IF YOU WANT TO GET AHEAD GET A CAP? PLUS HAPPY BIRTHDAY JANE MERROW : NIGHT OF THE BIG HEAT!

AS THE O'L SAYING GOES  . . 'If you want to get ahead....get a hat!' But cap?? Funny thing, I never had him down as a flap cap wearer. Did you? Christopher Lee in Vienna Austria in 2004... with flat cap!

TODAY WE MARK actress JANE MERROW'S BIRTHDAY, born today August 26th 1941! Merrow is an actress with a very impressive CV, for sure, having worked in both the UK and the USA in both film and television. She is noted here, not only because she played the role of young Angela Roberts in the Peter Cushing and Christopher Lee 1967 film, NIGHT OF THE BIG HEAT, but also because she appeared in so many classic and respected television fantasy drama series, from 'Mystery and Imagination' in 1966, to 'The Avengers' and  'The Prisoner' in 67, 'Randall and Hopkirk (Deceased)' in 69, 'UFO' in 1970. She held three episodes of the US 'The Six Million Dollar Man' and even 'The Incredible Hulk' in 1981.

 

MORE ON 'NIGHT OF THE BIG HEAT' in the PCASUK feature written by Callum McKelvie, with a match with Cushing's OTHER Island movie, 'ISLAND OF TERROR', all with stills, images, gifs and MORE : RIGHT HERE! 

MERROW STARTED BY PLAYING the true classical heroine on the late 50's/early 60's stage, she moved to film and TV in 1961. Only earning bit roles in such film fare as 'Don't Bother to Knock' (1961), 'The Phantom of the Opera' (1962) and The Wild and the Willing (1962), her stature grew quickly on TV, bringing forth a noticeable gift of fragility and honesty to her lovely lasses. Standout roles included Oliver Twist's mother in the mini-series 'Oliver Twist' (1962); Rosamund in the TV series 'Jane Eyre' (1963); and the title role in the mini-series 'Licia dolce Licia' (1987) opposite Bill Travers.

 

ON THE OTHERS SIDE OF THE COIN, Jane also became a modern, trendy presence with a lead role opposite Oliver Reed in the film 'The System' (1964) and enjoyed her finest hour on film with the Golden Globe-nominated role of young Alais, the adored young mistress to King Henry, in the Oscar-winning historical drama 'The Lion in Winter' (1968) opposite Peter O'Toole and Katharine Hepburn.

 

MERROW MOVED TO AMERICA, in the early 1970's and enjoyed a transcontinental career for nearly two decades. In sporadic films, she played an Irish lass partnered with American criminal Beau Bridges in 'Adam's Woman' (1970); a blind woman in the Hammer film horror 'Hands of the Ripper' (1971) with Eric Porter; the crime thriller 'Diagnosis: Murder' (1974) starring Christopher Lee and Judy Geeson, 'The Appointment' (1981) with Edward Woodward; and the romantic dramedy 'Almosting It' (2016). On stage, she appeared in a production of 'Arsenic and Old Lace' starring Zsa Zsa Gabor and Eva Gabor in Chicago! Merrow was plentifully seen on America TV programs such as 'Mission: Impossible', 'Alias Smith and Jones,' 'Mannix', 'Cannon', 'Barnaby Jones','Hart', 'St. Elsewhere', 'Days of Our Lives', 'McGuyver' and 'Airwolf.'! She also graced several TV-mini-series and TV-movies including 'The Hound of the Baskervilles' (1972),

SHE WAS SEEN LESS into the 1990's, when Jane returned to England at that time to run a family business. She did star as Vivien Leigh in a one-woman stage tribute that opened in, of course, Atlanta. In 2009, she returned to the stage as Emilia in Shakespeare's "The Comedy of Errors." She continues to divide her time between homes in London and Boise, Idaho, where I hope today, she sits, taking a rest, a glass of something nice in hand with friends and family 😉 From us all, A VERY Happy Birthday JANE MERROW... we wish you a BIG HAPPY and COOL DAY... and well, not too HOT!  😁😏😃 

 

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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 

 

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TIME TO RETIRE : GET MY HAT COAT CANE AND CHILL : CUSHING 1986

REQUESTED REPOST, Question and an Answer! Following the success of our colour Peter Cushing photograph during his appearance at Bray studios, here is another that has been requested, taken on the announcement of his retirement in 1986! Smart, in natty hat and cane! 😊

.. AND TO THE MESSAGE AND QUESTION, I received this morning.. ' Marcus, Is it really necessary, for you to use the 'exclamation mark' so often in your comments? It's excessive, annoying, tatty and quite camp.'... Oh, Thank goodness for that, I thought I was letting things slip ........! 😃

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WHEN PETER CUSHING FLEW IN TO THE 'BATTLE FOR BRAY' 1990

WHEN PETER CUSHING Flew in to 'Save Bray Studios!' Back in 1980, what was once the impressive home of Hammer films, Bray Studios, was under serious threat of being 'sold off'... the site and studio, despite being used by other production companies for over 40 years since Hammer left, demolished, making it valuable real estate, for the building of luxury apartments. Several names from the entertainment world, joined forces to raise awareness to the cause of 'Save Bray Studios'.

ON AUGUST 9TH 1990, Peter joined a tv news and press day at the studios, flying in by helicopter, for a chat with the press and photo ops, bringing a high profile to the cause. Bray studios was of course where many of Cushing's and Christopher Lee's classic Dracula and Hammer film were produced. It was a well fought battle, but I think everyone knew, despite the efforts of the 'Save Bray' campaign . . it would be a battle lost.

OVER THE PAST FEW YEARS, the Bray studio empty lots and production buildings have been demolished. The major 'mansion house' Down Place, used in many of the Cushing's Hammer films like, Dracula (1958) The Mummy (1959) The Curse and Revenge of Frankenstein.. and so many others, despite being in a quite a poor state, was privately purchase, and is being cleaned up and internally restored as I write. It will be used as a private residence.

Bray Down House in 2015 : Bray Studios is centred around Down Place, country estate built in 1750 by the Tonson family. It became residence of the Hartford family between 1835 and 1901. In 1951, Hammer Film Productions, in search of a base to make their budget horror films, settles on the derelict Down Place. Shooting in country houses avoided the need to build sets, and usually also meant large grounds were available for location work. As the one year lease on Down Place ran out and a union strike prevented a move to a studio, Hammer decide to build a studio in the grounds of Down Place, and name it Bray Studios, after the local town.

 

In 1965 Mr Ernest Oliver, owner of the adjacent Oakley Court, dies, leaving the Court uninhabited. 

 

The building became an ideal setting for many Bray productions, especially featuring in Hammer Films such as 'The Old Dark House', the 'St Trinian's' film series, 'The Rocky Horror Picture Show', 'Half a Sixpence' and 'Murder By Death'. 

 

Hammer sold Bray Studios in 1970 and it then became a renowned centre for specials effects teams, e.g. 'Space 1999' and the model and miniature filming for notable films including 'Alien' (1979; 'Reign of Fire' (2002), 'The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus' (2009) Over the years, the studio lots were also used for pre-production rehearsals by many groups such as Radiohead, Kings of Leon, Amy Winehouse and Live Aid back in 1985.  

 

 

It was announced back in 2013 by Neville Hendricks, the then owner of Bray Studios, that the studios are no longer viable and were sold to property developers. There was a high profile local campaign supported by many past stars such as Peter Cushing, Christopher Lee and Richard O'Brian to save the studios but if failed. In July 2015, it was announced that the listed Down Place building would be restored and converted into luxury apartments and the sound stages and workshops would be demolished to make way for new houses.

 

 

Recently however, like many of it's Hammer resident vampires of old, it proved it wasn't done just yet.. Elton John's bio-pic 'Rocketman' and the BBC 2020 retelling of a tale in a grand three part spectacular saw THE COUNT return to his old haunt in 'Dracula' produced and written by Mark Gatiss and Stephan Moffat! This was filmed, while the final plans, for the bull-dozer....have not won the day yet! 

 

 

 

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CHRISTOPHER LEE : ACTORS LEARN YOUR TRADE!

#ChristopherLee Saturday! Advice for young actors.....

 

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NEWS! MILL CREEK ENTERTAINMENT HAMMER FILM : ULTIMATE COLLECTION : 20 TITLES BLU RAY BOX SET

NEWS! WELL WE'VE NOT SEEN a package like this in a while!! Mill Creek Entertainment has announced the release of their 'Hammer Film - Ultimate Collection' a gathering of 20 Hammer films titles, ranging from the 1950's, 60's and 70's. Just two Cushing titles in there, 'The Revenge of Frankenstein' starring Cushing, Francis Matthews and Eunice Gayson, 'Cash on Demand' (1960) and 'The Gorgon' with Cushing, Christopher Lee and Barbara Shelley. Those of familiar with the Mill Creek stock, will recognise these titles from the triple and double bill releases of the last five years. But, if you missed your opportunity to bag them then and have gaps in your collection, here is an opportunity to bag them all together!

AT THE TIME POSTING, I am not aware if these titles are part of and the same 'remasters' we've seen over the past two years in Europe... but if that info is released, I'll let you know. The box set is available for PRE-ORDER NOW at $109.99 MSRP and has a street release of NOVEMBER 17th 2020. Below is the spec from Mill Creek 😉

'For more than four decades, Hammer Films’ unique blend of horror, science fiction, thrills and comedy dominated countless drive-ins and movie theaters. Enjoy this massive collection from the darkest corners of the Hammer Imagination!'

Featuring 20 Cult-Classics from the infamous Hammer Studios produced in the 50s, 60s and 70s available together for the first time in high-definition!

The Revenge of Frankenstein (1958)
The Two Faces of Dr. Jekyll (1960)
The Curse of the Mummy's Tomb (1963)
These Are The Damned (1962)
The Old Dark House (1963)
The Gorgon (1964)
The Snorkel (1958)
Maniac (1963)
Die! Die! My Darling (1965)
Scream of Fear (1961)
Stop Me Before I Kill! (1961)
Never Take Candy From A Stranger (1960)
Cash On Demand (1961)
The Stranglers of Bombay (1960)
The Terror of the Tongs (1961)
The Pirates of Blood River (1962)
The Devil-Ship Pirates (1964)
The Camp on Blood Island (1958)
Yesterday's Enemy (1959)
Creatures the World Forgot (1971)

Tech Specs:
Language: English
Discs: 10
Format: Blu-ray
Subtitles: English Subtitles
Run Time: 2065 min.
Rating: Not Rated
Region Code: Region A
Street Date: 2020-11-17
Color: Color/B&W

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IMPRINT TELEVISION RELEASES FULLY RESTORED 'HAMMER HOUSE OF HORROR BOX SET WITH LOAD OF NEW EXTRAS TO BOOT!

NEWS! Well, some of Australian Peter Cushing fans are waking up to some great news this morning. It's 9.30pm here in the UK as I post this! This NEW release, from Imprint of the Hammer House of Horror tv series is REGION B and can be played in Europe, Africa, Middle East, Australia, and New Zealand.. . and as well as all 13 episodes, including Peter Cushing's 'The Silent Scream' being restored from the original negatives, High Definition & in its original full screen aspect ratio... there are a some very interesting NEW extras to be had too! The THREE disc box set is released on October 28th 2020. Here's a press release of everything you need to know . . .

THE FULL PCASUK REVIEW and gallery of the Hammer House of Horror Peter Cushing episode 'SILENT SCREAM' HERE!

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NEWS: 'SWORD OF THE VALIANT' TO GET BLU RAY RELEASE : SEAN CONNERY AND MILES O'KEEFE

NEWS: SCORPION have announced they are releasing 'Sword Of The Valiant' (1984) on blu-ray staring #MilesO'Keeffe, Cyrielle Clair with #SeanConnery and a cameo by #PeterCushing who plays Seneschal.Directed by Steven Weeks who also directed Cushing in I Monster (1971) for #Amicusfilms

 

ABOVE : THE PCASUK feature and interview with STEPHEN WEEKS director of 'Sword of the Valiant' (1984) and the Amicus film, 'I,Monster' (1971) starring Christopher Lee and Peter Cushing CLICK HERE! 

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