#TOOCOOLTUESDAY: TIME WARP VAMPIRE SHOES : AND TWO DRACULA ACTRESSES THAT ARE NOT LINDA HAYDEN

#TOOCOOLTUESDAY: ANSWER? Very cool and a bit of a trend setter too... Note her PALE BLUE STILETTO HEEL SHOES... they were not invented until the early 1940's.... This scene in Hammer films Dracula starring Peter Cushing and Christopher Lee, took place in 1885, putting her at least 55 years ahead of popular fashion, un-dead she maybe, dumb she isn't !!

 

#‎toocooltuesday‬ : PETER CUSHING, an actor who for the latter third of his career did get trapped in a kind of type-casting, of horror fantasy roles, and even though he didn't watch horror films, had a good sense of humour about it all... that's too-cool!

#‎TOOCOOLTUESDAY‬ : HERE'S A VERY COOL REPOST, that also turned out to be one of our most popular series of posts on our website. It it tells the tale of Christopher Lee having a right ol bat flap in a series of contact sheet photographs from a photo session with a Daily Mirror newspaper photographer in 1972...This feature you can find at the website HERE!

NOT ALONG AFTER we posted the Dracula Daily Mirror Pictures . . . We started getting enquiries about a colour photograph we posted in the feature. A mysterious photograph that was also turning up at signing sessions, and being signed by LINDA HAYDEN. The problem was..it WASN'T Linda Hayden in the photograph with Christopher Lee.. but someone with a Space 1999 / glamour model connection . . the mystery was solved! You can read all about it with full gallery HERE 

AS THE PUZZLE OF THE ' NOT LINDA HAYDEN' photograph was solved, we decided to get to the bottom of another mysterious face in Dracula AD 1972, the DANCER ON THE PIANO.. who again, some were saying...also could be the girl in the pic with Lee! This one, wasn't going away.. but after MORE digging and a telephone chat with the lady in question.. we managed to solve this one too! Find out just who THAT girl is RIGHT HERE

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REMEMBERING MICHAEL CARRERAS : HAMMERHEAD

Today we mark the birthday of the late Michael Carreras who was born on December 21, 1927 in London, England. He was a producer and director at Hammer films. He served as Executive producer on many of Peter Cushing's films at Hammer including, DRACULA / Horror of Dracula(1958), The Abominable Snowman (1957) THE REVENGE OF FRANKENSTEIN (1958) THE HOUND OF THE BASKERVILLES (1959) and THE MUMMY(1959) As well as serving director duties on some of Hammer lesser known titles like, THE LOST CONTINENT (1968) and THE CURSE OF THE MUMMY'S TOMB (1964).... despite leaving the company at one point, he was back and still hanging in there with Cushing in 1972, with DRACULA AD 1972, after taking over the company from his father, Sir James Carreras Michael Carreras left us on April 19, 1994 in London.

The LINKS in the column above link to some of the items and features below:

High Jinks in Post DRACULA Publicity : HERE 

Monster and Balloons at our SISTER WEBSITE theblackboxclub.com HERE

THE CURSE OF THE MUMMY'S TOMB REVIEW AND RARE STILLS 

GALLERY AT OUR SISTER WEBSITE : HERE

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EVEN MORE CLASSIC CUSHING MOMENTS IN GIFS FROM PCAS

The mighty CUSHING DIGIT... here in Hammer films

 'The Hound of the Baskervilles'

Christopher Lee's Dracula relentlessly hunts Cushing's Van Helsing 

through the ruins of St Bartoff's in the closing moments of Hammer films 'Dracula AD 1972'

Peter Cushing trapped in the WAX MUSEUM meets a terrible fate in Amicus films, 'The House That Dripped Blood'.

Peter Cushing's Baron Frankenstein makes his point to Simon Ward

in Hammer films, 'Frankenstein Must Be Destroyed'

Peter Cushing plays it for laughs in the closing moments of the Tyburn films, Peter Cushing documentary, 'One Way Ticket To Hollywood'

One of the few lighter moments in Peter Cushing's 1968 film, Corruption where he roles his eyes at the 'hip and young' when explaining the origins of 'pottage'! 

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DRACULA VAN HELSING LEE VINCENT PRICE AND CUSHING: A GAGGLE OF GREAT GIFS FROM PETER CUSHING APPRECIATION SOCIETY

A SELECTION OF CLASSIC GIFS FROM THE  PETER CUSHING APPRECIATION SOCIETY FACEBOOK FAN PAGE SHARED HERE FOR YOU TO COPY AND SHARE ON YOUR FACEBOOK PAGE, BLOG, TUMBLR, TWITTER OR WEBSITE. JUST CLICK RIGHT AND SAVE!

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WISHING CAROLINE MUNRO A HAPPY BIRTHDAY TODAY : 16TH JANUARY!

Please join us in wishing actress CAROLINE MUNRO a VERY Happy Birthday today! A wonderful actress and an absolute sweety! Her Peter Cushing connection is of course her appearance in Hammer films Dracula AD 1972' in which Peter Cushing played Van Helsing and her co starring role in Amicus films At The Earth's Core with Peter Cushing and Doug McClure. I know of no one who works harder on the convention circuit to make meeting her a special event! Many Happy Returns and Have Smashing Day, Caroline!

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WHEN LIZA ALMOST DID A NUMBER FOR DRACULA : HAMMER FILMS 1972

Sorting through some Cushing Clippings this morning, I came across this very odd snip from an issue of Films Illustrated dated 1972.... was the 'groovy' Cavern Coffee bar originally going to be 'The Kit Kat Klub??? Van Helsing and The Count dancing on the tables singing the numbers 'Money, Money' and 'Sitting Pretty'??? Or maybe Minelli were going to do  a duet? Either way, it didn't happen..

THE FINAL PIECE OF THE PUZZLE : THE DRACULA AD DAILY MIRROR PHOTO SESSION

ALSO NOT LINDA HAYDEN: #throwbackthursday You may have caught the little bit of detective work on finding the name behind the ..er..face of the actress who featured prominently in the 'Daily Mirror Dracula AD 1972' shots we posted on Tuesday..and her recentely being mistaken for Linda Hayden. I knew that wasn't the end of it, because there was another face that some, also thought was Linda Hayden too. So she too had to be identified.... And ironically, she also appeared briefly in #draculaad1972.

I must admit she wasn't that hard to find, but the work came in closely (!) examining those shots. So, I can reveal the 'other' in the Daily Mirror shots was.... the model popularly known then, and today as Flanagan. Maureen Flanagan was born in 1941, in Islington, London. She started work in a hairdressers at 15, and was spotted by a photographer when 18 at a 'hairdressers convention' where she'd been asked to model. The photographer showed the pics to an agent, who suggested she model on the catwalk. Maureen became a very much in demand model for all the top fashion houses & stores in the UK. In her 20's, she was known as the most photographed model in Britain and her legs were insured for £25,000.

Her connection also with the tabloid newspapers, kept her in the public eye...she was a known face., that was why Hammer films featured her in the film...and later in the publicity Daily Mirror pics. So the pics: 1) In this, Dracula AD 1972 lobby card image, Flanagan lets rip with her funky seventies strut on top of the party piano next to, Johnny Alucard himself, Christopher Neame. 2) Our originally posted contact pics from the Daily Mirror Newspaper session with Christopher Lee and Glenda Allen. 3) A close up of Flanagan..taken from the Daily Mirror shots.

Flanagan went to become good friends with footballer, George Best, Malcolm Allison, 'Carry On' actress, Barbara Windsor and went onto work with Tony Curtis, Roger Moore, Charlton Heston and featured in shows such as, The Benny Hill, Monty Python's Flying Circus, The Dave Allen Show, The Likely Lads and Only Fools & Horses...

She is currently an acknowledged expert on the lives of the Kray Twins and their family, having been a close friend to the Twins and their brother, George..and mother Violet's, hairdresser...!

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 The Final Piece of the Puzzle:
Dracula AD 1972 Daily Mirror Photo Session 

DAILY MIRROR DRACULA AD PHOTO SHOOT : WHO IS THAT GIRL?

For those who have been following the 'Linda-Hayden-Mistakenly-Autographs-A-Photograph-That-isn't-Her-At- A-Signing-Session!' saga... and that then unfolding into 'So-If-Isn't-Linda Hayden-Who-Is-it?' question...I think we may have the answer..

She is an actress-model who appeared uncredited in #hammerfilms Dracula AD 1972, has been for many years mistakenly credited in magazines and certain blogs as 'Flanagan'. She is in fact, actress-model GLENDA ALLEN. And it is her who appears in the recently emerged photograph that is causing the faff... 

Born in Norfolk in 1951, Glenda launched herself into a career of dancing, modelling and acting soon after leaving school. Regular appearances in the red top newspapers...modeling, soon brought her to the attention of tv and film casting agencies...her face and other 'bits and bobs' soon became very well known. So well known enough for Hammer to cast her in the party scene in Dracula AD 1972...and in an after production promotion/publicity shoot. This publicity shoot, was commissioned for inclusion in a 'Daily Mirror' newspaper Halloween feature..the shoot would also included the star of Dracula AD 1972....Christopher Lee....Peter Cushing was probably 'unavailable'. Lee wasn't happy....but that's another story. The pics taken on the day, had to meet the remit of said newspaper, that is, the models had to be semi naked.. Allen no stranger to the art of revealing ones 'bowlers'... so was an obvious choice, she of course appears as 'dancing girl standing on the piano' in the film!

So, the pics: 1) Her hippy party girl shot with Christopher Lee for the Daily Mirror newspaper shoot. 2) Glenda as dancing girl on right in Dracula AD 1972. 3) One of the Daily Mirror photographs, mistakenly signed by Linda Hayden. 4) Glenda featured in one of photo shoot contact prints... part of the Christopher Lee Daily Mirror session. 5) A well known publicity shot of Glenda on set on Dracula AD 1972. This shot is usually credited to 'Flanagan'. 6) Glenda as she appeared in 13 episodes of 'Space 1999', sometimes also playing the role of an unnamed nurse.

In the contact prints I have previously posted, you can see she is prominently placed in the foreground of nearly all the shots, because of her Dracula AD connection...along with someone else. Because, as Yoda once famously said..'There IS another' Who that is, I'll reveal shortly..... 

Dracula AD Promo Shoot:

Who's That Girl?

FOSSILS, FINGERS AND THE COUNT IS BACK: A TALENT TO TERRIFY : PART FIVE

The year 1971 got off to a horrible start for Cushing: Helen finally succumbed after years of ever-worsening health.  For Cushing, the loss would prove unbearable.  Helen was everything to him: his most valued critic, his biggest fan, his best friend, his doting mother, his wife… It was not a loss that Cushing would rebound from easily; indeed, it would cast a pall over his remaining years.  The crestfallen actor considered suicide, but religious principles compelled him to tough it out.  His therapy would be work – non-stop, if at all possible.

One of Cushing’s first films following his tragic loss was Hammer’s first crack at updating the Dracula myth to the modern milieu.  Dracula AD 1972 would be Cushing’s first appearance as Van Helsing since The Brides of Dracula (1960), and the passage of time would be all the more obvious due to the actor’s precarious mental condition at the time of filming.

Cushing had always been a thin man, but after the loss of Helen he would become gaunt – he would also attain something of a haunted aura about him… The original screenplay by Don Houghton initially had Van Helsing as a modern-day father, trying to keep his flower child Jessica (Stephanie Beacham) in line, but Cushing had aged noticeably and a decision was made to make him into Jessica’s grandfather. Cushing’s frail appearance stands in stark contrast to the utter commitment and energy he brings to the role.  It is certainly my favorite of his several attempts at the character, and he has real chemistry with Beacham in their scenes together.

As for Lee, the actor had long vocalized a dissatisfaction with how Hammer had been treating his most iconic role.  He came to AD 1972 out of sheer desperation, as several projects he had signed on to had fallen through at the last minute.  It would seem that the presence of Cushing re-energized him, however, as he approaches the role of Dracula with a gusto that had been notably absent in Taste the Blood of Dracula (1969) and Scars of Dracula (1970).

The two stars cross path on screen at the beginning (in a wonderful, nineteenth century-set prologue) and again at the end, and their chemistry remains as palpable as ever. Fans would react with mixed emotions at the updated setting, however, and for some the film remains the nadir of the series. Even so, the Lee/Cushing dynamic remained untarnished, and more collaborations were ahead, in short order…

Late in 1971, Lee and Cushing flew to Madrid to make Horror Express.  For Lee, working in the Spanish film scene was nothing new – he had already done several films for Jess Franco, after all.  But for Cushing, leaving the confines of England was a different matter.  He had filmed in Spain and other locales in the 50s – but always with Helen tagging along for support.  Things were different now and with the Christmas holiday looming, he had a change of heart. Fortunately, Lee’s friendship and encouragement would prompt Cushing to stick with it – and thank goodness for it.  Horror Express (1972) would emerge as one of the most purely enjoyable films of either actor  career – and in many respects, it may remain the definitive Lee/Cushing movie.

The two actors are cast to type – Lee stuffy and imperious, Cushing impish and charming – but the characters allow them to grow in interesting ways.  Lee is particularly good as the pompous archaeologist who does an about-face when he realizes that his indifference towards the mayhem is monstrous in itself. He ends up as a swashbuckling hero, rescuing the damsel-in-distress (Silvia Tortosa) in the process.  Cushing is also in fine form as Lee’s scientific rival, and the two actors have some marvelous dialogue.  Cushing’s “Monsters?  We’re British, you know!” is rightly famous, but I always get a chuckle out of Lee’s impatient “What’s he raving about?!,” directed at guest star Telly Savalas, who shows up long enough to liven things up in the final act.

Director Eugenio Martin keeps the action moving at a terrific clip and for once, Lee and Cushing are afforded more-or-less equal screen time.  The supporting cast is marvelous as well, notably Alberto De Mendoza as the Rasputin-like Pujardov, a religious fanatic who crosses swords with Lee (who, of course, played Rasputin himself, for Hammer) and the afore-mentioned Savalas, who makes for an unlikely Cossack but is thoroughly delightful, just the same.

  

PCASUK Review and Gallery 'Horror Express' HERE 

After this, it was back to England – but The Creeping Flesh wouldn’t be produced by Hammer or Amicus.  Instead, the “other” major UK genre studio, Tigon, was responsible for this – their only Lee/Cushing vehicle.  In what could only be seen as an amazing coincidence, the story bore a strong resemblance to that of Horror Express: in both films, an ancient fossil is unearthed which contains a clue to the origin of Evil.

 

Horror Express had been a fast paced romp, while The Creeping Flesh was darker, slower and altogether more somber.  The film would mark a return to form for director Freddie Francis, who had spent much of the 70s hacking out one poor film after another – Tales from the Crypt (1972) to one side.  The literate and intriguing script for The Creeping Flesh inspired him to make a more committed job of it, and he responds with one of his most carefully crafted films.  Only a gratuitous subplot involving Kenneth J. Warren’s escaped convict drags the film down; it’s not that these scenes are bad, they’re simply pointless and scream “filler”.

Top-billed Lee isn’t in it as much as all that, but he’s in great form as the embittered half-brother to Cushing’s pampered scientist.  Lee conveys the hurt, resentment and burning anger that is quietly bubbling under the surface and manages to steal every scene he is in.  Cushing has the larger role, and the showier one, and he impresses as the slightly addle-brained researcher.  In what was becoming an obsessive trope, the actor plays a lonely widower who is assailed by memories of his late wife.  Cushing brings tremendous pathos to the role, making him instantly sympathetic, and the ambiguous fade-out makes it unclear whether the story really did happen or if it was just a paranoid delusion.  Lorna Heilbron steals the film from her stars as Cushing’s naïve daughter, who succumbs to the taint of evil.  Duncan Lamont, Michael Ripper and other stalwarts help to boost up the faux Hammer flavor, and Paul Ferris contributes a good, creepy soundtrack.

 PCASUK Review and Gallery of 'The Creeping Flesh' Here

The same year, Christopher Lee would launch his own production company, Charlemagne Productions; the name derived from his illustrious ancestor, the Emperor Charlemagne, and the intent was to create a company that could give Hammer and Amicus a run for their money by producing mature, “up market” horror films for the discerning viewer.  Sadly, Lee would lose control of the project early on and Nothing but the Night would become a problematic film on many levels.

 

The script was based on the novel of the same name by John Blackburn,.  There was a good story to be told there, and in a sense its tale of “possessed” children anticipated a certain Hollywood blockbuster by a year… but the film would be a rather listless and dreary affair, and Rank’s inability to do much with the film in the UK coupled with distribution woes in the US put an end to Lee’s dream of running his own company.

 

 

None of this should suggest that the film is a total loss, however.  Director Peter Sasdy had just directed three fine films for Hammer (one of which, Taste the Blood of Dracula, was among the better of Hammer’s Dracula series) but his stylistic verve is only evident in spurts here.  Too much of the narrative is given over to an unappealing love story between Keith Barron and Georgia Brown, while Lee and Cushing linger on the sidelines as a sort of modern-day Holmes and Watson team.  Lee comes into his own in the second half and gives a commanding performance, while Cushing struggles with a rather unusually bitchy characterization which requires him to snap a lot and shoot plenty of dark glances.

PCASUK Review and Gallery of Nothing but The Night Here

The film builds to a memorable, fiery finale which can’t help but remind viewers of another, much better Lee vehicle from the same period: The Wicker Man (1973).  Speaking of which, it has been rumored that Cushing was considered for the pivotal role of Sergeant Howie in that film – which would likely have made The Wicker Man the most artistically rewarding of their many films together… but the reality is, Cushing was much too old for the part and the man who eventually got the job, Edward Woodward, did a brilliant job with it. If Cushing ever had any particular feelings on nearly being a part of The Wicker Man, he never said so. In any event, his career would continue to move full steam ahead...

The final part of 'Talent To Terrify' will be posted this weekend: 'The Count's Last Stand..And The Gang 's Here Too!'

'A Talent To Terrify: The Twenty Two Films Of Peter Cushing And Christopher Lee is written by Troy Howarth with images and artwork by Marcus Brooks.

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