POSTED AT THE FACEBOOK PCASUK FAN PAGE WITH OVER A 1,000 LIKES, is this fine full colour photograph, that I am sure you have seen many
time in black and white by the late and super talented photographer,
Terry O'Neil. Four legends in this pic, . . #PeterCushing, #VincentPrice, #ChristopherLee and #JohnCarradine
in 'House of Long Shadows' (1983)... each left us with a stellar
filmography, full of variety and cinematic history... .... I've been asking, could you
select THE film that you think, in your personal opinion was the
pinnacle of their movie careers though??? Suggestions please at the post on our Facebook Fan Page !
ON #SHERLOCKSUNDAY at the FAN PAGE we posted when Peter Cushing's Sherlock, got the 'stamp' of approval . .
ON SUNDAY TOO lots of interest, when we posted this :Today we are wishing HAPPY BIRTHDAY to the lovely ALICE KRIGE. Her first feature film role was in Chariots of Fire (1981) as the Gilbert and Sullivan singer Sybil Gordon.
Some of her best known roles are the dual role of Eva Galli/Alma Mobley
in Ghost Story (1981) ,Mary Brady in Stephen Kings Sleepwalkers (1992)
and the Borg Queen in the Star Trek franchise, beginning with the film
Star Trek: First Contact and then reprising the role in the Star Trek
Voyager finale 'Endgame'.
She co-starred with Peter Cushing in A Tale of Two Cities (1980) as Lucie Manette.....
ON MONDAY we posted this and marked this BIRTHDAY! Join us today in wishing DAVID CHIANG a VERY Happy Birthday!David Chiang Da-weiwas born on the 29th June 1947 in Shanghai,
(Republic of China) Chiang is a very famous actor and director, producer
in Hong Kong. Chiang was very much a martial arts superstar in the
1970s, working under the Shaw Brothers Studio. He has appeared in over
130 films and over 30 television series.
IN 1974, Chiang starred
along side Peter Cushing in Hammer films first of two co-partner
feature films with Hong Kong based studio, Shaw Brothers. 'The Legend of
the Seven Golden Vampires' Peter for the last time resurrected his
character of Van Helsing, and together with Chiang, Julie Ege and Robin
Stewart, took on an oriental Dracula played by actor John Forbes
Robertson and a hoard of Kung Fu zombie vampires!
NEWS:SCREAM FACTORY have announced they are to release HAMMER FILMS 'SHATTER' (1974) starring STUART WHITMAN and PETER CUSHING on BLU RAY! It has a planned RELEASE DATE of APRIL 28TH 2020 is a REGION A release , but no news or details of SPEC or EXTRAS. We'll keep you posted here ;)
FOR THOSE OF YOU who have never come across this one, in the Cushing Filmography, it's an interesting role. It's a GUEST STAR appearance, but a performance that even though brief, gives screen time, to a Cushing relaxed 'turn' that surprisingly boarders at times, to the edge that Cushing gave to his performance of Baron Frankenstein in Hammer's 1969 'Frankenstein Must Be Destroyed'! 'Shatter' also known as Call Him Mr ShatterandThey Call Him Mr Shatter is a 1974 British-Hong Kong action film starring Stuart Whitman, Lung Ti, Lily Li, Anton Diffring and Peter Cushing in his last film for Hammer Studios. It was the second and final international co-production between Hammer Studios of England and Shaw Brothers Studio of Hong Kongas part of the 'Legend of the Seven Golden Vampires'
package. The film was shot entirely on location in Hong Kong and was first released in 1974 in UK.
LIKE MANY HAMMER FILM and Peter Cushing fans, for the last few years, I've both a mental and physical 'wish list' of movies, |I have hoped would some day, get the remastering blu ray treatment. I am very happy to now look at my shelves and see most of those titles have not only received a re-release and remaster, but also 98% of them have been blessed with a remastering, quite beyond my expectation! It's wonderful to see many Cushing features, that for years looked destined to never be seen again, the way I had once watched them in the cinema. It took quite a while, with the arrival of DVD's to weed out the duds, and not fall foul of a 'bootlegged home made burned copy of a years old TV recorded copy of a VHS recording' to a legit marketed commercial DVD copy to arrive. For quite sometime, we were very happy with DVD quality, and then the sometimes sparkling definition of a BLU RAY! Could it ever get any better. we asked? 'Oh, Yes . . .', said the distributors, 'Take a look a this!' The REMASTERED 1080p high definition Blu Ray.... can be at times, quite thing of beauty. Sometimes if the copy house gets it wrong though, it can also become a never ending chorus of lethal barbs, personal opinions and wrath, at forums and internet groups.
THANKFULLY, that has not happened too often with Cushing films. There will always be the wish and bucket list, of people who have high expectations and yet low funds and shallow pockets. The remastering process is an expensive business and in the current lolly-no-lolly climate, things tough. Though there will always be, the customer who also expects, a perk! Some of the better remasterings, have arrived without any extras. No new documentaries, no galleries of images and rare stills.. but the quality of what it offers on the label, is very, very high. The FILM is a knockout! And with that, I am happy to share that, SCREAM FACTORY has delivered a VERY nice release, that meets the standard we have come to expect and a much needed and very entertaining package of extras too, for a film that has been on THAT 'Wish List', for quite sometime . . .
I AM NOT GOING TO BORE YOU with the story, plot details and 'CHOP' of Hammer films and Shaw Brothers, THE LEGEND OF THE SEVEN GOLDEN VAMPIRES. If you are a Cushing, Hammer or Horror film fan, you WILL know the plot like the contents of Famous Monsters Of Filmland, Issue ONE or page six of Alan Franks excellent, 1976 edition of The Movie Treasury of 'Monsters and Vampires!' If seeing Cushing play Van Helsing in a more traditional sense, rather than in 70's swinging London, as in the outstanding remasters from Warner Brothers of both 'Dracula AD 1972' and 'The Satanic Rites of Dracula' However, if you NEED the plot, you may find a PCAS feature, with that and a whole skip full of stills, RIGHT HERE and HERE!.
THE TEC SPEC! AND SO TO THE LINE, that is the divider or decider in such releases as this. A title now arrives on blu ray, that most parties or individuals will probably already own and may have in several formats, purchased and added to those creeking shelves, over the years. The question: Is THIS release an improvement and worth parting with your hard earned lolly? The ANSWER is certainly! I have found over the years, it is the past reputations of such companies as Shout / Scream Factory, that will define if fans are going to cry, 'Once Bitten, Twice Shy' having been stung with past purchases, where the excitement and anticipation of a blu ray release worth having, following lots of promotion and word of mouth, sinks faster, after the opening credits than a trout with belly full lead! Scream Factory has an excellent record and this release again puts the seal of approval on they give what they promise. This release is 2.35:1 anamorphic and SCREAM FACTORY'S transfer presents visually a real bonus, to anyone who has seen the film before, and experienced not too sharp an image, to put it bluntly! The 50GB disc is an AVC encoded 1080p high definition transfer. Having said that, some would consider the transfer to not quite be of reference quality.AT LAST we can now see, what is happening CLEARLY, CRISPLY! Nothing that I could see in my TWO viewings of this release, dropped from an excellent clarity, a viewing of this film, I had never seen before. Blurring, sudden softness of what two seconds ago was a sharp image, with solid contrast of a shot, filmed in shadow, can be a real distraction, if seen too often while enjoying your recent purchase.
WATCHING THIS RELEASE was full of visual surprises. Details in costumes, actors expressions and of course, the fight scenes, was a real treat! The transfer brings out so much detail compared to previous releases. The audio is DTS-HD MA Mono. The levels are clear and for some might hint at being TOO clear! All dialogue in Seven Golden Vampires, was created during ADR. It was very common practice in the industry in Hong Kong at this time, that little if anything that was recorded during production was used in the final theatrical release, everything was dubbed in post. So it's very fair to say, the levels are well balanced is
free of any obvious or noticeable hiss problems or distortion. James Bernard's excellent score has never sounded better! Optional subtitles are provided in English
only.
THE EXTRAS: REGULARS TO HERE AT THE PCAS website and the PCASUK FACEBOOK FAN PAGE will not be strangers to the work of BRUCE G HALLENBECK. As well, as writing and publishing several very good books on Hammer and Amicus films, Peter Cushing, Christopher Lee and many many others, Bruce has also contributed several exclusive features and series about Cushing, Hammer / Amicus and many of Cushing's supporting casts and characters for this website. You find links to many on the right column of this site! Bruce contributes and narrates a very entertaining feature on this SCREAM FACTORY release. Lots of new factoids and details about Hammer films, the history of why Hammer made a 'Vampire / Kung Fu' features at a time when Hammer had long left his Dracula role and how it almost didn't get made, as Warner Bros threatened to pull their money, unless Dracula was included in the film. Well done, Bruce!
A FEATURE WITH AUTHOR RICK BAKER, is also here if you have an interest in Kung Fu Cinema. 'KUNG FEAR' does a nice job of sharing the background of Hammer's partners in making 'Legend of the Seven Golden Vampires' The Shaw Brothers. Baker who is author of several books on Hong Kong cinema shares his knowledge while 'Golden Vampires' co star David Chiang gives a neat little interview, with memories on working on the film and Peter Cushing! Also included is the 75 min 'alternative' edit of the film, re-titled 'The 7 Brothers Meet Dracula'. It's minus much of Cushing's Van Helsing footage and anything that didn't have the minimum at least five chops or three foot sockings! Interesting! OVERALL Scream Factory's REMASTERED Blu Ray release of Hammer Films 'The Legend of the Seven Golden Vampires' is a very nice and long awaited addition to my little collection. It's fabulous to watch Cushing in his last outing as Van Helsing, Julie Ege, Chiang and Robin Stewart are a great support also. John Forbes- Robertson is very entertaining to watch in a 'Hong Kong' swing of Dracula. Complete with THEIR nod to his make up and style, it answers the question of, what would a Dracula not played by Christopher Lee, in a Hammer film, look like! THIS release gets a BIG thumbs up and thank you from us all at PCAS!. .
SCREAM FACTORY REMASTER of LEGEND OF THE SEVEN GOLDEN VAMPIRES BLU RAY was REALASED TODAY APRIL 9th 2019 and is REGION A.
NEWS:
Scream Factory have announced they are putting out Hammer Films and Shaw Brothers THE LEGEND OF THE SEVEN GOLDEN VAMPIRES On Blu-ray starring Peter Cushing as Van
Helsing, with Julie Ede and Robin Stewart . . SCREAM RELEASED a press note today stating : Starting 2019 on a high note: THE LEGEND OF THE 7 GOLDEN VAMPIRES - a
highly-requested title from the Hammer Films catalog - kicks its way
onto Blu-ray April 9th! Extras are in progress and will be announced on a later date. The big
news to confirm today though is that we will be presenting two cuts of
the films -- Hammer's original uncut version and its edited US version
called The 7 Brothers Meet Dracula!'
MANY ARE ALREADYhoping for maybe a full version of the 'LEGEND OF THE SEVEN GOLDEN VAMPIRES' music soundtrack. An album was released by Hammer films of this, along with the story narrated by #PETERCUSHING back in 197. Also a cleaned up print of the MILK MARKETING BOARD short feature, that was shot on location with the cast and crew in Hong Kong, would be a winner too. Fingers Crossed! You can share your thoughts on this release at the FACEBOOK PCASUK FAN PAGE where the CHAT and opinions have already started on the thread and newsfeed!
#MOMENTSOFTERROR #MONDAY! Back in the day, 1959 to be exact, Peter Cushing as #SherlockHolmes
looms down from giant sized billboards in central London, promoting his
first performance as Sherlock in Hammer films, only Holmes movie, 'The
Hound of the Baskervilles'. Billboards were certainly impressive
displays back in those days, as were the cinema posters!
TODAY MARKS WHAT would have been the birthday of actor GEOFFREY BAYLDON. He would have been 95 years old! Geoffrey passed in 2017 and PCAS posted quite an extensive obituary at the time.
The PCASUK GEOFFREY BAYLDON OBITUARY FEATURE CLICK HERE!
HE WAS VERY MUCH ADMIRED, loved and respected actor and extremely popular with the army of fans and admirers of his work. Many films
and tv credits go way back to Hammer films first Dracula with Peter
Cushing, some of Amicus films finest like 'Asylum', 'Tales
from the Crypt', 'The House that Dripped Blood', Hammer's 'Frankenstein
Must Be Destroyed', 'The Risk' / 'Suspect with Cushing in 1969, his tv
series 'Catweazle'.
GEOFFREY appeared with Jon Pertwee in 'Worzel Gummidge as
The Crowman from 1979 until 1981, the BBC's Dr Who in 79 and 'The
Avengers tv series in the 60's. Geoffrey is still very much missed. A gentleman and such a Gentle Man 😉
#MOMENTOFTERROR
MONDAY! Hammer films 'Legend of the Seven Golden Vampires' is another
one of Cushing's Hammer appearances, where despite HE going all out,
something within the production values, fall short of the feature. . .
If you ever get the chance to read the actual script, it ALL sounds
amazing and what could have been a imaginative and impressive departure,
from the standard set up, if only by location!
THERE ARE MANY THINGS, that are seen as not up to that Hammer standard... but you have to
remember, even as far as John Forbes Robertson's 'make up' as Dracula,
that were produced in the STYLE of the values of fantasy film in the
country in which Hammer had joined forces with Hong Kong's SHAW
BROTHERS.... Take a look at many of the 'fairy-tale-ghost-stories'
produced there, and everything clicks and matches for that culture and
audience. Maybe it's not what is expected by the audience in the high
street Odeon in Bradford UK, but in Hong Kong, certainly. It probably
helped and went someway to pulling in quite a box office smash within
that culture. Sadly, missing the Kung Fu craze in the rest of the world,
Seven Golden Vampires arrived a little too late.
BUT WATCHING IT TODAY, there is much to appreciate. A cast that includes
Chinese actor David Chiang, very popular with fans of other Sahw Bros
karate fighting movies. Two UK TV popular's in Julie Ege, Robin
Steward and the reputation of one of Hammer's leading actors, Peter
Cushing, who plays Van Helsing for the fifth and last time, despite
production problems felt by director Roy Ward Baker, the film is full of
action, all 'horror visuals' have to be viewed with the understanding,
this is really a film produced with supernatural and vampire antics,
coming from a DIFFERENT culture.
MONEY DOES look tight, but then at this
time, productions filmed in Hong Kong by the Shaw's ALL looked like
this. Legend of the Seven Golden Vampires was another brave attempt by
Hammer's manager Michael Carreras, to try another and different angle.
Personally, I am glad he tried. What do you think?
#THROWBACKTHURSDAY:
There can't be many Peter Cushing or Hammer films fans...or haters of
John Forbes Robertson's Dracula, that HAVEN'T seen, The Legend of the
Seven Golden Vampires yet?. If you haven't, then this is your lucky day!
Depending on how you like your vampires, or your Kung Fu, you maybe in
for treat!.... Hammer films sadly, were sometimes a little like that
'almost trendy friend, who lived out-in-the-country'', who was just a
little bit out of sync with the times.
They did, 'Swinging London', when it's swing had ...well swung, dangled a
bit and then died off, with their setting of Dracula AD 72. Jumped on
the whole devil-possession thing, after The Exorcist impact had shocked,
knocked out it's audience and left the door hanging off its hinges. And
here sadly, when the Bruce Lee 'chop-sock and dragon craze' had blazed
it's way across the world, and was already on the parody hit list.
BUT THERE IS A LOT to like about LEGEND.
Sure, the special effects are a tiny bit on the Ed Wood side, but
everyone shows up, kicks the living daylights out of one another and
Cushing, looks great! Result! John Forbes Robertson is no Christopher
Lee, but then who could be? He doesn't do any damage and his make up is
very much in line with the tradition of how Asian cinema presents their
idea of myth, lore and vampire legend.... So, don't knock it, punch,
chop or bite it too hard! Had Legend of the Seven Golden Vampires, been
released a good two years earlier, it would have been a smash . .. cash
crash, Kung Fu cash cow! Hammer and co production buddies Shaw
Brothers, must have been hopping mad that it wasn't!..A bit like the
army of zombie vamps in the film I guess. I DO love em!
FIND OUT MORE ABOUT 'THE LEGEND OF THE SEVEN GOLDEN VAMPIRES' IN OUR SPECIAL FEATURE ABOVE AT OUR WEBSITE: HERE!
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
#GIMMETHEGIFWEDNESDAY: THREE REQUESTED GIFS for this week's little collection of 'silent but deadly' gallery. SPENCER WILKINS wrote in to ask if there was any footage of the LEE family, that included his daughter, Christina as a child. We have some footage of Christopher and his wife, Gitta along with Christina, that we were able to make this offering for you? I love the look on Christina's face, just before she plants that big kiss on his cheek.
CHRISTOPHER LEE gets a double dip this week, as this requested #GIF for GALE DAVIS from #DRACULAAD1972, shows the power of the COUNT, didn't just work on females, he could work the Vampire Spin on males too! Christopher Neame as Johnny Alucard has turned the corner of no return, and is from this point on, under the spell and devoted!.....!
AND DRAC IS BACK too in this third GIF, for Daryl Waters. Lee had bowed out of further Dracula appearances for Hammer films, come this final entry in the series, The Legend of the Seven Golden Vampires. But Cushing was again returning to the role of Van Helsing, playing probably his most active portrayal, in this all action Kung Fu and Fangs chop about! John Forbes Robertson, fills the shoes, the cloak, but sadly not the role.
I DO love this shot though. The make up of the Count, was made very much in the style of how the Asian audience would have traditionally seen the Count. What most people think of as a bad day in the make up chair for Robertson, was indeed no mistake. Personally, I think it works. I don't think Lee would have ever agreed to play Dracula, with such stylized make up, but the film was produced in Hong Kong, by the Shaw Brother studios and they were footing the bill! What do you think?
