HAPPY BIRTHDAY JOANNA LUMLEY TODAY

Today marks the birthday of a very special B'day girl, Joanna Lumley! She appeared as Peter Cushing's granddaughter, in quick bit of recasting for Hammer in The Satanic Rites of Dracula (1973) and also appeared in The Eagle's Nest episode of the New Avengers TV series.

The Eagles Nest,. the first of the new series and return of '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 and guest starred Peter Cushing.

Above, US publicity material: Joanna Lumley as Van Helsing's granddaughter, Jessica Van Helsing in Hammer Films 'The Satanic Rites of Dracula' (1973 Alan Gibson)

Joanna also made one other appearance in a Peter Cushing film, but not with Peter. Can you name that film?? If you can’t, no matter, but do join us in wishing Joanna a very Happy Birthday today!

YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU ARE MISSING .... DAILY! 

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UPDATE: PATRICK MACNEE DIES TODAY AGED 93

As we announced earlier today, the very sad passing of Patrick Macnee, we would also take this opportunity to celebrate that the fact that both Patrick Macnee and Peter Cushing had the opportunity work together working together several times...not just 1968. In 68 Patrick was very much established in a superb tv programme made in the UK called The Avengers...Peter worked with both Patrick and Diana Rigg on this programme.

Then in 1970, Macnee and Cushing both 'landed' in a film called 'Incense For The Damned' aka 'Bloodsuckers' It received a limited release at the time, but seems to have found something of a 'cult-status' in the land of '100 Horror Poor and Weird Film' dvd compilations, these day.

Then in 1978, the Avengers tv series was rebooted and relaunched and in it's first episode, not only brought us Macgee and Cushing ....but also two new side kicks for Macgee, Gareth Hunt as 'Tough man' Gambit and Joanna Lumley as Purdey.....who not only supplied buckets of sex appeal to the tea time Sunday evening programe, but high kicks and a hair style that anyone who considered themselves a bit of a catch, were proudly modeling within days of the first programme being broadcast! Lumley had played Cushing grand-daughter Jessica Van Helsing in Hammer films 'The Satanic rites of Dracula' (1973)

Read all about th Avengers episode with a 'twist'. Right HERE

THE WOOING OF MRS PEEL : PETER CUSHING AND DIANA RIGG 'RETURN OF THE CYBERNAUTS'

Steed and Mrs. Peel go up against the charming but ruthless Paul Beresford, who holds the crime fighting pair responsible for the death of his brother…Oh, if you have not seen this episode, please do so before reading this little write-up.

Peter Cushing is renowned for many things on screen, but he is seldom thought of as a leading man, romantic type. He didn’t have the “manly” qualities that one typically associates with such actors. He was slight of build, a bit on the fussy side. As such, he seldom had an opportunity to really display much of a romantic quality on screen. Just think of the roles for which he was best known: Sherlock Holmes, Baron Victor Frankenstein and Dr. Van Helsing were all so single minded and obsessive, they never had much time for sex.

As such, Cushing’s performance as Paul Beresford in this season six episode of the hugely popular British TV show The Avengers is of great interest. True, Beresford is a sociopath and a villain, but he has some scenes with the delectable Mrs. Peel (played, as usual, by the stunning Diana Rigg) which hint at the Don Juan side of his personality. Cushing and Rigg absolutely sparkle in their scenes together; he is witty and charming and she responds with warmth and interest. The Avengers brought on a number of familiar faces as guest stars (Christopher Lee, Dennis Price, John Carson, Clifford Evans, Donald Sutherland, Michael Gough [whose character Cushing is looking to avenge in this episode, if you will pardon the expression], etc) but nobody quite displayed the on-screen chemistry with Diana Rigg that Peter Cushing did in this episode.

It’s a pity the character had to be disposed of at the end; it’s the type of character that could have been built up as a recurring villainous mastermind. But, no matter: at least we have this one, wonderful opportunity to see Cushing hawking his wares as a seductive cad, much to the delight of Mrs. Peel… and the audience.

Written By Troy Howarth 
Images and Design: Marcus Brooks

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