NEWS: A TERRIFIC TRIO OF CYBERNAUTS ON BLU RAY IN GREAT NEWORK PACKAGE!

GREAT NEWS for THE AVENGERS and CYBERNAUT FANS! As we all know Peter Cushing starred in one episode of the THREE Cybernaut stories that were in the 'Avengers' and 'The New Avengers' series. 'The RETURN of the CYBERNAUTS' is included in this new, remastered blu ray set form Network.

HERE IS THE PRESS RELEASE DETAILS FROM NETWORK: A TRIO OF CYBERNAUTS! There isn’t much more one can say about 'The Avengers', the global and stylish television trailblazer it is (by any standards), but we do have something new to present with The Cybernauts Trilogy. We’ve selected three high-points from across the run for this special 2019 release: The Cybernauts, their 1965 robotic debut featuring Diana Rigg; the 1967 follow-up Return of the Cybernauts, again with Diana Rigg and Peter Cushing guesting in one of his most sinister roles; and, making its world High Definition debut, 'The New Avengers' 1976 finale 'The Last of the Cybernauts…??' . We’ve pulled the original film elements for all three episodes into the Network studio for brand new, painstaking, High Definition restorations, exclusively for this release. 

There’s much more to this release, though: as well as presenting the episodes in all their uncut, restored glory, we’re also presenting the option to watch each episode in its contemporary transmission context, with actual commercials in situ. Included in the package is a 32-page booklet by celebrated television historian Andrew Pixley detailing the history of the three episodes and there’s limited edition digi-pack packaging whilst stocks last. This really is the last of the Cybernauts. . . .'

OUR PCASUK feature on the chemistry of DIANA RIGG as Mrs Peel and PETER CUSHING in 'REURN OF THE CYBERNAUTS' in 'The Wooing of Mrs Peel!'! You'll find it HERE  along with a great GALLERY of GIFS, STILLS and more . . .

AND YOU'LL FIND MORE PCASUK coverage of this episode RIGHT HERE!

OVER AT THE Facebook PCASUK Fan Page we are asking, is this a really neat package! 😉 What do you think? 😮

#retrotv #petercushing #dianarigg #cybernaut #abadmaninahat!

ICONIC, BOWLERD AND REMEMBERED : PATRICK MACNEE BORN TODAY

#TOOCOOLTUESDAY! I would guess maybe 98% of you here would be able to name the face under that all the make up, sitting in the make up chair. For those who can't there is one big give away, for all of us who have been been part of a running joke here for months...can you spot it??

TODAY WE REMEMBER the wonderful actor Patrick Macnee who was born on this day in 1922. He was best known for his role as the secret agent John Steed in the British television series The Avengers and The New Avengers.

PATRICK MACNEE and Peter Cushing had the opportunity to work together several times. In 1968 Patrick was very much established in a superb tv programme made in the UK called The Avengers...Peter worked with both Patrick and Diana Rigg on this programme. Later in 1970, they worked together again, Macnee and Cushing both 'landed' in a film called 'Incense For The Damned' aka 'Bloodsuckers'.

IT RECEIVED a limited release at the time, but seems to have found something of a 'cult-status' in the land of '100 Horror Poor and Weird Films' dvd compilations!! In 1978, the Avengers tv series was rebooted and relaunched and it's first episode, not only brought us Macnee and Cushing ....but also two new side -kicks for Macnee...Gareth Hunt as 'Tough man' Gambit and Joanna Lumley as Purdey.....who not only supplied buckets of sex appeal to the tea time Sunday evening program, but high kicks and a hair style that anyone who considered themselves a bit of a catch, were proudly modeling within days of the first program being broadcast! Lumley had played Cushing grand-daughter Jessica Van Helsing in Hammer films 'The Satanic Rites of Dracula' (1973)

Our THROWBACK THURSDAY FEATURE HERE! 

MACNEE also shared a close friendship with Christopher Lee, since the pair attended school together (at Summerfields Preparatory School in Oxford) and also performed together several times, including playing Sherlock Holmes and Doctor Watson in two TV movies in the early 1990s, Incident at Victoria Falls and Sherlock Holmes and the Leading Lady. Patrick Macnee died peacefully at his home, in Rancho Mirage, California on 25th June 2015. He was 93.

The NAME of the COMPANY. WHY was he asked to make it?  It was a MODEL of WHAT? ANSWER THURSDAY!

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

UPDATE: PATRICK MACNEE DIES TODAY AGED 93

As we announced earlier today, the very sad passing of Patrick Macnee, we would also take this opportunity to celebrate that the fact that both Patrick Macnee and Peter Cushing had the opportunity work together working together several times...not just 1968. In 68 Patrick was very much established in a superb tv programme made in the UK called The Avengers...Peter worked with both Patrick and Diana Rigg on this programme.

Then in 1970, Macnee and Cushing both 'landed' in a film called 'Incense For The Damned' aka 'Bloodsuckers' It received a limited release at the time, but seems to have found something of a 'cult-status' in the land of '100 Horror Poor and Weird Film' dvd compilations, these day.

Then in 1978, the Avengers tv series was rebooted and relaunched and in it's first episode, not only brought us Macgee and Cushing ....but also two new side kicks for Macgee, Gareth Hunt as 'Tough man' Gambit and Joanna Lumley as Purdey.....who not only supplied buckets of sex appeal to the tea time Sunday evening programe, but high kicks and a hair style that anyone who considered themselves a bit of a catch, were proudly modeling within days of the first programme being broadcast! Lumley had played Cushing grand-daughter Jessica Van Helsing in Hammer films 'The Satanic rites of Dracula' (1973)

Read all about th Avengers episode with a 'twist'. Right HERE

PATRICK MACNEE HAS DIED TODAY

We are all very sad to hear of the passing of Patrick Macnee today. A man who, without doubt, had incredible style on both on the screen and off it. Know mostly for playing the role of Steed in the Brit tv series 'The Avengers' ...in which Peter also appeared in an episode entitled Return of the Cybernauts, with his faithful side kick Mrs Peel... Macnee also appeared in a real horror entitled Incense for the Damned aka Bloodsuckers...terrible. A statement on the actor's website today reads: "Wherever he went, he left behind a trove of memories."

RIP Patrick Macnee 1922-2015

THE WOOING OF MRS PEEL : PETER CUSHING AND DIANA RIGG 'RETURN OF THE CYBERNAUTS'

Steed and Mrs. Peel go up against the charming but ruthless Paul Beresford, who holds the crime fighting pair responsible for the death of his brother…Oh, if you have not seen this episode, please do so before reading this little write-up.

Peter Cushing is renowned for many things on screen, but he is seldom thought of as a leading man, romantic type. He didn’t have the “manly” qualities that one typically associates with such actors. He was slight of build, a bit on the fussy side. As such, he seldom had an opportunity to really display much of a romantic quality on screen. Just think of the roles for which he was best known: Sherlock Holmes, Baron Victor Frankenstein and Dr. Van Helsing were all so single minded and obsessive, they never had much time for sex.

As such, Cushing’s performance as Paul Beresford in this season six episode of the hugely popular British TV show The Avengers is of great interest. True, Beresford is a sociopath and a villain, but he has some scenes with the delectable Mrs. Peel (played, as usual, by the stunning Diana Rigg) which hint at the Don Juan side of his personality. Cushing and Rigg absolutely sparkle in their scenes together; he is witty and charming and she responds with warmth and interest. The Avengers brought on a number of familiar faces as guest stars (Christopher Lee, Dennis Price, John Carson, Clifford Evans, Donald Sutherland, Michael Gough [whose character Cushing is looking to avenge in this episode, if you will pardon the expression], etc) but nobody quite displayed the on-screen chemistry with Diana Rigg that Peter Cushing did in this episode.

It’s a pity the character had to be disposed of at the end; it’s the type of character that could have been built up as a recurring villainous mastermind. But, no matter: at least we have this one, wonderful opportunity to see Cushing hawking his wares as a seductive cad, much to the delight of Mrs. Peel… and the audience.

Written By Troy Howarth 
Images and Design: Marcus Brooks

Enjoyed this piece? Look up Troy Howarth 'The Haunted World of Mario Bava' and the soon to come, 'The Tome of Horror' on amazon and at www.midmar.com