just post your BIRTHDAY PRESENT SUGGESTION on the thread today at the Facebook PCASUK Fan Page, BEFORE 6am GMT tomorrow! Have Fun and Good Luck!  Our PCASUK MAJOR PC BIRTHDAY COMPETITION will be posted here later today. So, keep your EYES peeled and remember, get IN or miss OUT! 😉 See you LATER - Marcus

'THE NIGHT THEY TERRIFIED THE WHOLE COUNTRY' : BBC ORWELL'S 1984 INTERVIEWS

FROM 1960, Peter Cushing, Yvonne Mitchell, writer Nigel Kneale and director Rudolph Cartier reflect on the huge reaction to the live broadcast of the BBC Sunday Night Drama, '1984' aired 12th December 1954. For any television broadcast to prompt any reaction from the government at this time, was indeed quite rare. But watching Peter, Yvonne Mitchell and Morell here, gives a pretty good idea of THEIR fears too... To an extent it changed drama on the BBC and put Cushing into a another area of work all together, for many years to come... It's a short feature and certainly worth watching... 

FRIENDS : CUSHING TALKS LEE AND LEE TALKS CUSHING : AWARDS AND PRAISE FOR PC

PETER CUSHING was a such a humble guy, when he received awards, praise and such, he still seriously thought about, IF he did actually deserved such recognition!. Even his appearance on #ThisIsYourLife, they broke with convention and gave him the heads up. But he did receive several awards over the years, quite a few career changing ones in the 50's... more nods and acknowledgments in the later.. His award for his performance in #TalesfromtheCrypt was very well deserved . . as were the others. BUT do you think there were performances that slipped by, that should have been awarded? Over at the FACEBOOK PCAS FAN PAGE we are asking, are there roles that you have watched, where you think, THAT should have been given more recognition and maybe a well deserved award?? I would love to read your suggestions . . no matter what role you think worthy 🤔😊 - Marcus

ABOVE AND BELOW : The thoughts of Christopher Lee on his good friend, Peter Cushing and Peter Cushing's thoughts on Christopher Lee. . .

DONALD PLEASENCE CENTENARY: BORN 100 YEARS AGO TODAY!

BORN ONE HUNDRED YEARS AGO TODAY!... Today marks the centenary birthday of actor Donald Pleasence on October 5th 1919. Born in Worksop, Nottinghamshire, England, he was the son of Alice (née Armitage) and Thomas Stanley Pleasence, a railway stationmaster.

TODAY, AFTER HIS PASSING... you can read all about Pleasence service during WW2, his capture as a prisoner of war, humbleness kept that under wraps for most of his life.. but he would talk and share about a fateful day and television broadcast, where both he and Peter Cushing received positive critical attention for their roles in the BBC version of Nineteen Eighty-Four (1954) from the novel by George Orwell. Pleasence played Syme, to Cushing's Winston Smith. BOTH terrified the British public! I could write much here about the amazing Pleasence career, the films, the TV and theatre.. but I have left plenty of space and thread, for everyone to do that, in this post at the FACEBOOK PCASUK FAN PAGE and leave that to you to share . . 😉

 DONALD PLEASENCE AS SYME IN THE BBC LIVE PRODUCTION OF '1984' IN 1954.

PLEASENCE IN the 1959 'FLESH AND THE FIENDS' as William Hare 

 A FULL FEATURE REVIEW WITH VINTAGE LOBBY CARD GALLERY! HERE!

AS JACK SEWARD in the 1979 version of 'DRACULA'

ABOVE: CUSHING AND PLEASENCE TOGETHER in 'Trial by Combat' 

DONALD PLEASENCE bumped along with Peter in several roles on the big screen, mostly co starring in films like 'The Flesh And The Fiends' 'Suspect' 'From Beyond The Grave' 'The Uncanny' 'Trial By Combat' and 'The Devil's Men'. In several of his roles, Pleasence was able to with little dialogue reach and un-nerve the audience, using something his actress daughter once referred to as 'Pleasencing' . . it worked. It ALWAYS worked.

TO DO DONALD PLEASENCE justice it would take several days, many, many posts to even scratch the surface of his amazing talent and presence. I am sure everyone here, can name three if not FIVE of their favourite Pleasence performances, because each one was different, a different character... but off screen, Donald was always one... charming, gentle and always entertaining... A VERY Happy Birthday Donald Pleasence... you are missed by many and celebrated by all who were entertained by your sensitivity and brilliant talent! 😉 - Marcus 

NATIONAL SURVEILLANCE DAY : ORWELL AND CUSHING IN 1954

TODAY is National Surveillance Camera day is the UK. When I first read that, I thought it was a joke! But no. So I have created a little tribute to the all seeing eyes along with and including Orwell's and Cushing's own historical statement on the practice of 'all seeing' for good or bad intentions . .. what is your thoughts on today's National Marking of the governments service, that LOOKS after us all?

UNDEAD CASH 1984 AND THE DEVIL HOUND! REMEMBERING ACTOR ANDRE MORELL : BORN TODAY 1909!

TODAY WE REMEMBER ACTOR ANDRE MORELL, born on this day in 1909. A celebrated actor whose career had more than a few teamings with Peter Cushing and the fantasy genre.In 1938, Morell joined the Old Vic theatre company, and appeared in several of their high-profile productions both at their home theatre and on tour throughout Britain and across the rest of the world, appearing with both Alec Guinness and John Gielgud.' He kick-started his association with 'creepy cinema' with Cushing as Sherlock Holmes, and playing Arthur Conan Doyle's character Doctor John H. Watson, in Hammer Film Productions' version of The Hound of the Baskervilles (1959). In 1960. He played Captain Edward Manningham in 'Cone of Silence' in 1960 also starring Cushing, Michael Craig and Bernard Lee. His wonderful portrayal as the 'bounder' Colonel Gore-Hepburn in Hammer's 'Cash on Demand' in 1961 makes very entertaining viewing, as he piles the pressure on Cushing's tormented bank manger, Harry Fordyce and 65 as Haumeid in Hammer's 'She'..with rather odd dubbing.

THERE WERE OTHER VERY GOOD HORRORS and thrillers too, Hammer's 'Plague of the Zombies' in 66 and the rather limp 'THE MUMMY'S SHROUD' again for Hammer in 1967, along with Michael Ripper's Longbarrow, one of the few times where supporting actors are more interesting then the central 'monster'. But, his stand out performance with Cushing, for me has to be in the BBC live televised production of George Orwell's '1984', as the chillingly good O'Brien. It's interesting that Morell played a very good Prof Quatermass in the BBC Quatermass tv series (1958-59) but when offered the role of the Prof in Hammer's 'Quatermass and the Pit' in 1967, turned it down.

OUR FULL FEATURE REVIEW WITH GALLERY of 'CASH ON DEMAND' starring Peter Cushing and Andre Morell : HERE!

ABOVE: ANDRE MORELL IN PLAGUE OF THE ZOMBIES'

MORELL ALWAYS LOOKED very at home in Hammer's early horrors, but inside personally felt a little more than embarrassed by the subject matter of some of the films, and often forbid his family to actually see them at the local cinema. By all accounts, a rather private man, but very generous on screen and made an outstanding contribution to some of Hammer and Cushing's best work.

COME COMMENT DEBATE AND CELEBRATE at the FACEBOOK PCASUK FAN PAGE TODAY! 

THE WHOLE TOOTH AND NOTHING BUT! ALSO SOMEONE IS SNOOZING! WHO IS THAT???

FOR MUCH OF HIS PROFESSIONAL CAREER from 1948 onwards, wore a front denture. Loosing the tooth came in handy during the making of the BBC production of George Orwell's '1984' in 1954. Never one to miss an opportunity to use props, some business, or indeed anything that would add authenticity to his performance, Cushing REMOVED his 'one tooth plate'  for the horrifying 'Room 101' scenes in the climax of the television drama. It really enhances his emaciated and broken appearance. Vanity never got in the way, of Cushing's quest in perfecting a role. This week's TOUGHY QUESTION is 'HOW DID PETER CUSHING LOOSE THAT TOOTH?' 

THIS QUESTION AND POST has also been posted at our PCASUK FACEBOOK FAN PAGE where followers comment and debate this question and all of our posts here, every day! Please feel free to join the page. You'll be most welcome. JUST CLICK HERE and the CLICK LIKE THERE! 

AN EXTRA QUESTION  for you this week! #TOOCOOLTUESDAY! Someone is having a SNOOZE! Can you name the actor, the name of the film and his co-star? Like our TOUGHY question this post is ALSO LIVE at our FACEBOOK PCASUK FAN PAGE Please free to join us there to discuss and maybe answer this question and post your ANSWER in our thread!

BELOW THE ANSWER TO LAST WEEK'S TUESDAY TOUGHY!

BOTH PETER CUSHING AND CHRISTOPHER LEE starred in episodes of the television SCI FI DRAMA series SPACE 1999. LEE'S played Captain Zantor in an episode was entitled 'EARTHBOUND' and was broadcast on December 4th 1975.

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