#GIMMETHEGIFWEDNESDAY: TERRIFYING PUSSIES DE SADE AND 3D!

#GIMMEGIFWEDNESDAY: Wilbur Gray, must have been an exhausting role for Peter Cushing to play. Reacting full of fright to fang furry felines, every few takes, must take it out of you! 'The Uncanny' had all the trappings of what we would expect from a Milton Subostky portmanteau film, the concept and model he and Max Rosenberg had successfully produced during the 19760's and 70's under the banner of their, Amicus films company. With funding and film production drying up in the UK during this time, Milton had to base the film in Canada... though with a largely British cast, you'd never know it. Amicus films always had that 'Meanwhile, somewhere..' look about them, pretty much like the US comic's strips that provided the plots and titles for the film.

THE UNCANNY was released by the UK distributor Rank and was given an X certificate . ..  some of the mutilations and pussy-left-overs, were quite graphic and unsettling. Mangled-bloodied-clawed and chewed leftovers of classical actress Joan Greenwood, anyone?? And that cast, like many of Subotsky's  productions, is unexpected, top drawer and inspired!

WHAT IS THE 1948 'ABBOTT AND COSTELLO MEET FRANKENSTEIN' CONNECTION TO THIS FILM??

FEATURE AND GALLERY : THE UNCANNY

NEVER HAS one persons head had so much screen time! Peter Cushing in the Amicus film THE SKULL 

In real life the Marquis de Sade's body was exhumed from its grave in the grounds of the lunatic asylum at Charenton, where he died in 1814, and his skull was removed for phrenological analysis. It was subsequently lost, and its fate remains unknown...

 

#GIMMETHEGIFWEDNESDAY: For Maria Wilson , Seattle. I am sure it would have looked very effective in 3D...but Amicus films I, MONSTER sure does look at a little weird at times... shots that were intended to be in the '3D process' now have that 'coming at you...sort of' flat feel about them. A good example of this, is this shot that Maria has requested here, of Christopher Lee, and his bunsen burner. A kind of... 'Can I LIGHT that cigar, for you?....!'

 

PETER CUSHING and CHRISTOPHER LEE'S performances in 'I MONSTER' are covered in THIS FEATURE at this website!

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FIGURES WE LIKE VERY MUCH : FIGURATIVELY SPEAKING PART TWO

#THROWBACKTHURSDAY: OK so, I am posting this on a #THURSDAY in our #THROWBACK spot, because this features serves as a SECOND look at models and figures of Peter Cushing. Some are self assemble kits, some are bespoke commissioned pieces and some are tableau's, depicting something in connection with Cushing. So, the strap says, 'That we Like Very Much'. You might ask yourself, well what's the criteria here? Is it points for likeness of Cushing The accuracy of the face, the costumes, the setting? Well, not necessarily. If it LOOKS like Cushing, that helps, but over the years I have seen some great 'HEADS', but the costume looks like a cross-between a sleeping bag and a fat suit! So, we are looking for, a good job. Attention to detail, and I don't mean that the figure has the right number of eyes, that are BOTH looking in ONE direction! If the figure is depicting Cushing as Tarkin from #STARWARS, then the correct colour of the uniform, the style and cut of the cloth, if it's a solid resin figure, that the figure have a 'life' about it, not a 'solid lump of dead resin look'. Paint jobs are well done . . .  basically, something I would be happy to give pride-of place on my study shelf, and part with my hard earned lolly for too. Some of these figures cost . . . !

THE BRIDES OF DRACULA TABLEAU

THIS CHARMING three figure piece above from #thebridesofdracula, has some handsome figures of Peter Cushing, David Peel and Andre Melly. I love the bits and pieces in miniature, the flagon, the bucket. Even Van Helsing's holy water flask on the ground, is very nicely done.

THE CURSE OF FRANKENSTEIN TABLEAU

 

 

 

This a pretty neat tableau featuring Peter Cushing and Christopher Lee from THAT shot in their frits Hammer films together, 'The Curse of Frankenstein' (1957) This I believe is a two figure set, but the lab, the flasks, jars and bottles with suspect contents, were all made later by the person who owns the figures and also did the paint jobs! This #Curseoffrankenstein also made part of a #TOOCOOLTUESDAY post we made earlier this year, along with the Christopher Lee #SCRAOFDRACULA figure below. . .

THIS PETER CUSHING bust by Paul Fay, looks very noble and has caught a great likeness too!

PETER CUSHING'S Arthur Grimsdyke, zombified is always popular with model makers, there are quite afew few kits out there, but this one is one of the best. I love the curled lip half smile... 

 

THAT VAN HELSING FIGURE again, but in isolation, still looks just as good!

MORE CUSHING VAN HELSING, this time from Hammer films 1958 Dracula  Horror Of Dracula. I like the stance and the base is very nice, though the likeness of Cushing is a little, just a touch, off.

HERE IS ONE THAT really hits the button! Peter Cushing as Baron Frankenstein from 'Frankenstein Created Woman'. This could be a full size figure, as in life -size. It was shown at the Monsterpalooza in 2010, but I have not seen this image until now. Superb!

ANOTHER MODEL OF GRIMSDYKE, and a very good one. I guess you can't under estimate the importance the paint job, on any model. It can often help to enhance, the figure, the textures of the resin, plastic or plaster. This Grimsdyke figure certainly has had the benefit of a very skilled application of paint.

HOWEVER FOR EVERY GREAT FIGURE, there are always some that just miss the mark . . . 

THE IS ONE ABOVE of Christopher Lee and Peter Cushing from Hammer films, THE MUMMY, REALLY could have been super special, it's so close! The positioning of the figures is great, the clothing and textures look real, and it it is presented on a VERY nice base... Lee looks passable, but Cushing John Banning, needed just a little more work. It's a pity, because you don't get to see many figures from the Hammer Cushing class film . . .

AND FINALLY, in that category of 'almost but not quite', we present a Dr Terror, A Tarkin, A Baron Frankenstein from Hammer's '.....Destroyed; and '...Created Woman' a Christopher Lee from '....Curse Of' and A Dr Stein from '...Revenge' that are all good tries, but no cigar!

All photographs belong to the respected owners and makers of the models.

 

TRADING CARDS HAMMER COMICS AND FIERY GIF!

#‎frankensteinfriday‬ Over at our Facebook Fan Page we are asking ...DID you or DO you collect Hammer Trading Cards? There have been many sets of Hammer films trading cards issued over the years, some very good, others not so. I have never understood the 'sketch cards' series? I'd love to know which card did you have most annoying doubles of?

#NEWS : TITAN PUBLISHING has announced a release date for their first issue of a joint venture with Hammer films... ' a brand-new mini-series that reanimates the characters, as imagined by legendary Horror studio, Hammer films...' Halloween 2016 will see the first of their stories, 'The Mummy', ' written by the legendary Peter Milligan, drawn by Ronilson Freire, with cover art by John McCrea. Their press release says, ' ...the line will see the publication of brand-new comic stories, featuring classic Hammer properties, as well as wholly original Hammer stories, produced by Titan.' Hmmm those of us expecting something along the lines of a 'House of Hammer' comic strip story and artwork revival..maybe a little disappointed . . . 

#frankensteinfriday : The final scenes of #frankensteinmustbedestroyed is probably the most dramatic of all the Hammer Cushing Frankenstein films... out is a blaze. Milton Subostsky once said, that to end a film with an explosion or fire was a bit of a cop-out, the mark of what writers do when they can think of nothing else, or when the budget calls for a quick end... maybe, but in this case the drama and fire are so well executed, it creates a tension you can't help but get caught up in...and that surely is the mark of a great film???

#TBT SEVEN MYSTERY CUSHING ACTRESSES AND AN ACTOR IN GOGGLES?

#TBT There are SEVERAL young actresses in these two rare photographs, and all but one of them have appeared in films starring Peter Cushing, can you name these actresses? ALSO who is that actor, in the wet suit and googles??? ANSWERS later....

ALSO MAYBE YOU MISSED the announcement of WEDNESDAY'S now being a REQUEST-A-GIF DAY at our FACEBOOK FAN PAGE ACCOUNT  and here at the website. Well here is the first of our #GIMMETHEGIF requests, this one for our friend Catherine Anne…..'Dracula / Horror Of Dracula' (1958) Van Helsing (Peter Cushing) leaps and runs down the table, to pull down the curtains and expose the sunlight of DEATH! EXCELLENT choice, Catherine!

#FRANKENSTEINFRIDAY SNIFFING UP, SNUFFING OUT, SHUTTING UP AND A BIRTHDAY!

#FRANKENSTEINFRIDAY What a weirdly complicated man Frankenstein is... appreciating the delicate perfume of his button hole one moment...and snuffing out life the next! Peter Cushing as Baron Frankenstein 'The Revenge of Frankenstein' (Hammer Fisher 1958)

#‎Frankensteinfriday‬ Maybe the sharpest line of dialogue in any Hammer Frankenstein film. File this one under, 'Jaws drop /Verbal slapping!'

FINALLY PLEASE JOIN US,  in wishing DAVID WARNER a Very Happy Birthday Today! Warner's Cushing connection is the role of Edward Charlton (segment 1 "The Gate Crasher") in Amicus films 'From Beyond The Grave' in 1974. A great story, a fine performance...particularly enjoyed his play with Cushing in the Temptations Ltd store... but what a sticky end!

#frankensteinfriday only at the Peter Cushing Appreciation Society website

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#MONSTERMONDAY: CHILL OUT! HE'S NOT A MONSTER REALLY! THE ABOMINABLE SNOWMAN

#‎MONSTERMONDAY‬: THIS WEEK, we are presenting a character from a Cushing film, that doesn't really deserve the hype of the movie poster or the reputation that this 'misunderstood' creature has gained. All I can say is, watch the movie! See for yourself, frightening to look at, yes... but the 'Snowman' is a wise creature...surely more wiser than the name we have given him...snow 'MAN'.

IN HAMMER FILMS 1959, 'The Abominable Snowman' Peter Cushing plays Dr John Rollason. He reprised Rollason having played the good doctor in the BBC drama of the same story, written by Nigel Kneale, entitled 'The Creature' in 1955. At this point in his career, Peter Cushing was best known as a television actor, having starred in the BBC productions of Pride and Prejudice (1952) and Beau Brummell (1954) ....as well as the Kneale production of 'Nineteen Eighty-Four', directed by Rudolph Cartier.

Here's a rare snap of Peter in the BBC drama 'The Creature' from 1955, with Brit actor Stanley Baker in the Tom Friend role, that would be played by Forrest Tucker in the Hammer version. . .

'SNOWMAN' was his second picture for Hammer films productions, the first had been 'The Curse of Frankenstein' directed by Terence Fisher and co starring Christopher Lee in 1957, it was the film that set the mold and would bring him international fame.

RECALLING how the cast and crew on 'Snowman' were entertained by Cushing's improvisation with props, director Val Guest said, “We used to call him 'Props Cushing', because he was forever coming out with props. When he was examining the Yeti tooth, he was pulling these things out totally unrehearsed and we found it very difficult keeping quiet” If you have yet to 'CATCH' The Abominable Snowman, you're in for a treat!

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