#MONSTERMONDAY! REMEMBERING DAVID PEEL AND HIS BARON WITH BITE!

#MONSTERMONDAY! Marking DAVID PEEL'S passing today, we present this vintage Italian (?) cinema poster for Hammer films, 'The Brides of Dracula' starring Peter Cushing as Van helsing, David Peel as Baron Meinster and the beautiful Yvonne Monlaur as Christina... It's a pretty neat poster, I think. So effective with so little, two colour and broad representation of the characters...with the voltage up on sex appeal as well as the fantasy...or are they the same thing??? Either way, this poster is one of my all time favs. What do you think?

#MONSTERMONDAY: TODAY we remember actor DAVID PEEL who we sadly lost on this day in 1981. There are few who have made such an impact as Peel. He only appeared in ONE film for Hammer films and I believe only appeared in one film with Peter Cushing. ONLY ONE ROLE, one film and yet, enter VAMPIRE HAMMER into google images, and he will appear in most of the pages. Despite the success long after The Brides of Dracula was made...audiences felt a little cheated that it was a DRACULA film, without Dracula!....

I suspect that Peel wasn't impressed with either the film or the subject matter. An unhappy man, with troubles and issues. You probably know, he left the industry early on and went into antiques and real estate, but life for Peel was certainly difficult. We remember him today though, for that one Hammer film and the impressive performance as Baron Meinster, the boy vampire who certainly pushed the boundaries of vampire film!

#MONSTERMONDAY! Here I've have scanned, TWO lobby cards you rarely see today, featuring David Peel. . .one from the UK set and the other from the US set. Both are tinted sets and quite rare!

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  

#TBT #HAPPYBIRTHDAY AND GIF TO GINA VAMPIRE GIRL HAMMER ARTWORK AND UNCANNY CATS!

#THROWBACKTHURSDAY : Hammer films were very good at recycling things... costumes, film sets, music...and promotional artwork. Above, there is a teaser for you!

#THROWBACKTHURSDAY AND #Happybirthday to GINA the VAMPIRE GIRL, actress Andre Melly from Hammer films, 'The Brides of Dracula'. Melly, sister of the late jazz musician George, who was born this day in 1932. As the 'pretty' Gina in 'BRIDES' she terrified audiences with her ability to transform into Baron Meinster's vampire victim, all under the watchful eye and direction of Terence Fisher. Three years later she worked with Fisher again in 'The Horror Of It All' as Natalia Marley.

HERE IS A #THROWBACK to August 1977, and the release of the last film Peter Cushing was to make for Amicus producer, Milton Subotsky, 'THE UNCANNY'. The film was launched in a blaze of indifference at the Montréal Film Festival. It was produced in Canada, with a budget of some 800,000 CA Dollars. It's an odd film, a strange mix from the ol Amicus cookbook, that makes a recipe for something that should have been a whole lot tastier! I am still at a loss why the film was also released under the title of 'Brrrr!'? 'Puuuurrr' YES! 'Brrrr!' no. 

'THE UNCANNY' has a great cast, with Cushing acting as the linkage again, with Ray Milland. He plays a nervous wreck called Wilbur Gray. Cushing was not the original choice for casting, but fits the role very well. Is it possible to have a strength in playing the weak???? Donald Pleasence is on board with Cushing again, and even manages to get a photo of himself, as Blofeldt complete with white cat from the James Bond film 'you only live twice' in on the act. Much of the film is delivered in a black comedy style, which maybe confused audiences at the time. But I think it's a great film, with lots of variety and a very entertaining cast.