LITTLE FRANKENSTEIN AND RARE HAMMER FILMS BEHIND THE SCENES

 

#FRANKENSTEINFRIDAY! RETURNS! The year 2018 marks the 200th anniversary of the publishing of Mary Shelley's novel Frankenstein, and even though we make a Cushing Frankenstein themed post most weeks, today sees the return of one of Peter Cushing's most popular characters, to it's weekly spot. To MARK the Frankenstein Anniversary in the remaining month of 2018 and the return our Baron Friday Themed posts, here is an EXCELLENT short video, sent to us by our good friend and regular supporter of the PCAS sites, ANDY WINWARD, a master of the short video... and starring his very cute and talented daughter. Please give yourself a 'Friday Treat' and his short video a watch!

OUR FIRST photo for our return of #FrankensteinFriday today... Peter Cushing on set, boom over-head at the ready, camera waiting to roll in a rare unpublished photograph from a contact sheet of 'Frankenstein Must Be Destroyed' at Elstree film studios. In just over 7 years time, he would be back, on the spot at this studio, appearing as Grand Moff Tarkin in 'Star Wars'. . .

I LOVE press books and ad campaigns... the 'Must Be Destroyed' newspaper ads are some of my favs of the whole Hammer Frankenstein series! 😀

NEWS! WARNER BROTHERS RELEASED 'HORROR OF DRACULA' ON REMASTERED AND TWEAKED BLU RAY!

SOME REALLY GREAT NEWS for US 'Horror of Dracula' fans! The US gets a blu ray release at last, courtesy of Warner Brothers 🙂

HORROR OF DRACULA (1958) NEW 2018 1080p PRESENTATION SOURCED FROM THE HAMMER/BFI RESTORATION Run Time 82:00 Subtitles English SDH Sound Quality DTS HD-Master Audio 2.0 - English Aspect Ratio ORIGINAL ASPECT RATIO - 1.66:1, 16 X 9 WIDESCREEN Product Color COLOR Disc Configuration BD 25 includes Original UK Theatrical Trailer (HD)

CHRISTOPHER LEE AND PETER CUSHING, Britain’s premier masters of the macabre, bring the Horror of Dracula to vivid, full-color death in this retelling of Bram Stoker’s spellbinding vampire tale. Dracula (Lee), a centuries-old Transylvanian nobleman damned to an eternal half-life, regularly finds new victims. He also finds Dr. Van Helsing (Cushing), a scientist who becomes the Count’s implacable foe in a deadly game of bat-and-mouse. This is the UK version titled “DRACULA”, and featuring footage previously restored by the British Film Institute and Hammer Films. Warner Archive’s new release restores the original color palette of the film, using dye-transfer Technicolor prints as reference, and has been meticulously cleaned of film-related damage for a superior presentation.

NEWS: ANOTHER HAMMER FILMS BLU RAY RELEASE DUE FOR OCTOBER 2018!

NEWS : IT'S A GOOD TIME for any Peter Cushing and Hammer film fan looking to update their dvd collection some BLU RAY gems! Twilight Time has just revealed details of their new release of SWORD OF SHERWOOD FOREST (1960) Personally, my fav of the Hammer Robin Hood films, with Peter Cushing as The Sheriff of Nottingham, Richard Greene THE Robin Hood, Nigel Green as Little John and Oliver Reed As Lord Melton! Niall MacGinnis plays the best Friar Tuck, Richard Pascoas Edward Earl of Newark and Sarah Branch as Maid Marion. Directed by Terence Fisher, it makes for excellent Sunday afternoon viewing 🙂 Special Features include Alun Hoddinott's isolated Music track plus an effects Track too and the Original Theatrical Trailer! 

IT WILL BE INTERESTING to see if this print too will be like all the others, where Oliver Reed's voice is not heard; he's dubbed throughout by another (anonymous) actor attempting to sound like Reed's normal voice. Reed's own voice is heard in the film's trailer, where he adopts a very camp lisping French accent!

HAMMER FILMS producer Michael Carareas and #PeterCushing on set during the making of 'The Sword Of Sherwood Forest' (1960)

ONE SUSPECTS as with most Twilight Time releases, this will be a REGION FREE release which comes out on OCTOBER 16th, 2018 🙂 Another one for your shopping list 😉

 

TWO HUNDRED YEAR ANNIVERSARY AND THE GOTHIC CLASSIC STILL INSPIRES

#MONSTERMONDAY! This year marks the 200th anniversary of the publication of Mary Shelley's classic novel Frankenstein - first printed on 1 January 1818. As we are all probably know here, Hammer Films took on the Frankenstein horror franchise in 1957, with Peter Cushing playing Baron FRANKENSTEIN. 'The Curse of Frankenstein' also starred Christopher Lee as the creation and was the "first really gory horror film, showing blood and guts in colour", according to Professor MacCormack on the BBC NEW website today. Patricia MacCormack, is a professor of continental philosophy at Anglia Ruskin University, and has published papers on the horror genre.

'THE CURSE OF FRANKENSTEIN' MONSTER had a very different aesthetic from the first Universal studios film, Cushing's monster was covered in scars and transplanted tissue - partly because the Universal Karloff-era make-up had been copyrighted. But it's this "patchwork human, which was touted as the closest to the monster of Mary Shelley's book," says Prof MacCormack. "The idea of a patchwork humanity is at the very core of Shelley's story.The film carries a strong message from the original book: "Beware ambition, it seems to say. It's all about men circumventing the role of women and the role of god - and the consequences of that."

REMEMBER! 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 coordinator since 1979. PCAS is based in the UK and USA

WIN COPIES OF TORTURE GARDEN REMASTERED BLU RAY COMPETITION!

OVER AT OUR PCASUK FACEBOOK FAN PAGE we have just launched our LAST competition of the festive season and this year. Feel free to CLICK on that BLUE LINK and send us your entry. Here are all the details of the prize and the post that accompanied the competition below.

ANOTHER PCAS FESTIVE COMPETITION! To help make your 2017 go OUT in style and welcome IN a screamingly good 2018, here's your chance to bag a copy of Peter Cushing's AMICUS film TORTURE GARDEN remastered and packed with extras from Indicator Entertainment, who have generously sponsored our festive frightening competitions this year. Follow the competition's instructions CAREFULLY. THIS COMPETITION is OPEN TO EVERYONE, wherever you are! Thank you ALL for a special 2017. For your continued interest and support. Good Luck and a HAPPY NEW YEAR - Marcus

SPECS:
INDICATOR LIMITED EDITION SPECIAL FEATURES:
• High Definition remaster
• Original mono audio
• Ramsey Campbell on Robert Bloch (2017
• Interview with Fiona Subotsky (2017
• Interview with actor Barbara Ewing (2017
• Hannah Gordon on husband DoP Norman Warwick (2017,
• Original theatrical trailer
• Image gallery: on-set and promotional photography
• New and improved English subtitles for the deaf and hard-of-hearing
• Limited edition exclusive booklet with a new essay by Laura Mayne,
an overview of contemporary critical responses, and historic articles on the film
• UK premiere on Blu-ray
• Limited Edition of 3,000 copies

ORDER YOUR COPY OF THIS LIMITED EDITION FROM INDICATOR HERE!

REMEMBER! 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 coordinator since 1979. PCAS is based in the UK and USA