DID VERONICA CARLSON WORK WITH COMEDIAN DOM DELUISE? AND LEE AND CARLSON STEP OUT FOR 'RISEN 'FROM THE GRAVE'

A FEW DAYS AGO, pcasuk follower Stuart Cooper sent me a question, the subject of which, I thought no one would remember... 'Marcus, is it true that Hammer actress, Veronica Carlson once worked with US comedian and film star, Dom Deluise? I have looked into it and can't find any reference to it, so I guess it must be not true?' . . .

WELL YOU WOULD THINK the degrees of separation would make that the case, but no! Back in 1971, Veronica DID indeed work with Deluise, not on the big screen but on TV. The show was the UK 'Des O'Connor Show' she appeared in a 'slave-and-cave-girls' jungle hunters sketch, maybe because of her Hammer film success and their 'Slave Girls' 1967 film and 'One Million Years BC' success. Deluise did appear on the show too. The US actor comedian was also just about known to some of the O'Connor audience for his work and appearances in US sit coms, which were being screened in the UK, Shows and comedies like 'The Munsters' anyd his appearance in Mel Brook's 'The Twelve Chairs'. His other work with Burt Reynold's like 'The Cannonball Run' films and several other Brooks films, were yet to come! 

FOR THOSE, over the pond or elsewhere, not familiar with Des O'Connor, he was a successful and popular singer / comedian at this time. Comedian's Morecambe and Wise had quite few long running and funny gags, Ernie's wig and hairy legs, Peter Cushing not being paid and . . . Des O'Connor, "Des - short for Desperate" ... "Sing on our show? He can't even sing on his own show!" "Has Des O'Connor got a sore throat?'... these gags ran for years and Des loved them.

THE CAREER OF VERONICA CARLSON and her work with Peter Cushing is covered in PART FIVE of our WOMEN IN GOTHIC  Series CLICK HERE! 

VERONICA CARLSON worked with Peter Cushing in 'Frankenstein Must Be Destroyed' in 1969 and 'The Ghoul' in 1975. They remained close friends long after Peter retired. Thanks for the question Stuart. It brought back some very happy memories...

OUR RARE PHOTO GALLERY and feature on Peter Cushing and Veronica Carlson in Hammer films, 'FRANKENSTEIN MUST BE DESTROYED' is RIGHT HERE!

MAKING A MONSTER AND HIGHLIGHTS OF ONE OF LEE AND CUSHING GREATEST!

REQUESTED BY TERI BARTON at the FACEBOOK PCASUK FAN PAGE Requested Teri Barton today! 😃 TWO great pics from Peter Cushing's and Hammer films FIRST Frankenstein film, 'The Curse of Frankenstein' The colour one of PC is one of my favs 😌 For many years 'Curse' held the distinction of being the most profitable movie to be produced in England by a British studio. These are two press shots, the first Cushing posing for pics for colour press kits, and Lee with make up artist Phil Leakey on the final day of trying out the 'creature make up' Christopher Lee's monster make-up was almost literally done at the "last minute".

AFTER PREVIOUS attempts to design a monster make-up using a cast of Lee's head had failed, Make-up Artist Philip Leakey made the final design the day before shooting began, directly onto Lee's face, using primarily cotton and other household materials. Since he didn't use any latex or molds, the make-up had to be re-created from scratch every day. Those were the days..... 😉😮

THE LUCKY THIRTEEN! CAN YOU PICK YOUR FIVE ON THIS BIRTHDAY?

TODAY WE ARE MARKING THE BIRTHDAY of director TERENCE FISHER. He was a director who still, certainly needs no introduction to anyone who regularly visits this page. But when looking down the list of some of Cushing best Hammer films, it's Fisher's name that is usually attached to the finest. Fiher also believed that you should give audiences, opportunities to see beyond, what could be happening on the screen. His trade mark blend of fairy-tale, myth and sexuality, gave us some of Cushing's and Hammer films greatest hits. 'The Curse of Frankenstein', 'Dracula', 'The Mummy', 'The Gorgon', 'Frankenstein Must Be Destroyed'..... and many, many others. All absolute gems. 

HERE IS YOUR OPPORTUNITY, to try and pull from the list of THIRTEEN TITLES that Fisher made with Cushing, a 'must watch' FIVE. The idea of this task cmae from a personal experience during the holidays last Christmas, to treat myself to an indulgent  weekend, of movie watching. It wasn't easy, but it was very enjoyable! Over at the FACEBOOK PCASUK FAN PAGE visitors and friends have started compiling and posting their TOP FIVE. Please feel free to join them, and help us mark the Birthday, of probably Hammer films, most popular director . . . 

Terence Fisher at home, with his wife, Morag!

Old Friends... Terence Fisher and Peter Cushing at the

Festival du Film Fantastique de Paris in 1974

PETER CUSHING and Martita Hunt in Terence Fisher's THE BRIDES OF DRACULA

TERENCE FISHER'S first film, for Hammer with Peter Cushing and Christopher Lee THE CURSE OF FRANKENSTEIN

CUSHING AND THORLEY WALTERS in Fisher's THIRD Frankenstein for Hammer, FRANKENSTEIN CREATED WOMAN 

PRUDENCE HYMAN AND PETER CUSHING in Hammer films THE GORGON

THE HEAT IS ON with Peter Cushing in Terence Fisher's  NIGHT OF THE BIG HEAT

SURPRISES ON FIRST WATCH PLUS REMEMBERING ACTOR JOHN MILLS

RIGHT NOW, over at the FACEBOOK PCASUK FAN PAGE, we've asked you to tell us about when, 'ON FIRST VIEW WHICH PETER CUSHING FILM REALLY SURPRISED YOU AND WHY?' and we are getting some great comments and answers. 

HERE ARE A FEW: 

D POWLEY says, 'Corruption. Both Peter Cushing and Sue Lloyd managed to convince me that they were mad in that film. It was a great shocker!' 

N. SANTIAGO says, 'Horror Express. I had no expectations for it. Turned out to be a very well made film with Mr. Cushing in fine form mixing it up with Mr. Lee and Telly Savalas. The movie itself was an entertaining mix of horror, science fiction, adventure and mystery. Really enjoyed it and of course the GREAT Peter Cushing!'. 

While V. Kirk says,' I was surprised by the nimble jump he did at the end of 'Brides of Dracula'. I remember rewinding to see if it was actually a stunt double but it wasn't.'. 

G. RENEHAN : 'The Blood Beast Terror! I saw it as a B movie in the cinema aged (too young)! It scared me to heck and back!'

S.COLMAN: 'Both TV appearances but I love his brilliantly nuanced performance in 1984 and the cold malevolence he channels in The Silent Scream.

A. GUNN : 'Top Secret. Peter caricatures himself - revealing his own sense of humour and strength of character. Taught me how to laugh at myself and consequently become a stronger person. Thanks, PC!' 

 M. LOISEL : ' Not a film, but the "Down the Avenue" skit on Morecombe & Wise. I wish he had done more light comedy or song and dance like that.' 

M DAWSON: 'In 1961 my father took me to see my first horror film or X film . In those days if you were under 16 you could only see those films with an adult and you got 2 films. The first film to be shown was Jack the Ripper 1959 then there was the interval when the ice cream lady would sell choc ices and ice creams, then the main feature was shown. It was 'The Curse of Frankenstein'. That film and that night I can remember it as if it was yesterday. I have had the film on video, DVD and now Blu-ray and watch it on the tele. I never tire of watching it. I dont think I ever saw a bad film he was in. But for me the favourite or favourites has to be his performances as the ruthless Baron Frankenstein'.

The post is still live and if you would like to comment and share your opinion, you would be most welcome! JUST CLICK HERE!

TODAY WE MARK THE BIRTH of one, Lewis Ernest Watts Mills... or as we knew and loved him... Sir John Mills. He was without doubt, one of our most popular and beloved English actors and born today February 22nd 1908. In a career that stretched over eight decades, Mills appeared in over 120 films, debuting in 1932 in 'Midshipmaid Gob' right up until 2009 in 'The Snow Prince'. Many of his roles like Pip in 'Great Expectations' in 1946, Shorty Blake 'In Which We Serve' in 42, Captain Scott in 'Scott of the Antarctic' in 48 and the alcohol troubled Captain Anson in 'Ice Cold in Alex' in 58 would make him an internationally renowned star.

MILLS APPEARED in three films with Peter Cushing, 'The End Of The Affair' the second in 1976 entitled 'Trial by Combat' aka 'A Dirty Knight's Work' as Sir Edward Gifford. It was no more than a guest appearance, slotted in when another project on Cushing's slate fell through. The third though, was a much grander enterprise with Tyburn films and marked Cushing's return to the character of Sherlock Holmes...and Mills as Watson! In 'The Masks of Death' they made such a terrific team as a much older duo, that another Cushing /Mills / Sherlock film from Tyburn was planned entitled 'The Abbot's Cry', but was scuppered owing to Cushing's fragile health.

JOHN MILLS AND CUSHING also appeared together in an episode of the TV series The Zoo Gang, 'The Counterfeit Trap' which was released last year as part of the series on remstered blu ray by Network.  
 

LIKE CUSHING, Mills was in his private life a sensitive romantic, in January 2001 at the age of 92, he and wife Mary, age 89, renewed their marriage vows at St. Mary's Church, next to their home, Hills House, in Denham, England. When they had wed 60 years earlier, he was denied a church service because he was serving in the Army during World War II. Happy Birthday, Sir John!
 

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