#TOOCOOLTUESDAY: Christopher Lee and Peter Cushing we know had a special friendship. There is much evidence of Lee's ability to have made Cushing crumple with with roars of laughter, just with the well timed twitch of his eyebrow.
#TOOCOOLTUESDAY: REQUESTED AND REPOSTED: Peter Cushing candidly snapped during his 80th Birthday celebrations at the home of Joyce and Bernard Broughton.
#TOOCOOLTUESDAY: One of Peter Cushing's many hobbies, the building of model theaters. Each theater came complete with hand-made scenery, props, acting figures and characters, tabs and lighting. Every theater also had operating curtains. Each theater was set with a particular scene from a play, musical or opera. ALL hand made and painted. It's thought there were up to twenty working theaters, these were permanently on display in his loft studio, at the Cushing's home, Sea View, Seasalter, Whitstable.
FROM 1952 UNTIL 1971, Peter was hardly ever resting (resting : the professions term for being unemployed). With the obvious thousands of man hours to make these theaters, it makes you wonder, when Cushing actually had time to spend on this work. Cushing also made model airplanes, board games, train set lay outs with model villages and towns, painting, bird-watching, jewellery making and collecting and reading books! All of this, with exception of reading and studying for his professional work, stopped when his late wife, Helen Cushing sadly died. There was however, one little window of time when Cushing did set to work on making some models. CEO of Hammer films, Michael Carreras had come up with the idea of a Hammer Films museum . . . he commissioned the making of a Chinese temple, as depicted in the Hammer / Run Run Shaw Brosthers film, 'The Legend of the even Golden Vampires'. Peter set to work, and didn't really stop for four whole days! He admitted that with the glues, paints and latex involved in making the model, his working clothes had to be burned! Sadly, the Hammer museum, didn't work out and what became of the temple is a mystery . . .
ON JULY 12TH 1973, Peter Cushing's agent John Redway wrote to BBC producer Anthony Cornish about a radio script by Brian Hayes called 'LORD DRACULA'. Hayes had worked in the realm of fantasy themed projects for many years. Including being the writer behind several BBC DOCTOR WHO episodes, principally The Celestrial Toy Maker in 1966, The Ice Warriors in 1967 and 69. He was also one of the writers behind the tv series, DOOMWATCH from 1970 until 1972.
Brian Hayles was born in Portsmouth, UK in 1930. His early aim in life was to be a sculptor, although this dream subsided after a
brief trip to Canada. When he returned to the UK, he started to write for BBC Radio's "The Archers". He then began writing for TV and worked
on "Doctor Who" on several occasions starting with 'The Celestial Toymaker' and 'The Ice Warriors. On
aged just 48, Brian Hayes died while
working on the "Arabian Adventure". Keith Miles's novelisation for Mirror Books, was dedicated to his memory.
'PETER CUSHING THOUGHT IT, very good and even talks about it as the basis for 'A splendid definitive DRACULA epic film! He would be interested to take it further as a radio series.' Later, it was suggested the script and treatment be reworked as a 'one-off' BBC 'Saturday Night Theatre' production, but by this time in the events, Peter Cushing was no longer attached to the idea. However, the play DID finally make it to the radio and was broadcast on APRIL 4t h 1974:
SATURDAY NIGHT THEATRE: LORD DRACULA....1974 'Revolting drama about Vlad the Impaler. Made me feel
sick listening to it. Impaling people on stakes'.- Review Daily Mirror. Script Brian Hayles, Broadcast : 27.4.74. Kenneth
Haigh, Nigel Stock.
SYNOPSIS:
'When Father Benedict was young and filled with pride for truth, he had
travelled the villages of the land with Father Emmanuel,
preaching their faith boldly. One day, word reached them to attend Lord
Dracula at his court at Tirgoviste. They came bravely,
for they knew the horrifying reputation of the man but he greeted them
most courteously. When Lord Dracula asked them what
his people think of him, Father Emmanuel replied that they say all
manners of good things. All men hold him in honour and
affection and that there is no man that does not call him noble. He then
asks Father Benedict who told him the truth: that they call
him tyrant and that he is renowned only for his violent cruelty. Vlad
rewarded the honest monk for his integrity and courage and
impaled the sycophant for his dishonesty.
Now, Father Benedict begins to write a chronicle of the year 1476, at
the command of the King of Hungary and his ecclesiastical
superiors, who resolve him of the evils that he has witnessed. The story
begins at the mighty castle of Tirgoviste, where Father
Benedict served as chaplin and chancellor to the Prince of Wallachia and
Transylvania - the most cruel of men yet once the
most just of rulers. Known now and to the future of his more legendary
names: Vlad Tepes,The Impaler, and of a more darker
meaning still, Lord Dracula.
CAST:
Kenneth Haigh [Vlad Tepes,The Impaler], Nigel Stock [Father Benedict Estagen], Diane Orkin [Melitsa, a Witch], John
Rowe [Lord István, Vlad's son from his first marriage], Gareth Armstrong [Brother Jakob], Heddy Nicholas [The Lady Ilonia,
King of Hungary's sister and Vlad's Second Wife], and Don Henderson [Captain Ferenc].
Also in the cast were George Woolley, Betty Malet, Patricia Green, Graham Rigby, and Philip Barber.Directed by Anthony Cornish at BBC Birmingham
However, it did not stop there, Hammer films, Michael Carreras bought up the film rights after receiving calls from
Hammer producer Anthony Keys and his son James Carreras, both raving about the play, when it finally reached radio without Peter Cushing! Hammer had great plans and aimed high, with a film that was planned to be directed by Ken Russell (Tommy, The Lair of the White Worm). Richard Burton, Richard Harris and . . .
Christopher Lee, were all rumored to have been attached to the film's selling pitch at some point,
but the project as with many Hammer projects at this time, failed to find funding and was eventually shelved.
#MONSTERMONDAY: WE DO NOT KNOW HIS NAME, but we know his deeds and that is he one deadly tease! The Shop Proprietor of the Amicus film 'FROM BEYOND THE GRAVE' (1974) is perhaps one of the strangest roles that Peter Cushing ever played for Amicus films, not counting Dr Terror, of 'DR TERROR'S HOUSE OF HORRORS' (1965) They both were in the business of dealing in fate and death, one predicting it, the other from the confines of his shop called 'Temptations Limited, doing just that...tempting'. Dr Terror just foretold what was in store, however, this little chap, does try to lead astray, some poor weak, unfortunates who are already walking a very narrow and slippery path. So, what do YOU think? Is he a MONSTER for tempting the weak ? OR is he just a kindly ol man, just trying to eke out a living in a junk shop? YOU DECIDE!
REMEMBERING:
Diana Dors born today, October 23rd 1931. '"I’m the kind of girl that
things naturally happen to. When they don’t, I give them a push"....Dors
much loved and real national treasure for many years with a career as a
model, actress, television personality and 'blonde bombshell'...and
also a co star in TWO Peter Cushing films. 'From Beyond The Grave' for
Amicus films and Nothing But The Night also with Christopher Lee.
#GETTHECUSHIONITSCUSHING : One day, in another life, wearing another hat, I was in London, on the Thames embankment, yes the one where we see Cushing's Van Helsing pause for taking a breath in Dracula AD 1972. I was taking a large group of my students, on a field trip visit to MOMI, the Museum of the Moving Image. This was my first trip there. But, I had been told by many others, that it would be very worth-while and full of useful resources to film students. PLUS, some close friends who knew me and my hobbies very well, hinted that somewhere inside, was a little 'something', that I would really appreciate! How could resist? After getting 30 students through the box office, producing mutiple-prebooked tickets, each student was dispatched with worksheets and tasks, to keep the 'little darlings' busy for the best part of an afternoon, leaving me free to wander my way through the exhibits, interactions and displays. It was a vast building, and the museum was split into each 'Cinema Through A Decade' at a time. You walked into each decade area, through the door of a facade of a cinema of that era. In the early 1900's exhibit, you entered through a large opening in a tent, that represented, the traveling cinemas of the time.
I MADE MY WAY INTOthe early 'glasshouse studios' of France, and the hand cranked cameras of the 1920's, until I walked through the box office and frontage of a London cinema of the 1930's. After twenty minutes, I came upon the 'something' my friends, had hinted about. Inside a glass case, was the actual Boris Karloff, lighting double dummy. Now looking a little tatty, but the genuine article. It was an impressive thing to see. I thought about my friends, and how they would have come upon it, when they visited, and how they probably all gave each other 'the nod', and chorused, 'Wow, you know who would like this! Ha!'. And, I did. It was certainly worth the price of the admission alone. I stood looking at it, for about twenty minutes, and made my way through the 1940's section. It was then I heard music in the distance. Faintly, just above the clashing voices, narrations and music from the other exhibits. It was a snare drum, and strings... 'diddle, diddle, dum. Diddle, diddle dum, ..dum..dum, dum, dum, dum, dum, DAH, DAH...! I knew that rhythm! But, it couldn't be? I turned on my heals and rushed across the hallway, towards a corner ahead, around where, I thought that music was coming from. I turned the corner, and stopped in my tracks! Before me, I saw the huge facade of an Odeon 1950's cinema building, and outside the doors stood a very smart conseiage, above him and above the huge ODEON sign, a cinema screen, and on it . . . .
THE LAST THREE MINUTES OF HAMMER FILMS 1959, DRACULA! At that time, like many, I had seen the scene unfold hundreds of times on my TV, but NEVER had I seen it, on a cinema screen! I stood, peering up at the screen. Cushing running down the large refractory table, jumping at the curtains, Christopher Lee's scream and gasp of horror..and my gulp of emotion. I am not ashamed to admit it, I was profoundly moved. For me, it's probably the most iconic of all the scenes, from any and all the Hammer films. As a ten year old, I listened to it's soundtrack, on my battered reel to reel tape recorder, which was given to me by my uncle, because I wouldn't let up nagging him, until he gave it to me! Then, I transferred that recording onto an audio cassette. This was before the age of video, so a selection of images from the scene in a US magazine, would be poured over, while listening to the cassette! Then, VHS.
DRACULA'S TUMBLE-WEED OF DEAD HAIR, drifted across the marble floor, as I looked to my right and left, I was surprised to see, a small crowd had gathered around me, all quietly watching the scene too. The titles were now moving up the screen. I sighed, and still looking up at the screen, took two steps back, before turning and almost colliding with a tall, thin face man, who had also been watching the scene up there too. 'Good, wasn't it?' he said smiling. Startled, I stepped back, catching my balance, I looked up one more time at the screen. 'Yes!' I said. 'It was VERY good' I watched the picture fade to black. 'Are you are a fan? A fan of.. Peter Cushing?' I turned to catch his answer. But he was gone!
'Van Helsing pursues Dracula through the castle, accompanied by James Bernard's insistent chase theme. Dracula catches Van Helsing and tries to throttle him, Van Helsing tricks Dracula by playing dead. Then, in the nick of time, he leaps up. The vampire and the vampire hunter stand off like tigers. Then Van Helsing makes his final move. . . .
'As Dracula decays, Van Helsing's haunted expression conveys a mixture of exhaustion, revulsion, sadness and relief. Cushing later explained his own feelings about that shot : 'I was reading a review of the film, from a critic who said, '...at the end of Dracula, there is a look of sadness on Van Helsing's face. He has suddenly achieved his life's quest, and now what is he going to do? I can tell you that I didn't have that in my mind at all, when we were shooting the film. I stood there and run my hand through my hair and look down out of exhaustion. But the critic was absolutely right. Something in me was communicating that to the audience, and the audience fills in the rest!'
#ONSETSATURDAY: AT THE TOP: Pertwee and Pitt camp it up with glee on the set of 'The Curse of the Bloodsuckers', the 'film within a film' within the story of 'The Cloak'... one of the four stories in the Amicus portmanteau film, The House that Dripped Blood' (1971) ...which also starred Peter Cushing in a tale called, 'Waxworks'! TRIVIA: Among the photographs in the frame of Paul Henderson's mirror in his dressing room, is one of Jon Pertwee driving "Bessie," the car he drove as the Doctor in the BBC television series,Doctor Who. When Pertwee made THE HOUSE THAT DRIPPED BLOOD in 1971, he was still playing the Doctor. Interesting too, that VINCENT PRICE was first offered the part of Paul Henderson.
#ONSETSATURDAY : Director Freddie Francis during the shooting of the 'Wish You were Here' story from 'TALES FROM THE CRYPT' (1972)... actors on set are Roy Dotrice and Barbara Murray. 'Tales of course is the film in which Peter Cushing played Arthur Grimsdyke, in the story, 'Poetic Justice' TRIVIA: Peter Cushing was
originally intended to play Ralph Jason, but after looking at the script
he persuaded the producers that he would do more justice to the role of
Mr. Grimsdyke. Robin Phillips who played Grimsdyke's nasty neighbor, was only cast as James because original choice Ralph Bates was not free.
EVERY SUNDAY HERE AT THE WEBSITE AND OUR FACEBOOK FAN PAGE: THE BEST OF PETER CUSHING : A TERRIFYING CLASSIC SCENE : ANALYSIS, GIFS AND CLIPS
#ONSETSATURDAY Director Alan Gibson blocks out the action for the scene during the making of Dracula AD 1972 TRIVIA: Gibson was not the first choice of director for the film, Paul Annett, who later went on to direct Peter Cushing in Amicus films, THE BEAST MUST DIE was first offered the chance to direct this project. The character of Jessica Van Helsing has been played in each respective
Hammer Dracula by an actress who'd portray a character romantically
linked to Ken Barlow in the UK soap opera Coronation Street - Stephanie Beacham, in 2009,
and Joanna Lumley, in 1973!
A REMINDER! Don't forget to TUNE IN to TCM US on SUNDAY 23rd OCTOBER for a GREAT DOUBLE BILL of CUSHING HAMMER FRANKENSTEIN FILMS! Below are TWO VINTAGE teaser trailers to wheat your appetites, if you have not seen these classics before. . .
THE FOLLOWING DAY there are no less than FOUR CUSHING HAMMER FILMS for you to enjoy. But MORE ON THAT, coming up later . . .
TOMORROW! #ONSETSATURDAY : JOIN US FOR A PEEP ONTO THE SET OF VINTAGEPETER CUSHING FILMS!
