#PUTTINGONAJACKET! PLUS ROBERT HARTFORD-DAVIS: CORRUPTION AND INSENCE FOR THE DAMNED

TODAY we mark the birthday of a director who during his pretty strange, and always on budget or even under budget films, made two of the weirdest entries in Peter Cushing British film career, '#Corruption' 1968 and 'Incense for the Damned' in 1971. Robert Hartford-Davis, born William Henry Davis, 23 July 1923 in Ramsgate, Kent. 

 

ABOVE:Director, producer, writer and at one time.. agent for Roy Rogers, Robert Hartford-Davis. According to Davis, he only ever lost money on one film, 'Incense for the Damned' starring Peter Cushing and Patrick MacNee.. According to Davis along with his partner Peter Newbrook, had an unparalleled track record of successes, producing one of the highest grossing 'low-budget films ever produced in the UK' the 1963 'The Yellow Teddy Bears' .... I wonder what Hammer films CEO Sir James Carerras, thought of that at the time???  

 

ABOVE: RELEASED in it's AKA title, 'Blood Suckers' Robert Hartford-Davis, 'Incense For The Damned' 

 

HE CHANGED HIS NAME  on becoming a television director in 1955, a very full television career encompassing drama, comedy and entertainment shows. Davis made his way into film by becoming an electrician, it was here he went on to develop his skills as a cameraman, editor and even sound technician. Davis like many of the best in the industry, learned everything he could, before donning the role of head producer and director... the only difference being, unlike the majority of his peers, he didn't share their talents. Getting to value the weight of a penny while working as an agent, where at one time he even managed American 'singer-actor-television host-cowboy- #RoyRogers! 

 

IN BETWEEN MAKING Cushing's eyebrow raising 'Corruption' - which because due to the strong graphic content of the film, different markets around the world received different versions of key scenes.. and 'Incense for the Damned' which Davis always stated was actually two different films that were 'spiced together' because we ran out of money, removed his name from the film- Davis made a film with both #PeterCushing co stars, #IngridPitt and #JudyHuxtable. Called 'Nobody Ordered Love' is now thought of as a lost '1972 British drama film' 

 

ONE THING you can say for Davis, he made TWO films with Peter Cushing, that despite their reception at the time of there release, have since gone on to cultivate a lot of interest, with 'Corruption' having a huge following of fans. Sadly, for some, Davis output stopped in 1977, with a tv series called 'Dog and Cat' in the US. He passed in his Los Angeles home on 12th June 1977. Remembering #RobertHartfordDavis today!

 

AND FINALLY,  There's putting on a jacket and.. 'putting ON a jacket'! #PeterCushing as #VanHelsing in #Hammerfilms '#Dracula 1958

 

YOU ARE MOST WELCOME TO JOIN US and over 34,000 others Peter Cushing followers at the FACEBOOK PCASUK FAN PAGE! With posts every day, rare images and photographs, features and prize competitions.. all celebrating the LIFE and CAREER of Peter Cushing  OBE     

THE BIRTHDAYS OF MARY AND MADELINE COLLINSON : TWINS OF EVIL HAMMER FILMS 1971

REMEMBERING TODAY: Madeline Collinson. I must admit, I wasn't quite sure how I was going to present this today. The sad and premature passing of Madeline Collinson on August 2014 shocked everyone. For several years, fans and admirers were unaware of the struggle that Madeline had experienced with her health, a condition that through a series of unexpected and believed to be unfortunate timing, that sealed her fate. Madeline suffered from quite chronic emphysema. For months, she was nursed at her home, living quite a restricted life supported by  a ventilator system. In a horrendous turn of fate, the system shut down, as a result of a prolonged nationwide power cut. Mary, who now lives in Milan, later complained to the 'Times of Malta' newspaper that, 'Madeleine could have survived if the emergency services had got her to hospital quicker. . . ' A sad and tragic ending to a life. . .  Both her and her twin sister, Mary for a short time had a career in film, where their uncanny 'double-take' resemblance to each other, was the perfect device for films like '#HAMMERFILMS 'Twins of Evil'. 

 

BOTH MARY AND MADELINE, Both her and her twin sister, Mary for a short time had a career in film, where their uncanny 'double-take' resemblance to each other, was the perfect device for films like '#HAMMERFILMS 'Twins of Evil' which starred Peter Cushing, Damien Thomas and Denis Price. Neither Mary or Madeline, let their inexperienced in acting for the big screen get in their way. They knew their limits, and played to their strengths, and the results were very good indeed. . . . Both Madeline and Mary gracefully retired from their film careers, and went on to have families, children and lives..far, far away from the clutches of Count Karnstein! Mary still makes the occasional appearance at signing events, and is always happy to talk.

 

IN POSTING this tribute today also at Facebook PCASUK Fan Page, it is interesting to read and see the response from many, many admirers and fans, who remember and still appreciate both Madeline and Mary's work. 

Mary and Madeline with director John Hough during the making of Hammer Films 'Twins Of Evil' (1972) 

 

John Hough with 'The Twins' Madeline and Mary, during the filming of Twins Of Evil (1972)

 

 

BOTH MARY AND MADELINE featured in a rare Norwegian lobby still for 'Twins of Evil' where the feature was theatrically released with the confusing title of 'Twins of Dracula'!

 

PETER CUSHING and MARY COLLINSON wait for the cameras to start rolling and the flames to start roaring, on the woodland set of 'Twins of Evil'  

 

 

A FULL PCASUK REVIEW OF 'TWINS OF EVIL' WITH GALLERY OF STILLS 

CAN BE FOUND HERE!

 

PART ONE of a THREE PART GALLERY SERIES of RARE photographs on set during the making of Hammer films 'Twins of Evil' can be FOUND HERE

 

PART TWO RIGHT HERE! 

 

YOU ARE MOST WELCOME TO JOIN US and over 34,000 others Peter Cushing followers at the FACEBOOK PCASUK FAN PAGE! With posts every day, rare images and photographs, features and prize competitions.. all celebrating the LIFE and CAREER of Peter Cushing  OBE    

REMEMBERING DIANA RIGG

'WOMAN OF MY AGE ARE STILL ATTRACTIVE. Men of my age are not' ... so said, this amazing icon of entertainment on her last birthday, last year, the year she sadly left us. And you know, Dame Enid Diana Elizabeth Rigg, DBE...did then and does still now have a very good point. Many actors from her era have either left us too, or look like an unmade bed! 

 

WE ALL KNOW, maybe the Cushing Connection here, 'Mrs Peel' in the Brit 1960's TV series, #TheAvengers, where PC played the very dashing Paul Beresford, a smooth operator, pushing all the buttons as romantic interest for Rigg's all action Mrs Peel and a finger on the button of death that commanded his deadly Cybernaut! 

 

 

DIANA RIGG'S CAREER also features the splendid 'Theatre of Blood' with Vincent Price. She also worked with Christopher Lee in the Avengers tv series in 'Never, Never Say Die' in 1967.

 

THE LAST MONTHS OF HER CAREER were spent working on the international hit tv series, #GameofThrones. Diana Rigg always made it very clear she was never in any hurry to retire, which makes her passing in 2020, such a very sad time. She leaves such an excellent body of work and memories for those who enjoyed her work both live on stage and on tv too. Join us in remembering Diana Rigg today and enjoy her memory and wonderful work.. any day 😊 Dame Enid Diana Elizabeth Rigg DBE born today in 1938.

 

YOU ARE MOST WELCOME TO JOIN US and over 34,000 others Peter Cushing followers at the FACEBOOK PCASUK FAN PAGE! With posts every day, rare images and photographs, features and prize competitions.. all celebrating the LIFE and CAREER of Peter Cushing  OBE    

REMEMBERING: ACTOR RICHARD PASCO AND SHIRT SLEEVE DILEMMA

TODAY we remember actor #RichardPasco born on this day in 1926 He appeared with #PeterCushing in Sword of Sherwood Forest (1960) 'The Gorgon' (1964). Other roles for #Hammer include Rasputin, the Mad Monk (1966) with Christopher Lee and Yesterday's Enemy (1959) 

ABOVE:Richard Pasco and Peter Cushing in The Sword Of Sherwood Forest (1960) 

PASCO was one of the fine classical actors of his generation.

ABOVE:Richard Pasco and Christopher Lee in The Gorgon (1964) 

THOUGH he did not achieve the star status that would have come from appearing in a long-running TV series, no one who saw it will ever forget his alternation of the roles of #RichardII and Bolingbroke in a famous 1973 #RSC production.

 

ABOVE: Richard Pasco with Peter Cushing in Hammer's 'The Gorgon' (1964) 

GIFTED with a mellifluous voice and a strong presence, he worked with all the major companies, including long stints at Bristol Old Vic and Birmingham Rep in their heyday. Pasco had a prolific, stage-driven career that few young actors today can hope to emulate.

#PeterCushing in a rare on set shot, while rehearsing #AmicusFilms 'The House That Dripped Blood' .. minus his 'smoking jacket', 'suit' or 'casual jacket' in shirt sleeves! Not a look Cushing presented that often on screen. 'Frankenstein and the Monster from Hell', 'Night of the Big Heat' and 'Frankenstein Created Woman' and 'Evil of Frankenstein' are the only four I can recall. Over at the , I do mention that his certainly falls into the 'nerd-list-of-Cushing-Facts' 😆.. but can anyone think of any others... and quite a few do!

 

YOU ARE MOST WELCOME TO JOIN US and over 34,000 others Peter Cushing followers at the FACEBOOK PCASUK FAN PAGE! With posts every day, rare images and photographs, features and prize competitions.. all celebrating the LIFE and CAREER of Peter Cushing  OBE