#TOOCOOLTUESDAY: DRACULA MINI SERIES FANCY DRESS AND TWO GREAT DIGITS!

#TOOCOOLTUESDAY: I HAVE NEVER seen photographs of Peter Cushing judging a beauty competition, but he must have judged a few #FANCYDRESS comps in his time. This is a one that took place during the opening of #THREBRIDESOFDRACULA back in 1960. It's strange how the act of offering someone a cigarette just looks so alien these days....!

#TOOCOOLTUESDAY?: So, the guys behind the successful BBC Benedict Cumberbatch Sherlock series, are planning a whole series of gothic horrors, including DRACULA... It will be made by the BBC and syndicated to the US and others for sure. If you liked their spin on Sherlock...will you watch this? Good idea?

THE PRESS RELEASE . . 

THE SHERLOCK TEAM are reuniting on a new version of the classic horror story Dracula, RadioTimes can confirm. Steven Moffat and Mark Gatiss are due to begin work on a series of BBC specials based on the classic 1897 novel by Bram Stoker in which the bloodthirsty count moves from Transylvania to England. The Corporation is finalising talks with the pair and is poised to green-light the project which is likely to air in 2019. The new Dracula series has not yet been written and Gatiss and Moffat will begin working on the scripts once they have both completed their own solo projects – details of which have not been confirmed.“It’s early days and the BBC has not seen a script yet but they are close to signing a deal for a series of 90-minute films of Dracula,” said a senior production source.“It’s not yet been decided if it will be historical or modern day or if there will be a US co-producer but the BBC are keen on this and it will happen.

WHAT NEEDS TO BE decided is how many episodes – whether there are three or five or six or whatever but they will definitely be 90-minute films. "Production is at least a year away so it will probably be on screen in 2019 at the earliest.” Gatiss has often spoken of his fondness for the Dracula story – particularly the 1958 film starring Christopher Lee and Peter Cushing – and even played the title role himself in a recent audio drama, but it currently seems unlikely that he will take on the part of the Count in the new version, according to sources. “Casting is a long way off but the feeling is he probably won’t – but you never know,” said a BBC source.

#TOOCOOLTUESDAY: NO NEED TO CAPTION  THIS ONE THEN? 

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 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.

CONFIRMATION CUSHING ESTATE WAS INVOLVED WITH ROGUE ONE TARKIN

Kathleen Kennedy on the set of Rogue One with Diego Luna, Riz Ahmed and Producer Allison Shearmur Credit: Jonathan Olley

THE TELEGRAPH NEWSPAPER UK 16th December 2016: 

#STARWARS producer Kathleen Kennedy has confirmed that the Cushing estate was involved in the CGI appearance of Peter Cushing in the film  #ROGUEONE. She has revealed in an interview with The Telegraph that the technology was full of "small, subtle adjustments – constant conversation and scrutiny". But Cushing's family only saw the final result at the London premiere of the film.

"WE WERE RIGHT DOWN to the wire,” she said. "And it never came down to one thing. If we tweaked one aspect, it threw something else off."

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#TBT: HELEN AND PETER CUSHING STUDY THE DEADLINES!

#THROWBACKTHURSDAY: It seems these days, almost every other day, television announces some kind of 'event' . . the trailer voice-overs tells us so! Back in 1954, the BBC's live broadcast of Orwell's '1984' certainly rattled the viewing public, forbidden love, Big Brother, rats and Cushing's Winston Smith's melt-down . . neither British television or Peter Cushing would ever be the same again . . .

 

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YET MORE GREAT GIFS AND COOL STUFF FOR A TUESDAY!

It's #TOOCOOLTUESDAY and as always, here is a collection of random yet, connected items, brought to you because of their association with the ever so cool, Mr Peter Cushing...!

WE SHARED this RARE archive photograph on the PCAS FACEBOOK FAN PAGE TODAY, and asked our friends and followers, who was it posing with 'the wigs', beard and ....missing tooth?

THE ANSWER can be revealed in the photograph above and the banner at the top of this post... they are none other than, stars of 'AT THE EARTH'S CORE' Caroline Munro and Doug McClure, wearing the wigs and beards that would be worn by the actors who would play the 'primitive cave people' in the film. Though the 'missing front tooth' of Mr McClure, is quite genuine!

TRIVIA: Peter Cushing for much of his professional life, from 1948 onwards, wore a front denture. It's mentioned in his autobiography that he lost the original tooth, playing rugby! A bit of publicity spin there, I am afraid. Cushing suffered a tooth infection, just before his shooting of Osric in Olivier's film, 'Hamlet'. In fact, loosing the tooth came in handy during the making of the BBC production of George Orwell's '1984' in 1954. Never one to miss an opportunity to use props, some business, or indeed anything that would add authenticity to his performance, Cushing REMOVED his 'one tooth plate'  for the horrifying 'Room 101' scenes in the climax of the television drama. It really enhances his emaciated and broken appearance. Vanity never got in the way, of Cushing's quest in perfecting a role...and how cool, is THAT?

Here's another selection of GIF'S that have appeared on the Peter Cushing Appreciation Society Facebook Fan Page over the past few days, giving us our EIGHTH PCAS GIF GALLERY!

..AND HERE, is some MORE Caroline Munro! This time as the poor Laura Beddows in Hammer films, DRACULA AD 1972  with Christopher Lee. It doesn't end well, I am afraid....

FROM THE SAME Hammer film, Peter Cushing as Van Helsing, not for the first time, is locked in a struggle to once again destroy the Count, and in this shot..not doing too well...

When not slapping around vampire hunters, biting faire maidens, Christopher Lee was the meekest of men. And here, we see him at home in 1974 with his wife, Birgit and daughter, Christina, in the cutest of family scenes. This shot was featured in the documentary, 'In Search of Dracula' (1974) in which Lee himself goes in search of the origins of the bloody Count!

Peter Cushing once again in the role of a vampire hunter, with a twist. This, one Gustav Weil, belongs to a merry band of called the 'Brotherhood' who see it as their job to rid the town of surge of vampires and  one in particular called, Count Karnstein, there's that name again, played by Damian Thomas, in his one and only role for Hammer films in 'TWINS OF EVIL'. By this time, Hammer were finding it hard to keep the ol 'vampire fire a-burning' so new and ever more inventive plots and schemes had to be invented, when Christopher Lee, dig in his heels and said a very firm, NO! What they came up with in this case, is one of the very best deviations. TWINS, beautiful one's at that, played by the quite credible Collinson sisters, Mary and Madeline. Yet again, all certainly doesn't end well in this saga either, with the final reel playing out like a Greek tragedy. With death, destruction and the offing of even poor ol Peter, it's enough to make anyone, loose their head!  

HAMMER FILMS had been toying with the idea of following the Universal Frankenstein films track, as far back as 1959, when the REVENGE OF FRANKENSTEIN , switched themes from 'creating a woman' to unleashing a killer with a  taste for human flesh, a cannibal  creation, instead. It took a few years for the subject to re-emerge, as 'FRANKENSTEIN CREATED WOMAN'  in 1967. The woman was the lovely, Susan Denberg, who keep the body count going while keep the dirty mac brigade happy at the same time...and still does! 

 

AND FINALLY, a shot from a film that sadly, when released joined the party, when the music had stopped, the last of the booze had gone and everyone was collecting their platform shoes and bomber jackets from the cloakroom! Tigon films, tale of terror, sadly came on the tail end of the horror film craze in the UK, and never received the attention it so deserved! 'THE CREEPING FLESH', despite it's hacky title, is a great little film, with knock out performances from Lee and Cushing...and the BIGGEST skeleton you've ever seen..if you don't count, Victoria Beckham! 

Amicus had already made 'THE SKULL' in 1965, a SKULL WITH NO BODY, floating around for revenge, now Tigon tapped into the, SKULL WITH A BODY, also lightly floating around and seeking revenge. Revenge, for quite a silly reason really, as was scriptwriters wants back in the day, if the plot had to be about revenge, it was driven sometimes by the flimsiest of reasons. And this film, falls into that ditch. BUT, it is still is head and shoulders, above most fantasy films of this time... definitely worth catching, and is WELL over due it's release on blu ray...are you listening Twilight Time???

MORE COOL STUFFS, NEXT TUESDAY....how cool is that? 

Written by Marcus Brooks.

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DON'T LOOSE YOUR HEAD! MONSTERMONDAY : PITT AND THE VAMPIRE!

In todays #MonsterMonday we feature Carmilla from Hammer's The Vampire Lovers (1970) played by the lovely Ingrid Pitt in what many considered to be her finest role… A fine cast supports her in the film, Peter Cushing, George Cole, Maddie Smith and Douglas Wilmer who we sadly lost last month. Ingrid's performance made Carmilla one of Hammer's most successful female vampires, How do you rate her performance?

Ingrid and the gals get together for a publicity shot on

 The Vampire Lovers 1970

BTS: Peter Cushing, ever the gentleman...happy to come to the aid of Ingrid Pitt, to ensure she doesn't slip or hurt herself...before he hacks her head off! Peter Cushing and Ingrid Pitt in The Vampire Lovers (1970)

 

 FIND MORE on INGRID PITT and BEHIND THE SCENES

on THE VAMPIRE LOVER AT OUR RARE STILLS

FEATURE: RIGHT HERE! 

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FIRST EDITION CUSHING AUTOBIOGRAPHIES AND CHRISTOPHER LEE LORD OF MISRULE: COMPETITION

Here's our CHRISTMAS COMPETITION! WIN Peter Cushing's TWO AUTOBIOGRAPHIES. BOTH first editions and a copy of Christopher Lee's autobiography, 'LORD OF MISRULE'.

Just answer BOTH questions and send your ANSWERS to theblackboxclub@gmail.com. This competition CLOSES JANUARY 1st 2016 MIDNIGHT. 

 

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NEWS UPDATE: CUSHING'S COAT BRINGS IN THE MONEY FOR HOSPICE CHARITY

You may remember back last month how we reported on the story of Peter Cushing's coat being auctioned on ebay for a charity close to his heart, The Pilgrim's Hospice in Canterbury, Kent. Well, the good news is, after a battle of bids, the Burberry coat owned and worn by Peter (see pic) brought a thumping £690.00! That's 1026.13 US Dollars....! There was also a cardigan that also belonged to Peter Cushing that was for auction too..and finally went for around £250.00. All this is great news for the Pilgrim's Hospice, who do such sterling work for individuals and families throughout Kent. I think Peter would have been amazed by this. So, congratulations to the winning bidder and THANK YOU ..a big thank you, to Bernard Broughton too, who donated the coat and cardigan, and very quietly helps the Hospice with various items for auction. Thank YOU Bernard!

A VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS to all our friends and followers of this website and our Peter Cushing Appreciation Society Facebook Fan Page! 

Many thanks for your support during the year. If you aren't a follower of

our facebook fan page, you can join us just by clicking HERE 

CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR AMICUS VAULT OF HORRORS DOCUMENTARY WINNERS

Congratulations to the winners of our very popular competition to win copies of Donald Fearney's 'Amicus Vault of Horrors: The Amicus Story' documentary. The question we asked was 'In Amicus films, 'Tales From The Crypt', Peter Cushing plays Arthur Grimsdyke, husband of the departed Mrs Grimsdyke. What was Mrs Grimsdyke's FULL NAME. The ANSWER we were looking for was MARY HELEN GRIMSDYKE. Many, Many of you got this one right including, Sean Corrigan, Chris Hammer, Will Stewart, Barry Chambers, Oliver Arkinstall, Jim Player, John Leggett, Paul Maguire, Shar Misha Wilson, Nick Colbourne, Stephen Alexander, Paul Chadwick, Adam Symons, Jason Scalise, Mark Jay, Jospeha Kalsbeek, Ted Johnson, Jim McDonald, Andrew Davenport, Tara Duffin, Simon Hopewell, James Sweeny, Penny Dreadful, Scott Clark, Andy Winward...and many more. 

A BIG Thank you to everyone who took the time to enter and support our competition. I wish we had more copies to give away! It's a terrific documentary, a real must for any fan of Amicus films. I learnt so much watching it. If you would like to grab yourself a copy, you'll find full details elsewhere on this page and at our website. Also, don't despair if you weren't a winner this time round... Christmas is coming, it's a time of GIVING and as always..we'll be GIVING you the chance to win LOADS of Cushing goodies leading up to the festive season!

You can read our FULL REVIEW with SCREEN CAPS of Donald Fearney's 'Amicus Vault of Horrors : The Amicus Story' :HERE 

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TARKIN: ON SET SATURDAY : PETER CUSHING STAR WARS

SMILE! Peter Cushing, Dave Prowse and Don Henderson on the 'Death Set' of 'STAR WARS' at Elstree studios in 1976

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GOING BACK 42 AGO YEARS THIS MONTH! THROWBACKTHURSDAYS!

During the month of SEPTEMBER we'll be celebrating #hammerfilms 'DRACULA AD 1972' with a series of galleries, featuring images, artwork and behind the scenes photographs, many in hi res and colour. It's over 42 years ago this month, that production started at Elstree film studios on the film that would bring Christopher Lee's Dracula and Cushing's Van Helsing back to the screen... together for the first time since they starred together in the box office breaking 'Dracula' in 1958.

Here are some samples of images and galleries that are also being shared with other images, at our uk Peter Cushing Appreciation Society Facebook Fan page... more next Thursday!

Director, Alan Gibson rehearses Christopher Lee and Peter Cushing during filming of the coach top - fight to the death, prologue. A behind-the-scenes image from Dracula A.D. 1972. ( #hammerfilms, 1972.)