HAPPY 54TH ANNIVERSARY OF HAMMER FILMS 'THE GORGON' : JOSHUA KENNEDY AND HOUSE OF THE GORGON!

TODAY HERE and at our FACEBOOK PCAS FAN PAGE we are marking the anniversary of the release of #hammerfilms THE GORGON starring Peter Cushing and Christopher lee, with Barbara Shelley, Richard Pasco, and directed by Terence Fisher 🙂 At the Facebook Fan Page, the text went like this...'We've covered this film many times here and at the website, it's still one of the most atmospheric and beautifually photographed films that Hammer made. It's got an amazing cast and an amazing musical score by James Bernard. Patrick Troughton, Michael Goodliffe are great too. And according to some fans, It's probably also.... hang on I'll wait for Joshua Kennedy to make his annual annoucement on the thread below.... ANY time now . . ' 😉 AND at THAT POINT, he did! HAPPY BIRTHDAY 'THE GORGON' !

HOW WE MARKED the GORGON anniversary a few years ago. Josh's comment was there on the post as usual, but this year, so was JOSH!

FOR THOSE OF YOU who don't know JOSH and the remarkable films he has made over the years, he has just probably leaped a further few giant steps in the opinions of his fans and friends. Josh is a life long fan of Hammer films, 'THE GORGON' having first seen it when he was just NINE years old. For the past ten years, I have made a tradition of posting a celebration banner, marking the release of THE GORGON, and every year, without fail, Josh has posted the same comment, in the thread below onour Facebook PCAS Fan Page or here at the website, 'THE BEST FILM EVER MADE'  

DRACULA AD 2105 and the promotional poster for HOUSE OF THE GORGON designed by artist Graham Humphrey

AT FIRST, when it appeared, I thought it was just a highly supportive comment, from a Cushing / Hammer film fan, who  was probably on a high, having just seen the film. BUT, no THE GORGON is Josh's favourite Cushing Hammer film. So much so, he has just made his OWN Gorgon movie, as a tribute to the film, that was made back in 1964. Josh has made some impressive tribute films to various Hammer and fantasy genre movies over the years. My favourite being DRACULA AD 2105. A superb full length feature, which also contains many tributes and key scenes, to the whole Hammer film Dracula series. You can catch our feature and review on the film HERE! 

THE HOUSE OF THE GORGON SYNOPSIS:

Filmed in the vein of the classic Hammer and Universal films of yesteryear: The year is 1896, and the lovely Isobel Banning travels with her mother, Anna, to the village of Carlstadt to marry her university sweetheart, Dr. Julian Pritchard. Along their journey they meet the mysterious Father Llewellyn, the local priest, who refuses to explain why the villagers appear to be in a state of mortal fear… as if the town is hiding a terrible secret. Frightened and confused, Isobel and Anna readily accept an invitation from Dr. Pritchard to stay with him and his aunt, the Baroness Bartov, in their large chateau overlooking the town… unaware of the ancient horror that lies within.

HAVING SEEN THE CROWD-FUNDING trailer for 'HOUSE OF THE GORGON' and the prospect of it's jaw dropping cast, who have joined together to support Joshua and his film, makes the release of this film all the more VERY special. The cast includes, Veronica Carlson (Frankenstein Must Be Destroyed, Dracula Has Risen From The Grave, The Ghoul) Caroline Munro (At The Earth's Core, Dracula AD 1972) and Christopher Neame (Dracula AD 1972) and Martine Beswick (Dr Jekyll and Sister Hyde). I am sure it is going be just as impressive, as Josh's other films, The Return of Sherlock Holmes, The Alpha Omega Man, Theseus and the Minotaur and many others. Scheduled for a 2019 release, I can't wait!

OUR FEATURE on the dancer and actress who played THE GORGON in the 1964 film: JUST click HERE!

EXTENDED TIME ON HOUSE OF THE GORGON: CAROLINE MUNRO AND MARTINE BESWICKE IN UPDATE NEWS!

MORE NEWS FROM  the GOOEY FILMS CAMP on the progress of FUNDING JOSH KENNEDY'S HOUSE OF THE GORGON, the film that will BRING and REUNITE FOUR HAMMER FILM ACTORS on screen for the first time since their days at Hammer!

THE GREAT NEWS IS  the INDIGOGO FUNDING WINDOW IS TO BE EXTENDED PAST it's original closing date, to FEBRUARY 7th 2018! So, STILL TIME to make YOUR contribution to the BUDGET POT! SO DON'T DELAY. DO IT TODAY! 

IF YOU MISSED OUR POST ALL ABOUT how YOU can become a part of this this amazing unique  opportunity THE LINK IS : 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     

NOW IS THE TIME! SHOW YOUR SUPPORT AND MAKE THIS HAPPEN!

THIS POST WILL BE UPDATED OVER THE NEXT NINE DAYS! COME BACK FOR UPDATES AND PROGRESS!

THE CONVERSATION? IT WENT LIKE THIS. 'To pull something like that off, you'd have to have lots of added value' 'How do mean?' 'Well, working in that genre the audience expects to see names.' 'Names?' 'Yes, that's why something like this would never happen!. You have to have a cast that features prominent names that are associated with THE studio.' 'Oh, I see. Well, he's got them!' There was a three second pause. One 'What?' One for 'Did you just say just say, what I think you said?' and the last for, 'You DID!' 'And the concept?' "Yes?' 'Well, that's going to be amazing. What an amazing opportunity!'

 

THIS CONVERSATION happened over the phone, as I write, was four days ago.  I am talking to a close friend. Someone who I have known since we were teens. I went on to work in television and lecturing, he became an award winning script-writer, working in an international multi award winning show, with a cast made up of directors and actors with very respected names, the majority some of the most experienced and trusted actors in the business. He's a little jaded now. There isn't much that makes his eyes sparkle, make him sit up and listen. This conversation went on for another hour.  I was enjoying hearing him get just as excited as I am about this . . . .

'LET ME WRITE THIS DOWN. And, this is the guy we spoke about previously. 'The Dracula AD 2015?' guy?" 'Yeah!'   ''Remind me. His name?' 'Joshua Kennedy' 'And, the title?' 'House of The Gorgon!'. I could hear his smile down the phone. 'Of course. It had to be! Ha'

 
SO WE HAVE FOLLOWED JOSH KENNEDY'S journey over the past few weeks, as he launched his INDIEGO CAMPAIGN PAGE  the updates on THE HOUSE OF THE GORGON YOUTUBE CHANNEL and the HOUSE OF THE GORGON FACEBOOK FAN PAGE. It's a gamble. It seems there have been a few HAMMER film projects launched over the past few years. One in particular asked for a sizeable budget, for a concept that was nothing new, but seemed to get fans of the Hammer flicks excited. Sadly, fingers got burned. ...Cue 'I told you so'.... If it looks too good to be true, based on past experiences of some the people who were involved with that project, then you can bet it certainly is!

THE RISKS

'We are all professionals. Aside from the decades of experience our actors have in show business, writer-director Joshua Kennedy has written, produced, and directed fourteen feature films entirely on his own... in less than seven years... with little to no budget for any of them! The possibilities to make movie magic with this cast are endless with your help.' The HOUSE OF THE GORGON Indiegogo Campaign Site 

OTHER WAYS TO HELP!
Times are hard, it's that time of year, and if you are not able to contribute to this project... no problem!You CAN help by sharing this campaign with your family, friends, neighbors, pets, Hammer fans, Classic Universal fans, vampires living in your basement....The more we can spread the word, the better. How many chances will we ever have to see these FOUR TITANS TOGETHER in a Gothic Horror film? Let's make this happen! THE HOUSE OF THE GORGON Indiegogo Campaign Site 

AS JOSH SAYS in his promo trailer, 'This might be the last opportunity to see FOUR Hammer film actors appear together in a film!'. That fact alone, has to be worth some serious consideration, of an Hammer film fan?  I remember my youngest daughter asking me one time, many moons ago, 'Dad. how do you eat an elephant?' To which I replied, 'I have no idea, Lucy' 'ONE MOUTHFUL AT A TIME! She screamed laughing! She has a point. It's a sizeable budget, but even a dollar, ten dollars, twenty five dollars, as a contribution, all goes ion the pot. And eventually, he would get that budget. Problem is of course is, TIME. As I wrote there are just NINE DAYS until the closing of the INDIEGO CAMPAIGN PAGE. So, if you feel THIS IS something you would like to get behind, NOW is the time to send that lolly! No matter how small, it ALL adds to the total. THE HOUSE OF THE GORGON has a FLEXIBLE GOAL on Indigo. Basically, that means, the campaign will receive ALL the money it has raised even of it doesn't reach it's goal! So, you are backing a production, where the contributions really do count! I would LOVE to see this happen. Wouldn't you?

LOOK FOR THIS INDIEGOGO CAMPAIGN PAGE AND CLICK HERE!

THE STORY 

The year is 1896 and the lovely Isobel Banning travels with her mother Anna to the village of Carlstadt to marry her university sweetheart Dr. Julian Pritchard.

Along their journey they meet the mysterious Father Llewellyn, the local priest, who refuses to explain why the villagers appear to be in a state of mortal fear... as if the town is hiding a terrible secret.

Frightened and confused, Isobel and Anna readily accept an invitation from Dr. Pritchard to stay with him and his aunt, the Baroness Bartov, in their large chateau overlooking the town... unaware of the ancient horror that lies within.

THE CAST

CAROLINE MUNRO AS BARONESS BARTOV
Embedded in the minds of fans worldwide for her work in AT THE EARTH’S CORE and THE GOLDEN VOYAGE OF SINBAD, Caroline Munro's stunning looks also made her an easy victim for Christopher Lee's Dracula in DRACULA AD 1972, and a vicious thwart to Roger Moore's James Bond in THE SPY WHO LOVED ME. Her numerous fans throughout the globe have unanimously dubbed her "The First Lady of Fantasy."

MARTINE BESWICKE AS EURYALE
Martine currently holds the rare distinction of being one of the few "Bond Women" to participate in two James Bond films: FROM RUSSIA WITH LOVE and THUNDERBALL; both opposite Sean Connery. She is also famous for her work in Hammer films fighting Raquel Welch in ONE MILLION YEARS B.C., lording over a kingdom of cavewomen in PREHISTORIC WOMEN and, of course, as the vicious villainess in DR. JEKYLL AND SISTER HYDE.

VERONICA CARLSON AS ANNA BANNING
Veronica is probably best known throughout the world for her career-defining performances in two of the greatest Gothic Hammer Films of all time acting opposite Christopher Lee's Dracula in DRACULA HAS RISEN FROM THE GRAVE and Peter Cushing's Baron Frankenstein in FRANKENSTEIN MUST BE DESTROYED. Her other film roles include THE HORROR OF FRANKENSTEIN and THE GHOUL.

CHRISTOPHER NEAME AS FATHER LLEWELLYN
Known primarily for his role as Johnny Alucard in Hammer's DRACULA AD 1972, Christopher Neame has had an incredibly lengthy film and stage career, including the titular role in Shakespeare's ROMEO AND JULIET, guest roles on DOCTOR WHO, STAR TREK, THE A-TEAM, and Timothy Dalton's James Bond film LICENSE TO KILL. Christopher also played Chuck Norris’ antagonist, the Devil himself, in the film HELLBOUND.

GEORGINA DUGDALE AS ISOBEL BANNING
Having completed her Bachelors in “Costume for Performance” at the London College of Fashion, Georgina has also chosen to pursue acting through her membership in the National Youth theatre, the RADA Youth Group, and the Tricycle Youth Theatre. In addition, Georgina has also performed in a number of films including BECOMING, FOX TRAP, DRESS REHEARSAL, directed by Sam and George Clemens, and THE MILKY WAY, winner of “The Best No-Budget Feature” at the London Independent Film Festival.

JOSHUA KENNEDY AS DR. PRITCHARD
Joshua Kennedy is the 23 year-old writer, producer, and director of fourteen feature films. A graduate of Pace University in New York City, he has been nominated for four Rondo Hatton Classic Horror Awards for, among other things, his tributes to Gothic horror: DRACULA A.D. 2015 and THE NIGHT OF MEDUSA. His latest film, THESEUS AND THE MINOTAUR, premiered at the Monster Bash Convention this past summer and is now available on DVD from oldies.com.

PAST JOSHUA KENNEDY AND GOOEY FILM PRODUCTIONS:

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    

GIMMETHEGIF: FACTOID FINGERS AND WHO TURNED ON THE LIGHTS!

 

#GIMMETHEGIFWEDNESDAY: SOME GREAT GIFS have been requested, by you, over the last few days, from some of the best moments taken from Peter Cushing's films. #DRACULAAD1972  #DRTERRORSHOUSEOFHORRORS, two key moments that everyone remembers! Also yesterday, we kicked off a new DAILY FEATURE that will be appearing at our FACEBOOK FAN PAGE and here at the website, The Cushing Geeks of the Day Factoid! It's a bit of fun. We'll be presenting a daily post of what could be facts or fabrications, on the life and career of Peter Cushing. Remember the focus is on FUN. We'll be asking you to comment and post, join in on debating if what we are stating is FACT or FICTION. From the individuals commenting, we'll be selecting one of the correct answer to make #CUSHINGGEEKOFTHEDAY...!! It's tongue in cheek and a wink at our fun preoccupation with all things connected with Cushing. It's why we are here!

#GIMMEGIFWEDNESDAY: FOR KIRSI AAVIKKO, UK this chiller moment for Christopher Lee's art critic, Franklyn Marsh from 'DR TERROR'S HOUSE OF HORRORS. This story was maybe the beginning of Amicus films, LOVE of disembodied hands!

#GIMMETHEGIFWEDNESDAY: As popular as ever and proving the point we made last Sunday in our #GETTHECUSHIONITSCUSHING on DRACULA AD 1972, maybe the most POPULAR, UNPOPULAR Dracula film of the Hammer Cushing Lee series? Here for ROMA FARRADAY, UK is Christopher Neame's Johnny Alucard, 'Blinded by the light!'. Proving there is more than one way, to dazzle a vampire with a light . . and it doesn't have to be the sun!

 

#GIMMETHEGIFWEDNESDAY: FOR PERRY VESTLI, USA : ANOTHER one from the #DRACULA AD 1972 pile! That moment of, 'Well what's going on here then?' from Dracula, who thinks he has blown Van Helsing's plans to destroy him . . but, things changed very quickly in the next few seconds! All part of the great few great scenes with Peter Cushing and Christopher Lee together, in the roles that helped to make them so popular! 

TOMORROW THURSDAY IS #THROWBACKTHURSDAY : JOIN US! 

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#MONSTERMONDAY: HERE'S JOHNNY! HIPPY OR HORRIBLE MONSTER?

#MONSTERMONDAY : LOVE or HATE him, and many actually feel both! Johnny Alucard from Hammer films 'DRACULA AD 1972. Is he a MONSTER? Or is Dracula's fault he is a baddy?? Either way, Actor Christopher Neame played him with ALL the stops,pulled RIGHT OUT! Your task is, to see past all that and brand him.... MONSTER or NOT?

BTW: Take a good close look at this colour slide / transparency of Christopher Neame and Caroline Munro from Dracula AD 1972... and see the scratches, dust and debris on the surface. This is a typical example of the condition of some of the photographs and slides I purchase and rescue from libraries and collectors. Part of the job of PCAS is to restore and clean the images, for future generations of Peter Cushing admirers to enjoy ;) All images I post, are cleaned and repaired. - Marcus

COME JOIN US AT OUR FACEBOOK FAN PAGE : ALMOST 26,000 FOLLOWERS! TOMORROW OUR THEME IS #TOOCOOLTUESDAY! : JUST CLICK HERE 

#HAPPYBIRTHDAY CHRISTOPHER NEAME TODAY 12TH SEPTEMBER

Join us in wishing CHRISTOPHER NEAME a Very Happy Birthday Today! (September 12th) Neame give us his unique portrayal of the young Johnny Alucard in Hammer films Dracula AD 1972, starring Christopher Lee and Peter Cushing… like it or love, you can’t ignore it!

Pics:(on the left) A RARE behind the scenes photo of Neame on set during the making of Dracula AD 1972 (right) Peter Cushing as Van Helsing and Neame as Alcard…in a moment of exposure!

CAROLINE MUNRO, CHRISTOPHER NEAME AND DIRECTOR ALAN GIBSON: DRACULA AD 1972

 

The set of  Hammer films Dracula AD 1972, seems to have been quite a happy and relaxed place, lots of evidence on behind the scenes photographs of the young cast chilling and playing 'games' with Christopher Lee. Here's a behind the scenes shot, that maybe a new one for some of director Alan Gibson nudging in on the action during Christopher Neame's 'Alucard freak out'.

Hammer films, Dracula AD 1972 marked Peter Cushing's return to the role of vampire hunter, Van Helsing, joined for the first time since 1958, by Christopher Lee as Dracula. For many, this marked the beginning of the end, with the traditional gothic story time line being shunted into modern day, 1970's London. The film was followed by The Satanic Rites of Dracula, also set in trendy London. It was the last time Cushing and Lee appeared together as Dracula and Van Helsing, and the final time Lee wore the cloak for Hammer.

http://monsterkidclassichorrorforum.yuku.com/topic/53676/RONDO-XII-OFFICIAL-BALLOT-IS-HERE#.UzHEmFeBDYA