RICHARD E GRANT THE INSPIRATION FOR GENERAL PRYDE AND A SELECTION OF CHOICE BLU RAY AND DVD CASES

A VERY POPULAR POST AT the FACEBOOK PCASUK FAN PAGE! right now. I wonder if any of you missed this message from actor Richard E Grant last year too? How wonderful for Peter Cushing to still be inspiring others, '..in his moment of triumph' 😉 The 'HEAD in the BOX' here is the amazing bust figure of Cushing's Tarkin, by Californian based sculptor Jordu Schell. It still stands as an amazing work of art!

AT THE FACEBOOK PCASUK FAN PAGE TODAY, I asked our friends and followers, how many of them have a collection of #PeterCushing DVD's or Blu Rays. The answers of YES or No, came flooding, which paved the way for our next post today, 'Can You Tell Us YOUR favourite TOP THREE covers to your Cushing Blu Rays, DVD's or even VHS or BETA  releases'. Everyone was asked to maybe send in selfies of the covers, so everyone could enjoy and identify their choices too! It's a post that is slowly growing, right now. The choices have been interesting, with everything from the Final Cut blu ray 'Captain Clegg and the dvd 'The Abominable Snowman' to the Second Sight twin release of 'The House That Dripped Blood' and  'Asylum' limited editions to covers featured on the front of lesser known European releases! This is how the feature was kick-started . . .

"I KNOW MOST OF YOU out there have told me today, you are the proud owners of several gems of #PeterCushing dvd's, #blurays and even #VHS films. Some of you have just started collecting, others have been adding 'case by case' to that series of sagging shelves or book cases for decades. . ." 

WELL, THIS ISN'T ABOUT the quality of the film INSIDE, this is all about and focusing on that little extra value you expect these days, when you purchase the release. The COVER DESIGN! It's no longer enough for distributors to just slap a 30 - 50 year old #cinema poster on the front of the case. We want something that looks amazing! So, from your private collection, be it blu ray, dvd or indeed VHS or Beta box, show us your THREE favourite Cushing film cases designs. It's your choices, for whatever reason, but I would love to know why you made those choices? 😊Take a #selfie or pic or even use ads or promo posts of the cases covers, it's your choice. #JUSTTHREE!"
 

ABOVE : A SECTION FROM THE FEATURE ON THE FACEBOOK PCASUK FAN PAGE 'I do not know the other cases of releases. I am guessing both are collections and compilations. Someone did send me scans of the sleeves though a while ago now. I do like the gamble of lesser known distributors releases though. They take more risks with their case sleeve designs, usually working with limited resource visuals. The one on the far left looks like they didn't have the resource to check what they had to work with, so flipped the lovely colour photograph of Peter. A habit some of the tabloid UK newspapers and magazines still have a annoying knack of doing, based on the weird rule of things looking into the spine of the pages!! So buttons on coats along with breast pockets, facial moles and hair partings are the wrong way around!' 

FINALLY ABOVE! I'll throw this one in, just because it's quite rare that a vintage #PeterCushing film gets the whole 'triple treat-treament' : blu ray extras, restoration and #STEELBOOK package with #GrahamHumphries artwork cover! This was the work of Screenbound Films in #2016, who very generously donated TWO of these beauties for me to offer up as prizes in a promotional PCASUK #competition. I cried and waved goodbye, when they were packed and dropped into the sack at the post office, for our two very lucky winners!

FROM SERIAL TO CEREAL : WIN A DALEK : HUGE GALLERY : CALLUM MCKELVIE PART TWO

FOLLOWING ON FROM last week’s piece, I’m now turning my attention towards the second Dalek film, Daleks Invasion Earth 2150 A.D. Released in 1967, right at the very end of ‘Dalekmania’, Invasion Earth was not as warmly received as its predecessor despite my thinking it the superior film. My DR WHO AND THE DALEKS REVIEW AND GALLERY HERE! However, it still has a slew of interesting facts and tid bits concerning its production and release...

OF COURSE ONE of the more infamous aspects of the films production and marketing concerns the ‘Sugar Puffs’ sponsorship. On the one hand, this was extremely beneficial, assisting in the films financing and helping immensely with marketing. Examples of this include the Daleks featuring in Sugar Puffs television commercials, on the front of cereal boxes and of course a competition to win one of the Dalek props. 

THE NEGATIVE SIDE concerns the product placement that features regularly throughout the film, most notably on the walls during the opening sequence in which the Tardis is covered in rubble. It’s not damaging to the film in any particular way, but it is somewhat distracting when considering the film is supposed to be set in an apocalyptic future. I mean, did all other forms of food run out during the Dalek invasion and everyone went Sugar Puff mad?

WHEN BUILDING DALEKS for this film it might seem an obvious assumption that the Daleks were simply edited and re-used from the first film. Unfortunately due to prize giveaways and tours these Daleks numbers had been sufficiently depleted. With a number of new props built others were taken from the Curse of the Daleks stage-play and sufficiently remodelled. 

IN TOTAL NINETEEN were used with Terry Nation (Dalek creator) going on to own four. The rest, reputedly were left on the Shepperton backlot to rot. Nations Daleks would spend the next few years appearing on tours, being used for photoshoots and fairs. One of the Dalek props would get another chance to show off its acting chops- albeit on the small screen, appearing opposite Jon Pertwee’s third doctor in Planet of the Daleks.

THIS DALEK WAS SUITABLY ‘pimped’ out, having been repainted gold and black and appearing with a torch instead of an eyestalk. It looks suitably impressive and despite not getting much screen-time, steals the show. Nation's Daleks would continue to make public appearances for the rest of the 1970’s including the stage show Doctor Who and the Daleks in Seven keys to Doomsday.

OTHER MORE CONVENTIONAL and traditional marketing appear to have been a little less extreme this time around. Perhaps Subotsky, reassured by the massive success of the first film, decided to cost-cut in this area? That’s not to say there wasn’t any however. Some fascinating behind the scenes footage remains in a television programme entitled ''A WHOLE SCENE GOING ON' (1966) which features a fascinating interview with director Gordon Flemying, who discusses his motivations for wanting to direct BOTH Peter Cushing / Dalek feature film and how he chooses to work. Hammer stalwart Eddie Powell gets a shout-out and features in a few clips, setting up for stunts during the final battle sequence within the Dalek base. Cushing can also be seen walking around set and preparing for scenes

ONE OF THE MORE INTERESTING promotional aspects concerns the films soundtrack, which was adapted and presented by Gordon Gow for the BBC Light programme. Aired on November 18 1966 as part of the Movietime series, I’ve been unable to discover if any copy of this broadcast remains. There is however, the original soundtrack recordings, lovingly restored from the vaults of Pinewood Studios, and presented with 20 page booklet from Silvascreen. Some of the vibrant period scores written by Malcolm Lockyer and Bill McGuffie, also have sections enhanced by electronic sounds created by Barry Gray, famed for his work with Gerry Anderson.

DALEKS INVASION EARTH 2150 AD would be the final film in the series although a third film was planned, any ideas were shelved when 2150 AD didn't  hit the lucrative mark of its predecessor. However that’s not to say that that this would be the end for the Cushing doctor. Cushing himself maintained that he had been asked to take the role on for television 

IN EARLY 2010, it was discovered that Cushing did indeed reprise the role, although not on television or the big screen.  A promotional bill announcing the commencement of recording, 'JOURNEY INTO TIME' in ISSUE FIVE had appeared in the pages of the Peter Cushing Appreciation Society Journal, way back in 1981. It took until 2011, for anyone else to realise that the bill was indeed genuine, and seriously take up the research. Cushing recorded a pilot episode in the late 1960's, with the company mentioned in bill, STANMARK and Watermill Productions. However, the pilot came to nothing and sadly, the tapes have since been lost. The recording is thought to have been a thirty minute radio pilot for a proposed series, written by well-known Doctor Who script writer, Malcolm Hulke (creator of the Silurian’s and Sea Devils amongst other well-known monsters). All 52 episodes were to have been produced for Australia and other overseas territories. The plot concerned the Doctor and his companion 'Mike' journeying to the American Revolution.

FOR TWO SCI-FI 'kid's flicks', the Dalek movies have certainly left something of an impression. As I said in my reviews they are incredibly controversial which seems surprising due to their lighthearted nature and just how fun they are.  Love them or loathe them they certainly have an interesting history, though I feel I may be staying away from WHO for a while now, having already devoted four articles to it! I hope you have enjoyed them. Peter Cushing's work is all incredibly interesting and who knows, what we will be featuring here next Sunday? I HOPE you'll come along and find out!

If you want to know more about the Dalek props then I highly recommend visiting HERE!’, a site which features a complete and in-depth breakdown of what happened to both sets of movie Daleks. ALSO these sites are recommended too! http://www.doctorwho.tv/ and 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   

#TOOCOOLTUESDAY: CHRISTOPHER LEES MEDALS GO UNDER THE HAMMER AND ITS FREDDIES 90TH!

NEWS: Sir Christopher Lee's awards, including WW2 medals, will go on sale for as little as £100! Here's a feature from a UK newspaper TODAY. What do you think?? 'The widow of Sir Christopher Lee is to sell the honours he amassed during his lifetime, from wartime medals to film accolades and the badge he received upon being knighted.

Around 50 awards will go under the hammer, representing a remarkable screen career that took Sir Christopher from Hammer Horror to Star Wars, Lord of the Rings and a role as one of the great Bond villains, Scaramanga in The Man With The Golden Gun. The actor died in June 2015, aged 93. In interviews he was reticent about his war record, but he kept a certificate recording the fact that he was mentioned in dispatches in 1944. It will be offered for auction alongside his campaign medals.

Christopher Lee ,  Peter Cushing, and Veronica Carlson with the cast of Hammer films, 'Dracula Has Risen From The Grave' being presented with the Queen's Award for Industry at Pinewood studios.

The lots include the British Film Institute Fellowship Award presented by Johnny Depp in 2013 (estimated to fetch £2,000-£3,000) and the Knight Bachelor badge bestowed by the Prince of Wales when Sir Christopher was knighted in 2009. The star's Bafta Fellowship is the one award that will remain with the family. They will be offered with no reserves, allowing fans the opportunity to acquire a piece of memorabilia for a relatively modest price. The evening auction will take place at Spink's in London on November 1. Lady Lee said: "Christopher was greatly appreciative of the recognition of his fans and his peers, and these honours and awards adorned our apartment for many years, bringing him great pleasure. "It's fitting that now a wider audience might have the opportunity to enjoy them, and to celebrate so many high points of his life.

Christopher Lee was  awarded the BAFTA FELLOWSHIP in 2011 

"These awards represent a lifetime of dedicated work and diverse experiences, starting with his role as a young RAF officer in the Second World War, a period that went on to influence him throughout his life. "He remains sorely missed but his family hope that the forthcoming auction will be a celebration of his life and achievements, and a catalyst for future owners of his awards to have many happy memories of their own."

 Bestowed by Prince Charles, he became Sir Christopheri Lee Knighted in 2009

A percentage of the sale proceeds will be donated to Denville Hall in north London, a retirement home for actors.

Please join us in wishing #Happybirthday to the one and only Freddie Jones, who is the grand age of 90 TODAY! Freddie is an actor who is always a joy to watch. Always surprising and entertaining. His voice and delivery are unique, as is, his style and the line he follows in all his performances. Never the obvious, always the unpredictable path. There are have been many highs in the Freddie Jones career, but for us here today, we focus on his roles where working with Peter Cushing, brought us EXTRA value and entertainment. 

As the wrecked and manipulated, Professor Julian Keeley in Hammer films, 'The Satanic Rites of Dracula' in 1973, to the pathetic and trapped Professor Richter in 'Frankenstein Must Be Destroyed' in 1969.

Freddie Jones still works, as busy as ever...some would say wasted in a disposable soap opera... but disposable or not, Freddie has played the role of Sandy Thomas since 2005, and in all 552 episodes of ITV's 'Emmerdale', with the same level of authenticity and investment, as any role he has played since he began his long career back in 1960. Fifty six years, and still you can't take your eyes off him! Happy Birthday Freddie From Us All!

#TOOCOOLTUESDAY:! I LOVE it when you send in pics, comments, reviews...candy! This was sent in today by Mark Waddington from the UK. How many of you remember this magazine and this PETER CUSHING GALLERY????

 

 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 

TWO TARKINS TWO SHOES TWO SLIPPERS TWO CITIES AND TWO LEIA'S : #THROWBACKTHURSDAY!

#THROWBACKTHURSDAY: HEADS YOU WIN! Totally weird tale of

 attending to TARKIN!

#THROWBACKTHURSDAY:The late Carrie Fisher with Peter Cushing and George Lucas plotting and blocking their scene on the set of the Death Star at Elstree film studios in April 1976.

#THROWBACKTHURSDAY: SLIPPERS OR SHOES? Of the four days days that Peter Cushing spent on set shooting his scenes as Grand Moff Tarkin for #STARWARS in April / May 1976 at Elstree film studios, I have never been able to put a time line on when exactly he changed his ill fitting boots, for those legendary slippers. ALL the behind scenes photographs that are available of him shooting his scenes, where he is without his Tarkin boots, he is wearing what appears to be his black leather day wear shoes, presumably a pair of carpet slippers, were not around to slip into? 

THE FOOT WEAR in the above photograph, can be seen to be made of leather, with a typical leather tongue. Shoes? If we are to presume that the BROWN SOFT MATERIAL slippers in the glass display case at the Cushing Whitstable Museum exhibit ARE the slippers he wore on set...I have, as yet, not in 40 years seen any photographic evidence of them in any candid photographs taken from the days of Cushing shooting . . .

#THROWBACKTHURSDAY!: PETER CUSHING'S Tarkin slippers displayed at  Whitstable  Gallery and Museum . .

#THROWBACKTHURSDAY: TWO LEIA'S Carrie Fisher and her stunt double Tracey Eddon on the set of Return of the Jedi.

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.