JUST POSTED ATFACEBOOK PCASUK FAN PAGE one of the last of our PCASUK #WATCHWITHCUSHING Facebook #WATCHPARTIES in our quest to entertain during the #LOCK-DOWN period of the last three months! 'DARK PLACES' is one of few lesser seen films of Christopher Lee. It's a ghost story, with a few twists and some nice little surprises. It's a film of time... when it was produced back in 1974, but a lot of fun.
#WATCHWITHCUSHING! IT'S GREAT TO SEE the sharing of #PeterCushing's #SherlockHolmes episodes have been so popular in our PCASUK 'Watch With Cushing Parties' 😊Those you messaging and requesting other episodes from the series, just
need to dip into our post from the last three weeks. You will find them
there😉
Meanwhile, here we have 'The Sign Of Four' my personal favourite from
this Cushing BBC television series, though many see this episode as the
weakest!?
OF THE SIX #surviving
episodes, from the BBC's 'trashing and wiping tapes fiasco' The Sign
of Four' I certainly find it more entertaining and interesting... Peter
complained there was too little time for preparation, and some consider
the direction of William Sterling, to be without map or steering device!
I find these pressures to have enhanced the experience in my viewing.
Cushing has to think, react and perform much more quickly. Recorded
live, I am sure everyone was flying by the seat of their pants.. .
NIGEL STOCK AGAIN proves to be a solid and dependable Watson and
Cushing's Sherlock at times, leaves his tired and tested performance...
all interesting stuff. Supporting actor honours go to John Stratton,
another familiar face in the Cushing universe (he would go on to play
the comically blustering asylum director in #Hammerfilms
/ Cushing's 'Frankenstein and the Monster from Hell', 1972), who gives
a good account of himself as the clueless and supercilious Inspector
Jones. Howard Goorney, a busy character actor whose credits include
'The Evil of Frankenstein' (1964), '#BloodonSatan’sClaw'
(1970) and 'The Offence' (1972), also shows up in a small role. I hope
this entertains, that you and yours are safe. Take care of yourself and
each other, my friends
THE FILM 'TIME WITHOUT PITY' is an adaptation of Emlyn Williams' pot-boiler stage play entitled 'Someone Waiting',
a 1953 psychological thriller, which is something of a curio
if performed on a theatrical stage today. The great fictional focal English murder, is rooted in a 1956 middle
class, whose sayings and doings often strike a modern audience as more than
faintly comic. BUT within the context of a cinematic drama, produced just one year after Williams's staged debut of the play, directed by an American motion-picture director, whose highly personal style was often manifested in films centring on intense and sometimes violent human relationships... it is something far more sinister and real.
THE PLOT AND OPINION :
A young man wrongly convicted of murder (Alec McCowen), and the
last-minute hunt for the real killer by his dipsomaniac father
(Michael Redgrave). 'TIME WITHOUT PITY' was the first time Joseph Losey had filmed under his own name, since the trauma of the blacklist, and it shows in the interesting play with clocks, for instance, indicating not just that
Redgrave is racing against a 24-hour deadline to uncover the truth, but
that his alcoholism was a way of making time stand still, by shutting out
his responsibilities . . . to his son and to society.
BY SHIFTINGthe emphasis
from thriller to anti-capital punishment pleading, Losey also cleverly pulls on all threads of the plot, cranking up the cogs and dragging us all-in on the structure, the race against time and the whole thing slipping through the fingers of Redgrave's guilt ridden alcoholic, while the noose swings waiting too. The clever devise of letting the viewer KNOW who the true murderer IS, makes the the whole thing even more interesting, as we watch the bullying racked up murderer sweat and twist his himself away from being exposed, the father fighting off his dependency on drink and the innocent son, sink further and further into hopelessness, in his dingy prison cell, praying his father doesn't fail him..again. ! It is an undeniably powerful film.
PETER CUSHING was to appear in another black and white crime drama, just few years later for Hammer films called 'Cash on Demand' in 1962, where director Quentin Lawrence, would also apply similar tension triggers, but as much as 'Cash' delivers a sweet and justified ending, 'TIME WITHOUT PITY' deals with a much course and raw villain. Violence and murder against vulnerable women is one of the most frightening relations in the cinema crime family, and requires equally cruel and brutal comeuppance for the perpetrator in the end. So in quite a bit more than co star, here Cushing plays barrister Jeremy Clayton , who himself has no choice but to chase the clock too. Once again, as in 'Cash' Clayton plays on what was one of Cushing's great strengths, 'fear and tension for himself, and/or of others'. 'TIME WITHOUT PITY' is also superbly shot by Freddie Francis, a director who Cushing would work with on a further eight films over the next twenty years. The film is conceived with a
raw-edged brilliance, right from the brutal opening murder, that
accommodates even the symbolism of a Goya bull, with the real killer
(Leo McKern) finally cornered and goaded into a murderous/suicidal charge ..
UNLIKE HAMMER FILMS 'Cash on Demand' and 'The Naked Edge' (1961) with Cushing again playing another barrister and Gary Cooper in sadly his last film, along with another thriller called 'Suspect' in 1960 . . 'TIME WITHOUT PITY' Cushing was still delivering on the gain he made on his tortured and broken Winston Smith in the BBC's 1984 in 1954, just three years before 'Pity'. Interestingly, 'The Curse of Frankenstein' was made the SAME year, as 'Time Without Pity'and in some ways could be said to have a more frightening monster. A working class man, who has worked his way up, to new money by grafting, but also by beating and crushing anything that gets in his way. Public position and cash, he thinks gives him the right and authority, to bend the rules, the law and to manipulate and abuse any woman who associates with him, certainly in his domain of his workplace.
HOW INTERESTING that a film, produced by a man who was seen as an outcast in his industry over 65 year ago, manages to reflect the dangerous and often manipulative practices of many a powerful and trusted man, working with women in the workplace . . the mirror might have been made in 1957, but sadly the chipped and flaking reflection we are seeing is today . .
INDICATOR REMASTERED BLU RAY
THE VISUAL:
The good news about the INDICATOR premier release on blu ray of 'TIME WITHOUT PITY' is it actually looks, VERY good and just as we hoped it would, when we first heard about this planned release a few months ago. So, visually it is WONDERFUL! Thankfully, the visuals are as they should be and at 1080P, the contrast is often deep, a nice layer through out. For a film from this period you would expect some grain, and what you see is totally in keeping with how a theatrical presentation of this release of a monochrome film would indeed look. It's HD, it's monochrome, and the results from that combination, trusting on a very well looked after print, are always impressive.
THE AUDIO:
Indicator has used a linear 24-bit PCM mono track in the original English
language.The soundtrack is clear, no buzz, no clicks. It IS very sharp.The score written by the late Tristram Cary, who also provided the musical scores for Hammer films 'Quatermass and the Pit' and 'Blood from the Mummy's Tomb', the 1955 classic 'The Lady Killers', Peter Cushing's 1963 'Violent Playground' and . . .as he was a pioneer in electronic music, having become inspired by his WWII
Royal Navy training in radar, and built the first electronic studio at
the Royal College of Music, was also instrumental in the invention of the
synthesizer. .. he wrote the music for 27 episodes of Patrick Troughton's 'Doctor Who' from 1964-66 .. here provides a dramatic score for the often teasing tensions, threats and contrasting rumblings and then unexpected outbursts from a major bully and psychotic murderer. It's all there, can be heard and appreciated . . Dialogue is also clear, no distortions when the audio is carrying high pitched vocals, and manages low background audio atmosphere, when dramatic mix of music and action visuals drop suddenly. Overall, the audio is a very impressive and compliments the visuals.
THE EXTRAS:
One of the first extras I couldn't wait to use, was the very interesting facility that allows you to play the film, while listening to a John Player Lecture from 1973, with director Joseph Losey himself! The 80 minute conversation with very knowledgable film critic Dilys Powell at the National Film Theatre, is a very entertaining treat to access on maybe a second viewing. Plenty here, on a career that was never dull, and full of its own dramas. But it's Losey's thoughts and experience on how, he looked for other levels in plots, scripts and characters, how he used the camera and blocked a scene, that I found most interesting. This is the man who worked with Bertolt Brecht and directed Dirk Bogarde in 'The Servant' and ' The Accident', I am all ears! Many viewers and collectors, may find this extra as a 'no bonus' and of 'little interest' especially as the recording was never intended for public use or broadcast, the audio quality is a little weak. Indicator flags this up, within its title menu. Personally, for me it's a certainly a gain. I am the kind of viewer that wants the lot. Whatever is available, include it on the extras. My purchase then viewing experience has always been to, if possible, without sounding like an anorak / geek, have a good-time and learn all I can about a film I have just shelled out, good lolly for!It's all part of the journey and the learning! So, for me this was no injustice, poor show or problem... I just turned up the volume. Simple.
IF YOU ENJOY extras that inform and educate too, then a new audio commentary with author Neil Sinyard, of 'British Cinema In The 1950's : A Celebration' maybe well 'float your boat' too! It's a neat and interesting extra too. I have always personally preferred, enjoyed packages of extras, that contain, what I haven't seen before, different. It doesn't have to be another menu of often seen press stills the size of postage stamps or another chance to see THAT grubby trailer that has sat on Youtube for the last eight years. No, give me, that grainy end segment of an film interview, found in a dusty vault or some long gone film collectors garage . . 'and you only have the last three minutes, out of the 20 that were shot? Fine. Let me SEE it!' I am your man! Which is why, I leaned closer to my TV when I came across the option for ' A vintage Horlicks malted-hot-drink commercial . . directed by Losey too! It's great 😀😃😉 Next is film maker, Gavrik Losey, son of Joseph Losey in a new 15 minute video interview entitled 'The Sins of the Father' where he details the making of 'Time Without Pity' and it's place in his father's impressive body of film work as a director, of reputation and who created often a different persective. The Indicator blu ray package also has a LIMITED EDITION and EXCLUSIVE 40-page booklet, with a new essay by Robert Murphy, Joseph
Losey on Time Without Pity, Jeff Billington on the MacMahonists and Time
Without Pity, an overview of critical responses, and film credits. This
is LIMITED to just 3,000 copies.
SO IN CONCLUSION .. The Indicator Blu Ray release of 'TIME WITHOUT PITY' ticks the box for very good 1950's tense drama, it's quality Brit Noir, it possess an excellent cast, Leo McKern and Michael Redgrave, are at different ends of a career, and BOTH fill that screen, with talent you just don't see today. This release also stands as a more than worthy addition to your Peter Cushing collection, this is a VERY good example of why critics 'kicked off a long running, biting their pencils and punching their type-writers' in what was a what they saw as a justified mega-strop, stating that Cushing had copped out of quality work, and slipped into the fantasy cinema market'! THIS was what Cushing actually excelled at, and what's more, he knew that too. Choices huh? If you have never, for whatever reason, never experienced a Joseph Losey directed movie, THIS is a very good place to start. Lastly, if you already own the dvd of the film, this is a very commendable upgrade... that I can assure you, won't be around long. Nope it's not a hard sell, it's a fact. Indicator is very lucky but deservedly so, to have earned themselves quite a LARGE and quite dedicated clientele . . collector's who buy in bundles, out of choice, predominantly just Indicator releases. Why? Check out their website or facebook page and you'll see past releases of very interesting releases in limited runs and copies. They SELL.
PACKAGING is always of a very good standard, matching other releases . . collectors LOVE matching or colour coded spines of great quality cases and above all, specific and well researched sleeve notes and COVER ARTWORK. They very rarely drop the ball in their remastering, they are often exclusive but always... quite classy! 😉 That's why this release comes highly recommended . .
Marcus Brooks
TIME WITHOUT PITY: THE SPEC:
Release date: 28 October 2019 Limited Blu-ray Edition (World Blu-ray premiere)
Following his blacklisting in the McCarthy HUAC hearings, director Joseph Losey (Eva, The Damned, Secret Ceremony) moved to the England in the 1950s. The gritty British suspense thriller, Time Without Pity was the first film he made in the UK under his own name.
In a BAFTA-nominated performance, the great Michael Redgrave (Goodbye Gemini, Connecting Rooms, Dead of Night)
stars as an anguished father whose son is convicted of murder and
languishing on death row. In a desperate race-against-time, he attempts
to prove his son’s innocence whilst bringing the real murderer to
justice.
With photography by Freddie Francis (The Elephant Man), and a superb supporting cast including Ann Todd (Taste of Fear), Leo McKern (X the Unknown), and Peter Cushing (Corruption, The Beast Must Die), Time Without Pity is brilliantly accomplished slice of Brit-noir, and a potent cry against capital punishment.
INDICATOR LIMITED BLU-RAY
EDITION BOX SET SPECIAL FEATURES:
High Definition remaster
Original mono audio
The John Player Lecture with Joseph Losey (1973, 80 mins): the celebrated filmmaker in conversation with film critic Dilys Powell at London’s National Film Theatre
New and exclusive audio commentary with Neil Sinyard, co-author of British Cinema in the 1950s: A Celebration
The Sins of the Father (2019, 16 mins): filmmaker Gavrik Losey, son of Joseph Losey, discusses Time Without Pity
Horlicks: Steven Turner (1960, 1 min): vintage commercial for the malted milk drink, directed by Joseph Losey
New and improved English subtitles for the deaf and hard-of-hearing
Limited edition exclusive 40-page booklet with a new essay by Robert Murphy, Joseph Losey on Time Without Pity, Jeff Billington on the MacMahonists and Time Without Pity, an overview of critical responses, and film credits
World premiere on Blu-ray
Limited edition of 3,000 copies
#PHILTD154 BBFC cert: PG REGION FREE
Blu-ray
Release Date:
October 28th,
2019
Transparent
Blu-ray Case
HAMMER FILMS, 1967 'FRANKENSTEIN CREATED WOMAN' GETS A NEW 2K Scan 'Using The Original Film Elements' in impressive BLU RAY release FROM SCREAM FACTORY!
'FRANKENSTEIN CREATED WOMAN' : HAMMER FILMS 1967
Director: Terence Fisher, Screenplay: John Elder [Anthony Hinds],
Producer: Anthony Nelson Keys, Photography: Arthur Grant, Music: James Bernard, Music Supervisor: Philip Martell, Special Effects: Les
Bowie, Production Design: Bernard Robinson. Production Company: Hammer/Seven Arts
Synopsis 'She's a vision of loveliness ... with a murderous mission from beyond the grave!'
IN THIS MOST conceptually wild and out-rightly science-fictional of the Hammer Frankenstein films" (Moria Science Fiction, Horror and Fantasy Film Review), Baron Frankenstein (Peter Cushing) and Dr. Hertz (Thorley Walters) are embarking upon an experiment to capture the souls of the dead and impose them into other bodies. When their assistant, Hans (Robert Morris), is unjustly accused of murdering his girlfriend Christina's father and is himself put to death, the two men claim his body and trap his soul in their laboratory. Meanwhile, Christina (Susan Denberg) is consumed with grief over the death of her beloved Hans and commits suicide. Frankenstein and Dr. Hertz are able to transfer Hans' soul into Christina's healed body, which results in a vision of beauty. Their experiment appears successful until Frankenstein discovers that Christina's seductive appetites are being driven by the spirit of Hans and his passion for revenge ...
IF CRITICS AT THE TIME are time were to be believed, that hammer films were like the distant cousins of the Shepperton studios, 'Carry On films', 'made for the working classes, nothing too cerebral or intellectually demanding and with flashes of titillation to meet the demands of the lowest common denominator', then director Terence Fisher and script writer, Anthony Hinds over-stepped their remit and burnt out the brains of many an audience. 'CREATED WOMAN' follows a story track that leaves the concept of the Baron just rejuvenating sown and souring corpses, way behind. It soon becomes a quite interesting theoretical essay and endeavor on the journey and existence of the soul! Judging by the box office, the 'classes' LOVED it! The whole thing is quite crazy, but it works.
THE ARRIVAL OF HANS as a total gender swap, is interesting especially as her existence is all about REVENGE on men who abused and tormented her. Topical today or what? The relationship on screen between Thorley Walters and Peter Cushing is wonderful. Walters did the bumbling aged roles very well. The young snipes are cast well and our creation in, Susan Denberg, ticks all the boxes, for those who wanted more than the expected stitches and scars. The stitches here are broken, snapped and groaning under the weight of something that is certainly 'all women' and reveal a creation, that would keep fans dribbling for many decades after the films release. The scar sadly, was something waiting in the wings for Denberg that would car crash her career and make her life something certainty more, than any nightmare, Hammer films could devise, for sure.
THE BLU RAY: IF WE LOOK AT our blu ray shelf, it seems that Scream Factory has released Frankenstein Created Woman as
the next part of their Hammer films Collector’s Edition series. This is a NEW 2k scan of the
original film elements. A previously released blu ray from Millennium, thankfully quickly went out of reach for orders, and can now rest in the dust as THIS release leaves that memory fast fading, like it's visual quality at the time. Scream Factory has released the print that should have been delivered back then. SCREAM'S new transfer is visually superior, it's vibrant, exposes those rich Hammer film colours and vibes, we know and look for, so well. There are no muddy, foggy textures here. The vision is much brighter, while not losing the density of shadows and the margins between black and grey. The focus detail and depth of field in the focus can been seen through out and is not flat, as can often be the case in blu ray transfers. There are a few spots of damage to the print, but these are not distracting and were only spotted on the second viewing. The grain is in keeping with the film stock that Hammer used at this time.
SCREAM FACTORY also presents this release in the film’s
original 1.66:1 aspect ratio. Frankenstein Created Woman is a very good film on a lot of levels, and visually the film has never looked this good in home cinema presentation. It's a great achievement that many fans of the film, I am sure will appreciate. The audio on this release is a DTS-HD MA mono track and both Anthony Hinds entertaining dialogue and the majestic film score sound is classic Hammer films! Terrific.
EXTRAS AND BONUS MATERIAL:
NEW 2K Scan From The Original Film Elements
NEW Audio Commentary With Author/Film Historian Steve Haberman And Filmmaker/Film Historian Constantine Nasr
NEW Interview With Actor Robert Morris
NEW Interview With Camera Assistant/Clapper Loader Eddie Collins And 2nd Assistant Director Joe Marks
Audio Commentary By Actors Derek Fowlds, Robert Morris, And Film Historian Jonathan Rigby
World Of Hammer Episode The Curse Of Frankenstein
World Of Hammer Episode Hammer Stars: Peter Cushing
Hammer Glamour Featurette
Theatrical Trailers
TV Spots
Radio Spots
Still Galleries – Movie Stills, Posters, And Lobby Cards
SO TO WRAP UP, what we have with this much welcomed released of one of Hammer and Cushing more interesting, Frankenstein films, is a vast improvement on what has gone before, you have the best of BOTH worlds, with EXTRAS and BONUS menu consisting of a number of features both very interesting and new, plus the best bits of previously seen material. It's a MUST for fans of the Hammer series and Peter Cushing! BUY IT and PRE ORDER HERE!
