HE AIN'T TARKIN, HE'S ANOTHER! DESIGNER IVAN MANZELLA EXPLAINS

THE WHOLE 'IS SNOKE REALLY TARKIN?' question has been buzzing around for a few years now. Well, let's FACE it...pardon the pun.... if Cushing had another brother,  . . .with a wife MORE frightening and unreasonable than the one he DID have... sorry I jest 😉😃. .  IF Cushing had another brother, as well as David (the farmer!)... this guy could have easily have passed, as Cushing's  nightmare looking twin! But, a very recent statement during an interview yesterday, designer of the Supreme Leader Snoke make up Ivan Manzella, kinda put the 'is-he-isn't-he?' theory to sleep, with statements about the influences on his design that harken back to the earliest days of the saga. ....

“I actually based him on Peter Cushing, because there were always Snoke theories that he was Grand Moff Tarkin, which I always found quite amusing. You can see there are elements there. The maquette, there’s elements of Peter Cushing, just the cheekbone and the profile and stuff, but he wasn’t meant to be Peter Cushing. He was my Hammer reference, kind of thing.”

 

“He was quite graphic in that first iteration, in Force Awakens. You don’t really see much, he’s a hologram, I guess. What they did to him there is they got rid of some of his … they made his face a bit more friendlier, he went more to a flesh color and some of his face was softened up a bit so it wasn’t so graphic. He originally had that hole in the side of his face taken out, it was really kind of nasty stuff going on. I quite liked the idea of him having a marble skin type, all the veining like you get in marble, and these piercing, blue eyes. But he kind of evolved and got a little bit softer, I think.”

Well, Snoke maybe not be Tarkin back from the grave but, in my book he's at least 70% Peter Cushing! You think? - Marcus😉

All interview text the property of Force Material 

More artwork and designs at Ivan Manzella's website : HERE! 

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AND FROM SHERLOCK HOLMES TOO! RARE BBC SHERLOCK VINTAGE AUTOGRAPHS!

#PETERCUSHING #AUTOGRAPHS : The 'going rate' for Peter Cushing and Christopher Lee autographs has always been quite heathy, for those who trade in such memorabilia. After BOTH Cushing's and Lee's passing, as one would expect, the value of their signed notes and 'best wishes' certainly went UP in value. For the past 20 years a signed photograph of Cushing has remained steady, with prices from £150 to £250. Many would include, after the passing of his wife, Helen in 1971 to include the sentiment of 'May God's Blessing Be With You Always, In All Sincerity,  Peter Cushing' That's NOT Force but God's Blessing' 😉 IF the signature also included a dedication of, for example 'To Fred' or 'To Aunty Mary', it would carry a value of  LESS than a autograph WITHOUT a dedication! All autographs, without the 'May God's Blessing' inscription, pre-1971 always carry more value, even if the autograph is JUST his signature, on a piece of paper or a photograph!

THE AUTOGRAPH that most are seeking these days of course is Peter Cushing as Grand Moff Tarkin from 'Star Wars' ... most desirable, with a dedication. These have sold for between £2,500 and £3,000.. again, in all these 'market-places' something is only worth, what I guess what they WILL actually pay for it.. unless either person sadly gets duped..and there are many, like THIS example of a .... FAKE!

ABOVE ANOTHER SHADY FAKE!... If you have a Peter Cushing autograph, enjoy it, look after it and keep it safe 😉A Tale of Caution : A few years ago, a very dedicated Hammer film and Cushing fan got in touch wanting some advice, on what I thought MAYBE the value of his EIGHT signed photographs of Peter Cushing... 'Well, I am no expert but I can take a look' says I 😊 So, I asked him how did he come across them, 'I bought them years ago from collectors!' he said. 'Are they in good condition' I asked. 'Oh yes...!' said he, 'I will take a photograph of them all now, laid out on the table, for you too see them' he replied. After twenty minutes, an email arrived of a grand display of all eight colour 10x8 photographs, laid out and all catching the light, from the living room window, upon their... plastic lamented SEALED covering!!! Eight colour photographs : Signed amazing! Sealed in plastic, every one of them : worthless.... 😮☹️😖 😢- Marcus

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#HOWSYOURHEADHON? SORRY AM I BORING YOU??

#Howsyourhead? #PeterCushing and George Pravda in a scene from #Hammerfilms 'Frankenstein Must Be Destroyed' (1969) ..'clang of name DROP -a-comin' ☹️😴😞😀.. I once had a chance meeting with George back in 1979, we talked about this and his artificial prop head made for this delightful act of trephining 😮👀 He told me how they made his rubber head, that they had to make a whole head plaster cast of his head and 'I spent the whole morning with straws up my NOSE!' ... charming! Peter of course consulted a specialist, just to make sure he had the right drill bit and .. stomach for it! Hmmm, thrilling-drilling! 🤮 - Take care everyone, Marcus

YOU CAN SEE GEORGE PRAVDA, in some neat 'fly-on-the-wall' footage, along with #PeterCushing, #VeronicaCarlson, #SimonWard, #FreddieJones along with director #TerenceFisher, on set and making #Hammefilms 'Frankenstein Must Be Destroyed' in our vintage footage, posted as part of the #Lock-Down #WatchWithCushing films and clips at our Facebook PCASUK Fan Page! 

INTERESTING FOOTAGE, where extra BLOOD is being applied to George Pravda's head make up. Although, his character on screen was never seen with this EXTRA gore in the UK theatrical prints. One must again, add this one to the 'footage for the Continental Print!'  . . .

 

BEHIND AND BESIDE EVERY GREAT MAN : CUSHING'S KIND MESSAGE TO A NEW BARON

AS PROMISED, here connected to yesterday's post : Back in the 70's, anything to sell tabloid 'newspapers'... Ralph Bates playing Baron Frankenstein, 'taking the role' from Hammer films usual 'Baron of choice' was Peter Cushing and had been since the first Hammer Frankenstein film in 1957 with 'The Curse of Frankenstein' ... HERE is how Peter Cushing took the news... Many thanks again to, Mr G 😊😊

HELEN AND PETER CUSHING... Birgit and Christopher Lee and Coral Browne and Vincent Price 😊All interesting characters, wives and husbands . . despite rumours before and after their passing. If you think or gossip otherwise.. what you didn't see with YOUR eyes, don't witness with your mouth.... 

AND FOR THOSE, who would think anyone would compromise the message of  the 'couples banner' here is Christopher Lee. ' Yup, HE told me that! Christopher Lee is a gossip and compromiser of confidences. . . said NO ONE... ever!' 

 Man... some people . .

ON SET TWO GREAT GIFS AND A SNEAK LOOK IN AT 1960'S SHEPPERTON STUDIOS

 

HERE'S A GREAT OFF CAMERA MOMENT with Peter Cushing and George Pravda duriong the making of HAMMER FILMS 'FRANKENSTEIN MUST BE DESTROYED' a quick break, a puff and off they go top create more monsters and mayhem!

A VERY INTERESTING PIECE OF FOOTAGE behind the scenes also during the making of Hammer Films 'Frankenstein Must Be Destroyed' at Elstree studios. The actor being 'Bloodied Up' is George Pravda, who played the role of Dr Brandt in the film. What makes this clip of interest is the application of the blood...being applied by make up artists, Eddie Knight. It appears tp be MUCH MORE blood that actually appears in the finished film, which makes one wonder if this is another scene, being 'bloodied up' for the Asian market release of the film. CEO of Hammer films, James Carreras said on camera and many times in interviews how some scenes were shot two or three times, each having more blood or violence, that would never pass the UK censors, but were shot especially for overseas markets. Which makes one wonder, after the successful hunting down of those vital Hammer 'Dracula's Death' shots from the 1958 film...is there more out there from this Frankenstein Cushing treat??

 

HERE'S A PRETTY BUSY AND COLOURFUL FILM SET at Shepperton studios, all up and ready before the camera rolls..but in WHICH Peter Cushing film, does this film set appear? Answer later!

MORE ON THE SET PHOTOGRAPHS AND CLIPS FROM PETER CUSHING FILMS

NEXT WEEKEND!

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#TT : DRACULA'S PAIN IN THE BACK AND CUSHING IN BIOPIC

#‎THROWBACKTHURSDAY‬: PETER CUSHING as Captain Richard Pearson in 'John Paul Jones (1959) also in the cast.. Robert Stack in the title role, Marisa Pavan, Charles Coburn, Macdonald Carey, Jean-Pierre Aumont, David Farrar, Peter Cushing, Basil Sydney, Thomas Gomez and the director's daughter Mia Farrow in what was her film début. BETTE DAVIS also made a cameo appearance as Empress Catherine the Great.... superb publicity photograph, but I have yet to hear from anyone who has actually enjoyed this film...

#THROWBACKTHURSDAY: DRACULA (1958) Count Dracula (Christopher Lee) leaves with his bride after that spectacular face off with Jonathan Harker in the library. Lee often suffered from back problems, brought on by carrying female actresses in such scenes as this and in The Mummy. (1959) Lee more than once mentioned that 'ladies in faint' where quite heavy, as they had to just hang there and couldn't assist by holding onto his neck or arm..!

ICON FILMS ' HAMMER FILMS THE MUMMY BLU RAY / DVD COMBO: TEN DAYS TO GO

'CREATED WOMEN' BLU RAY GETS OCTOBER 12TH RELEASE

NEWS: Hammer Films 'Frankenstein Created Woman' Australia blu ray release October 11th 2013. Here is the cover...but it may not be the final design. Extras: Featurette “Hammer Glamour”, Commentary Track, Animated Picture Gallery.

SIX DAYS TO WIN YOURSELF A VINTAGE PETER CUSHING AUTOGRAPH PHOTOGRAPH

Here's your chance to win a vintage autographed photograph of Peter Cushing (circa 1965) over at our UK Peter Cushing Appreciation Society Facebook Fan Page (HERE )

Please read the competition details carefully! You can ONLY send your answers to us by using the 'message button' at the top of the PCASUK fan page. Any answers or entry posted onto the main wall or news feed will be deleted and not counted as an entry. The lucky winners name will be posted via a video clip here on the PCASUK page on SUNDAY 4th AUGUST 2013. Good Luck Everyone. Have Fun!

PETER CUSHING AS MAJOR HOLLY: HAMMER FILMS 'SHE' (1965)

WHAT THE MEMBERS OF PCASUK HAVE BEEN WATCHING THIS CENTENARY DAY! HOW MANY CAN YOU NAME?