REMEMBERING: HAPPY BIRTHDAY ERIC MORECAMBE!!

TODAY MAY 14TH MARKS THE BIRTHDAY of Eric Morecambe, one half of the most successful comedy team in the UK. Still missed and loved by all. With Eric's passing back in 1984, it left a hole not only in the entertainment world but also in people's hearts. With his partner, Ernie...they provided one of tv's longest running gags, 'Peter Cushing and his Money!'... he did eventually get it , but not until the boys, had a lot of fun with it, stretching over many years and several programmes. God bless, Eric, Happy Birthday and thanks for all those precious memories and laughs. . . . 

FROM THE PEN OF ERNIE WISE, in another of his 'Play That Wrote'...comes Peter Cushing as King Arthur, in the Knights of the Round Table!. This sketch , also starring Ann Hamilton as Queen Guinevere and Constance Carling as the serving wench (!) was part of Peter Cushing's guest appearance in 'The Morecambe and Wise Show' broadcast on July 27th 1969.

YOU CAN WATCH THE BEST OF PETER CUSHING ON THE MORECAMBE AND WISE SHOW, AT OUR PLAY LIST AT OUR PCAS YOUTUBE CHANNEL : CLICK HERE!

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 reach our 30K following total for Peter Cushing BIRTHDAY on MAY 26th 2017 AND Help Keep The Memory Alive!

#SILENTBUTDEADLY: TRIPLE BILL OF YOUR REQUESTED CUSHING GIFS : GORGONS MUNRO AND MONEY

#SILENTBUTDEADLY : #1 : AN EYE-POPPING GIF OF Peter Cushing as Sir John Rowan in the film 'CORRUPTION' (1968) We have covered some areas of this off-the-wall thriller over the past few days and this shot was mentioned by ALEX LEES of Preston, UK, JAY RANDELL, Skenfrith, Wales, IZZY PARKS, Gloucester, UK and SEB GALLAGHER, USA. Seems no-one knew PC's eyes were so blue! Ah but the character's heart was soooo black! Or was???

YOU CAN SEND YOUR REQUEST FOR NEXT WEDNESDAY'S #SILNETBUTDEADLY GIF GALLERY, BY SEND US A EMAIL OR MESSAGE: EMAIL TO petercushingpcas@gmail.con OR at our PCAS Facebook Fan Page : HERE

#SILENTBUTDEADLY: #2 :BARBARA SHELLEY in Hammer films 'THE GORGON' sees something, that isn't too easy to erase from your mind, after seeing it, for sure! THE GORGON was a 1965 feature that also included the popular casting of both Peter Cushing and Christopher Lee together. They had by this time appeared in several films for Hammer, this time out, the usual casting casting of Lee as Black Hat, Cushing as the good guy, was switched. Cushing played the confused and comprised in a love triangle, Dr. Namaroff. Lee played a weird mix of Einstein and dusty type academic, Prof. Karl Meister. It was an interesting swap, but I am not sure that Lee was old enough for that role, and that it came out well.... This GIF has been requested by Robert Beach, Swansea, UK.

#SILENTBUTDEADLYWEDNESDAY: #3 : AND FOR TODAY'S last post.... here is a gif from Peter Cushing's THIS IS YOUR LIFE from 1990....but can you tell us WHO is that fine young lady, meeting Peter on the show????? Requested by Joe Price, Watford, UK

#SILENTBUTDEADLY: #4 WE HAVE REALLY ENJOYED making several posts over the past few days, that have been taken from Peter Cushing's numerous appearances on the 'MORECAMBE AND WISE SHOW' from 1968 until 1980. This was GIF footage is from the first of the Morecambe and Wise shows that formed part of their recent NEW contract with ITV, away from the coziness of the BBC, after a period lasting almost 20 years of shows together. ITV promised them money money, a longer contract and some one off musical specials...all of which they saw very little of, as Eric sadly died  three years after signing, on May 28th 1984. They left the BBC, But...the long running Peter Cushing, 'Pay Me My Money' sketch happily followed with them! Many thanks to Stuart Morgan, London, UK.

 

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 reach our 30K following total for Peter Cushing BIRTHDAY on MAY 26th 2017 AND Help Keep The Memory Alive!

THIS IS YOUR LIFE: GUESTING FOR ERNIE'S LIFE AND THE QUEST FOR THAT CHEQUE!

THIS WEEKEND HERE IN THE UK, it's a Bank Holiday. Which means, traditionally means, The Sound of Music with Julie Andrews will be screened on tv for the 100th time, relatives will visit, over stay and eat you out of house and home, it WILL rain for the entirety of the holiday break, and boredom will reign too! SO, here's a little treat, to be enjoyed and savored, not only here by us Brits, but across the globe, or were ever people need a giggle. 

YOU CAN WATCH MANY OF PETER CUSHING'S APPEARANCES ON THE MORECAMBE AND WISE SHOW, IN OUR SPECIAL PLAYLIST AT OUR PCAS YOU TUBE CHANNEL : HERE!

FOR THE FIRST TIME we present Peter Cushing's appearance as a guest on the This Is Your Life UK show, featuring one half of that great British comedy duo, Morecambe and Wise. Sadly, Eric Morecambe had passed by this point in 1993, but Ernie bravely worked on for several years. Peter Cushing appeared many times as a guest on their show. The first was in 1969, he appeared in a comedy play 'written' by Ernie, where Peter played king Arthur. Throughout the BBC era of the show, he would regularly join Wise and his comic partner, Eric Morecambe. On stage; he would constantly seek payment for his first 1969 appearance, wearily asking "Have you got my five pounds yet?"

FULL FILM: Peter Cushing in 'A Chump At Oxford' with Laurel and Hardy 

THIS RUNNING JOKE continued when the duo left the BBC and moved to Thames Television in 1978. Cushing appeared in their first special for Thames Television on 18 October, still asking to be paid, with the hosts repeatedly trying to get rid of him; at the end of the show, Morecambe placed some money in a wallet wired up to a bomb, in an attempt to blow Cushing up in exaggerated comedic style. In the duo's 1980 Christmas special, Cushing pretended to be the Prime Minister while Morecambe and Wise caroled outside 10 Downing Street; he made the comedians give him money and finally came out to declare "Paid, at last!"

ON FEBRUARY 3rd 1972 and "Live" on television, all glitter and glamour, is the once-a-year event, held in the Albert Hall, when the film and television industry presents awards covering the whole range of the industry . . .. and Peter Cushing is there to present his pals, Morecambe and Wise with their Best Light Entertainment Performance Award, along with their writer, Eddie Braben . . . and no, they didn't bring him his money!

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 reach our 30K following total for Peter Cushing BIRTHDAY on MAY 26th 2017 AND Help Keep The Memory Alive!

#HAMMERFILMSATURDAY AND LAUREL AND HARDY!

ON COMPLETING his first Hollywood film with 'The Man In The Iron Mask' shot in 1939 with 'Frankenstein' director, James Whale, he learned that Hal Roach Studios required English actors for his latest Laurel and Hardy picture, A Chump At Oxford'. Cushing auditioned and was accepted to play the role of Oxford student Jones.

CUSHING worked with the legendary comedy duo for one week. Cushing was very lucky to appear in one of the duos funniest comedies. The film contains some priceless comedy moments. 'A Chump At Oxford' print was later extended for European release by adding a chaotic dinner-party scene during the opening of the film. This was in fact, a remaking of an early Laurel and Hardy silent short form 1928 called ' From Soup to Nuts!'. Sadly Cushing was not included in this addition footage. 

ARRIVING at the collage, they arrive by cab wearing ETON collars, much to the amusement of Cushing and the fellow students, 'But, you are wearing ETON collars' says one of them. 'Well, that's swell..' says Stan, '..We haven't EATEN since breakfast!'. It's noticeable that Cushing gets more lines than the fellow students, possibly because he was the only genuine English sounding actor there! He looks every inch a star, with his pencil mustache, waved hair and his rakish mortar board hat. CATCH A CHUMP AT OXFORD in co,our just uploaded to our PCAS YOUTUBE Channel!

#HAMMERFILMSATURDAY: TWO great peeps behind the scenes on Hammer films, 'Dracula Has Risen From The Grave' (68) Veronica Carlson up in the roof top set and Les Bowies, 'Dracula's Remains!'

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 reach our 30K following total for Peter Cushing BIRTHDAY on MAY 26th 2017 AND Help Keep The Memory Alive!

#SILENTBUTDEADLY: CENSORED FOOTAGE MONSTER MUMMY AND BATTY LADY ON A TRAIN!

#SILENTBUTDEADLY This is for Connie Hughes, UK... we don't get many requests for GIFS from Hammer films THE MUMMY, so glad to see this one. Christopher Lee goes on the rampage as the undead KHARIS, attacking Cushing 'father' Stephen Banner played by Felix Aylmer. Excellent cast, headed up by Cushing, Lee, Yvonne Furneaux, Raymond Huntley, Michael Ripper... every player, is a winner...This is another of the few Classic Hammer films from their 'golden period' 1957 until...well when would you say was it Hammer Films golden age??

#SILENTBUTDEADLY: A chance encounter, with Ian Carmichael meeting with a strange and batty lady on a train, sets the foundation for one of Amicus films, weirdest stories in their series of portmanteau movies. The script for 'From Beyond The Grave' has no fat, no dull plots and plenty dark humor. This story, has Reggie Warren (Ian Carmichael) a somewhat pompous business man who enters Peter Cushing's Temptations Ltd shop and puts the price tag of a cheaper snuff box in the one he wants to buy, whilst out of sight. Cushing old chap, the Proprietor sells him the box at the altered price, bidding him farewell with a cheery "I hope you enjoy snuffing it" and rings up a 'no sale' through the till.

ON THE TRAIN HOME, an apparently batty old clairvoyant/white witch, Madame Orloff (Margaret Leighton) disturbs Warren whilst he reads his paper, advising him he has an Elemental on his shoulder. Warren dismisses her, but has cause to call on her services when his dog disappears and his wife Susan (Nyree Dawn Porter) is attacked and choked half to death by an unseen force. Orloff exorcises the Elemental from Warrens' home, and all seems well—even the dog returns... and then...! It's a neat, tight, entertaining tale based on a work by R. Chetwynd-Hayes..as are all the short stories here. Cushing turned in a terrific performance as The Shop Keeper, dropping puns and barbs, though I would have loved to have seen Cushing in the Ian Carmichael role. When PCAS interviewed Milton Subotsky in the early 1980's, I did get to ask him, if he thought Cushing would have made an interesting ' Reggie Warren'. He said told me that, Cushing had been suggested for the role, but his schudule prevented him for committing the time needed to have played that character. A shame indeed. Cushing did have a flair for comedy, and a quick wit and great timing, it would have made a very interesting move, and one that may have seen him offered more comedy roles.... 

#SILENTBUTDEADLY: YOU REALLY CAN BE  a blood thirsty lot! This GIF requested by DEAN PRICE contains a shot that was 'chopped-out' by the censors when this first was released in the UK and the US back in 1967. 'ISLAND OF TERROR' (Below) is the twin of another film, made the year before, called 'NIGHT OF THE BIG HEAT. The premise of the films hangs on a party of people being attacked by some 'things from another planet'..on an island. Both directed by Hammer supremo Director Terence Fisher and starring Peter Cushing. Both films offer Cushing a role he could have played in his sleep, but he doesn't walk it, as always he works with what he has, and makes a great deal, aided by Christopher Lee in Night Of The Big Heat and here with Edward Judd in 'Island of Terror.'

  

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 reach our 30K following total for Peter Cushing BIRTHDAY on MAY 26th 2017 AND Help Keep The Memory Alive!

REMEMBERING OLIVER BABE HARDY TODAY

REMEMBERING Oliver Norvell Babe Hardy (Oliver Hardy) I guess, very few people have ever made me laugh as hard and long..as these two guys, Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy. Today we mark the birthday of Olly. Many would know and remember their films, but maybe few would probably know of their Peter Cushing connection? Cushing appeared in their feature, A Chump at Oxford, directed in 1939 by Alfred J. Goulding and released in 1940 by United Artists, and was the penultimate Laurel and Hardy film made at the Hal Roach studios. 

Peter Cushing , front row first on left... with Stan and Olly in 'A Chump At Oxford' (1940)

Peter played a rather plummy student, who with his friends to play tricks on Stan! He had quite a bit of screen time, played some of the scenes with a very odd disguise of a bushy tash! But what a duo, a team and partnership..you couldn't have one without the other. But, just for today..we remember Olly and wish him a happy birthday!

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ERIC AND ERNIE ; MORECAMBE AND WISE STATUE UNVEILED AT BLACKPOOL

A statue of legendary comedy duo Morecambe and Wise has been unveiled at a ceremony in Blackpool. Eric and Ernie performed in the resort more than 1,000 times in what has been described as their "spiritual home". Eric Morecambe's widow Joan and son Gary unveiled the £75,000 bronze statue, which is 8ft (2.4m) tall.

 

In 1969, Peter Cushing made his first appearance on the BBC Morecambe and Wise Show on BBC2. He took part in the traditional 'In Front Of Curtains' spot and later in the show, as King Arthur, in one of Ernie's 'PLAYS THAT I WROTE'  Throughout the BBC era of the show, he would regularly join Eric and Erine doing the 'Front of Curtain' spot and guest appearances, constantly seeking payment for his first appearance, wearily asking "Have you got my five pounds yet?"

THIS RUNNING JOKE continued when the duo left the BBC and moved to Thames Television in 1978. Cushing appeared in their first special for Thames Television on 18 October, still asking to be paid, with the hosts repeatedly trying to get rid of him; at the end of the show, Morecambe placed some money in a wallet wired up to a bomb, in an attempt to blow Cushing up in exaggerated comedic style. In the duo's Christmas special, Cushing pretended to be the Prime Minister while Morecambe and Wise caroled outside 10 Downing Street; he made the comedians give him money and finally came out to declare "Paid, at last!"

WE HAVE ALL OF THE CUSHING GUEST APPEARANCES IN  AN EASY PLAY LIST FOR YOU, AT OUR PCAS PETER CUSHING YOU TUBE CHANNEL

ERNIE WISE was a guest for Cushing's appearance on This Is Your Life in 1990. He promptly presented Cushing with a twenty-pound note, only to extort it back from him, for the price of a taxi getting there and the rental of a suit for that particular night.

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#TOOCOOLTUESDAY : TIMING, TARKIN, CARRIE FISHER AND A COOL BUST!

#TOOCOOLTUESDAY Peter Cushing on VAN HELSING, vampire hunter . . . who he played FIVE times on the big screen from 1958 until 1974.

 

#TOOCOOLTUESDAY: Jordu Schell's bust of #PETERCUSHING up close and personal! It's a #TOOCOOL  likeness to Peter in the role of #GRANDMOFFTARKIN from #STARWARS. Schell uses uses latex for most of the monster masks and busts he makes. This bust is made of silicone, as many of his hyper-real figures are. Silicone being more translucent than latex, adds to the sense of realism. Additionally, the eyes in this piece ARE glass eyes (custom created by David Hoehn), something which Jordu typically doesn't use in his monster masks either. Each hair was individually punched by hand, and the clothing was custom made. #TOOCOOLTUESDAY 

#TOOCOOTUESDAY It's such a pity that Peter only had a few opportunities to play .... comic roles and black comedy... though he did often try to inject a little humor into his roles and work..

#TOOCOOLTUESDAY: Both Alec Guiness and Peter Cushing admitted to understanding little of the script and the language of film, #STARWARS while working on it. Peter often joked that he had no idea too, what a 'Moff Tarkin' could be. However, he knew a great role when he saw one, no matter what the character maybe called. Peter admitted he took the role of Grand Moff Tarkin in #STARWARS for pretty much the same reason, why he chose any role, 'I thought my audience would like to see me in that role!' ...we certainly did!

#TOOCOOLTUESDAY: Carrie Fisher said little on record about her time working with Peter Cushing, but what she did she...was interesting. Veronica Carlson had the same problem back in 1969, in 'Frankenstein Must Be Destroyed'

 

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