BEHIND THE SCENES ON CLASSIC HAMMER VAMPIRE FILM ALMOST 50 THIS MONTH PLUS PHOTO CONTACT SHEETS!

 

THIS MONTH 'OCTOBER 2019' marks the 49th anniversary of a Peter Cushing Hammer film, that kind of shook up the 'adult' content of his future 'horror films', for Hammer. 'The Vampire Lovers' is a neat short clip of raw footage, unedited and very entertaining, from a BBC film programme that featured the making of the film in 1970. This was shared here quite a long time ago, so certainly worth a re-airing today! Peter is seen very relaxed, having a giggle about an actor he spotted on the train, who was quite the character... and liked... a glass, or two.. or three. Director Roy Ward Baker, ever the pro, arranges shots, lighting and motivation . . there is a charming shot of Ingrid Pitt too, in this her first leading role and third film. You can't help but notice the huge difference between Cushing's character voice and authority .. and that of the softest, sweetest gentleman, chatting while having his hair stylds by the lovely Pearl Tipaldi, the production hair-dresser. Enjoy!

'THE VAMPIRE LOVERS' was released in the UK on October 4th 1970, making a star of it's lead, #IngridPitt. For the future, she would always be known as a #ScreamQueen, playing a vampire in her next film for Amicus, 'The House That Dripped Blood' and 'vampire with a twist' in Hammer's #CountessDracula' also in 1971. The film did well at the box office. Cushing was almost supporting with actors Douglas Wilmer and George Cole along with love interests of Jon Finch and #MadelineSmith and #KateOMara, pulling together a script based on Sheridan Le Fanu's classic vampire tale, 'Carmilla'.

THE CENSOR LAWS lost their grip, man in macs queued in the rain to see botts and bosom's compete with #blood and #fangs . . there was no turning back after this one. It provided a much needed zap to the now, slightly predictable Hammer presentations . . #vampires for Hammer would never be the same again. So it's Happy Birthday The Vampire Lovers Where does #TheVampiresLovers sit on your TOP TEN of Cushing #Hammerfilms 😮 ..

INCLUDED in this photo selection, I have reposted SIX rare contact / proof sheets of stills from the film, that were posted a while ago. Some really like and collect these, and have told me you missed them when first posted, so here they are again, for your pleasure!

WATCH THE VAMPIRE LOVERS AND DARKNESS SIGNED TRIBUTE

#THROWBACKTHURSDAY! Hammer films, 'The Vampire Lovers' just uploaded at our YOUTUBE Channel marked the first time that Peter Cushing met the lovely, Ingrid Pitt. You'll find lots of features at the website about how he and his wife, Helen became very good friends with Ingrid and how Peter encouraged her on the set of this film. They were to be cast together again later in the year in the Amicus production, 'The House that Dripped Blood' . .. though sadly they did not share screen time together...'The Vampire Lovers' marks a change in direction for Hammer films. Times had changed and the suggestive gossamer gowns and flirtatious nature of their female vampires would now appear minus gowns and engage in much more than a nibble!

The upload at the website and this youtube account is uncut, and in accordance with the sites regulations, our facebook fan page has always been restricted only to followers OVER the age of 18..as is this Youtube channel, and website. So beware, there IS flesh ahead. Depending on your sensibilities, the content of the film maybe very tame by today's standards, but not everyone has the same...standards. Though never asked at the time, I would have loved to have learned what Peter though of it all! For many, it was a step in a direction, in which Hammer could never return from . .. or recover. What do you think? 

#THROWBACKTHURSDAY! You know I mentioned, how much I look forward to your posts, and the goodies you share and send in here? While watching Horror express (!!) Follower Andy Isaacs shared this priceless framed tribute to Hammer films, 'Dracula, Prince of Darkness' ...a beautiful press still of Christopher Lee as Dracula, SIGNED by Lee, two lobby stills from 'Darkness' AND a great repro of the 'Darkness poster, signed by the late Francis Matthews and actress Barbara Shelley who both starred along Lee in the film also! I don't need to tell you about Lee's aversion to signing any stills depicting 'The Count' . . so this is outstanding on many counts..pardon the pun! Thank you Andy for sending this pic in and sharing it with us for today's theme! What do you think of this framed, signed tribute????

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 

VAMPIRE LINE UP: WHO IS MISSING? : VAMPIRE LOVERS COMPETITION

Spot WHO IS MISSING in our 'THE VAMPIRE LOVERS' competition and win yourself a copy of Hammer films REMASTERED BLU RAY 'THE VAMPIRE LOVERS' from FINAL CUT ENTERTAINMENT starring Ingrid Pitt, Peter Cushing, George Cole, Douglas Wilmer and Madeline Smith.

Final Cut Entertainment The Vampire Lovers is set for release on DECEMBER 1st 2014 and available for pre-order now: HERE

ANOTHER CUSHING HAMMER BLU RAY ON THE WAY FROM FINAL CUT ENTERTAINMENT

Final Cut Entertainment are preparing a BLU RAY release for #hammerfilms 1970 Ingrid Pitt and Peter Cushing outing, THE VAMPIRE LOVERS. No news of release date or of any extras at this point. This release is expected to be a region B release only, which is good news for anyone who missed out on the region A Shout release from the US last year. We'll keep you posted.

 

 

Don't forget to join us for our 'So You Think You Know Peter Cushing?' Competition THIS WEEKEND and win yourself a copy one of THREE copies of The Peter Cushing Scrapbook!

You can purchase a copy: HERE