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#THROWBACKTHURSDAY: March 9th 1976 . . . Unbelievably, it's 41 YEARS, that's 14983 Days Today... since Peter Cushing started his four days work at Elstree studios playing the role of Grand Moff Tarkin in 'Star Wars'. Here's a very nest snap of Peter between takes with Don Henderson on the left and Dave Prowse as Darth Vader, standing... er, where else but, behind!

#THROWBACKTHURSDAY: The TWO Peter Cushing Dr Who Dalek films were produced in the mid sixties, 1965 and 66. But what if Milton Subotsky and AARU Productions, hadn't stopped at TWO films and produced more with Peter Cushing?? That’s the premise talented artist Dave Burgess has explored with artwork such as this excellent piece featuring Christopher Lee too in Dr. Who and the Dalek Masterplan! Dave has a portfolio: DR. WHO | MOVIE ARTWORK and much else here besides. Worth a look.

 TWO SMASHING GIFS FOR FRIDAY!

#FRANKENSTEINFRIDAY: Beauty is THE killer! Christina (Susan Denberg) goes in for the kill from Frankenstein Created Woman (1967)

#FRANKENSTEINFRIDAY: Baron Frankenstein (Peter Cushing) issuing a stern warning to Dr Helder (Shane Briant) from Hammer's Frankenstein And The Monster From Hell (1974)

TWO POSTS YESTERDAY  for our weekly dip into the

 #HAMMERFILM archive!

HERE'S AN IMAGE, I had not come across as a publicity still before, until a few days ago! #HAMMERFILMSSATURDAY: Here is a great action shot of Peter Cushing as Van Helsing about to drive the spade into Count Dracula from Hammer's Dracula AD 1972. Ouch!

NOBODY EVER QUIET stalked the way, Christopher Lee stalked in the role of #COUNTDRACULA. Here he is in his first outing as #DRACULA in Hammer films 1958, 'Dracula' / 'Horror of Dracula' with Carol Marsh awaiting her, 'Terrifying Lover who died, YET lived' !!!

#GETTHECUSHIONITSCUSHING! A beautiful and rare publicity photograph of Peter Cushing as Dr Lawrence from 'The Ghoul' (1975) Kneeling at the altar, the photograph that Cushing is holding, is actually a photograph of his late wife, Helen. As I am sure regular visitors to this page know, the pic was included in the film, by special request from Peter... in order that he could fulfill his wish, of having appeared in a motion picture with his wife...

#GETTHECUSHIONITSCUSHING! A fine film from Amicus, that needs some reassessing...and blu ray would be nice too! Christopher Lee as Dr Marlow and Mr Blake in Milton Subotsky's character name twisting tale of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde....I MONSTER (1971)

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HES A DJ AND MC. HE'S DJ TARKIN!

HE'S A RAD. He's a DJ and MC. He's DJ TARKIN... he spin you out of the universe! 😉 12' inch high action figure, complete with death ray and vinyl discs! Carpet slippers optional! ...I sure you can 'think' of many other titles of Tarkin's releases and songs?

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#TOOCOOLTUESDAY: PAINTING INTO A CORNER?

THERE WERE MANY 'could have been's' in the long career of Peter Cushing. On both small and big screen, and scanning the long litter of tantalizing titles and scripts, are as exciting, as they are frustrating. Putting aside the Daddy of all these no-goes, John Carpenter's 'Halloween', two names that appear to come up frequently as culprits of numerous Cushing non starters are the BBC and, as you would expect, Hammer films. The later was a company where the fate of a go-green light was finely balanced on a thumbs up OR down, following the flashing of some titillating artwork on a poster, unveiled at a meeting of money types looking to make a profit. The long and sad cry of projects that never got beyond treatment stage, makes for an emotional read! With Hammer it was always the bottom line of finance, the BBC was often crippled by it's own business model of, creativity by committee.

DISPITE THIS, during the 1950's and 60's Aunty Beeb did a tremendous job of presenting much ground-breaking, and exciting drama. However, it was the same BBC though that in its urge to unwrap a tv Christmas schedule that would keep the viewers glued to their programmes , that was instrumental in causing Cushing's absence from what could have been another Peter Cushing / Christopher Lee Hammer film smash. Based on the Barry Lyndon's play, 'The Man in Half Moon Street', or as Hammer came to re-tittle it, 'The Man Who Could Cheat Death', would have been that film. As it turned out, only Lee would appear in a minor supporting role, with actor Anton Diffring starring as the 'Man', one Dr. Georges Bonnet.

AFTER A VERY busy year and completing Hammer films one and only dip into Conan Doyle's Sherlock Holmes library, with The Hound of the Baskervilles, by October 1958, Cushing was looking forward to spending some time on preparing an exhibition of his paintings in the new year. The BBC however, were keen to get him on-board in their line up of stars appearing in their programming during the Christmas scheduling of 58.  Michael Barry (1910 – 1988) producer, director and executive at the BBC was very busy preparing a production of George Du Maurier's 'Trilby' for the festive programming, and very much had his eye on Peter Cushing to play the role that had brought much critical acclaim to  John Barrymore on screen and Herbert Beerbohm- Tree on stage. On September 9th Michael Barry received some sobering correspondence from Cushing television agent, Angela Hepburn : 

'I have some more information from Hammer films as to their plans for Peter's next production  for them. which ..... is to be 'The Man in Half Moon Street. At present they plan to start shooting this picture on or about the 10th of November. It will be a six to seven week schedule- generally six. Hound of the Baskervilles, on which he has just commenced work this week - and the start of Half Moon Street gives an available period of October 20th - 9th November approximately'. 

BARRY, DESPITE his impressive and long production experience must have chewed a couple of pencils on that one! But despite the tight schedule and restrictions, he was still very keen to go ahead with Cushing. In his reply to Angela Hepburn, Barry noted, 'Svengali belongs to a period that requires breadth and colour which I believe Peter would join me in appreciating' Barry had in 1952, he succeeded Val Gielgud to become the Head of Drama at BBC Television, a position he was to occupy for the next decade. He was responsible for commissioning several important productions, including the Quatermass science-fiction serials, and in 1954 suggested Peter Cushing to play Winston Smith in the famous adaptation of George Orwell's Nineteen Eighty-Four. This latter production caused much controversy due to its supposed horrific scenes and subversive content.

THROUGHOUT the 50's Peter Cushing was Mr Television. Hardly a week went by without him appearing in the BBC's listings. He was the BBC's Mr. Darcy in their flagship 1952 production of 'Pride and Prejudice', he had won several television awards, a BAFTA and the BEEB still saw him as one of their stars. Also, since the launch of the 'Other-side', Independent Television the loss of their monopoly on the little screen, was starting to make Aunty wobble. ITV were starting to nibble away at the BBC's hold, and the Independent Television regional stations had started to broadcast around the UK. Whispers of competition, ratings and stars jumping ship, were staring to be heard along the hallowed corridors of Alexandra Palace and the Riverside studios. Which is why, when Barry was faced with the timing problem, he offed to reschedule and postpone the transmission of Trilby to Boxing Day, rather than loose Cushing.

Despite this, the casting of Cushing in Trilby, was not to be. The whole idea was shot down in a letter to producer Christopher McMaster from Angela Hepburn on November 27th 1958.

'It is with the greatest regret I have to tell you that Peter Cushing will not be available to play Svengali for you on the postponed filming date. As you may or may not know, Peter is under contract to Hammer films to do five films for them within the period of 18 months. This means virtually that he has approximately ten days to a fortnight off between each film and therefore his periods of availability are not only limited but also spaced far apart. In actual fact the film he is about to do (on a 12 week schedule) is not for Hammer but for another company - and therefore it follows that as soon as it is completed he has to return immediately to Hammer to start work on his next film for them. I explain this to you so that you can see how very little point there appears to be in postponing your production with the idea of Peter being available at a later date. I have just talked with Peter on the telephone and he liked the script very much indeed, and he is extremely sorry that he will not be able to play it.'

WITH CUSHING'S decision to not engage with the BBC festive drama roll out, a chill descended on their relationship. A reluctance to invite Cushing into new productions on reflection, is quite evident, though there were several inquiries from his agent, and the idea to explore to reboot interest in a production of 'Cyano de Bergerac', Cushing would not appear in any major BBC production for at least another five years in 1963.

THERE SEEMS TO be no defiant answer to the question, 'Why didn't Peter Cushing appear in Hammer films, 'The Man Who Could Cheat Death' ..other than, if there were a reason, it probably had more to do with Peter feeling, after an intensive period of work, and production companies pulling him this way and that, he was due some me time...and a focus on his passion for painting. Just weeks after all the fuss calmed down with the BBC, on December 3rd 1958, Cushing unveiled 'Here and There: An Exhibition of Water-Colours by Peter Cushing, at the Fine Arts Society in Bond Street, London. The 'non Hammer film' that Angela Hepburn mentioned in her correspondence, that would have made Cushing's BBC appearance impossible, never happened...and there is no paper trail or evidence of what it could have been. Cushing did not start work at Bray with Hammer, until later than predicted, on February 25th 1959 when THE MUMMY started to roll. By this time, having spent time needed, the exhibition was launched and open to visitors.
 

IT'S DIFFICULT to prove now, years on, but maybe it wasn't just about Peter making time for his exhibition, maybe there was something about that TRILBY script, politics or health matters, that lead Cushing to opt-out. The invitation to play Svengali for Cushing, would have been a terrific opportunity. Did Cushing really do the right thing, and pass on this chance, for his love of painting? Whatever it was, I can't help feeling that Cushing did feel a loyalty to the BBC, and when he had time to think about it, knowing his exhibition had to take priority, both  projects 'The Man Who Could Cheat Death' AND 'Trilby' had to go. Maybe in dropping out of the unknown film and 'Cheat Death' Cushing hoped it would be seen as a 'walking on glass' gesture to appease Michael Barry, Christopher McMaster at the BBC. Maybe Cushing hoped it would sooth what would turn out to be a definite sting, and ultimately sour their working relationship.

A FULL COLOUR DOUBLE PAGE SPREAD IN THE KINEMATOGRAPH WEEKLY APPEARED ON APRIL 30TH 1959 ANNOUNCING THE RELEASE OF THE MAN WHO COULD CHEAT DEATH WITH LEE BUT MINUS CUSHING.

WHATEVER HAPPENED, 'The Man Who Could Cheat Death' did middling business, even though it didn't lack drama and had very good production values, with it's  beautiful sets from the previous Hammer hits, Dracula / Horror of Dracula, Hound of the Baskervilles and the Revenge of Frankenstein. Diffring did a great job under Terence Fisher's direction. Hazel Court shines. But for all of this, I don't think that the inclusion of Cushing and Lee together in this film, would have made it a better film... Their casting would have certainly made it a, different film.  Another classic maybe? Another opportunity to mine that rich seam of chemistry, that both Cushing and Lee demonstrated with wonderful results in twenty two other films, together. You may think, well, twenty two is a good number. I would have to answer, any opportunity to cast, the two greatest exponents of British Fantasy cinema, that was lost.... should make us all feel, quite, CHEATED.

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#MONSTERMONDAY : CHLOE FRANKS AND AN AMICUS DRIPPING HOUSE!

 

#MONSTERMONDAY: Hide your toys, your dolls, and put that fire OUT! One of Amicus films smarty creations, Jane Reid from The House That Dripped Blood, and played wonderfully by a young Chloe Franks. Christopher Lee was great as her father, in a performance that kept you guessing to his motives. Was he a victim? And how about the little one in the frock??

FRANKS was great in Tales from the Crypt too... didn't seem at all bothered being in the company of monsters and madmen. Ironically, Franks went on to work with in the medical field, working as a consultant in mental health....

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FRANKENSTEIN TRAPPED! #GETTHECUSHION SUNDAY CLIP

#Getthecushionitscushing...SUNDAY !: Baron Frankenstein in 'Frankenstein Must Be Destroyed' (1969) has been over the years, singled out by critics and fans alike as Cushing's most his most evil and vicious portrayal of the Baron. 'Destroyed' presents us with a black-mailing, murdering, lying and cruel twisted monster. And yet...and yet, come the climactic ending of the film, we are praying for his escape, and hoping he 'gets out of this one'!

ON SEEING THIS FILM for the first time in the early 70's, this scene really did have me on the edge of my seat. The panic in the score, the hopeless situation that Frankenstein finds himself trapped in, the fire, poor Freddie Jones, Veronica Carlson, and Simon ward ... Ward's escape, a missed opportunity in a sequel, if ever there was one... this scene has it all. Rates as NUMBER THREE in my all time fav Cushing Frankenstein scenes. Ok. You can come out from behind that cushion, when he music stops....!

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COMING SOON: LA GRANDE BRETECHE : A GREAT MYSTERY! COMING SOON!

#GETTHECUSHIONITSCUSHING! Peter Cushing played some fine villains, cool, cruel, calculating and often ruthless... but there is one that is often forgotten. Back in 1973 there was a television series that became quite compulsive viewing in the UK on a Saturday night. As it was produced by the now defunct Anglia television company, it also lead the way in 1979, for their highly successful, Roald Dahl's 'Tales of the Unexpected'. Even though it's material was often inferior to 'Great Mysteries', it's 'Unexpected' that is often remembered. 'Orson Welles Great Mysteries' was originally transmitted between 1973 and 1974, with a run of 26 episodes. It had some very good writers and directors, namely Alan Gibson (Dracula AD, Silent Scream, Satanic Rites) Peter Sasdy (Nothing But The Night).

THE SERIES WAS an anthology of different tales. Each episode was introduced by Orson Welles, in big hat and opera cloak! He topped and tailed each story, though never appeared in them. The episode, 'La Grande Breteche' was broadcast, just once in the UK on Saturday 22nd September 1973. It starred Peter Cushing as the Count Gerard De Merret and Susannah York as his wife, Countess Josephine. What Cushing gives us, is a quite terrifying performance. As with all the stories in this series, they were chosen for their punch, sting or twist at the end. Needless to say, Cushing doesn't disappoint! We'll be sharing this episode during next Sunday's #GETTHECUSHINGITSCUSHING! Don't miss it!

 IT'S SUNDAY! SO IT'S  #GETTHECUSHIONITSCUSHING DAY!

MEANWHILE, above for those who fondly remember the show, here is John Barry's atmospheric theme, that opened every show....

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#HAMMERFILMSSATURDAY : THE MUMMY FRONT OF HOUSE

#HAMMERSATURDAY THIS is one of my all time favorite Peter Cushing films. It has it all. Drama, horror, a love story and action! And this is also one of my fav front of house stills. Beautiful colour and action that leaps off the pic! DO YOU have a fav Cushing pic, photo still? Or is there one you have never seen here, that you would like me to post or 'dig up' for you? Let me know!

THE IMAGE that first appeared on some propose artwork for a campaign poster for THE MUMMY.... Cushing saw the light shining through the body of Kharis and asked, 'Is that in our script?' When he was told no, he invented the bit of biz where he shoves a harpoon through the chest of the Mummy Kharis... 'If it's on the poster, our public will expect to see it!' said Cushing

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ADAM NIMOY ON CUSHING CGI IN ROGUE ONE 'A GREAT IDEA FOR SPOCK'!

OPINION? I had the pleasure to watch Adam Nimoy's documentary about his father, Leonard last night. 'For The Love Of Spock' is an intelligent, frank and loving tribute and well worth catching, even of you are not a Trek fan.

YESTERDAY, Adam during a promotional interview for a Deep Space Nine documentary, Adam shared his thoughts on Peter Cushing's CGI appearance in 'ROGUE ONE'...and shared what some may think is a controversial opinion on his father's legacy.... I have shared the quote below. I am a Nimoy fan, not particularly for his portrayal of Spock, I liked the man's style and his core values in life. But, this made me think too...Are you thinking?? If so, please share 😉

'Adam Nimoy, the director of the upcoming Deep Space Nine documentary, was asked how he would feel if Leonard Nimoy was digitally added to the upcoming CBS show Star Trek: Discovery, or the fourth film in the rebooted movie franchise. Nimoy said he was more than open to the idea. He said was impressed with how Rogue One brought back Grand Moff Tarkin, and would enjoy seeing his father given the same treatment...

“Yeah I think it’s an interesting idea. I loved what they did in Rogue One. I thought it was pretty clever, and I was blown away by it, frankly. All of the stuff that Peter Cushing was doing was mind-boggling to me. I’m a sucker for that stuff. I think it should certainly be explored, but I’m not the final arbiter as to whether it’s going to happen, but I think it’s a great idea, personally.” 

IT MIGHT NOT make sense to bring Leonard Nimoy’s Spock back in the rebooted film series, since he already received a respectful send-off in Star Trek: Beyond after the actor’s death in 2015. However, there is a case to be made for Discovery, since it takes place while Spock was serving under Commander Pike on the Enterprise. Unfortunately, it might take awhile for that to happen. Television shows typically have smaller budgets than feature films, and Rogue One producer John Knoll said the process of reviving Tarkin on-screen was expensive and time-consuming.

Source: Here

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