INGRID PITT UNCUT! FLASHBACK FILES INTERVIEW 2000 : MAYBE OLDER BUT SHE STILL HAS BITE!

NAME DROP ALERT! 😖😟😆Back in the day, I had the very good fortune, to met up with Ingrid Pitt from around 1980 until 1995, we did some great and very amusing interviews too. Ingrid was a beautiful woman, very special and made everyone who met her feel very special too! I always thought, that the best chat was before and after the interviews though.

DURING THE YEARS when she was still working as an actress, you knew she told you 'things' that were off the record, that would make your ears singe, she spoke her mind and wasn't afraid to 'lay it out' with those she trusted... she never told you 'don't share that' but you just knew, and also wanted to protect her reputation and other people's involved! as Ingrid got older, she was further away from the industry and was writing... and was easier to meet, approach at conventions and events... and this is how THIS priceless interview I imagine, came into being...

MY GOOD FRIEND, Roel Haanen of the 'Netherlands' . . editor of a website called, 'Flash Back Files', had in his possession a mass of interviews with film folk, actors, directors, writers, that he had once had published in a Dutch print magazine which still exists. The problem was, it has a small readership in The Netherlands, so the rest of the world, didn't get the opportunity to be able to read the interviews.

CUT TO THIS YEAR, and Roel gets in touch to say, he is making good progress with the interviews and has started REPOSTING them onto a new site, translated into English for the first time and available to everyone, for free! He had a great interview with Ingrid Pitt, he would love to relaunch on the site... and I knew what was coming next... but this time, as he had more room on his page, UNCUT! 

ROEL ASKED IF THERE would ever be room on our PCASUK FB Fan Page and website, to share a link for the interview. After reading the interview and coming up for air, I said we would love to help and that I would even create a new banner, rather than just a link, he and the interview, along with Ingrid's very funny and 'gloves off' banter was the Ingrid, I remembered and deserved it!

IT REALLY WAS WONDERFUL to see that, even though she was older, wiser and still having fun.. she had lost none of her edge. She was as intelligent, quick and witty... with just as much bite, as she ever had!

BLESS INGRID AND THANK YOU ROEL for this opportunity, to share this gem here! This is YOUR LINK IS RIGHT HERE! Enjoy, you'll learn much... 😏😃Have Fun. We sure do miss her . . . - Marcus 

 

YOU ARE MOST WELCOME TO JOIN US at the FACEBOOK PCASUK FAN PAGE! With posts every day, rare images and photographs, features ad prize competitions.. all celebrating the LIFE and CAREER of Peter Cushing OBE

REMEMBERING KATE O'MARA BORN TODAY 1939

TODAY MARKS the late Kate O'Mara's birthday.... Her earliest television appearances, includes guest roles in 'Danger Man', 'Adam Adamant Lives!', 'The Saint', 'Z-Cars' and 'The Avengers'. Look carefully and you'll spot her in the crowd of ale swiggers in Cushing's / Hammer films CAPTAIN CLEGG. She also worked with Cushing in the film, CORRUPTION and in 1970, she appeared in two Hammer films films THE VAMPIRE LOVERS and 'The Horror of Frankenstein'. In the former, she had an erotically charged scene with Ingrid Pitt, in which O'Mara was meant to be seduced; the two women were left laughing on set, however, as Pitt's fangs kept falling into O'Mara's cleavage. O'Mara's work in 'The Vampire Lovers' impressed Hammer enough for them to offer her a contract, which she turned down, fearful of being typecast!

ABOVE a smashing photograph of actress KATE O'MARA, standing outside the WATFORD ODEON CINEMA back in October 1970, posing with poster of Hammer films, 'THE VAMPIRE LOVERS'.

IN BETWEEN APPEARANCES in the BBC 'Doctor Who', she played Caress Morell in the American primetime soap opera 'Dynasty'. After returning to the UK, she was cast as another scheming villain, Laura Wilde, in the BBC soap 'Howards' Way' (1989–90). Kate O'Mara passed on 30th March 2014 aged 74.

HELP CELEBRATE the memory of KATE O'MARA with everyone else at the FACEBOOK PETER CUSHING APPRECIATION SOCIETY FAN PAGE. YOU can join the page just by clicking LIKE and never missing a post and join in the fun!

ON SET WITH CUSHING : GOLDEN VAMPIRE TRIP AND ON SET VAMPIRE LOVERS FOOTAGE!

#GETTHECUSHIONSATURDAY! ABOVE Derek Whitehurst, assistant director on some Peter Cushing films with Hammer films. remembers Peter on set . . .

#GETHECUSHIONSUNDAY! AMAZING behind the scenes footage of PETER CUSHING at Elstree studios, making Hammer films, 'THE VAMPIRE LOVERS' (1971)

#GETTHECUSHIONSUNDAY! Something a little different this week..a REAL fright! Here is the moment, we've uploaded it in slow mo . . . where poor Peter as Van Helsing, accidentally slips on his size twelves and lands almost face-down in the real camp-fire, on the set of Hammer films, 'Legend of the Seven Golden Vampires'. It's a 'stunt' that I am sure wasn't scripted or expected , and probably frightened director Roy Ward Baker and the insurance company to death! Typical Cushing, he would have given his consent for the shot to be used, to help the drama along!

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  . 

FREE CONTACT SHEETS 'THE VAMPIRE LOVERS' FOR CUSHING'S FEMME FATALES!

#CUSHINGFEMMEFATALESFRIDAY! This week, we present a gallery dedicated to one, who has proven to be larger than life itself, even in death . . INGRID PITT. In just over a week it would have been her birthday and the tenth anniversary of her all too soon passing . . . I have a few photographs to share here today, and whole gallery here at the website, some new and some favorite pics, of the only actress to have been friends with not only Peter..but also Helen, his late wife too . .To start the ball rolling... to mark Ingrid's inclusion in the FRIDAY FEMME FATALE GALLERY, I am giving away below, SIX rare hi res CONTACT SHEETS of rare photographs taken during the making of Hammer films 'The Vampire Lovers', for free! Join us on our NEXT #CUSHINGSFEMMEFATALES! POST TODAY, in just a few hours hours - Marcus

 

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  . .

#SILENTBUTDEADLYWEDNESDAY: PETER CUSHING AND CAST ON THE SET OF THE VAMPIRE LOVERS

#SILENTBUTDEADLY: DEADLY BUT WITH SOUND! Here is a rare peep behind the scenes on the set of THE VAMPIRE LOVERS at Elstree studios in 1970.

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 reach our 30K following total for Peter Cushing BIRTHDAY on MAY 26th 2017 AND Help Keep The Memory Alive!

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 

NEWS: HAMMER FILMS 'THE VAMPIRE LOVERS' GETS U.S. BLU RAY RELEASE: PETER CUSHING INGRID PITT.

THE VAMPIRE LOVERS COMES TO BLU RAY: Scream Factory
1970 / Color / 1:78 widescreen / 91 min. / Street Date April 30, 2013 / $19.97. Starring Ingrid Pitt, Peter Cushing, Douglas Wilmer, Madeline Smith, Dawn Addams, Jon Finch, Pippa Steele, George Cole, Kate O'Mara, Ferdy Mayne, Kirsten Betts, John Forbes-Robertson.

ORDER HERE! 

THE VAMPIRE LOVERS : HAMMER FILMS: PETER CUSHING AND SAY CHEESE!

Another photograph from the THE VAMPIRE LOVERS, Hammer Films (1970) photo session that has given us some great images of Peter. This one with an even bigger smile!

DEREK WHITEHURST : PETER CUSHING PLUS A RARE CANDID PHOTOGRAPH OF PETER CUSHING

PETER CUSHING: 'THE VAMPIRE LOVERS' MGM MIDNITE MOVIES DVD / LOBBY STILLS

"Think me not cruel because I obey the irresistible law of my strength and weakness; if your dear heart is wounded, my wild heart bleeds with yours. In the rapture of my enormous humiliation I live in your warm life, and you shall die – die, sweetly die – into mine. I cannot help it." Sheridan Le Fanu, Carmilla (1872)

By the early 1970s, England's Hammer Films needed to rejuvenate their gothic horror cycle and were ready to supplement their successful Christopher Lee Draculas with a new series of vampire stories. Outside producers Harry Fine and Michael Style brought Irish writer Sheridan Le Fanu's novelette Carmilla to Hammer's attention, and the rather erotic subject matter made a perfect vehicle for Polish-born beauty Ingrid Pitt, who was being molded as their latest femme fatale. THE VAMPIRE LOVERS was a big success, and shortly thereafter, Pitt was offered the even more challenging role of COUNTESS DRACULA.

In THE VAMPIRE LOVERS, Pitt plays Carmilla (also using the name Mircalla and Marcilla), a centuries-old vampire who has retained her youth and beauty. Governed by Countess Karnstein (Dawn Addams) and a mysterious Dracula-like fellow known as the Man in Black (John Forbes-Robertson), Carmilla becomes a houseguest of General Spielsdorf (Peter Cushing) and his young niece, Laura (Pippa Steele). Laura grows increasingly ill and eventually dies, while a local doctor (Ferdy Mayne) discovers bite marks on her bosom. Carmilla then seems to vanish into thin air.

Next stop for Carmilla is the home of Mr. Morton (George Cole), and his innocent daughter Emma (Madeline Smith). Carmilla becomes obsessed with Emma, wanting her to love only her, and when Mr. Morton leaves town for a while, the seductive vampiress turns the whole house upside down. Not only does Emma fall victim to Carmilla's prolonged bloodletting and seduction, but so does the governess (Kate O'Mara) and the butler (Harvey Hall). When Mr. Morton returns, he is convinced that the ailing Emma is suffering from vampirism, but General Spielsdorf has coincidentally brought back Barton Hartog (Douglas Wilmer), who had hunted down the bloodthirsty Karnsteins years ago. With the help of young heroic Carl Ebhardt (Jon Finch), the men set out to uncover Carmilla's crypt and destroy her once and for all.

THE VAMPIRE LOVERS carried Hammer into the 70s with a gothic, poetic masterpiece of erotic horror and doomed love. The stunning Ingrid Pitt is one of the screen's finest vamps, and her portrayal of Carmilla is sympathetic and passionate, while cold and calculated at the same time. Her strong performance is supported by a wonderful cast and the atmospheric direction by veteran Roy Ward Baker, delivering his first full-fledged horror film. Peter Cushing's role is small but momentous, as his familiar vampire-slaying antics play a key role here. Cushing's involvement was reportedly demanded by American International Pictures (AIP) who co-produced the film, and released it in the U.S. with an "R" rating, and it's one of the first, if not the first, horror film to land such a label. Two sequels were produced (LUST FOR A VAMPIRE, TWINS OF EVIL), and although Pitt did not return in either one, she did come back as COUNTESS DRACULA for Hammer.

MGM's new DVD transfer of THE VAMPIRE LOVERS comes off as a great success. For once, the title is shown in its original 1.85:1 theatrical aspect ratio (with anamorphic enhancement), finally giving the film the composition it clearly lacked in past video transfers. The picture is virtually flawless, as the pristine source material manifests rich, distinct colors, strong clarity and nice detail. Darker scenes are never too dark and always clear, while day-for-night shots look like nighttime without having their images obscured. The mono sound is clean, with dialog, music and sound effects all emerging clearly. This DVD of THE VAMPIRE LOVERS also restores an often censored frontal shot of a fully nude Ingrid Pitt getting out of a tub, and this is the first time this has been witnessed on home video. MGM's DVD also restores several graphic and essential decapitations and stakings that were cut from the U.S. theatrical print, which ran only 89 minutes. The DVD presents the film at its full 91 minutes.

With the excellent transfer at hand, MGM has also opted to give us a commentary with director Baker, star Pitt and writer Tudor Gates. Moderated by Jonathan Sothcott, this is a wonderful treat for Hammerheads and horror historians alike. Although Pitt was very ill when the commentary was recorded, she is still very passionate about her role and what this film meant to her career, while the ever-spry Baker and Gates provide a lot of info on Hammer head Jimmy Carreas, the producers of the film, as well as sequence which was eliminated against their wishes. Sothcott keeps things interesting by asking about specific cast members and other topics concerning the film. Features for the VAMPIRE LOVERS are rounded out by the original AIP theatrical trailer, as well as passages from Carmilla (12 minutes) read by Ingrid Pitt herself, accompanied by a video montage of rare color photos from the film. A great idea, and nicely executed.

MGM is the first studio outside Anchor Bay to release Hammer films with audio commentaries, so this disc marks a landmark release of sorts. A lot of care an preparation obviously when into restoring the films and producing the extras, so kudos to MGM for giving us one of their best horror DVD releases yet.

review: GEORGE R. REIS.

You can read more of George's reviews here: CLICK HERE

Images: MARCUS BROOKS