REMEMBERING THORLEY WALTERS ON HIS BIRTHDAY

Today we remember the great character Thorley Walters on what would have been his 103rd birthday. Known for often playing eccentric characters in a variety of different films.

He has made a number of appearances in Hammer films, The Phantom of the Opera (1962), Dracula, Prince of Darkness (1966), with Christopher Lee, Frankenstein Created Woman (1967), Frankenstein Must Be Destroyed (1969) with Peter Cushing and Vampire Circus (1972).

Thorley as Burgermeister in 'Vampire Circus' (1972)

He also played Dr Watson to Christopher Lee's Holmes in Sherlock Holmes and the Deadly Necklace (1962) and co starred with Peter Cushing in a non hammer film Suspect (1960)

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ADRIENNE CORRI DIES TODAY AGED 85

Sad news to report, Adrienne Corri has sadly passed away at aged 85. One of her best known roles was playing Mrs Alexander in Stanley Kubrick's A Clockwork Orange (1974) and also Doctor Who fans will remember her as Mena in episode 'The Leisure Hive' (1980) …. Other notable roles include some films for Hammer including Moon Two Zero (1969) and Vampire Circus (1972) She co-starred with Peter Cushing and Vincent Price in AIP/Amicus's Madhosue (1974) as the spider obsessed Faye Carstairs Flay.

 

HAVE YOURSELF A FANTASTIQ FANTASY WEEKEND

The Fantastiq Festival of fantasy, Sci-Fi and Horror which takes place in Derby this weekend starting Friday 9th August! With the BBC having just announced the casting of Peter Capaldi as the 12th Doctor the Fantastiq festival celebrates Peter Cushing's portrayal as 'Dr Who' in the sixties movies Dr Who and the Daleks (1965) and Daleks – Invasion Earth: 2150 A.D. (1966)! Alongside these and many more classic horror and sci-fi film screenings, there will be screening of  Peter Cushing's  'Hammer house of Horror' episode, 'The Silent Scream', 'The Beast Must Die' with an interview with director Paul Annett and a screening of Hammer Films 58' 'Dracula'. There's a great guest list also  including Dez Skinn, the legendary creator of iconic seventies monster magazines House of Hammer and Starburst.

Here is a run down of the THREE DAY event:

FANTASTIQ – THE FESTIVAL OF FANTASY, SCI-FI AND HORROR AUGUST 9-11 2013
 
Friday 9th August
1pm Hammer House Of Horror Double Bill
2pm From The Vault: Heavy Metal (15)
3pm Bug (15)
4pm Orson Welles’ The War Of The Worlds
5:30pm Ghostwatch (adv 15)
6:00pm Preview – Upstream Color (15)
7:15pm Stephen Volk In Conversation
8:00pm From The Vault – Heavy Metal (15)
8:40pm Book Signing Whitstable
9:30pm Spectral Press Presents…Dracula (12A)
10:00pm House (Hausu) (15)

Saturday 10th August
10:45am From The Vault: Silver Bullet (15)
11:00am The AckerMonster Chronicles
1:00pm Dez Skinn In Conversation
1:15pm Corruption (adv 12A)
3:00pm Jason And The Argonauts (U)
3:15pm The Sorcerers (15)
4:45pm Johnny Mains On John Burke & The Sorcerers
6:00pm The Beast Must Die (15)
6:30pm Ray Harryhausen: Special Effects Titan (U)
8pm Paul Annett In Conversation
8:30pm From The Vault: Silver Bullet (15)
9:30pm Preview – Kiss Of The Damned (cert tbc)
 
Sunday 11th August
11:00am From The Vault: The Black Belly Of The Tarantula (15)
11:30am Horror Tour Of Derby with Darrell Buxton
1:30pm Dr Who And The Daleks / Daleks: Invasion Earth Double
Bill
2:00pm Filmmaker’s Forum Panel Discussion
4:00pm Zombie: The New Undead (adv 18)
5:30pm Cinema Retro Presents…Vampire Circus
6:00pm Orson Welles’ The War Of The Worlds
7:15pm Robert Young In Conversation
8pm From The Vault: The Black Belly Of The Tarantula (15)
8:45pm Closing Night Preview – John Dies At The End (15)