REMEMBERING : PATRICK MACNEE : TRUE BRIT WITH BOWLER BROLLY AND CLASS!

TODAY WE REMEMBER the wonderful actor #PatrickMacnee who was born on this day in 1922. He was best known for his role as the secret agent #JohnSteed in the British television series #TheAvengers and #TheNewAvengers.

 

Old school friends, Christopher Lee and Patrick MacNee, study a school photograph during the making of 'Never Never Say Die' episode of The Avengers in 1967.

 

Patrick MacNee and Diana Rigg as John Steed and Emma Peel in 'The Avengers'

 

Patrick Macnee and Diana Rigg with Peter Cushing in The Avengers Episode 'The Return Of The Cybernauts'

 

 

PATRICK MACNEE and #PeterCushing had the opportunity to work together several times. In 1968 Patrick was very much established in a superb tv programme made in the UK called The Avengers...Peter worked with both Patrick and #DianaRigg on this programme. Later in 1970, they worked together again, MacNee and Cushing both 'landed' in a film called 'Incense For The Damned' aka 'Bloodsuckers' It received a limited release at the time, but seems to have found something of a 'cult-status' in the land of '100 Horror Poor and Weird Films' dvd compilations!!
 

Patrick Macnee in 'Waxworks' (1988)

 

 

Patrick MacNee, Joanna Lumley and Gareth Hunt in 'The New Avengers'

 

Patrick Macnee with Peter Cushing and Joanna Lumley in The New Avengers episode, 'The Eagles Nest' in 1976

 

IN 1978, the Avengers tv series was rebooted and relaunched and it's first episode, not only brought us MacNee and Cushing ....but also two new side -kicks for Macnee...Gareth Hunt as 'Tough man' Gambit and #JoannaLumley as Purdey.....who not only supplied buckets of sex appeal to the tea time Sunday evening program, but high kicks and a hair style that anyone who considered themselves a bit of a catch, were proudly modeling within days of the first program being broadcast! Lumley had played Cushing grand-daughter Jessica Van Helsing in Hammer films 'The Satanic Rites of Dracula' (1973)
 

Patrick Macnee in 'A View To A Kill' (1985)

 

MACNEE also shared a close friendship with #ChristopherLee, since the pair attended school together (at Summerfields Preparatory School in Oxford) and also performed together several times, including playing #SherlockHolmes and #DoctorWatson in two TV movies in the early 1990s, 'Incident at Victoria Falls' and 'Sherlock Holmes and the Leading Lady'. Patrick MacNee died peacefully at his home, in Rancho Mirage, California on 25th June 2015. He was 93

 

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REMEMBERING IDA LUPINO : ACTRESS DIRECTOR PRODUCER WITH A PIVOTAL #CUSHING CONNECTION!

TODAY we mark the birthday of actress, singer and director IDA LUPINO, born today February 4th 1918. Ida Throughout her 48-year career, she appeared in 59 films and directed eight, working primarily in the United States, where she lived with her husband, actor and very popular matinee-idol, Louis Haywood. In the 1940's she gained an audience appreciation of being known as an actress, usually playing 'good-hearted tough-as-nails dames' in thrillers that included 'They Drive by Night' (1940) and her best, 'High Sierra' (1941), with #HumphreyBogart. But in an unexpected but brilliant short burst, from 1949 to 1953, Lupino directed six of her seven feature films, also co-writing and producing many of them. She was, of course, a woman director in a man’s world, but beyond that her films and work now certainly deserve to be rediscovered because they were then so substantial, stylish and surprisingly bold, with an idealistic view of society that seems hopeful even now. Lupino often took on social issues that were then, usually taboo. . . and that is why they deserve to still stand in the light and not shadow today... 

 

 

INTERESTINGLY, LOUIS AND IDA also have a 'Peter Cushing Connection', had quite a pivotal role in helping Peter achieve and maintain his ambition of not only becoming a professional actor, but also an actor working and living in Santa Monica and Hollywood! Peter worked as Haywood's 'film-process-double' that hit the editing room floor, in 1939 'The Man in the Iron Mask' directed by James Whale , but he also had a very small 'one line role' as Second Officer, with just one line, that qualifies as Cushing's FIRST credited movie appearance! 

 

WITHOUT LOUIS AND IDA, I doubt we would have seen the Peter Cushing we all love and appreciate today. At the point where Cushing with just cents in his pocket and no sole on his shoes, Ida and Louis, invited him to dinner... and the rest is, life changing history 😉

 

 

' I got to know Louis very well while we were working together. We were firm friends. He was married to actress Ida Lupino, and living in a delightful villa, on the Brentford Heights about halfway between the film capital and Santa Monica. I spent many enjoyable weekends there and finally, they kindly invited me to stay with them, as long as I wished.... Like the man who came to dinner.. I did!' Peter Cushing : Past Forgetting Biography (1986). 

 

Happy Birthday Ida Lupino.. and thank you 😊 - Marcus

 

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, with features and prize competitions. All celebrating the LIFE and CAREER of Peter Cushing OBE