BARBARA SHELLEY IN GORGON MAKE UP : THE FILM FATES OF CUSHING AND CENTENARY OF SHERLOCK'S NIGEL STOCK

FOLLOWING ON from the rare behind the scenes clips we shared with you last week...here's a question for you, again concerning Peter Cushing and Christopher Lee's Hammer film the 1964 'THE GORGON' . .. it's known that actress Barbara Shelley who played Megaera's 'other side' Carla Hoffman, was quite happy to also play the make up laden, three pound head-dressed Gorgon Megaera too! She also stated she wasn't afraid of 'snakes' if they had to be used in the head-dress too! It was Shelley's contractual commitment to other work, that prevented her from playing the role. The whole planning and design of the Gorgon make up had taken much longer than planned.. she HAD to leave and move on to other work.

BUT LOOKING at her in the make up, makes you wonder . . what kind of Gorgon do you think she would have made on the screen. A point that is often made on the hit miss results of the big reveal and drama of the ending of the film... has been, would it have been easier to except the dual identity, if The Gorgon DID look a little like her other identity played by Shelley.... Over at the FACEBOOK PCASUK FAN PAGE, we've asked what do YOU think?

THE MANY FILM FATES OF PETER CUSHING . . . in his own words, text from his second autobiography 'Peter Cushing: Past Forgetting' 1988, Weidenfeld & Nicholson. Cushing had many a dramatic ending for some of his roles, not as many as his good friend, Christopher Lee though 😮😃 . . AGAIN, over at our Facebook PCASUK Fan Page, we are asking . . which PC character 'bow-out' do you find the most interesting, dramatic, emotional? - Marcus

A HEADS UP! a VERY popular series that kicked off  when PCASUK first came to FACEBOOK, 'The Twenty Two  Screen Deaths of Peter Cushing', wrapped through lack of time, quite sometime ago. For those  who enjoyed these posts, you'll be pleased, maybe . . to hear we are  picking up where we left off, in just a few days time 😀😃 Look out for additions to the series soon . .

TODAY ALSO MARKS the Centenary of the birthday of actor, NIGEL STOCK! Stock, played a superb Watson in the BBC 'Sherlock Holmes' television series of the 60's, with Peter Cushing as Holmes. Sadly, Stock left us in 1986, aged 66. The marking of remembering Stock today, is being well supported with comments and opinions at the PCASUK Facebook Fan Page. .  

#CHRISTOPHERLEESATURDAY! Ok... The last time two of these people were on screen together, the set up was quite different...there was a table then too, but the 'lady' was the meal 😮What film was that? Who are the two sitting at the table and name THIS film too! Btw.. we posted the little insert photograph a few weeks ago, but no one then could site where that strange photograph car from...well, today you just might find the answer 😉 At the PCASUK Facebook Fan Page we are suggesting to Lee fans, they SHOULD now nail this quite quickly . . yes? -Marcus

HAPPY 54TH ANNIVERSARY OF HAMMER FILMS 'THE GORGON' : JOSHUA KENNEDY AND HOUSE OF THE GORGON!

TODAY HERE and at our FACEBOOK PCAS FAN PAGE we are marking the anniversary of the release of #hammerfilms THE GORGON starring Peter Cushing and Christopher lee, with Barbara Shelley, Richard Pasco, and directed by Terence Fisher 🙂 At the Facebook Fan Page, the text went like this...'We've covered this film many times here and at the website, it's still one of the most atmospheric and beautifually photographed films that Hammer made. It's got an amazing cast and an amazing musical score by James Bernard. Patrick Troughton, Michael Goodliffe are great too. And according to some fans, It's probably also.... hang on I'll wait for Joshua Kennedy to make his annual annoucement on the thread below.... ANY time now . . ' 😉 AND at THAT POINT, he did! HAPPY BIRTHDAY 'THE GORGON' !

HOW WE MARKED the GORGON anniversary a few years ago. Josh's comment was there on the post as usual, but this year, so was JOSH!

FOR THOSE OF YOU who don't know JOSH and the remarkable films he has made over the years, he has just probably leaped a further few giant steps in the opinions of his fans and friends. Josh is a life long fan of Hammer films, 'THE GORGON' having first seen it when he was just NINE years old. For the past ten years, I have made a tradition of posting a celebration banner, marking the release of THE GORGON, and every year, without fail, Josh has posted the same comment, in the thread below onour Facebook PCAS Fan Page or here at the website, 'THE BEST FILM EVER MADE'  

DRACULA AD 2105 and the promotional poster for HOUSE OF THE GORGON designed by artist Graham Humphrey

AT FIRST, when it appeared, I thought it was just a highly supportive comment, from a Cushing / Hammer film fan, who  was probably on a high, having just seen the film. BUT, no THE GORGON is Josh's favourite Cushing Hammer film. So much so, he has just made his OWN Gorgon movie, as a tribute to the film, that was made back in 1964. Josh has made some impressive tribute films to various Hammer and fantasy genre movies over the years. My favourite being DRACULA AD 2105. A superb full length feature, which also contains many tributes and key scenes, to the whole Hammer film Dracula series. You can catch our feature and review on the film HERE! 

THE HOUSE OF THE GORGON SYNOPSIS:

Filmed in the vein of the classic Hammer and Universal films of yesteryear: The year is 1896, and the lovely Isobel Banning travels with her mother, Anna, to the village of Carlstadt to marry her university sweetheart, Dr. Julian Pritchard. Along their journey they meet the mysterious Father Llewellyn, the local priest, who refuses to explain why the villagers appear to be in a state of mortal fear… as if the town is hiding a terrible secret. Frightened and confused, Isobel and Anna readily accept an invitation from Dr. Pritchard to stay with him and his aunt, the Baroness Bartov, in their large chateau overlooking the town… unaware of the ancient horror that lies within.

HAVING SEEN THE CROWD-FUNDING trailer for 'HOUSE OF THE GORGON' and the prospect of it's jaw dropping cast, who have joined together to support Joshua and his film, makes the release of this film all the more VERY special. The cast includes, Veronica Carlson (Frankenstein Must Be Destroyed, Dracula Has Risen From The Grave, The Ghoul) Caroline Munro (At The Earth's Core, Dracula AD 1972) and Christopher Neame (Dracula AD 1972) and Martine Beswick (Dr Jekyll and Sister Hyde). I am sure it is going be just as impressive, as Josh's other films, The Return of Sherlock Holmes, The Alpha Omega Man, Theseus and the Minotaur and many others. Scheduled for a 2019 release, I can't wait!

OUR FEATURE on the dancer and actress who played THE GORGON in the 1964 film: JUST click HERE!

EXTENDED TIME ON HOUSE OF THE GORGON: CAROLINE MUNRO AND MARTINE BESWICKE IN UPDATE NEWS!

MORE NEWS FROM  the GOOEY FILMS CAMP on the progress of FUNDING JOSH KENNEDY'S HOUSE OF THE GORGON, the film that will BRING and REUNITE FOUR HAMMER FILM ACTORS on screen for the first time since their days at Hammer!

THE GREAT NEWS IS  the INDIGOGO FUNDING WINDOW IS TO BE EXTENDED PAST it's original closing date, to FEBRUARY 7th 2018! So, STILL TIME to make YOUR contribution to the BUDGET POT! SO DON'T DELAY. DO IT TODAY! 

IF YOU MISSED OUR POST ALL ABOUT how YOU can become a part of this this amazing unique  opportunity THE LINK IS : HERE! 

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     

#SILENTBUTDEADLY: GIFS SNAKES MUSTACHES AND MAKE UP!

#SILENTBUTDEADLY: Dr. Namaroff (Peter Cushing) attempts to destroy The Gorgon (Prudence Hyman), though makes the fatal mistake of looking directly at her, from Hammer's The Gorgon (1964). It's surprising how many times this scene has been requested. Despite the slightly disappointing SFX at the end, even by 1960's standards, everything else makes up for it in this Hammer classic. Everyone is on board, Cushing, Lee, Barbara Shelley and even Patrick Troughton get a look in! Haunting, score and top notch sets from the Bray team, 'The Gorgon' is one that grows on you. The script is imaginative, and the idea of The Medusa, 'monster' was original for the time. It's an idea that is bendy enough for Josh Kennedy, of Gooey Films to fit a contemporary setting. and Josh's 'Night of the Medusa' I would recommend. Keep an eye out here, for my review, sooon! This was requested by Tim The Smart (!) USA. Thanks Tim!

#SILENTBUTDEADLY: Baron Frankenstein (Peter Cushing) about to add jail breaking to his list of crimes...this GIF from Hammer's 'The Evil Of Frankenstein' (1964). Requested by Albee Crawford.

 
#SILENTBUTDEADLY: Baron Meinster (David Peel) temporarily gets the better of Van Helsing (Peter Cushing) in Hammer's 'The Brides Of Dracula' (1960). Requested by Honest Sammy!

#SILENTBUTDEADLY: Before we go any further with this one..I have a confession. Christopher Lee as Prof. Karl Meister, in Hammer films, 'The Gorgon'? I get his performance, sort of, the voice I kind of believe, but it does distract me, every viewing. But, the  actual character, the age, the mustache? No. Why did they opt for trying to make him older? The whole grouchy Einstein thing?

When I interviewed make up artist, Roy Ashton, yeeears later, I asked him about it. You want to know what his opinion was? 'I don't know why. But, I do remember it came from the top. They wanted to try something different. Looking at it, it was a mustache which was made. Peter preferred to grow his own, he had a allergy to the gum we used. That's a wig, I would think. It usually was with Christopher Lee, some piece or another, and simple aging. ME: Did that happen often, the suits would suggest something, about the make up? ROY: Well, more often than not, they would leave you to it. Unless there was something they didn't like, they thought didn't work. Like the mustaches in Hammer's 'Curse of the Werewolf' They didn't like them. They said that it didn't look correct. But I had researched the era and location, for facial hair and whatnot, at the Victoria and Albert Museum. And presented my findings. And then they said, 'Oh alright'!  

ROY: Christopher's appearance was what they wanted, and I, as well as many others were too busy on the blessed snakes for the actual Gorgon, to worry. Oh it took sometime, and at the end of the day, you try your best. The same could be said, with the mask for Herbert Lom in their 'Phantom of the Opera'. They spent weeks and weeks leading up to the time, the actual day, that we were shooting a scene, where the mask had to be seen. They just didn't know what they wanted. I found some rags, some latex and a bit of paint, and put it together during my lunch break. 'That's it! That's it, they said, That's what we want!'..It was just as well, really'

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YOU REVIEW: MILL CREEK THE GORGON : SCOTT JONES

The YOU REVIEW feature: All YOU REVIEW features are complete and unedited  written reviews  independently submitted by followers of the Peter Cushing Appreciation Society , it's website and Facebook Fan Page. The opinions here in, are solely the authors and are shared here with the purpose and intent of providing a guide to dvd's and blu rays recently released featuring the work of Peter Cushing.  All viewing equipment used for the reviews is domestic and typical of the range of players and tv monitors used in a domestic viewing environment.

Mill Creek Entertainment's Hammer Films Double Feature: The Two Faces of Dr Jekyll and The Gorgon : Theatrical Release: 1964 : Blu Ray Release Date: 09/06/16 Aspect Ratio: 1.78:1 Widescreen Duration: 84 Minutes Featuring: Peter Cushing and Christopher Lee Directed By: Terence Fisher

"The only thing wrong with "The Gorgon" is the gorgon!" Sir Christopher Lee

While Sir Christopher Lee's humorous quote above isn't 100% accurate, he does make a very valid point in regards to this film. The Gorgon is a 1964 Hammer release and by all accounts it is a top tier Hammer film. Gloriously shot and directed by Terence Fisher, A Hammer stalwart, it has a  vibrant color palate, beautifully rendered matte paintings and the workman like professionalism of Peter Cushing and Christopher Lee's performances are, as always, standouts. However, in saying that the special effects budget could have been given a significant boost to make The Gorgon a perfect Hammer film. The reveal of Megeara at the conclusion of the third act is almost laughable. Cheaply designed wigs and rubber snakes on wires can only go so far to terrorize a viewer. Up to that point the film is fantastically creepy and it maintains it's pace at a steady rate. If only it wasn't for that reveal. I am laughing whilst typing this.I believe this is one of the few, if only in fact, of Hammer's films steeped in Greek mythology. Overall, it works and is a nice departure from the two 'bigs' of the Hammer world Dracula and Frankenstein.

Enough about the quality of the film itself and story. This is a review of the Mill Creek Entertainment Blu Ray release for Hammer Films Double Features. This particular collection contains The Gorgon and The Two Faces of Dr. Jekyll. I must admit I have yet to watch The Two Faces of Dr. Jeckyll, but will remedy that soon enough. I would like to preface this review by reminding the reader that this film was released in 1964 on a budget of approximately 150,000 English pounds. A preposterously low budget even for the times.  This release is in the 1.78:1 aspect ratio so the entire screen of your television will be taken up by the film, no black bars. I don't know if a better aspect ratio would have assisted the film in it's tightness but to my eyes I felt it looked marvelous. The colors pop, detail is incredible and for being recorded in Mono the music is frightening and beautiful while the dialogue is easily heard and not muddled.

One problem I had was the obvious difference in film quality between the set shots (which are vibrant and clear) to the "day for night" shots which are grainy and hard to see. However, I have only ever seen this film previously on television from horrible prints and bad resolution so Mill Creek, in my mind, did a bang up job of cleaning this film up as best they could. Again, for a 52 year old low budget horror film, it really comes to life on blu ray. I believe if Mill Creek would have gone for a higher bit rate, say 50m as opposed to 25m and made the disc a dual layer it may have  made some difference but I am not technologically inclined enough o make that a 100% true statement. There are no bonus features or subtitles but for the cost, less than $10 for two classic horror films on a budget release blu ray, I see no problem with this in any way.

Peter Cushing (Dr. Namaroff) is amazing in this film, as usual, his professionalism overcomes the quality and or price tag for any film he appears in. Funnily enough, I found Christopher Lee's character (Prof. Karl Meister) to be the comic relief! "Ill? You must have been in your grave and dug your way out!" Don't use long words, Inspector; they don't suit you." The supporting characters are all well played and I was never distracted by any kind of overacting. My problems with the gorgon herself (a very scary looking Prudence Hyman) are merely aesthetic. When she appears in long shots or in reflection she is certifiably frightful. If only if it wasn't for the final reveal. $1,000 more dollars and they could have fixed it, but I have heard that the production had literally run out of money by that point and boy does it show.

So, overall, well done Mill Creek! I have been waiting for years for a decent quality release of The Gorgon and now I have one. We should count ourselves lucky that we as fans have access to these films at all, let alone released on blu ray.

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GIF GALLERY NUMBER SIX : GORGON, SPACE 1999 AND A DANCING CUSHING

MOST DAYS visitors to our Peter Cushing Appreciation Society Facebook Fan Page are treated to a GIF or two. They can be source from any idea of Peter Cushing's career or life. It's a quick animated snap shot of a key point in a dramatic scene or even Peter mugging faces during a tv interview, and then, there's the best thing about GIFS...it repeats it! Over and Over and Over, in a never ending loop. Poor Peter was featured in a recent posted clip from THE CURSE OF FRANKENSTEIN being lifted off the ground and then throttled by Christopher Lee as The Monster, with his feet dangling! Now, he is doom to spend the rest of eternity, on our post, going up and down, throttled, up and down throttled... it's no way to treat a Super Star...!

Going Out In A Blaze Of Glory: Peter Cushing and Freddie Jones Hammer films, 'Frankenstein Must Be Destroyed' (1969)

PLEASE enjoy this latest selection of animated gifs, from posts at our FACE BOOK FAN PAGE. Please feel free to download em, keep em or repost em, share em or use them on your blog, forum or internet community page. You are HELPING to promote Peter Cushing's appreciation society and KEEPING the MEMORY ALIVE!

TURNED TO STONE: Peter Cushing and Prudence Hyman in Hammer films, The Gorgon (1964)

Peter Cushing as the mysterious RAAN in the 1976 episode 'The Missing Link' fromthe tv series 'Space 1999' 

Peter Cushing as Major Holly, strutts his stuff and cranks up the moves

at the kazbar in Hammer Films, 'She' (1965)

What the 1967'Night of the Big Heat' lacks in budget and 'monster reveal' it makes up for in spades with atmosphere and drama. Here Cushing as Dr Stone comes face to face, with '...whatever it is out there'! 

Dave Prowse as The Monster in Hammer films, 'Frankenstein and the Monster from Hell (1974) was hardly the best behaved creation, and not what you would call, a model pupil. Here Peter Cushing in his last appearance as Baron Frankenstein, tries to teach his creation, a lesson. Very soon, The Monster teaches THEM ALL a lesson they will never forget...

A GREAT FEATURE ARRIVING HERE : TUESDAY 7TH JUNE 2016