CHRISTOPHER LEE AND VINCENT PRICE BIRTHDAYS CELEBRATED TODAY MAY 27TH 2020!

CELEBRATING TWO VERY SPECIAL BIRTHDAY'S TODAY! It was a fact the never seemed to not amuse all three of them, that Peter Cushing's birthday was May 26th, and BOTH #ChristopherLee AND #VincentPrice celebrated their birthdays on the following day, May 27th! How weird is it also that #BramStoker's novel '#Dracula' was published in 1897 on ... May 26th?!! A book that was more than an influence in one way or another, on all three of their careers?? 

ALL THREE WE KNOW are still very much missed and celebrated, we have many times asked this question of Peter's work, but can you remember the first film you ever saw which starred Christopher Lee ... and the first that starred Vincent Price..and are there any of their films you have still yet to see?? If you are planning a Christopher Lee or Vincent Price FILM BINGE today or on the weekend please share your idea of the #PERFECT #playlist, at the Facebook PCASUK Fan Page! I am sure many here would appreciate the suggestions, to make their #BINGE go with a #BANG!

MEANWHILE... please join us here and at THE FACEBOOK PCASUK FAN PAGE in remembering and celebrating BOTH Christopher and Vincent TODAY...Happy Birthday Gentlemen and Thank You! - Take Care everyone and stay well😉- Marcus

 

CELEBRATING PETER CUSHING BIRTHDAY TODAY! COMPETITIONS AND MUCH MORE!

TODAY HERE AT THE PCASUK WEBSITE AND AT THE FACEBOOK PCASUK FAN PAGE we mark and celebrate the #BIRTHDAY of one Peter Wilton Cushing OBE born today May 26th 1913 😀😊 Lots of opportunities for posts, a quicky COMPETITION, a MAJOR COMPETITION and a MOVIE this evening! So there will be TWO posts here at the website today! Meanwhile . . .

HERE IS A LITTLE SOMETHING to think on today, BUT only today as this a QUICKY COMPETITION that closes 6AM GMT TOMORROW (Wednesday)! Here is YOUR chance to bag yourself a prize, marking Peter Cushing Birthday today. Back in the 60's, 70's and 80's it was a regular task to post and pass on any gifts that arrived for PC for his birthday. It was a busy time. Sadly, this is something we no longer have to do. But back in the day, many loved to shower Peter with gifts. There were many who never missed his birthday. Aftershave, chocolates, books, cufflinks, ties, teddy bears all with cards, notes or letters! 

BUT TODAY ..It's something in our PCASAEU 😃 (Peter Cushing Appreciation Society Alternative and Expanding Universe!! 😊😂) we can do 😂😉 So here is the deal, think of a IMAGINATIVE and INTERESTING gift you could have sent PC on his birthday, back in 1959!! There are no boundaries, it's a bit of fun! YOU could bag yourself a prize for your suggestion! Just post your BIRTHDAY PRESENT SUGGESTION on the thread today at the Facebook PCASUK Fan Page, BEFORE 6am GMT tomorrow! Have Fun and Good Luck!  Our PCASUK MAJOR PC BIRTHDAY COMPETITION will be posted here later today. So, keep your EYES peeled and remember, get IN or miss OUT! 😉 See you LATER - Marcus

HAMMER DRACULA TRAILER FOR GEEKS AND ANORAKS! CAN YOU SPOT THE EXTRA??

#ISOLATIONENTERTAINMENT #WatchWithCushing2020! The THEATRICAL trailer for Hammer films 'Dracula' 1958, is something most #Hammerfilms, #PeterCushing and #ChristopherLee fans will know very well indeed, from countless viewings of what has to be one of best #FantasyCinema trailers ever! The trailer was the same throughout it's release in 1959, other than in the US it where it was called 'Horror of Dracula', but the expected different voice overs for the trailer narration, the dubbing languages and a changed the title also, a few snips here and there maybe for censorship, were all standard. 

BUT IN THIS version, there is something that appears, that wasn't seen anywhere else... not even in the actual full film!! It's very quick, fleeting . . an 'extension' but it's there! Question is, can you spot it? There is a terrific competition being launched here at Facebook PCASUK Fan Page on Tuesday, with a fabulous prize! 🙂 😉 This should... whet your whistle 😉 Have fun, stay safe and look after each other 😉 - Marcus

WONDERFUL WANDA : INTERVIEW : BLOOD BEAST : DOCTOR WHO : UFO AND MORE!

#WATCHWITHCUSHING! POSTING AND SHARING  a great INTERVIEW with actress WANDA VENTHAM today here and at the FACEBOOK PCASUK FAN PAGE certainly has taken off! It's a pretty neat interview with a very relaxed and most informative #WandaVentham! LOTS to learn here about the making of her and Peter Cushing's 'The Blood Beast Terror', on working with Cushing, the director Vernon Sewell, others in the cast, #DoctorWho, #PatrickTroughton, #Hammerfilms and the tv series #UFO! Mr H does well with the questions and some answers are quite surprising! Wanda has a great fan club site too RIGHT HERE!: Enjoy! Keep safe, stay well and look after each other 😀😊😉- Marcus

ABOVE :  A #MONSTER MONDAY BANNER from a whole ago, when Wanda's MOTH went through our weekly MONDAY trial! 

ABOVE : PETER CUSHING AND WANDA VENTHAM'S 'THE BLOOD BEAST TERROR' is also part of our #WATCHWITHCUSHING! 2020 #LockedDown season of posts at the Facebook PCASUK Fan Page. YOU can still watch it! RIGHT HERE! 

ABOVE : PETER CUSHING  chats with producer Tony Tenser on location shooting 'THE BLOOD BEAST TERROR' 

CAN YOU NAME THOSE FACES???

POSTED TODAY over at The UK Peter Cushing Appreciation Society Facebook Fan Page Peter Cushing and a gathering of other film and tv stars, who came together to help Save Hammer Films Bray studios in 1990. Cushing was actually helicoptered to the site, from his home in Whitstable, Kent to Bray studios on the day and landed on the green, just at the side of the Thames river! I put out the question of, how many of those four other faces did everyone recognise?? A question that proves that PCASUK is an international society and that there are certainly more followers and fans of Peter Cushing at the PCASUK sites from the US and Europe than there are from the UK! It was a tough question, with only a few correct suggestions! Can YOU name those faces? I will post the answer here tomorrow!

#VINCENTPRICE TALKS THE GREAT MOUSE DETECTIVE AND HINT OF THE 107TH BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION TO COME!

A LITTLE TREAT for SUNDAY over at FACEBOOK PCASUK FAN PAGE! It's a little seen interview with #VINCENTPRICE speaking about his latest role as 'the voice' of prime villain Professor Ratigan in the Disney cartoon 'Basil The Great Mouse Detective'. This interview was broadcast in 1986 by the UK ITV children's programme 'Splash'. You can see it . .

HERE ARE THREE interesting and rare publicity photographs, that could give you a CLUE as to what I have in line for a #PCASUK #Competition to mark the 107th celebration of Peter Cushing's Birthday this month! I think we are going to have us some fun

TODAY I'VE ALSO PLANTED this very rare and interesting publicity photograph of Peter Cushing at the Fan Page. IF you can recognise the character Cushing is playing here and name the film in which it appeared, you have a CLUE to an element that will be part of a COMPETITION I'll be launching during the PCASUK celebration of 107th  anniversary of Peter Cushing's birthday this month! I think we are going to be having some fun that day! Please stay SAFE and look after yourselves 😊😉 - Marcus

COMPETITION! COME SNATCH AND WIN KINO'S REMASTERED 'THE FLESH AND THE FIENDS' BLU RAY HERE!

PCASUK 'THE FLESH AND THE FIENDS' KINO LORBER  BLU RAY

COMPETITION NOW LIVE @ FACEBOOK PCASUK FAN PAGE! 

OK! HERE! Here is another PCASUK COMPETITION for you. A little something  YOUR give a break from that knitting (!!) and maybe liven up your day!😉😉😀 Here is YOUR  chance to SNATCH yourself one of TWO copies we have up for grabs of KINO LOBER's SUPERB 2K REMASTERED BLU RAY of the 1960 British Peter Cushing Classic, 'The Flesh and the Fiends' aka 'Maniac'!  Starring Peter Cushing as Dr Alexander Knox, Donald Pleasence as William Hare, George Rose as William Burke, Billy Whitelaw, June Laverick and Melvyn Hayes, this film is one of a few little gems, that has somehow slip under the radar and well deserves its remastering and letting out of its cage! 

FIND OUT MORE ABOUT THIS RELEASE at our PCASUK NEWS and REVIEW post from APRIL 28th : CLICK HERE!

DIRECTED BY THE VERY TALENTED John Gilling, the film is based on a true story, set in 1828 Edinburgh, Scotland, and the 'work' of surgeon Dr. Knox who practices medical research (!!) with assistance from local murderers Burke and Hare. Hint : They are SNATCHERS, but they are NOT snatching purses or handbags! 😀 The film received some great reviews when released back in 1960, and still sends more than a chill, when watched even today! I'll be posting a review of Kino's blu ray in the next few days... 

THIS PCASUK COMPETITION is ONLY being held at the FACEBOOK PCASUK FAN PAGE and there is also a pretty neat EXTRA for one of the TWO LUCKY WINNERS! There is a DOUBLE PRIZE! One winner will be also getting a RARE and VINTAGE 'The Flesh and the Fiends' UK Press-book too! It MIGHT be YOU?

AS WITH ALL PCASUK COMPETITIONS this is OPEN to EVERYONE, whoever or wherever YOU are! THIS COMPETITION is LIVE NOW and OPEN until TUESDAY 19TH MAY 2020 MIDNIGHT GMT. WINNERS will be announced the following day Wednesday 20th May 2020. So, check in to see if you are a WINNER! GOOD LUCK EVERYONE!  😀😉 - Marcus

HAPPY BIRTHDAY JOANNA LUMLEY TODAY!

TODAY MARKS THE BIRTHDAY of a very special B'day girl, #JoannaLumley! She appeared as Peter Cushing's grand-daughter, in quick bit of recasting for #Hammerfilms in 'The Satanic Rites of #Dracula' (1973) and also appeared with Cushing in 'The Eagle's Nest' the first of the new series 'The New Avengers in 1976. The first episode established the new team, Gareth Hunt as Mike Gambit, Joanna Lumley as #Purdey and Patrick Macnee as John Steed. These two projects are just the very tip of a HUGE career . . glamorous, intelligent, entertaining . . . where would you like to start?? #HappyBirthday Joanna! Have a wonderful day! 😃 #HammerHorror" #JoannaLumleyBirthday! #Dracula #PeterCushing

ABOVE: An interesting and rare peep at both Peter Cushing and Joanna Lumley on set, during the making of 'The Satanic Rites of Dracula' !

 

OVER AT THE FACEBOOK PCASUK FAN PAGE today, I have also posted and shared this rare photograph of  Joanna Lumley together with, not one BUT two very tall men... Christopher Lee who she starred with in Hammer films, 'The Satanic Rites of Dracula' ... but who is the other guy??? He was once a very well known face on UK television. Think you know? Why not zip over to the page and make your suggestion now, it's got some young heads scratching 😉 #JoannaLumley #Birthday #ChristopherLee #HammerHorrors!

ABOVE AND BELOW: OH JOANNA ....! #PeterCushing appeared in the first of 'The New Avengers' series, 'The Eagle's Nest'  (1976)

  

VINCENT PRICE : THE BUTTERFLY BALL AND GRASSHOPPER FEAST IN CONCERT ALBERT HALL

#WATCHWITHCUSHING! #VINCENTPRICE 'The Butterfly Ball and the Grasshopper's Feast' is a concept album and subsequent live rock opera that was performed live in both 1974 and 1975. The whole album and show was based on the children's poem of a similar title. The album cover design, seen on our banner was from #AlanAldridge's design for a 1973 book based on the poem.

THE ALBUM SPAWNED A HIT SONG, "Love Is All," which reached Number 1 in the Netherlands and #Belgium and has a wonderful #animated promo too! On 16th October 1975, a one-off performance at the #RoyalAlbertHall, #London took place, with #VincentPrice as the story narrator! I have posted an extract of Vincent during the concert and the fabulous song at the FACEBOOK PCASUK FAN PAGE HERE! He does a fabulous job . .please wait for the song at the end. It's worth waiting for and should get your feet tapping and singing along. This was a very firm favourite with my children too....

WHILE DIGGING THROUGH some of the footage of the 'Butterfly Ball' concert, I came across a clip that featured a dance and movement sequence.. and a figure I saw on the page here just yesterday!!! Do you recognise it and where it was featured??? Small world!

WATCH PARTY WITH 'THE GHOUL' WITH GALLERY AND MUCH MORE!

HAVING A GREAT TIME over at the FACEBOOK PCASUK FAN PAGE! right now! Where many of our #FRIENDS and #PCASUK #FOLLOWERS are seeing this Peter Cushing classic movie, for the first time! Prepare to be wrapped in the haunting fog of the moor, a house with terrible secret and a film with its foundations, strongly planted in another time. When producer Kevin Francis made this film, he wanted the script and the language on the screen to be of a past cinematic era. He succeeded... have fun with this one and feel free to leave your comments on this film in the thread! Take care and Stay Safe! - Marcus

ABOVE: A RE-RELEASE of the UNCENSORED 'TASTE of FEAR' VHS version of 'THE GHOUL' 

TYBURN FILMS THE GHOUL (1975) was originally certified by the UK BBFC at a duration of 93 minutes following cuts to (a) remove the third close-up of the knife embedded in Geoffrey's face (b) remove a knee to the groin delivered by Veronica Carlson to John Hurt. However, the subsequent theatrical version was only 87 minutes long following some last minute snipping by the distributors. The full 93 minutes version, with BBFC cuts restored, was subsequently released on UK video on the 'Taste of Fear' label. The differences are as follows: 

THE OPENING party sequence is extended by about 2 minutes 30 seconds via several additional dialogue extensions that largely serve to explain Carlson's character. In particular the conversation between her and Ian McCulloch when she is sitting in the car is nearly a minute longer and the subsequent three way conversation by another car involving Stewart Bevan is extended by about 40 seconds.

ABOUT 35 MINUTES into the film, directly after Peter Cushing asks Carlson whether there is anything she would like before dinner, the extended version has a new sequence lasting about 2 minutes and  30 seconds in which Carlson is escorted upstairs to her bedroom and takes a bath, in this sequence Carlson's left breast is briefly visible. This sequence is missing entirely from the theatrical print  and believed removed by the distributor at the time, through requests by BBFC.

AFTER THE BACH TOCATTA AND FUGUE strikes up on the soundtrack the extended version has an extra 1 minute showing Carlson emerge from the bedroom, clothed again, and go down the stairs where she then peeks in on Cushing in his chapel. In the theatrical version, it's a bit odd that Cushing is surprised by her given that in the previous scene they'd been together in his drawing room.

MATTHEW CONIAM'S FASCINATING dig, to FIND THE GHOUL. A past PCASUK feature, with a great gallery and some updates! FIND IT : HERE!