NEWLY SOURCED CHRISTOPHER LEE INTERVIEW ON SET OF 'DRACULA HAS RISEN FROM THE GRAVE'

OVER AT UK Peter Cushing Appreciation society Facebook Fan Page we have just shared a 'cracker ' of a newly source VINTAGE INTERVIEW with #CHRISTOPHERLEE shot on the set of Hammer films latest addition to their DRACULA series, 'DRACULA HAS RISEN FROM THE GRAVE' in 1968. Lee talks about his Hammer films up to this point, the make used in playing his first role for Hammer with Peter Cushing, the creation in 'The Curse of Frankenstein' in 1957 and how he thinks Dracula is NOT a horror character, and how difficult he finds it to play the Count!' It's great to see Lee quite sparky and at the top of his game! You can go straight to this post at the FAN PAGE on what is our WEEKLY Christopher Lee Saturday! :  HERE!

MORE DRACULA but of a different kind...TODAY we also remember actor DAVID PEEL who was born today 19th June 1920. 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. It is good to see today and for the past few years, fans and critics alike now warming to Peel's playing of the Baron. It is sad he is no longer with us though, to see that reward . . .

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!

A TIPPLE AT DARTMOUTH, FULL RED FOR HAMMER'S DRACULA AND NEAT MODELS OF CUSHING'S FINEST!

#CHRISTOPHERLEE SATURDAY: What a splendid way to end a day of shock, terror and fighting supernatural forces, having a tipple with your friend in a cosy Olde pub, with log fire burning... in Dartmouth, Devon! Over at the FACEBOOK PCASUK FAN PAGE we've asked, IF you had one chance and opportunity of sharing a drink with these two fine chaps.... no doubt you would have raised your glass and toasted them?? WHAT would have been YOUR toast?  - Marcus

 

 

#CHRISTOPHERLEE SATURDAY : A close up of the Count, with Christopher Lee wearing full RED haptic contact lenses for the first time. 'TASTE THE BLOOD OF #DRACULA' (1970). Lots of interest in the rare pic, over at the FACEBOOK PCASUK FAN PAGE, including at COMMENT from SFX ARTIST Brian Johnson,' . . . Brian Johnson’s first movie as FX Supervisor!'  As most of you, I am sure know,  Johnson is a award winning special and visual effects designer and director who for over 40 years provided his services to a multitude of film and television productions.... 'Empire Strikes Back', 'Alien' Cushing's 'Captain Clegg', 'When Dinosaurs Rules the Earth' . . and 'Taste the Blood of Dracula' . .  

 

 

TWO VERY NICE,  small models of #PeterCushing as Baron Frankenstein and Van Helsing, unpainted. These were very kindly sent to us by our good friend Marcia Loisel... she and her husband are keen collectors of figures and models, and he recently treated her to this pair when he came across them. I hope we get to see both figures after Marcia has painted them too??! Lots of interest on where these can be ordered and Marcia has been kind enough to provide the details too! 'Bears Head Miniatures makes the Frankenstein and we got the Van Helsing through Wargames Illustrated!'  BEARSHEAD HERE and WAR GAMES ILLUSTRATED HERE!   

 

 

 

CHARLES AND DIANA : A ROYAL LOVE STORY : CHRISTOPHER LEE AS THE DUKE!?

#CHRISTOPHERLEESaturday! . . It's our weekly dip into rare images and quotes from Peter Cushing's long time friend and often dueling partner on the BIG SCREEN, acting legend, Christopher Lee. I guess Lee had a very good point here? His appearance in the dreadful then, dreadful AND dated now tv movie of 'Charles and Diana : A REAL Love Story' was all part of a lean time for Lee. There were several projects and films he committed to, while waiting, unknown to him, for the arrival of his participation in two juggernaut movie franchise, that would favourably reboot his career once again! Over at the FACEBOOK PCASUK FAN PAGE, we have asked the question, 'What would you say is maybe the strangest role Christopher Lee played for either film or television??' There are some very interesting answers...

THERE'S NO DOUBT about it. Those words  Do  look very odd on the screen! The film was released for a short time in the US on  home cinema, but it wasn't long before that vanished . . !